BAGM Progress Thread

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: BAGM Progress Thread

I, personally, don't think it's very realistic.

Since you'd be starting at the beginning of the season, why start with rosters from the trade deadline? It just doesn't make sense to me.

But if that's what makes it more fun for you, then go ahead.

Yeah, I get that part, but it's kind of a trade-off for me, since it bothers me more to be a few years down the road and having a potential big name player still on his original team. I don't care what roster moves happen once I've started a BaGM, but I like to have it as up to date with the real NHL when I start.

[actionhank]

Re: BAGM Progress Thread

So, after my Blues swept the Kings, we are now in the Finals against the Capitals.
I'm trying to find a way to get OBG's sliders to be a bit more challenging.
I don't know what it is, but i seem to be heavily out shooting the team most games, and winning pretty easily.
I may try and edit them a bunch.
I tried playing on Super Star and editing the sliders...but that just got the controller launched across the room when the Caps scored 5 goals in the first period (In two separate games...with goalie reaction at 6...) all of them were magic passes i couldn't touch or get them off of the puck, and they all did that spastic little deke that goes in short-side because your goalie gets his mind blown by it...
so, it's back to OBG's defaults, and the drawing boards.
I just want the damn CPU to shoot more.

Here's my lines.

McDonald-Spezza-Radulov (Killer top 3. All 3 can score, and McDonald has been killer on shooting, and has the team lead with 11 goals, and 5 assists in the playoffs)
Perron-Oshie-Berglund
Sabotka-Prospal-Steen (Got Prospal off of waivers when NY tried sending him down, he's been good with the GWG, especially in OT)
Couture-McClemment-Winchester (Traded Boyes and a draft pick to pick up Couture. I figure i will try and keep some young guys to replace the older guys as they go on to other teams, or retire.)

My Defense is:
Johnson-Jackman
Polak-Morrison (Traded Crombeen and Janssen. I just didn't need those big guys who could fight, but didn't really do much. I have Oshie, McClement, and Backes as my big hitters on offense, so they were just getting scratched most games.)
Colliacovo-Pietrangelo (My long-last-name-line. They are a nice touch having a 3rd line that isn't bad on defense, and can still contribute goals.)

Sadly Backes is injured. He got hit by a shot from Pietrangelo, and suffered a broken leg in game one of the playoffs. He's out for 8 weeks. He's usually on my top line.
It's frustrating, I feel like i have too many good players. But i like the depth.
Sad thing is, i don't know what to do with some of them. I think next season i may send Sabotka, and Couture to the minors, not because they can't cut it, but just so they can get consistent 1st line game time. The way it is now, i still have too many offensive players, that i have to scratch the ones who can't be sent down. Like D'agostini, though sadly he's better in real life than in the game it seems this season.

So that's the most of it, i'm going off of memory. They don't look much like my real life Blues anymore, but that's the fun of the game to me.
Besides, my team got to the finals!

Just won game 2, and got Halak his first shutout of the playoffs. Against Washington no less.
After winning game 1 with a score of 4-1, the Blues were hoping for a game 2 victory to carry some momentum into the hard to play at Washington arena. The game was close, the Blues only out shot the caps 22 to 16. But sadly for Varlamov, none of the bounces went his way.
After Oshie scored an unassisted powerplay goal in the 1st, the game was silent until the 3rd.
Pietrangelo picked the puck up after Radulov (Who has points in 4 straight) snapped it around behind the Washington net. Pietrangelo got it, and fired a slapper from the top of the left circle. Varlamov, who was initially screened went to play the puck and dropped his pads, and threw his glove out. Unfortunately for him the puck caught the top of his leg pad and deflected into the top right corner of the net.
Later in the 3rd, on a 2 on 1 attack, Vladimir Sabotka would fire a wrister that Varlamov would turn aside, only to have a racing Colliacovo put it in net for his first goal of the playoffs, coming on fresh legs just out of the penalty box.
Now the Caps are hoping to even the series up with a couple of home wins and bring it back to the Scottrade Center.

