St. Louis Blues (with OS created players) (NHL 11 Be a GM)

[SENS_AK27]

Re: St. Louis Blues (with OS created players) (NHL 11 Be a GM)

Nice...The Calder was robbed from me I'd say. Unless Grabner was also a rookie?

If you'll be posting our game stats it'll look like I'll be competing against you 6 times this year, heh heh - bring it on!

Dominick can you check and see if Columbus is playing S.Mason? In my dynasty they couldn't resign him cause of cap issues and he held out till my Sens picked him up. Wonder if that will be an issue in this dynasty.

Also can we get our current Overalls? I'm just curious.

[SENS_AK27]

Re: St. Louis Blues (with OS created players) (NHL 11 Be a GM)

Placeholder for my Post Season Interview

[GoldenJet]

Re: St. Louis Blues (with OS created players) (NHL 11 Be a GM)

I guess I'm missing out on this. Oh well. Good luck.

[thedudedominick]

Re: St. Louis Blues (with OS created players) (NHL 11 Be a GM)

Nice...The Calder was robbed from me I'd say. Unless Grabner was also a rookie?

If you'll be posting our game stats it'll look like I'll be competing against you 6 times this year, heh heh - bring it on!

Dominick can you check and see if Columbus is playing S.Mason? In my dynasty they couldn't resign him cause of cap issues and he held out till my Sens picked him up. Wonder if that will be an issue in this dynasty.

Also can we get our current Overalls? I'm just curious.

Mason is still your goalie.

Here is a list of player overalls and sizes (Yes people have grown)
Miller- 88, 6'5 217
Ortegel- 87, 6'0 187
MacDonald- 87, 6'6 224
Steamer- 87, 6'5 208
Bellini- 88, 6'0 219
Morrow- 88, 5'10 177
White- 88, 6'3 196
Askola- 88, 6'4 195

[thedudedominick]

Re: St. Louis Blues (with OS created players) (NHL 11 Be a GM)

I guess I'm missing out on this. Oh well. Good luck.

I wish there was a way to get a player in late, there is still one guy in this I haven't heard anything from since we started. If he doesn't show up in the next day or so you could take over for his guy.

[SENS_AK27]

Re: St. Louis Blues (with OS created players) (NHL 11 Be a GM)

LOL, do you actually grow in the game? I didn't know that. 6'6 is huge.

[thedudedominick]

Re: St. Louis Blues (with OS created players) (NHL 11 Be a GM)

Local Sports Radio Appearance in Las Vegas

Show Host: Dominick it's nice to have you back on our show before your second NHL season. Seems like just yesterday we interviewed you about your choice to head overseas to play. Let's get right into some questions from our listeners.

Bellini: Alright sounds good.

Caller: Last season was a struggle from start to finish for you and the Panthers, what was that experience like and how do you plan on moving forward?

Bellini: Well it was a tough season, especially for my first in the NHL. I know I couldn't buy a point last season, and as a whole we really struggled to score. I think the move to the first line this season will allow me to use my talents to the fullest and help this team make it back to the playoffs.

Caller: With your rookie contract set to expire this year, are you hoping for an extension or do you want the Panthers to let you go?

Bellini: Honestly I have not even worried about that. As you know the Panthers have the rights to me in free agency and it will take a lot for the Panthers to let me go. I just want to perform well enough this season to earn whatever contract offers I get.

Caller: You have proven nothing yet in the NHL and some are beginning to use the word Bust when talking about you compared to your fellow draft class members.

Bellini: Well that's not really a question, but I understand where you are coming from. I was drafted third overall, and I know the expectations that come along with that. I just feel this season will be the one that shows everyone why the Panthers organization thought so highly of me. I love the guys I am playing with right now and I think we really work well together. I expect big things for Booth Bergfors and myself this season.

Caller: With your struggles it is adding fuel to the fire that NHL stars cannot come from non-hockey markets. Do you feel more pressure on yourself to represent Las Vegas, and all non-hockey markets out there?

Bellini: It is a little more pressure, but I think the biggest thing is finding a way I can be successful in the NHL. If I can do that it will help the kids like me growing up where no one seemed to like hockey realize that they can make it to the top level if they keep working at it. Who knows maybe my success will lead to Sin City becoming a hidden gem for hockey talent.

Caller: What are your expectations for this season? Last year you said 50 points and you fell way short of that. Your team also missed the playoffs. What do you think you and your team can accomplish?

Bellini: Well for me personally I just want to win games. I really need to become a force defensively and to improve on my +/- from last year. If my linemates and I can find our chemistry early on I think we can really be the trio that drives our team back to the playoffs. We have solid defensive players including most of our forwards, we just need to find scoring this season. I am excited to get back to work and get things going this year, and I feel we have most of the pieces in place to be successful.

