Transcending Expectations: The Coaching Career of Neil MacNeil (NHL 12)

**SENS_AK27** · 01-19-2012, 08:49 PM

Re: Transcending Expectations: The Coaching Career of Neil MacNeil (NHL 12)

Thanks to everyone that signed up for this dynasty. Here is a list of everyone's character and what their starting stats will be:

CHARACTERS

Average Joe Forward:
Patrick Cosgrove (RW)
# 21 72 OVR
Age: 24
C/C/C

While not exceptional in any one area the Average Joe doesn't have any apparent flaws either.

Average Joe Defense:
Sascha Jansen (D)
# 4 72 OVR
Age: 26
C/C/C

While not exceptional in any one area the Average Joe doesn't have any apparent flaws either.

Wily Veteran:
Derrick Thomas ©
# 19 78 OVR
Age: 36
C-/C-/C-

The Wily Veteran is the true leader of this team, the wily veteran legs just don't move like they use to. But what he lacks in speed he makes up in leadership and experience. The Wily Veteran longs to get one more crack at the top level before hanging up the skates for good.

Hot Shot:
Ryan Cooper (RW)
# 18 76 OVR
Age: 22
B/C/B

This kid is good, a great skater and a nice shot, really all the tools to become a great NHLer BUT he has a major weakness, he won't play defense and until he can commit to work on his defensive game he'll never see the NHL.

Underachieving Star:
Matti Auvinen (RW)
# 13 77 OVR
Age: 23
B/C/C

Once the boon of the city in the NHL, this character has allowed the dollars of his new contract to go to his head, he lacked motivation and came into training camp overweight and unmotivated. Sent down to the minors for a conditioning stint, will his attitude change so he can go back to the level he belongs or does he like playing where he doesn't even need to try.

Mighty Mite:
Dominick Bellini (LW)
# 24 74 OVR
Age: 21
B/C/B

The smallest player on the roster, what this warrior lacks in size he makes up for in heart. Never tell him that he won't make the NHL, he never takes a shift off and is often the hardest working guy on the ice night in and night out.

All Flash, No Bang:
Graham Morrison (LW)
# 22 73 OVR
Age: 24
B-/C/A-

This skilled player is the fastest skater on the team, buzzing around the rest of the players this character is all over the ice. Unfortunately, his breakaways often end up with him in the net and the puck off in the corner. He has no finish, can he work on his game in time to make the NHL before his legs start to slow down?

1 Dimensional:
Mark Nuberg ©
# 10 72 OVR
Age: 27
C/C/B-

This character put all his focus into Face-offs, he is the king and takes pride in winning the face off. Unfortunately, he needs to work on the rest of his game to be a bonafide NHL player.

Hot Head:
David Norton (D)
# 29 76 OVR
Age: 22
B-/B/B-

A big massive hulking defenseman, the Hot Head would be a great NHL defenseman if only he didn't have such a hot head. He usually spends more time in the box then he does on the ice.

I'm Really a Forward:
Steve Pattenden (D)
# 2 74 OVR
Age: 22
B/B-/B-

Although this character plays defenseman, he should really have been a forward. Always pinching in and trying to get that goal, he is often a detriment to the team when he gets caught up the ice because he made a bad decision. A great shooter and puck mover, but he really is lacking a defensive game.

Knuckles:
Robert Miller (RW)
# 39 74 OVR
Age: 25
C/B-/C

The teams enforcer. He knows his role is to stick up for his teammates and protect the star players. The enforcer is a good enough hockey player but the coach doesn't play him to score goals. He one day hopes to fight for a chance to be the NHL enforcer but has to prove he is tough enough.

The Kid:
Ernie Volpe (LW)
# 28 69 OVR
Age: 18
A/A-/A-

The newest guy on the team, this kid is fresh out of the Major Juniors. Whenever someone mentions his name it is always with the same breath as potential. This guy has the best potential of all the minor league players but he just needs time to develop to become a full time NHL player.

Prodigal Band-Aid:
Curtis Morrison ©
# 16 77 OVR
Age: 23
B-/B-/B

Once a highly regarded draft pick, the Band-Aid has had several setbacks by untimely injuries. Although he is still young and has displayed flashes of brilliance when on the ice can this character stay healthy enough to become a mainstay in the NHL and live up to all his hype.

