12-18-2012, 09:24 PM
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#12
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Pro
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Re: 3 Years Later: Toronto Maple Leafs BAGM (NHL 13)
Team History and Background
Kessel celebrating 2016-resized.jpg
Phil 'The Thrill' Kessel Celebrates a Goal During the 2016-2017 Season
2012/2013: This is the season that made me want to continue this dynasty. Normally when simming in NHL 13, the Leafs somehow manage to pull a rabbit out of a hat and make the playoffs. That is to say, in spite of their weak goaltending, lack of a first line centre and young, developing d-men. This time that did not happen. The only trade I made at the beginning of the season was dumping Clarke MaCarthur and some others for Chris Kreider (a player on New York's trading block). Besides that, I let everything ride out until the trade deadline. Once the deadline arrived, the leafs were at the bottom of the standings, nowhere near the playoffs. I dumped Connolly and some others for picks and continued to let the season play out. Reimer was injured numerous times, backed up by only Ben Scrivens. Needlessly to say, the tandem did not fair so well and the leafs tied for last in the league (technically, 29th with Florida finishing 30th). We won the lottery and got the first overall pick. Obviously looking for a 1st line centre of the future, I drafted MacKinnon.
2013/2014: During the 2013 off-season, I had hoped to acquire a first line centre via free agency. Thornton and the Sedin twins were available but both wanted over 8 million and I simply did not have the cap room to sign either of them. Instead, I made a deal for Stastny (in the last year of his contract). He was making 6.6M and the Avalanche were looking to get something before he left for free agency. Stastny put up decent numbers and helped Kessel make the All-Star game. All in all, with great progression from JVR, Gardiner, Kreider and Reimer, the team scraped together 51 wins and also snagged the President's trophy. We could not make it past the first round of the playoffs but considering how few moves had been made, this was an incredibly succesful season.
2013-2015: Consider these two seasons: "The Mike Ribeiro Years." During the 2014 off-season, Stastny wanted a long-term deal worth upwards of 6.5M. Considering he had not put 70 points the previous season, I opted for free agency. Unfortunately, 1st line centres are a hot commodity and there were none available. Thinking I was in a jam, I scoured the league for a playmaking centre with good passing skills. Kane, Bergeron and Ribeiro seemed like affordable options. In the end, Mike Ribeiro offered the biggest bang for my Leaf buck and I made a deal to snatch him from the Caps. He was only listed as a 2nd line centre but his passing and faceoff skills were elite enough for me to put him on the first line with JVR and Kessel. During the 2014-2015 season, he posted 76 points and helped the Leafs win the President's trophy for the second year in a row. Ribeiro even progressed 3 points, to an 86, and was now listed as a first line centre. The following season was much more of the same. The Leafs did not win the President's trophy but they managed to win 49 games and exceed the owner's expectations. Another good season!
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