Host: We have time for one more caller, make it a good one.

Caller: Last season you let your frustration show and you let out some comments to the media about your frustration with your linemates inablity to score most notably Cam Janssen. Did that hurt your standing with the club, or do you think you guys worked past that.

Bellini: It was a frustrating season last year, and I let my emotions get the best of me. Janssen is a solid teammate who is always the first to step up for a teammate who has been hit illegally or if someone gets on our goalie. I agree my comments we out of place, but he himself agreed with me on the need for a couple more skilled wingers to allow him to fall back into his comfortable spot on the bottom two lines. I apologized to the team for my comments, and after spending most of my summer working out with the guys we are ready to move past last season and get a fresh start now.

Host: Thank you Dominick for coming in today. Give us a call sometime during the season so we can chat again.

Bellini: Thanks for having me. I will do that.

[devo22]

Re: St. Louis Blues (with OS created players) (NHL 11 Be a GM)

Reporter: Yet another convincing season for you personally, yet another disappointing one for them team. Would you agree to that statement or would be draw another conclusion?

Miller: It has been disappointing for both me and the team. It's a great feeling to light the lamp that often, but it doesn't mean anything when you see your season end in early April again. I don't want that, I finally want to be on the ice when the most important and exciting part of the season begins.

Reporter: Do you think you can do that with Atlanta this season?

Miller: Definitely, yes. Since I've been in Atlanta, we have been a very young and talented team, and I feel our group has grown in experience. We have got a lot better last year and we were a lot closer to the playoffs than before, but when you're not among the top eight of the conference, it doesn't really matter if it was close or not. This year, we have to get in. The team is strong enough.

Reporter: You once again find yourself on a new line, as the coach has put you on a line with Evander Kane and Nik Antropov during pre-season.

Miller: Yeah, it's been fun to play together so far! I think at some point, it's important to juggle your lines. Otherwise, you'll just be predictable to other teams. Having the opportunity to play with those two is huge for me, we are a very big and powerful line. Evander is 6'2 and he says he feels like the dwarf of the line!

Reporter: You played for Austria during this World Championships, and your team performed quite well, clearly better than during recent years. Were you happy with the tournament?

Miller: Of course, we did quite well. But it wasn't that surprising to be honest, I think the team's problem during recent years was that the top players couldn't play because of injuries or playoff commitments. Look at 2011, the team didn't have Vanek, Nodl or Grabner, and as a small country, you can't replace such amazing players. It's not like the big nations, where plenty of NHL calibre players are available everytime. It was my first World Championships, the Thrashers didn't let me play last year because I had a hamstring problem that could have become more nasty without treatment. This year, all four of us who are in the NHL were able to play - I didn't make the playoffs at all, Vanek and Grabner were eliminated soon and Nodl joined us late after Philadelphia got beaten.

Reporter: I understand you even shifted to center in some games, with Vanek and Grabner on the wing?

Miller: Yeah, that was interesting. I don't really see myself as a playmaker, but with two pure snipers beside you, it's not that hard to switch. Vanek is somewhat experienced by now, he was the leader of the team. And Grabner is such a fast guy, it's unbelievable. Look at the awards he won last year, it's fantastic. It's huge for Austria to have talents like them, it's important for hockey in Austria. Playing with them was a huge honour.

Reporter: You haven't signed a contract extension yet. With your ELC ending after the following season, rumours arise that you could leave ...

Miller: Well, I am tired of all the speculation. In every single interview, I have to answer questions about our team probably going to Winnipeg and me signing an offer sheet somewhere else ... I am sick of it. I just want to focus on my hockey career right now, nothing else. The fact that I haven't signed an extension yet is neither good or bad - it's just a fact. We have so much time to do that, it could happen in December or June or whenever. We already had early talks with the management. I am not concerned at all. At the moment, I am just thrilled to enter another season - hopefully a successful one.

Reporter: All of the first eight picks of your draft class will play in the NHL this season, With Cleveland Steamer finally signed by Edmonton ...

Miller: Yeah, I heard that. I feel bad for the guy.

Reporter: Why that?

Miller: He'll need a new car. Edmonton is too cold for his pimped-out ride.

[SENS_AK27]

Re: St. Louis Blues (with OS created players) (NHL 11 Be a GM)

LOL you guys are hilarious!!! I love the competitiveness too bad I'm the only guy in the West.

[thedudedominick]

Re: St. Louis Blues (with OS created players) (NHL 11 Be a GM)

LOL you guys are hilarious!!! I love the competitiveness too bad I'm the only guy in the West.