The Pylon:
Ryan Weber (D)
# 26 72 OVR
Age: 24
C/B/B-

This character has all the trappings of a fine young defenseman, if it weren't for one problem....their foot speed. Unfortunately, this defender is often beaten to the puck or has opposing forwards undress him in his own end. Can he work on his speed and positioning enough to make it to the NHL?

The Silent Assassin:
Mikko Holopainen ©
# 9 76 OVR
Age: 22
A-/B-/B-

This character is easily missed in the locker-room. He rarely talks and to look at him you'd think he's the 15 year old water boy with his boyish looks and slender build. Don't let his demeanor fool you though, because he does all his talking on the ice and you will hear him loud and clear after he burns your D and dekes your goalie out of his jock strap. The Assassin will have to add some muscle if he ever wants to take his moves to the NHL.

The Yapper:
James Blaine (LW)
# 81 75 OVR
Age: 23
B-/B-/C

The guy every team hates, but would love to have on their team. With the likes of Barnaby, Avery, Cooke, and Samuelsson before him this player is good at getting under his opponents skin. Although a better goal scorer then the Knuckles, this character is also as adept at dropping the gloves to stick up for his teammates.

The Cannon:
James Aldridge (D)
# 31 76 OVR
Age: 26
B-/B-/C

This Power Forward can easily be mistaken for the teams enforcer. Although encouraged not to fight he is certainly capable of doing so considering his size and strength. It's that very size and strength that when combined with skill that makes him have the most dangerous slap shot on the team. You don't want to be hit by this blistering shot. Unfortunately, he needs to work on his aim and fundamentals if he wants to crack a NHL lineup.

Standing Tall:
Mikael Sundin (G)
# 38 74 OVR
Age: 20
B/B-/C

A giant of a man, you think that might be of some benefit to this goalie, but his lack of speed and agility has hampered his training. Can he improve enough to earn a start in the NHL, time will tell.

RIVAL CAPS

THE JOCK:
Bryan Hurst ©
# 22 79 OVR
Age: 20
B/B-/B

This character is a highly touted NHL prospect. At the tender age of 20 he has already seemed to accomplish so much having won hockey championships from Midget all the way up to Major Junior Memorial Cups. He was team Canada's hero at last years World Juniors. Unfortunately, he is buried on a NHL team's depth chart and has to bide his time in the AHL. Always a threat to win the scoring race, he is a player teams hate to play against.

THE GOLDEN BOY:
Nathan MacDonald (44)
# 44 71 OVR
Age: 19
B/A/A-

The Golden Boy has been followed by the media since his Midget team won back to back provincial championships. Following in the footsteps of fellow Bluenoser; Sidney Crosby he went to Shattock Saint Mary's prep school, where he had a terrific year of hockey and garnered much media attention. After playing 1 season in the QMJHL where he led all defenseman in scoring the Golden Boy was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 1st Round. Always with a swarm of media attention on him the Golden Boy will have to stick out the rigors of the AHL while he plays for a team that has been known to be very patient with their draft prospects.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE:
Vladimir Tarasenko (RW)
# 16 74 OVR
Age: 20
A/B-/A-

Evgeni Kuznetsov (RW)
# 25 74 OVR
Age: 19
A/A-/A

Last years 1st round picks Kuznetsov and Tarasenko have foresaken the KHL league and have come to play in the AHL where they hope to prove their superiority by leading all scorers and crushing scoring records.

THE WALL:
Chazz Michaels (G)
# 32 77 OVR
Age: 23
B/B-/A-

A constant in the AHL this goalie could be playing NHL minutes if it wasn't for the fact that he is # 3 on a stacked depth chart. That means he will be logging major minutes in the AHL which is a problem for opposing teams trying to score on him.

**SENS_AK27** · 01-20-2012, 10:21 AM

Re: Transcending Expectations: The Coaching Career of Neil MacNeil (NHL 12)

2012 NHL Season Preview

Written by: PETER SIAMANDAS

The NHL regular season is almost upon us, but rosters are all but solidified. Sure there’ll be the usual competition between 20-somethings and NHL vets for a few spots at the end of the lineup, but each team’s key players are in place. That means the business of predictions can begin. But first, here are some important notes on injuries.

