Humboldt Strong (NHL21 Franchise - Fun Only)

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Hello again!

So my first Franchise Mode in NHL21 will be an expansion team!

Best part? The last Franchise I did had a lot of edited players. Nothing outlandish but there were perhaps a few too many high Franchise potential players available. This time, nothing. So it'll be the default players (as of the most recent roster Update anyways)

Rules will generally stay the same.

•Salary Cap is off
•Waivers is On
•10 minute periods
•Sim Engine Scoring: Medium
•Draft Class Quality: High
•Generated Prospect Quality: Medium
(Meaning there will be a lot of good players, but not as many elite players)
•Sim Engine Shot Frequency: Medium

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LEAGUE BACKTRACKS ON SEATTLE; AWARDS TEAM TO SASKATCHEWAN

NHL Deputy Commissioner Daly announced that the NHL has backtracked on its expansion plans in Seattle in favor of Western Canada, specifically Saskatchewan

The move is certainly a surprising and betrayal for those in Seattle, but for those in Saskatchewan it is a dream come true.

When announced, questions abounded about where it would be located. Regina? Saskatoon? Swift Current?

All these would have been valid options. But the NHL went with an unusually emotional choice: Humboldt.

By now everyone knows about the fateful Humboldt Broncos tragedy that claimed 16 lives. The NHL Board of Governors voted 16-15 in one of the most closest votes ever to award the team to Humboldt over Seattle

The team will be known as the Saskatchewan Broncos. They will have the same color scheme as the original team. They will play out of a completely overhauled Elgar Petersen Arena.

They have already announced the number 16 is retired by the team. Only the mascot, known as Slapshot, will wear the #16

Leading the team will be General Manager Scott Barney, the former General Manager of the original Humboldt Broncos. Joining him as Assistant General Manager is Humboldt native and former NHLer Brendan Witt.

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AHL HOCKEY RETURNS TO HAMILTON

For the first time since 2015 when the Hamilton Bulldogs moved to St John's, AHL hockey will return to Steeltown. The team will be known as the Hamilton Red Wings, and will play out of Pat Quinn Parkdale Arena. They also will have number 16 retired.20201018_123927.jpeg20201018_123939.jpeg20201018_123950.jpeg

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SASKATCHEWAN SLIPS SLIGHTLY IN NHL DRAFT LOTTERY

The Saskatchewan Broncos held the #3 spot going into the lottery

Leaving it they would have the #5 spot, Anaheim having moved up 3 spots to take the Broncos original pick at #3.

Detroit would get the #1 overall pick with Buffalo lucking out to jump from 8th to 2nd.

Saskatchewan General Manager Scott Barney has been mum on who he plans on picking in the NHL draft (or the expansion draft for that matter). With the 5th pick, expect him to target Drysdale, Raymond or Holtz. If Stutzle or Byfield are miraculously available, they may pick them as well.

This could also change depending on who they pick up in the expansion draft.

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SASKATCHEWAN PICKS OVECHKIN, PIETRANGELO, GIORDANO IN EXPANSION DRAFT

The Saskatchewan Broncos made some huge splashes in the expansion draft, adding superstar Alexander Ovechkin in addition to stud defensemen Alex Pietrangelo and Mark Giordano.

In addition, the team picked up forwards Kyle Palmieri, Phillip Danault & Brendan Saad, defensemen Josh Manson, Sami Vatenen & Ethan Bear, as well as Goaltenders Jusse Saros,l & Antti Raanta.

It remains to be seen who remains on the team come Regular Season and who doesn't

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LEAFS TRADE GIORDANO, MANSON, KASE; DRAFT BYFIELD

In seperate trades with Washington and Winnipeg, the Saskatchewan Broncos have traded defensemen Mark Giordano & Josh Manson as well as forward Ondrej Kase

First they sent Giordano to Washington in exchange for their 30th overall pick. Giordano was originally picked up from the Calgary Flames in the expansion draft.

Next they sent defenseman Josh Manson and forward Ondrej Kase to Winnipeg in exchange for 2020 & 2021 2nd Round Picks.

The Broncos were then handed a gift in the entry draft when center Quinton Byfield dropped all the way to 5th overall, which is when the Broncos would grab him. He will be given every chance to make the team out of training camp, but he does have a large hill to climb.

In addition the team picked up:

First Round

•C Ridly Greig (Brandon Wheat Kings),

Second Round:

•LD Markuss Zykov (Latvia)
•G Tucker Tynan (Niagara Ice Dogs)

Third Round:

•C Elliott Desnoyers (Moncton Wildcats)

Fourth Round
•G David Bottcher (Kolner)

Fifth Round:
•RD Cameron Supryka (Hamilton Bulldogs)

Sixth Round:
•G Jan Bednar (QMJHL)

Seventh Round:
•RD Jack York (Peterborough Petes)

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Resign Period

The Saskatchewan Broncos have come to terms with the following players for the following contracts:

•C Derick Brassard, 2 Year, $3.6M
•C Quinton Byfield, 3 Year ELC, $900K

•LW Brendan Saad, 2 Year, $5M
•LW Jordan Greenway, 1 Year, $1.725M

•RW Denis Gurianov, 2 Year, $3.9M
•RW Josh Anderson, 2 Year, $2.2M

•D Alex Pietrangelo, 5 Year, $8.5M
•D Sami Vatenen, 4 Year, $4.3M
•D Nikita Zadorov, 1 Year, $3.2M

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2020-2021 FREE AGENCY PREVIEW

General Manager Scott Barney addressed the Media prior to the start of the free agency frenzy, the first for the expansion team

"I think it's important that, despite the ability of ours to spend now on all these exciting contracts and players, we also have to mindful of the future and not totally sacrifice the future for the now. In one of the deepest free agency pools, except perhaps at defense, it can be easy to overspend"

Scott isn't exaggerating; with a forward group that includes Taylor Hall, Gabriel Landeskog, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins & Brendan Gallagy, along with goalies Tukka Rask, Brayden Holtby, Frederik Andersen & Jacob Markstrom, it can be easy to be lured into making a big splash early. That's something Scott must manage heading into the franchise's first free agency period