Houston, We Have a Hockey Team (NHL 18 32nd Team Expansion)

[thedudedominick]

I am probably not going to make things super fancy at first or use many pictures or highlights. This is going to be more of a way for me to keep track of my dynasty long term while bringing other people into the mix. With that said I would love to hear your feedback and what things you would like me to include.

I started a franchise as the Houston Hawks with the Allen Americans as my AHL affiliate. The first season I was terrible as expected.

[thedudedominick]

2017/18 Season

Created a 32nd franchise. The Houston Hawks. Opted for a Dark Blue, Light Blue, and Silver color scheme. Just used the Allen Americans as my AHL team.

First season:

I ended up 5th in the draft lottery.

Made some trades to bring in assets and young guys with the players I drafted. Here's what my first season lines look like going into opening night. Probably not going to be tons of goal scoring unless my Defensive group really carries play.

C. Jarnkrok - T. Johnson - A. Burakovsky
M. Raffl - P. Danault - C. Brown
M. Ferland - C. Tierney - D. Smith-Pelly
M. Nieto - R. Dzingel - M. Kruger

J. Brodin - Z. Bogosian
B. Dumoulin - J. Demers
J Edmundson - L. Schenn

P. Grubauer - J. Korpisalo


Notable guys in the system after the first offseason, * by guys I think could be on the NHL roster next season:

LW S. Milano (21, Projected top 6 F)* (Acquired via Trade)
LW J. de la Rose (22, Projected top 9 F) (Signed in 2017 Offseason)
C L. Andersson (19, Projected top 6 F)* (2017 5th overall pick)
D P. Myers (20, Projected top 4 D) (Acquired via Trade)
RW T. Raddysh (19, Projected top 6 F) (Aquired via Trade)
RW K. Lind (18, Projected top 6 F) (2017 2nd Round Pick)
C F. Zetterlund (18, Projected top 9 F) (2017 3rd Round Pick)

Probably play the first Home game, and a some games against Dallas to try and get that rivalry going. Other than that the first 2 years will be pretty heavily simulated.

*Note, first goal in franchise history scored by Tierney.

End of season 1.


Finished second to last with a 27-47-8 record. Only team worse was the Red Wings.

On the plus side my AHL team the Allen Americans 60-15-7. 127 PTS, next best AHL team was at 113 PTS.

Connor Brown lead the team in Goals and Points at 29 gaols and 62 points.

Subban had a really good season in AHL at 42-10-4 with a .926 save percentage.

My first round pick Lias Andersson scored 14 goals and 44 points for Allen.

Around the league the Caps beat the Oilers to win the Stanley Cup.

[thedudedominick]

2018/2019 Opening Night

Start of year 2:

Drafted 3rd overall.

Opening night lines:

D. Perron - T. Johnson - A Burakovksy
B. Jenner - P. Danault - C. Brown
M. Ferland - R. Sheahan - B. Bennett
M. Nieto - C. Paquette - D. Smith-Pelly

J. Brodin - Z. Bogosian
B. Dumoulin - J. Edmundson
X. Ouellet - P. Nemeth

J. Korpisalo - P. Grubauer

Prospects with a * next to guys I see coming up within a year or two:

LW S. Milano (22, Projected top 6 F)* (Acquired via Trade)
LW J. de la Rose (23, Projected top 9 F)* (Signed in 2017 Offseason)
C L. Andersson (20, Projected top 6 F)* (2017 5th overall pick)
D P. Myers (21, Projected top 4 D) (Acquired via Trade)
RW T. Raddysh (20, Projected top 6 F)* (Aquired via Trade)
RW K. Lind (19, Projected top 6 F) (2017 2nd Round Pick)
C F. Zetterlund (19, Projected top 9 F) (2017 3rd Round Pick)
RW F. Zadina (18, Projected Elite F)* (2018 3rd Overall Pick)

[thedudedominick]

Big Mid Season Trade

The Edmonton Oilers have traded Ryan Strome to the Hawks in return for David Perron, a 4th round pick, P. Nemeth, and A. Czarnik.

Unfortunately it's past the date to sign unsigned UFAs and Edmonton hadn't offered him an actual contract so I'm stuck with him not on my roster this season.

Another Trade to Announce

The Flyers have sent a 2nd round pick and Samuel Morin to the Hawks for Zach Bogosian, a 5th round pick, and a 6th round pick.

[thedudedominick]

End of 2018/2019 Season

The Houston Hawks had a better season but still finished in the bottom 5 of the league with 80 points and a 35-37-10 Record. Team is heading in the right direction.

Notable NHL Stats for Hawks players:

Burakovsky lead the team in points with 62.
Danault lead the team in assists with 46.
Jenner lead the team in goals with 29.
Tyler Johnson was having the best season but got injured after playing 58 games. He finished with 40 Points.