Injuries

The single biggest reason that hockey isn’t played on paper is the potential for injuries. Last year I thought the St. Louis Blues would be the new Chicago Blackhawks. They had a young core of talented forwards like T.J Oshie, David Perron, Patrik Berglund, and David Backes, supplemented by veterans like Andy McDonald and Brad Boyes. They had just added Montreal goaltender Jaroslav Halak – fresh off a dominant playoff performance where he took the underdog Habs to the Conference Finals. Throw in a solid defence anchored by vets like Eric Brewer and Barrett Jackman, and the Blues looked poised to finish near the top-third of the Western Conference. They came busting out of the gates, cruising to a 9-1-2 record, but then it all came crashing down. The blues fell victim to a series of costly injuries, starting in game 10 when Joe Thornton’s shoulder became too well acquainted with David Perron’s jaw. Perron went to the dressing room, but in a surprise move, returned to the game and even scored the game winning goal. In retrospect, his return was probably a mistake, as he missed the next 72 games of the year with post-concussion syndrome. (He still hasn’t even worked out to this day, and is nowhere near a return). T.J Oshie went down in game 13 with an ankle injury, and Andy McDonald was hurt in game 25 (yet another concussion). With half their top-6 out, and Brad Boyes having another inconsistent year, the Blues never recovered. A once promising year ended in disappointment, as St. Louis finished 11^th in the West.

Maybe the lesson is don’t trust teams with small forwards? Perron and McDonald are both slight of build, and Oshie is a mid-size player who plays a rambunctious style, which may lead to more injuries down the line. Similarly, Edmonton has featured an extremely small lineup over the last few years, and has been leading the league in man-games lost to injury. Conversely, San Jose has had a big lineup with forwards like Thornton, Marleau, Clowe, and formerly Heatley, and has suffered very few injuries in the past few years. It certainly isn’t a simple formula, but having smaller players may contribute to injury woes.

A few other variables that influence injuries include a player’s age and individual injury history. All else equal, older players get hurt a lot more than younger players. The Detroit Red Wings have borne this out, as their aging roster has experienced more injuries in the past few years then it had previously. And each year, Marian Gaborik’s employer prays that the gods be merciful and allow him to suit up for 82 games – a wish they seldom grant. Other players who have developed a reputation for their fragile health include Tim Connolly, Jason Spezza, Justin Williams, and Ales Hemsky. Any team that counts heavily on these players needs to have strong depth in order to be successful, as they’ve all experienced long-term injuries on multiple occasions.

Some people even suspect that a player’s contract status can have an impact on their likelihood of being ‘injured’. The best example is Martin Havlat, who missed 73 games in the first two years of his 3-year, $18M deal with Chicago (along with rumblings of ‘phantom’ injuries). However, he played in 81 games in the final year of his deal, just in time to get another big pay day from Minnesota in 2009. Of course, these type of allegations are difficult to prove without first-hand knowledge.

Despite these patterns, injuries have become so rampant in the NHL today that they tend to strike randomly. That’s why the most successful teams will tend to be those with the most depth, rather than simply those who possess high-end talent. Of course, some mixture of both will produce the very best teams. With that, here’s my list – tiered according to where they fit in the playoff picture:

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Top Teams

San Jose, Los Angeles, Chicago, Vancouver, Detroit

I think all of these teams are locks to make the playoffs. San Jose and Los Angeles both had strong teams prior to the off-season, and each addressed their weaknesses perfectly. SJ bolstering their defence by adding Brent Burns, and LA added experienced top-6 forwards with Mike Richards and Simon Gagne. They’ll battle for the Pacific Division, and whichever team loses will probably finish 4^th in the Western Conference. Chicago’s 1^st round playoff loss gave them a long off-season, and their excellent young core should start the season healthy and hungry. Detroit – nearly as good as ever- will compete with Chicago for the Central Division crown, with the loser probably finishing around 5^th. Vancouver doesn’t have much competition in the North-West and should lock up a spot between 1^st and 3^rd.

Playoff Contenders

St. Louis, Minnesota, Anaheim, Nashville, Calgary, Columbus, Dallas

Of these seven teams, only Anaheim and Nashville made the playoffs last year, finishing 4^th and 5^th respectively. However, I don’t believe either of them are assured of a spot this year. Anaheim has the most uncertainty, with all-star goaltender Jonas Hiller’s long bout of vertigo casting doubt on the goaltending situation, not to mention the potential retirement of ageless star Teemu Selanne. It’s status quo in Nashville, where they remain well-coached, defensive minded, and under-talented. Overall, they’re no better or worse than they were last year, but with divisional rivals like Columbus, Chicago, and St. Louis improving over the summer, and Detroit still a strong contender, they’ll be in tough to make the playoffs.

