Detroit's Offseason Plans

[Shoalzie]

I'm not posting a trading block at this time. During the NHL playoffs, I will not be actively pursuing any deals. I've been approached by a few teams recently about some of my players and picks but I've declined. The plan is to wait until we get closer to the draft when NHL teams are actually making moves towards next season. I will try my best to not get an itchy trigger finger and make moves just to make moves unless they will truly make my team better over the long haul.

My plan is to use my #2 overall pick in the waiver draft but I will listen to offers for the pick. I would only take assets that can help me next year. I have 4 waiver picks total and I hope to accumulate some organizational depth. I expect the player at #2 to be a player that can help me sooner rather than later. With the entry draft, I have 6 picks in the 4th round along with Carolina's 5th, which is essentially a late 4th. I would be open to moving a few of these picks to move back into the 2nd or 3rd round but I also wouldn't mind the opportunity load up on draftees to my roster and replenish my prospects pool. Organizational depth is something I will be working on this summer as well improving the veteran talent.

I don't want to run into the problem I had last season where I had very little available on my team to replace injured NHLers. Current AHLer/future NHLers are valuable pieces to me in that I want to keep a pool of guys available in case of injury because I have players that are prone to injury. I've said to a few GMs, I'm currently evaluating my team as well as players around the league and until I'm done, I won't really be in a position to make deals or make offers for possible deals. I will listen anyone that has a trade proposal but odds are that I will decline until I have my completed my evaluation and formulate a plan for the offseason. I'm also re-working my spreadsheet/team forum and hope to have that ready in time for when our offseason is in full swing.

Last summer was a year where I could've entered the season as a borderline playoff team with older players with a short shelf life but opted to move many of those players before the season rather than roll the dice and see if I make the playoffs. Finishing 29th out of 30 teams, the ideal position would be to improve if the right moves can be made but I'm not expecting an instant turn around. I don't own my 1st round pick in 2012 so finishing low doesn't have a great benefit to me. I don't see myself making a return to the playoffs immediately but I'd at least like to make a steady improvement and just be a more competitive squad in '11-12. To work my way back up will be a process and I'm willing to take my time.

Expect the Red Wings to become active in the BBKL offseason around the entry draft or later. I would prefer right now to just sit back and watch the NHL playoffs and look over this year's stats and decide what exactly I have, what I think I need and how I think I can get it.

Thanks!

[tyler]

You suck.

[KapG]

o really

[anton]

you could write 19 pages of detailed plan, but the fact of the matter is your team is terrible and i don't know how this happened.

usually teams with terrible starting rosters at least have picks and prospects to show for it. you have nothing, like absolutely nothing.

only a long series of terrible deals could put a team in your situation. i find it hard to believer someone could make a team as bad as yours if they TRIED to.

like seriously, your best starting player nik antropov, you have NO blue chip prospects, and NO picks before the 4th round in the next 2 years...

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN! MY MIND = BLOWN

[Nick]

lot o negativity here... but I really hope Shoalzie is able to turn his wings around. Keep at er bud! Having a good time is the first (and really only) purpose of the BBKL.

[Lee]

lot o negativity here... but I really hope Shoalzie is able to turn his wings around. Keep at er bud! Having a good time is the first (and really only) purpose of the BBKL.

Don't forget raping them into oblivion before competent GMs take over the shambles. Can't forget about that.

[Shep]

you could write 19 pages of detailed plan, but the fact of the matter is your team is terrible and i don't know how this happened.

usually teams with terrible starting rosters at least have picks and prospects to show for it. you have nothing, like absolutely nothing.

only a long series of terrible deals could put a team in your situation. i find it hard to believer someone could make a team as bad as yours if they TRIED to.

like seriously, your best starting player nik antropov, you have NO blue chip prospects, and NO picks before the 4th round in the next 2 years...

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN! MY MIND = BLOWN

Shoalzie didn't really start with a good Red Wings team...