Jacob de la Rose was the first prospect to get NHL time. In 40 games he scored 3 goals, 6 assists, and was a +4.

In Minors/Prospect news:

Allen Americans finished with 121 points and a 57-18-7 record.

Lias Anderson the 20 year old scored 16 goals and had 64 points for Allen.
Subban once again had a great season. 47-15-6 with a .924 save percentage.


Around the league:

New York Rangers won the president's trophy.

Oilers beat the Penguins in 7 games to win the Cup.

[thedudedominick]

2019 Offseason

Houston ended up with the 8th pick in the draft.

Notable Contract Extensions

LW Boone Jenner 3 years 4.9 AAV
C Ryan Strome 4 years 5.175 AAV


Houston Acquisitions

C Tyler Seguin - Signed to a 5 year deal at 9.35 AAV
2019 3rd Overall Pick- RW Chuck Engel (ELC)
2019 8th Overall Pick- C Lee Ritu (ELC)
2018 3rd Round Pick- C Sergei Bykov (ELC)
2019 2nd Round Pick- LW Wayne Bradford (ELC)
2019 2nd Round Pick- RW Torsten Rakell (ELC)
2018 20th Overall Pick- D Raymond Warrener (ELC)
LW Nikita Popugaev - Traded for Riley Sheahan
D R Hagg - 2 Way Deal - 2 yr 925K
LW A. Helewka - 2 Way Deal - 1 yr 900K.
D R. Valiev - 2 Way Deal - 2 yr 925K
D J. Subban - 2 Way Deal - 2 yr 875K
G D. Godla - 2 Way Deal - 2 yr 875K
RW G. Possler - 2 Way Deal - 2 yr 925K
G D. Marmenlind - 2 Way Deal - 3 yr 925K
D J. Lyytinen - 2 Way Deal - 1 yr 900K
G V. Vehvilainen - 2 Way Deal - 3 yr 900K


Houston Losses

C Tyler Johnson- Traded away for 3rd overall pick
C Riley Sheahan- Traded for Nikita Popugaev
C Cedric Paquette - Left in Free Agency
LW Matt Nieto- Left in Free Agency
LW Oskar Sundqvist- Left in Free Agency
LW Taylor Jeier- Left in Free Agency
RW Andrej Nestrasil- Left in Free Agency
RW Devante Smith-Pelly- Left in Free Agency
RW Scott Kosmachuk- Left in Free Agency
RW Gregory Hofmann- Left in Free Agency
D Andrew MacDonald- Contract Buyout
D Dylan McIlrath- Left in Free Agency
D Dylan Olsen- Left in Free Agency
G Philipp Grubauer- Left in Free Agency
G Mathias Niederberger- Left in Free Agency

Houston Trades

Houston trades T. Johnson and two 2nd round picks to the Flyers in exchange for A. MacDonald and the 3rd overall pick.

Houston trades R. Sheahan to the Red Wings for N. Popugaev.

[thedudedominick]

2019/2020 Season

Opening Night Lines

Boone Jenner 84(26) - Tyler Seguin 90(27) - Andre Burakovsky 84(24)
Connor Brown 79(25) - Ryan Strome 83(26) - Chuck Engel 79(18)
Sonny Milano 77(23) - Lias Anderson 78(20) - Filip Zadina 77(19)
Michael Ferland 79(27) - Philip Danault 82(26) - Taylor Raddysh 78(21)

Jonas Brodin 84(26) - Brian Dumoulin 81(28)
Joel Edmundson 80(26) - Xavier Ouellet 79(26)
Adam Pelech 76(25) - Robert Hagg 76(24)

Joonas Korpisalo 86(25) - Malcolm Subban 82(25)

In Season Transactions

Houston trades RW A. Burakovsky and C R. Dzingel to Columbus for RW S. Noel and 2 second round picks.

Contract Extensions

LW Sonny Milano 23 years old. 3 Year Extension 1M AAV
LW Jacob de la Rose 24 years old, 3 year Extension 1.350M AAV

Key Prospects

RW F. Zadina 77(19, Projected Elite F)* (2018 3rd Overall Pick)
LW J. de la Rose 76(24, Projected top 9 F)* (Signed in 2017 Offseason)
D P. Myers 71(22, Projected top 4 D) (Acquired via Trade in 2018)
LW N. Popugaev 70(20, Projected top 6 F) (Acquired Via Trade in 2019)
RW K. Lind 68(20, Projected top 6 F) (2017 2nd Round Pick)
D V. Kulemin 67(20, Projected top 6 D) (2018 27th Overall Pick)
C F. Zetterlund 67(20, Projected top 9 F) (2017 3rd Round Pick)
C L. Ritu 66(18, Projected top 6 F) (2019 8th overall Pick)
D R. Warrener 58(20, Projected top 6 D) (2018 20th Overall Pick)