Update: Apparently Jonas Hiller is vertigo free according to this story.

The two teams I’m most excited about in this group are St. Louis and Minnesota. St. Louis is a young team loaded with talent which added a veteran presence with the signings of Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner. Ultimately their success will be driven by the young core of Stewart, Backes, Berglund, Oshie, Pietrangelo, Shattenkirk, and Halak, but it’s nice to have some older players around who can still contribute when needed. Meanwhile, Minnesota pulled off some great off-season moves, adding a pair of snipers in Devin Setoguchi and Dany Heatley who should mesh well with playmakers like Mikko Koivu and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. While Minnesota is not an elite team, their forward depth is actually quite impressive, with each player bringing a useful and distinct element to the mix. Their defence is a bit thin with the loss of Brent Burns, but Nicklas Backstrom is a top-10 goalie in the league and should be able to hold down the fort.

As for the rest, Calgary is a solid team in all respects which doesn’t wow you in any particular area. Jarome Iginla was still one of the league’s best RW’s last year, but at 34, his play is likely to decline fairly soon. Alex Tanguay and Rene Bourque are good players, but they probably aren’t the second and third best forwards on a playoff team. Miikaa Kiprusoff is solid, but hasn’t been able to lead them to a playoff spot in recent years. Losing a good shut-down defenceman like Robyn Regehr probably won’t help him keep pucks out either. Columbus made some huge off-season moves, acquiring Jeff Carter from Philadelphia and James Wisniewski via *free agency. These moves will certainly make them more competitive, but persistent weaknesses remain. Aside from Wisniewski and youngster Kris Russell, the Blue Jackets lack skill and puck-moving ability from their D. They also have a weak goaltending tandem, as 23-year-old Steve Mason has struggled through most of the last two years, and Mark Dekanich – an NHL rookie – will be his back-up. If the duo of Nash and Carter catch fire, and Mason can play as well as he did in his rookie season (where he won the Calder Trophy and finished second in Vezina voting), then Columbus could make the playoffs, but it’s asking a lot. Lastly, Dallas – a team highlighted by a few really good forwards. They’re led by the NHL’s most underrated player (as chosen by the players), Loui Eriksson, captain Brendan Morrow, Mike Ribeiro, and (one of my personal favourites), rising star Jamie Benn. However, that’s about as far as they go. Stephane Robidas has become a very solid veteran defenceman, and Alex Goligoski is a very good offensive defenceman, but there isn’t much more talent on this team. They’ll be competitive, but I don’t think they have enough.

*Columbus acquired Wisniewski’s negotiating rights from Montreal and signed him before he hit free agency

Rebuilding

Edmonton, Colorado, Phoenix

Edmonton has been acquiring young talent for years now. Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Magnus Paajarvi, and several others. They’re nowhere near their peak, but if they can keep them together and add some solid veterans (especially on D), this team will be dangerous in 3-5 years. Colorado has some fine pieces with former 1^st overall pick Erik Johnson, elite youngster Matt Duchene, and last year’s second overall pick Gabriel Landeskog. But aside from Paul Stastny, none of the key pieces of this team are in their prime. Another high pick is on the way. As for Phoenix, their awkward mix of past-prime veterans and overly green rookies, coupled with the loss of starting goalie Ilyz Bryzgalov, should put them fully into rebuild mode. Who knows how long they’ll be there, as the unstable ownership situation has produced a series of one-year contracts and no roster stability for the future; especially with the failed sale of the team to Chicago Businessman Matthew Hulsizer. Gary Bettman has announced a press conference later this week, where he could possibly be revealing the future of this beleaguered franchise.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Top Teams