[CCPiper]

Re: BAGM Progress Thread

So, after my Blues swept the Kings, we are now in the Finals against the Capitals.
I'm trying to find a way to get OBG's sliders to be a bit more challenging.
I don't know what it is, but i seem to be heavily out shooting the team most games, and winning pretty easily.
I may try and edit them a bunch.
I tried playing on Super Star and editing the sliders...but that just got the controller launched across the room when the Caps scored 5 goals in the first period (In two separate games...with goalie reaction at 6...) all of them were magic passes i couldn't touch or get them off of the puck, and they all did that spastic little deke that goes in short-side because your goalie gets his mind blown by it...
so, it's back to OBG's defaults, and the drawing boards.
I just want the damn CPU to shoot more.

Here's my lines.

McDonald-Spezza-Radulov (Killer top 3. All 3 can score, and McDonald has been killer on shooting, and has the team lead with 11 goals, and 5 assists in the playoffs)
Perron-Oshie-Berglund
Sabotka-Prospal-Steen (Got Prospal off of waivers when NY tried sending him down, he's been good with the GWG, especially in OT)
Couture-McClemment-Winchester (Traded Boyes and a draft pick to pick up Couture. I figure i will try and keep some young guys to replace the older guys as they go on to other teams, or retire.)

My Defense is:
Johnson-Jackman
Polak-Morrison (Traded Crombeen and Janssen. I just didn't need those big guys who could fight, but didn't really do much. I have Oshie, McClement, and Backes as my big hitters on offense, so they were just getting scratched most games.)
Colliacovo-Pietrangelo (My long-last-name-line. They are a nice touch having a 3rd line that isn't bad on defense, and can still contribute goals.)

Sadly Backes is injured. He got hit by a shot from Pietrangelo, and suffered a broken leg in game one of the playoffs. He's out for 8 weeks. He's usually on my top line.
It's frustrating, I feel like i have too many good players. But i like the depth.
Sad thing is, i don't know what to do with some of them. I think next season i may send Sabotka, and Couture to the minors, not because they can't cut it, but just so they can get consistent 1st line game time. The way it is now, i still have too many offensive players, that i have to scratch the ones who can't be sent down. Like D'agostini, though sadly he's better in real life than in the game it seems this season.

So that's the most of it, i'm going off of memory. They don't look much like my real life Blues anymore, but that's the fun of the game to me.
Besides, my team got to the finals!

Just won game 2, and got Halak his first shutout of the playoffs. Against Washington no less.
After winning game 1 with a score of 4-1, the Blues were hoping for a game 2 victory to carry some momentum into the hard to play at Washington arena. The game was close, the Blues only out shot the caps 22 to 16. But sadly for Varlamov, none of the bounces went his way.
After Oshie scored an unassisted powerplay goal in the 1st, the game was silent until the 3rd.
Pietrangelo picked the puck up after Radulov (Who has points in 4 straight) snapped it around behind the Washington net. Pietrangelo got it, and fired a slapper from the top of the left circle. Varlamov, who was initially screened went to play the puck and dropped his pads, and threw his glove out. Unfortunately for him the puck caught the top of his leg pad and deflected into the top right corner of the net.
Later in the 3rd, on a 2 on 1 attack, Vladimir Sabotka would fire a wrister that Varlamov would turn aside, only to have a racing Colliacovo put it in net for his first goal of the playoffs, coming on fresh legs just out of the penalty box.
Now the Caps are hoping to even the series up with a couple of home wins and bring it back to the Scottrade Center.

Good luck!!

[CCPiper]

Re: BAGM Progress Thread

Have played a couple more games.

I beat the Flyers 5-4 in a high-scoring affair. Emery, who has the worst stats in the league of all goalies, saved a measly 17 shots out of the 22 he faced. Brodeur countered with 35 saves on 39 shots. Some nice goals by former-Flyer Simon Gagne sealed the deal, especially on one breakaway in which he just fired a wrist shot rather than deke due to the lack of room he had.

The next game I faced the division rival Pittsburgh Penguins and was down 2-0 early. Throughout the course of the second and third periods, however, I was able to tie it up at 2, until a penalty in the final half minute of the 3rd period by Rob Davison led to a powerplay goal in OT for the Pens to win it. Crosby had 3 assists in the game.