[Nick]

you could write 19 pages of detailed plan, but the fact of the matter is your team is terrible and i don't know how this happened.

usually teams with terrible starting rosters at least have picks and prospects to show for it. you have nothing, like absolutely nothing.

only a long series of terrible deals could put a team in your situation. i find it hard to believer someone could make a team as bad as yours if they TRIED to.

like seriously, your best starting player nik antropov, you have NO blue chip prospects, and NO picks before the 4th round in the next 2 years...

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN! MY MIND = BLOWN

Shoalzie didn't really start with a good Red Wings team...

I'm not against Shoalzie... but Ryan Sheppard is mistaken here

[MSP4LYFE]

On Shoalzie's behalf I would just like to tell everyone to go fuck themselves.

[anton]

shoalzie is not some innocent guy in a bad position. he has warnings for bad trades dating back almost a year now. this team has been under his control for a very long time with nothing to show for it.

[Nick]

Ye, it's fucking amazing how hindsight is 50/50... yet if you point out an issue when it's happening there is a huge group of sheep here. If your going to bitch about it, you need to back it up [aimed at no one], however I believe a lack of foresight and backbone is at the core of many of the leagues issues-> which i do not mean to magnify, we're a very successful league that is going into it's 3rd draft with a full 30 in depth teams.

[Shoalzie]

Shit, I didn't expect a single response. I was just throwing this out there to say I wasn't looking to make any moves and teams shouldn't really waste their time with me right now. I'm looking straight ahead. For all of you that want to bag on me for what I did before, that's fine. I'm not wasting my energy to worry about the past. I'm going to work with what I have and do the best I can. I'm a very good GM in all the other leagues that I'm in. This one has been a different experience than the others and I'm trying to bring my successful approach into this league what I've used in other leagues.

I've had a full year to find out what works and what doesn't. If it takes me longer than others to move up the ladder, that's fine with me. I'm still here to have fun and try not to take myself too seriously. Whether I finish 1st or 30th, I didn't doesn't affect my mood that much. Winning is fun and I've done it before but I've also lost my fair share. You just have to have the right attitude and believe in your approach. I've adopted a few different philosophies and experimented a little too much and what I want to do going forward is work on a new plan and to stick to it. I've seen several teams here flip back and forth from wanting to rebuild and then in the next breath make deals to acquire top talent. There doesn't seem to be a fool-proof way to do this...you just have to avoid being foolish.

This is a trade heavy league with some draft elements and very little waiver/free agency involved. I've just got to sharpen my approach on deals here and I'm confident this team will improve. Some of you appear not be too fond of me or that way I do things but that's okay. Believe it or not, I do like all of you. This league is a lot about the relationships we develop on this board. This is by far the most interactive and GM involved league I've been in. Much like any NHL GM needs to have a good relationship with their fellow GMs, I want to make sure that is something I'm concious of as I conduct business.

Anyway...I'm looking forward to working towards next season. I'll be in touch with many of you very soon, I'm sure.

[Scott]

I like your approach Shoalzie.. and really, who gives a fuck what people say. Do what you're comfortable with and adjust accordingly.

[MSP4LYFE]

I've got no problems with Scott...And that is saying alot, because I have problems with everyone.

[Monk]

honestly the fact that shoalzie is active and likes to discuss issues pertaining to the league personal or otherwise is a positive... everyone has made terrible deals when looked at in hindsight, and i think we would rather have an active gm as opposed to one that is on once every couple weeks

[shooker]

honestly the fact that shoalzie is active and likes to discuss issues pertaining to the league personal or otherwise is a positive... everyone has made terrible deals when looked at in hindsight, and i think we would rather have an active gm as opposed to one that is on once every couple weeks

agreed shoalzie made some terrible trades at the begining *cough Toews cough* but has learned from those mistakes and still wants to be here. I think we have already gone over this thing more than we need to shoalzie is committed to the league and deserves a chance to make the wings a contender once again.

at least he isnt a doucher like that first wings GM

[tyler]

sry for saying you suck ... didnt expect people to follow suit.

[Nick]

sry for saying you suck ... didnt expect people to follow suit.

You underestimated your own influence.

[KapG]

yah i was just fucking around with my response too.

I wasn't expecting such a long write up when I clicked on the thread lol.