Washington, Buffalo, Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia

Washington came away from free agency with the biggest haul of any team. They got a solid veteran goaltender for only $1.5M in Tomas Vokoun, a solid veteran defender in Roman Hamrlik, and several other fine additions. They’re positioned to be the top team in the South-East division, if not the Eastern Conference, for several years. That doesn’t mean they’ll win the Stanley Cup this year or next, but they’re certainly worthy of significant consideration. At the end of last season, Buffalo was a good team. Great goalie, good forwards, thin on defence. Then came the off-season where they managed to acquire two talented defenceman in Robyn Regehr and Christian Ehrhoff, while also adding Ville Leino to the forward ranks. Barring major injury, this team has no holes in their lineup, and looks poised to win the North-East division. Boston will challenge Buffalo for the North-East division title, but after a long post-season run and a short summer, they may run into a few injuries. Also, while the core of their team remains intact, they did lose some important complimentary pieces in Michael Ryder, Mark Recchi, and Tomas Kaberle. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is awaiting the status of Sidney Crosby. They’ll make the playoffs with or without him, but they can’t be considered a Stanley Cup contender without Sid the Kid. Philadelphia actually has a great looking team on paper, but after the extreme roster makeover they underwent, it may take a while before they start playing up to their vast potential. Along with Pittsburgh, they’re among the biggest wild cards in the East.

Playoff Contenders

New York R, Tampa Bay, New Jersey, Montreal, Toronto

The New York Rangers are one of the most improved team in the league. In fact, they’re only a few defencemen away from being an elite squad. Adding Brad Richards – the biggest free agent of the summer – will not only help Marian Gaborik immensely, but will also take pressure off future star centre Derek Stepan, allowing him to develop at a more reasonable pace. Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky are both excellent young forwards, and the Rangers have more forward depth till fill a variety of roles. Henrik Lundqvist is one of the game’s elite goaltenders, and Marc Staal and Daniel Girardi are young, capable defencemen. However, the rest of the Rangers D is inexperienced. If they can address this problem, they’ll be a contender soon. As it is, they are certainly playoff bound. Tampa Bay is still a good team, but they’ve lost a few important pieces from last year. With Simon Gagne and Sean Bergenheim gone via free agency, and Ryan Malone recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, they’ve lost their top three left wingers. Of course, with Stamkos, St. Louis, and Lecavalier around, their offence will be still be potent, but don’t expect them to make it back to the Eastern Conference final this year. New Jersey is an interesting team to watch. Zach Parise has been their star and leader for more than a few years now, but he missed the last 69 games of the season after tearing the meniscus in his right knee. If he can return to form, and if Patrik Elias and Ilya Kovalchuk can play as well as they did in last year’s second half, the Devils could return to the post-season. It will be no easy feat though, as their divisional rivals include some of the top teams in the East – Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and New York. And to make matters worse, word is that #1 centre Travis Zajac tore his achilles tendon and will miss several months of action. Montreal is kind of like the Nashville of the East. They have a defensive minded coach in Jacques Martin, a great goalie in Carey Price, and a solid group of defenceman with Markov, Gill, Gorges, Spacek, and the always entertaining P.K Subban. However, they don’t have too much offence beyond Cammalleri, Plekanec, and Gionta. Scot Gomez is clearly on the downswing, and the newly acquired Erik Cole isn’t nearly as explosive as he was five years ago. They have enough talent to make the playoffs, but they’ll have to fight tooth and nail to get there. Last but not least is Toronto. As I wrote about at length, Toronto is a solid team – somewhat comparable to Calgary in the West. They don’t have a glaring weakness, but they also don’t have very many difference makers at any position. If James Reimer can play as well this coming season as he did down the stretch last year, Toronto could leapfrog Montreal and New Jersey for a playoff spot. However, it’s a lot to put on the shoulders of a 23-year-old goalie with only a half season of NHL experience.