My lines are now:

LW-Ilya Kovalchuk C-Travis Zajac RW-Patrik Elias
LW-Simon Gagne C-Zach Parise RW-Jamie Langenbrunner
LW-Alexandr Vasyunov C-Rod Pelley RW-Brian Rolston
LW-Andrew Peters C-Patrick Davis RW-David Clarkson

D-Andrew Greene D-Colin White
D-Anssi Salmela D-Rob Davison
D-Martin Skoula D-Darryl Sydor

G-Martin Brodeur
G-Andrew Raycroft

Right now, I have injuries to Mark Fraser, Bryce Salvador, and Jason Arnott. I've had to bring up Alex Vasyunov and Patrick Davis from Albany, and they are both doing great.

I'm now 12-10-5 and I have to go to Ottawa in my next game.

[actionhank]

Re: BAGM Progress Thread

Thanks CCpiper.
I just played game 3.
Halak let in 3 goals through the first few. Washington was pouring on the shots with 15 to 5 in their favor in the first period.
Prospal had the early league picking off a blue line pass and taking it down for a breakaway goal in the first, but that would be all of the scoring until near the end of the 2nd for the Blues.
Then the Caps would kill a 5 on 3 PK that lasted for almost a full 2 minutes.
Finally, the Blues would start scoring.
McDonald would solidify his position as team points leader with a 4 point night.
He picked up the tying goal early in the 3rd, and the empty net goal. As well as assisting on the other 2.
The Blues would be outshot 34-22, but would find 7 goals, with constant pressure on Varlamov who came undone in the 3rd period.
We will see if Boudreau (Spelling?) keeps Varlamov in, or gives the start over to Neuvirth.
Which ever goalie is in net, the pressure is on, because one more loss and the Caps will be swept from the playoffs, something that Caps fans don't want to see at home.

[zanner]

Re: BAGM Progress Thread

I've had a nice home winning streak thus far with the Thrashers - going 8-2 in my last 10 games and I'm now to a record of 10-13-3 . I'm really putting the puck in the back of the net, and the funny thing is that Antropov, my leading scorer at 13G hasn't scored much in this run. I'm getting a lot of contribution from Ladd, Kane, Modin, and Boulton across the 4 lines. Each line is really doing well.

[DJ]

Re: BAGM Progress Thread

After having to restart (corrupted file, my fault not the game's) my Be A GM, I currently stand at 3-2 with the Colorado Avalanche.

In my last 2 games, I've lost Thomas Fleischmann (2 weeks, bruised shoulder) and Ryan O'Reilly (4-6 weeks, broken leg) to injuries, forcing me to dip into the AHL roster for a couple of call-ups.

Craig Anderson has been on fire to start the season, while Peter Budaj has been terrible, losing both games and giving up nearly 5 goals a game.

Chris Stewart leads the team with 4 goals, 3 of which have come on the power play.

Today's results were a 4-1 win at New Jersey and a 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders.

[DJ]

Re: BAGM Progress Thread

The injury woes continue for the Avs, as John-Michael Liles (bruised knee) and Paul Stastny (broken leg ... man what's up with these lower-body injuries?) were both knocked out of the lineup.

Despite all the injuries, I was really proud of my team when we went into Vancouver and came away with a 2-0 win. Anderson played lights-out, easily his best game of the year.

4-4-1. I'm really in a groove now with this game and I'm loving it. My sliders are (finally) tuned where I want them and the CPU is bringing it, and I'm noticing a difference in how teams play me.

The first period of my game against the Rangers was so intense. New York started the game off playing like they were behind 2-3 goals; they were hitting me whenever they had a chance and flying to the puck, creating numerous scoring chances with the aggressive play.

Contrast that to Los Angeles, which sat back and allowed me to dictate the pace and tried to play finesse; it worked as they won 3-1.

I've gone back and forth on this game but I'm having more fun now than at any point since purchasing this game.