The good thing about that is you will get to actually have stats from more of your guys games than anyone else against my Blues.

Also let's see your pre-season interview. I for one though am looking forward to whatever Mr. Steamer has to say.

[SENS_AK27]

Re: St. Louis Blues (with OS created players) (NHL 11 Be a GM)




Associated Press, 2011

Local Kelowna boy, and rising NHL star Nathan MacDonald is back in town for a brief stay after attending the IIHF World Championships in Slovakia. The Daily Courier was able to catch up to the young star while he was attending a charity event.

Daily Courier Reporter: Nathan, a lot has happened since we last spoke to you right before training camp. How would you describe the year that you've had?

Nathan MacDonald: If I had to use one word I would have to go with "Unbelievable". I mean I worked hard in the offseason, but would never have expected to be given a chance to play on a line with the likes of Nash and Brassard. Playing with those guys, definitely makes my job that much easier.

Daily Courier Reporter: Now don't sell yourself short, putting up 62 points is nothing to sneeze at.

Nathan MacDonald: No certainly not, I worked really hard for those points and I hope I showed this organization how valuable I am to them. I trained really hard in the offseason and it paid off.

Daily Courier Reporter: Would you consider your first season a success?

Nathan MacDonald: That's a difficult question, because I was happy with my play that year, and I'm certainly glad I was able to help the team to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2008/09 season, but then again we got swept by Calgary in four games, which I did not take lightly as you play all year for an opportunity to win the Stanley Cup and we didn't even make it out of the first round.

Daily Courier Reporter: Some sportswriters were highly critical of you in that series as you didn't contribute as much offensively as many would have liked.

Nathan MacDonald: I'm not going to make any excuses for myself, I just think there was some adjustment playing a full 82 game season and then having enough in the tank for a long Stanley Cup run. Especially, in the playoffs where your time and space is so minimal, it takes a toll on your body like you wouldn't believe. You have to be prepared for that.

Daily Courier Reporter: Speaking of preparing, we hear you are going back to Toronto to once again, take part in Gary Roberts Training Camp.

Nathan MacDonald: Yes, as I mentioned before it's a very good camp and it is a great help to me to prepare for the upcoming season. Stevie [Stamkos] still goes, and he's been in the league for 4 or 5 years now. So as long as I see it being beneficial, I'll still keep going.

Daily Courier Reporter: Lastly Nathan, tell us about your experience playing for the National Team overseas this year, at the World Hockey Championships.

Nathan MacDonald: That was such an amazing experience for me, to go over there and represent my country; what an opportunity. As you know, Nash has been participating in the tournament for a number of years, so as soon as we lost I knew he'd be heading over. I got a phone call from my agent letting me know that they were interested in having me come over and play with Nash. I was like heck yeah.

Daily Courier Reporter: Fortunate for them, cause you got to play with Nash, on a line centered by John Tavares. What was that like?

Nathan MacDonald: It was a great experience. We as a whole line clicked immediately, and with his vision and speed, it made it a lot of fun to play out there against some of the best players in the world.

Daily Courier Reporter: You didn't do so bad, with 3 goals and 6 assists in 9 games you got Canada to the finals

Nathan MacDonald: (laughing) Yea, I would have liked to of won Gold for my country but the Finns played absolutely great, every line was so skilled that it made for some difficult matchups, and their defense played out of this world for them.

Daily Courier Reporter: Well maybe your performance there at the International level will raise some eyebrows for Socchi 2014.

Nathan MacDonald: Well we'll have to see, it's still a long ways away and anything can happen between now then then.

Daily Courier Reporter: Well thank you Nathan for taking some time and sitting down with us. We understand you are very busy when you come back to Kelowna and we'll all be rooting for you in this upcoming season.

Nathan MacDonald: Thank you, and I will work really hard to try to bring a Cup back home for everyone.

[GoldenJet]

Re: St. Louis Blues (with OS created players) (NHL 11 Be a GM)

Oh man, reading these really makes me want to be in this.

[thedudedominick]

Re: St. Louis Blues (with OS created players) (NHL 11 Be a GM)

Oh man, reading these really makes me want to be in this.

The center for the lightning is your same player type and build that you put in the other post. If he doesn't pop in here soon you could adopt that player as your own and roll with that if you wanted.

[GoldenJet]

Re: St. Louis Blues (with OS created players) (NHL 11 Be a GM)

Can I start posting interviews now?

[thedudedominick]

Re: St. Louis Blues (with OS created players) (NHL 11 Be a GM)

Can I start posting interviews now?

Go for it. You are posting as Center Jake White of the Tampa Bay Lightning