Rebuilding

WINNIPEG, Carolina, Ottawa, New York I, Florida

Let’s start with the Winnipeg Jets. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? The Jets aren’t a bad team. They have lots of talent on defence with Tobias Enstrom and Dustin Byfuglien leading the way, along with veterans in Hainsey and Oduya and a young stud in Zach Bogosian. Ondrej Pavelec and Chris Mason are a solid tandem in goal, with Pavelec looking like a potential star both now and in the future. The problem is at forward, where there isn’t quite enough established offensive talent, and not very much defensive prowess either. Some of their most talented players are several years from their prime, including Evander Kane, Alex Burmistrov, and Bryan Little. Overall, good pieces are in place everywhere, but the playoffs will have to wait. Carolina has a few building blocks firmly in place, with their franchise centre in Eric Staal and their franchise goaltender in Cam Ward. They also have an exceptional young forward in Jeff Skinner, last year’s Calder Trophy winner at the tender age of 18. However, the rest of the team is made up mostly of complimentary pieces, and they don’t have a particularly strong defence. They do have a number of good young prospects at most positions, so it’s clear that for the ime being, GM Jim Rutherford is taking a patient approach. After finishing last season on a high note, the Ottawa Senators are looking to make quick work of the rebuild. They played very well after acquiring Craig Anderson from Colorado at the trade deadline, and their AHL team in Binghamton won the AHL’s Calder Cup, providing several young players with useful playoff experience. Jason Spezza leads a young cast of forwards with a lot to prove, and Swedish sensation Erik Karlsson is a future star on the blueline. The playoffs probably aren’t in the cards, but they aren’t too far off either. The New York Islanders are the polar opposite of the Winnipeg Jets. They have a potentially great group of forwards in place, and virtually no goaltending or defence to speak of. Forwards like Tavares, Okposo, and Grabner, are all near-stars right now, and Strome and Niederreiter may be along fairly soon. However, the availability of former all-star defenceman Mark Streit remains in question nearly a year after tearing his labrum and rotator cuff in his left shoulder. And even with him, they’re a pretty underwhelming group. Then there’s the potentially career threatening knee injuries which plague former franchise goaltender Rick Dipietro. After several surgeries on both knees, he must be having thoughts of retirement. And then there was Florida. With tens of millions to spend on July 1, GM Dale Tallon went out and paid a premium for just about every second-tier free agent available, including defenceman Ed Jovonovski, forwards Scottie Upshall, Marcel Goc, and Sean Bergeheim, and Jose Theodore, who will be the team’s de facto starting goalie. He also acquired Kris Versteeg, Tomas Kopecky, and Brian Campbell via trade. While Florida won’t necessarily be the league’s worst team, they do seem the most hopeless since they lack anyone worthy of being a top-line forward, a top-pairing defenceman, or a legitimate starting goalie. It will be a long year in Florida.

—

2011-2012 Standings Forecast:

WEST

1Los Angeles 2San Jose 3Anaheim 4Dallas 5Phoenix

1Chicago 2Detroit 3St. Louis 4Nashville 5Columbus

1Vancouver 2Minnesota 3Calgary4Edmonton 5Colorado

EAST

1Washingotn 2Tampa Bay3Winnipeg 4Carolina 5Florida

1Philadelphia 2Pittsburgh 3New York Rangers 4New Jersey 5New York Islanders

1Buffalo 2Boston 3Montreal 4Toronto 5Ottawa

**SENS_AK27** · 01-20-2012, 11:29 AM

Re: Transcending Expectations: The Coaching Career of Neil MacNeil (NHL 12)

COYOTES SOLD!

September 18th, 2011
By: Staff Writer Peter Kent

Gary Bettman held a press conference today amidst uncertainty and speculation. With a crooked smile he announced that the NHL Board of Governors had approved the sale of the Phoenix Coyotes to Hollywood Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and the subsequent relocation of the team to nearby Las Vegas. Bruckheimer, a long time avid hockey fan began petitioning the NHL for an expansion team in Sin City but like Mark Chipman and his company, had to prove he could successfully manage a NHL club. So in 2008 he bought the ECHL team the Las Vegas Wranglers, which has become quite successful under his ownership and is considered a top draw even amongst all the other attractions in Las Vegas.

Much like the announcement of the relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers last year, the timeline for the move will go quickly. As part of the agreement Bruckheimer had to have a new arena proposal set in place, and he and his company have come to an agreement with the city and the State of Nevada on the construction of a new multimillion dollar sports facility in the city. In the 2012-13 Season the team will continue to play at the Orleans Arena, a small intimate 9,900 seat facility currently used by the Wranglers. Speaking of the ECHL club, the Wrangles will move 450 miles up the road to Reno, Nevada.

One thing that is fortunate about this move is that there will be no talk of realignment as the Las Vegas team will continue to fit properly in the Western Conference’s Pacific Division. Expect more announcements regarding the relocation in the near future as the Saga in Phoenix has finally come to and end and maybe the Phoenix players can finally get some piece of mind and just focus on hockey.

**bthomp05** · 01-20-2012, 12:11 PM

Re: Transcending Expectations: The Coaching Career of Neil MacNeil (NHL 12)

Great read Sens. Good luck with this.