[actionhank]

Re: BAGM Progress Thread

So, after my last GM season came to a grinding halt (I pulled the ol' Spend way too much forgetting you have to sign a bunch of good guys at the end of the season) move. So i restarted. I decided to not go with a bunch of crazy trades, and try and safeguard myself against being dumb.
I actually did make one trade. I traded Barret Jackman for San Jose's first round pick since they wanted D-men, and i have a stable of D-men in Peoria that i want to bring up and get playing more anyway. I would later sign Paul Ranger to a 1 year 2mil deal after Brewer got injured for a few months, and Nitkinin wasn't good enough to play top line D. Brewer came back faster than expected, so i sent Oystrick and Nitkinin back down to continue building their skills in the AHL. Pietrangelo has been my 3rd line staple, as far as AHL players go.
I also picked up Gustavsson off of Waivers from Toronto. I don't know why they tried sending him down, but i was more than willing to pick him up as my backup. I wanted to send Conks down to Peoria "to train the young goalies" but he was sadly picked up by Colorado. I liked him. Oh well.
Now my Blues are riding an 8 game win streak, improving to 24-13-2. Gustavsson got his first win in Toronto in a win that ended up 5-3 when i scored an empty netter shortly after Toronto made it 3-4 on a wrist shot that snuck in short side with under a minute left.
We face the Rangers tonight hoping to get the win streak up to 9. Halak has been in net for 7 of the 8 games, and will be back in net tonight to try and shut down the hot Ranger offense.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: BAGM Progress Thread

Well, I started a post-deadline BaGM with Florida. Aside from the first line and Kulikov, it's more or less and AHL squad. Not a lot of talent and not a lot of depth (especially on defense). That said, it's been fun to see just how much better the few top-end guys are compared to the rest of the roster. I've really been riding Kulikov hard, as he's really the only option to make my offensive breakout at all dynamic.

Limited talent means my offense isn't very sophisticated and relies heavily on only a few guys. Tough start to the season as well opening with a Western Canadian road trip.

First game of the season I got destroyed by Edmonton 10-3. Just a farce of an effort in all phases. Defense corps struggled mightily with very little ability to move the puck, with the exception of Kulikov (who had two points in the game 1g 1a).

Second game of the season I thought I was going to get stomped by the Canucks. Played a real simple game and was able to slow Vancouver down, team played their hearts out and managed to hold on to a 2-2 tie until 1:45 left in the game when Vancouver scored. Final 3-2 for Van.

Closed out the road trip in Calgary. Did a good job playing simple team defense, but Matt Stajan of all people was unstoppable tallying a hat-trick by the end of the second period. Down 3-1 going into the third, I wasn't very optimistic. Team played furious though and overwhelmed Florida, tied it with 2 minutes left in the third on the PP and then in OT Keaton Ellerby of all people crept in from the point and fired home a winner. 4-3 OT win was sweet.

All in all 1-2-0 record after the roadtrip isn't bad, and I outplayed Vancouver for much of the game. It is apparent that guys like Weiss, Bergfors, Booth, and Kulikov are going to have to bring it every night, and they have so far. Weiss has 3pts, Booth 3pts, Bergfors 2 goals, Kulikov 3pts. Ellerby has been my most reliable defensive player so far and also has 3pts including a game winning goal in OT. We'll see how things trend with my next game my home opener against a seriously dangerous Tampa Bay team.

[DJ]

Re: BAGM Progress Thread

Just like the real-life Avs, I am in the midst of a major losing skid with the Avs in my Be A GM. 4-9-1 after 13 games, that's after a 3-1 start. So, 1-8-1 in my last 10 games. Yikes!

The injuries, as mentioned, haven't helped, but man I just can't seem to catch a break.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: BAGM Progress Thread

Man, my Panthers are really inconsistent early on.

Came back from the West Coast swing for the home opener against Tampa. Ended up with a solid 2-0 shutout. Then proceeded to stink it up against the Islanders losing 4-1.

Next it was Dallas at the Bank Atlantic Center for an OT loss, which dropped my record to 2-3-1.

Next up was a trip to Eastern Canada. Rolled over for the Leafs losing 6-2 in the first game.

At Ottawa, turned in an impressive performance, downing the Sens 3-0.

Montreal on Saturday night saw us get demolished 7-1 in a fight-filled affair.