**SENS_AK27** · 01-20-2012, 03:01 PM

Re: Transcending Expectations: The Coaching Career of Neil MacNeil (NHL 12)

September 21st, 2012

From the office of the CEO,

Prior to the start of preseason, Jerry Bruckheimer distributed a press release to announce that he is cleaning house in Phoenix and will be bringing in some fresh faces as far as coaching and management is concerned. The following is an excerpt from his press release:

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce today we have relieved General Manger Don Maloney and Head Coach Dave Tippett, along with Assistant Coaches Jim Playfair and John Anderson of their positions. All other coaches and scouts will remain with the team. I have promoted Assistant General Manager Brad Treliving to Interim General Manager while we search for a suitable replacement. We feel strongly about our internal talent so we are happy to announce the promotion of Portland Head Coach Ray Edwards and Assistant Coach John Slaney to be the new coaches in Phoenix. We would also like to wish Don, Dave, Jim, and John all the best in their future endeavors.

We will be looking for a new Head Coach for Portland and already have several qualified candidates lined up for the interview process. Once we make our selection we will release a statement with the details. "

So the winds of change are blowing in Phoenix with the new ownership group. Without going into detail one doesn't have to read between the lines to see what's going on here. The new owners are trying to shed the identity of a team that has often struggled while in Glendale. By bringing in fresh management and coaches perhaps the team will start to build a new identity once they settle into their new home. I would expect more changes to come with the new management and the new philosophy this team has taken on. It could be several more years of rebuild but the results will be worth it when the team starts winning and drawing more attendance.

NHL.COM Newswire
Written by: Peter Kent.

**SENS_AK27** · 01-20-2012, 06:50 PM

Re: Transcending Expectations: The Coaching Career of Neil MacNeil (NHL 12)

October 4th, 2011
By: Staff Writer Peter Kent

The Portland Pirates have found their man. Jerry Bruckheimer and company released a press statement yesterday to say that they have hired former QMJHL coach Neil MacNeil to be the new coach after successfully completing the interview process. Also hired was MacNeil’s assistant coach Alex Keith.

Neil brings with him a wealth of experience. A former player back in the 80’s MacNeil went back to his roots on retiring to coach. After coaching Bantam for several years he began coaching university hockey at St. Francis Xavier who competes in the AUS. Following that stint he coached the expansion NS Major Midget team the Scotsburn Heifers to two consecutive provincial championships. He has spent the past 4 years coaching the Lewiston Maineiacs on the Major Junior level in the QMJHL. When the Lewiston team relocated, MacNeil wasn’t invited to move with the team. The decision was based less on his success with the team and more with a disagreement with the new ownership group.

MacNeil and Keith are expected to arrive in Portland in a few days where they will be assessing the talent that has been amassed in Portland. The team will hold their first practise and MacNeil will start to devise a system that he will put in place. With the upcoming AHL season fast approaching we’ll have to see if MacNeil will have his players up and going for the teams first game against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

**Tazer19** · 01-20-2012, 06:59 PM

Re: Transcending Expectations: The Coaching Career of Neil MacNeil (NHL 12)

haha, at the whole thing, hilarious stuff.

**SENS_AK27** · 01-20-2012, 08:22 PM

Re: Transcending Expectations: The Coaching Career of Neil MacNeil (NHL 12)

MACNEIL announces opening night roster for 2011-12 Season

**SENS_AK27** · 01-21-2012, 12:06 PM

Re: Transcending Expectations: The Coaching Career of Neil MacNeil (NHL 12)

PIRATES PUSH IT TO EXTRA TIME BUT COME UP SHORT

Game 1 Recap

Coaches Take:

Coach, how do you feel about the teams performance tonight?

I feel we came out and played a strong game tonight. We were in tough going against a Veteran goaltender in Nabokov. Frankly, I don't know why the hell he is playing in the AHL, but that's beside the point. We are going to have to tighten up defensively because I know for a fact our D had way to many turnovers in their own end.

Who was your best player tonight?

Without a doubt Sundin kept us in it tonight. They [Bridgeport] came out strong at us in the 1st period and were definitely out-shooting us. Sundin stood tall and kept us in the game and allowed us to tie it later. I was also impressed with Curtis, he dominated in the face-off circle, winning something like 8 of 10 draws.

How about that turnover which leads to the game winner?

What about it? It was a bonehead play that Steve shouldn't have made. Tell me that you don't think he is back in the locker room at this very instant kicking himself in the butt for throwing a blindside pass in front of the net with less then 4 seconds to go in overtime, and before you ask, NO I don't need to say anything to him. We all make mistakes we'll move on and win the next one.

**TMLGilmour93** · 01-21-2012, 01:58 PM

Re: Transcending Expectations: The Coaching Career of Neil MacNeil (NHL 12)

Looking good man, I'll be keeping up with this one!

**SENS_AK27** · 01-22-2012, 10:20 AM

Re: Transcending Expectations: The Coaching Career of Neil MacNeil (NHL 12)

MICHAELS the difference maker in a close game

GAME 2 RECAP

Coaches Take:

Coach MacNeil take us through tonight's game?

Well, we came out and played really hard tonight. We wanted to win our home opener tonight but just ran into a really good goaltender. I mean I think we got enough shots on net, we just needed to get more traffic in front and make sure he didn't see the shots, like we did when Morrison scored off the rebound.

Tell us about the non-call on Cooper, you were quite livid on the bench?

Of course I was livid, any time one of our star players takes a slash and it isn't called I am going to let the refs have it. Cooper was buzzing that shift and a lazy defender decided to take liberties by slashing him in the hand. It doesn't matter that they made up for the non-call later by calling a meaningless penalty. I'm just fortunate that Ryan will be okay.

Coach, what will be the status of Pattenden next game, with 2 bad passes tonight leading to Manchester goals?

No Comment...

**SENS_AK27** · 01-22-2012, 10:22 AM

Re: Transcending Expectations: The Coaching Career of Neil MacNeil (NHL 12)

LINE CHANGE PROMPTS EXPLOSION IN GOALS

Game 3 RECAP

Game Summary

Coach MacNeil made drastic changes after starting the season 0-1-1. He benched struggling defenseman Steve Pattenden and inserted Brett Maclean back into the lineup in place of Patrick Cosgrove.

The result couldn't have been more convincing as Portland would explode on the Providence Bruins with 4 goals in the 1st period. The powerplay will also click going 1/2. The biggest contribution was the teams 3rd line who tallied for 3 goals on the night. Rookie prospect E. Volpe registered his first AHL goal in a terrific wraparound.

Justin Pogge made 22 saves in his first start of the season, resulting in the teams first win. In a post-game interview Coach MacNeil alluded to keeping the lines the same with the teams rematch in 2 days.

LINES
BELLINI-C.MORRISON-AUVINEN
MACLEAN-HOLOPAINEN-COOPER
BLAINE-THOMAS-G.MORRISON
VOLPE-NUBERG-MILLER

RUNDBLAD-SCHLEMKO
WEBER-NORTON
ALDRIDGE-JANSSEN

PP
COOPER-C.MORRISON-G.MORRISON
JANSSEN-RUNDBLAD

BLAINE-HOLOPAINEN-AUVINEN
WEBER-ALDRIDGE

PK
NUBERT-COOPER
SCHLEMKO-WEBER

THOMAS-G.MORRISON
JANSSEN-NORTON

**seb170455** · 01-23-2012, 03:25 AM

Re: Transcending Expectations: The Coaching Career of Neil MacNeil (NHL 12)

I'll be following this. Also nice to see your own caracter in here. 2 assist, not to bad for a 3th line defender.

**SENS_AK27** · 01-23-2012, 07:17 PM

Re: Transcending Expectations: The Coaching Career of Neil MacNeil (NHL 12)

MICHAELS PUTS UP WALL TO SHUTOUT PIRATES

GAME 4 RECAP

GAME SUMMARY

It was a frustrating night for the Portland Pirates, as they continue to struggle against this Monarch team. Michaels put on another stunning display as he stopped 36 shots on his way to his 2nd shutout of the year.

The Pirates played a disciplined game and didn't take any penalties but their special teams struggled to capitalize on two powerplay opportunities. R. Miller tried to spark his team by dropping the gloves twice during the course of the game, scoring decisive victories over Vey and Kaunisto.

In an effort to generate offense, MacNeil switched up the lines in the 3rd period, which saw Cooper play on the top line RW. He also tried a line combination for speed using Volpe, G. Morrison, and Bellini. Sundin came on in relief of Pogge in the 3rd period. Pogge appeared to be fighting the puck all night and allowed 2 soft goals. Sundin stemmed the bleeding and stopped all 5 shots he faced during the remainder of the game.

Portland will try to get back on track when they face The Adirondack Phantoms in two days time.