Seems like it's either boom or bust with my team. If I win, it's going to be decisively, if I lose it's going to be decisively. I also lost Booth with a hip injury for three weeks and Reasoner has been nursing a shoulder issue. Not really a lot I can do to improve the team at this point. FA pool is pretty weak, not a lot of assets to trade (outside of my picks, which I'm keeping), and there's not really anyone on the farm club who I believe could turn out to be a difference maker at this point. Hopefully my players will find some more consistency and play better in the first period.

[actionhank]

Re: BAGM Progress Thread

In a battle of the top two powerplays (Columbus with the #1, and St. Louis with the #2) Columbus came out on top in the home and home series.
They narrowly edged the Blues both games running their win-streak to 7 games, and ending the Blues 8 game streak. The first game was a scoring affair with Radulov getting a hat trick for the Blues, and Brassard getting one for Columbus.
Halak was pulled after allowing 3 goals on 9 shots in the first, but Gustavsson didn't fair much better, allowing 3 more over the next two periods.
The Blues would rally in the 3rd to tie the game and take it to overtime. The Blues would lose with a minute remaining after Gustavsson made a sliding save but couldn't glove the puck. As it lay on the ice, Brewer attempted to clear, but Nash poked it in for the game winner.
The next night would be more of the same. The Jackets jumped to an early lead, this time on Gustavsson. He would hold them off through the 2nd period, allowing the Blues to tie it at 2 a piece. Columbus would score again at the start of the 3rd, but Stewart's powerplay goal would tie it up and send the 2nd game into overtime.
Columbus again would win in OT as Gustavsson was screened by Brewer and allowed a wrister to sail over his right shoulder and into the net.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: BAGM Progress Thread

Man, did things ever go south for my Panthers quickly. After some positive results early in the season I proceeded to go on a nine game losing streak. Got out of it by beating the number one team in the league in Washington and then proceeded to lose four more. Currently sitting at 9-20-5 and dead last in the league. Team just didn't have the overall makeup or experience to compete against most other teams.

In the midst of my losing streak Detroit offered me Jonathan Ericsson, Derek Meech, and Doug Janik, for Marty Reasoner and a second rounder. Ericsson's was an immediate upgrade on my top pairing over Jason Garrison and helped stabilize Kulikov's game (he was sitting at -27 at the time of the trade). Meech has been a better option as a number six d-man, and Janik shores up the Amerks blue line.

After my next losing streak and a whole lot more futility I made the decision to play for the future. Vokoun and Weiss had been on the block since the stat of the year, but I hadn't been pleased with any of the offers I'd received. I managed to send Weiss to Edmonton for their first rounder, and Vokoun to the Avs for a first and a prospect. So right now I have three first round picks and will look to build around those draft picks and my top prospects. My lineup after gutting the organization is pretty brutal. Looks like this:

Skille R. Carter Samsonov
Bernier Matthias Bergfors
Booth Santorelli Olesz
Hordichuk Repik Bitz

Ericsson Kulikov
Harrison Ellerby
Meech Weaver

So yeah, not a very glamorous team at this point. But with guys like Howden and Gudbranson in the system, good young players like Ellerby and Kulikov on the backend, and Markstrom the my future netminder, I'll try to get some top forward prospects in the draft. Maybe shore things up with an experienced FA or two on July 1st as well.

[actionhank]

Re: BAGM Progress Thread

After winning the President's Trophy, my St. Louis Blues were favored to go all the way to the finals. But injuries and a determined Phoenix team looking to avoid having to relocate would prove otherwise.
After losing TJ Oshies in their first game against Phoenix, that was lost 4-3 at home, the Blues would lose David Backes, Andy McDonald, and Paul Ranger in game 2. Penalties and a ravaged team would leave them down 2-0 in the series after losing 6-3.
The Coyotes would go on to sweep the Blues, putting an early end to a promising summer.
I've gone through and started the next season.
My Blues look a little different than the season before, and definitely different than the real ones.

I will update my lines after i go fetch them. So far though, we are 2-1-1 this season. The most recent game, a Shoot Out loss to Columbus extends Columbus to a 4 game win streak against the Blues including the season before. After battling back from a 2 goal deficit in the first, the Blues would allow Columbus the tying goal with 2 minutes left when Nash skated through the defense and snapped a shot past Halak.
The Blues went on to kill off a PK in the power play, but couldn't find the winning goal in the shootout after getting to an early lead.