2. Written, 3 TPE, GM stands for Great Man (150 words min.)
There have been some good and some bad GMs in SHL history. (Mostly bad) Pick a GM you think was outstanding and explain why you think they were one of the better GMs in SHL history. Point to trades/signings/trophy wins/locker rooms to support your claim.

I think that Acsolap + Honkers are excellent GM’s. It isn’t easy to take charge of an expansion team, especially when there are slim pickings in the talent department. Luckily, the boys made some talent soup and collected a group of misfits and rag tag tommy’s to really take the league by storm. We’ve overperformed and managed to get a few playoff wins, but we have yet to get that series win. Going forward, it will be interesting to see how this team is handled, how the guys develop, and how we all contribute to the success of Philadelphia. I also think that hotdog is an excellent GM. These gms work with what they’ve got in order to field a competitive team. It is not an easy task. Honourable mention to S7eve7ven as they’ve fielded very competitive Carolina kraken Junior rosters (and even have a 4 star cup). If anything, GM status can be more properly evaluated in juniors due to the tpe cap. Just my opinions!


3. Written, 3 TPE, Draft Busts (150 words min.)
There are a lot of "could-have-been" draft picks in the SHL, but let's have some fun thinking about someone that busted hard. Write about their potential and where they were picked, and how that franchise could look *if* they had in fact panned out.

Who comes to mind? Vitek Viticek. 7th overall pick by the Chicago syndicate in round 1 of the S54 draft. Vitek played his junior careers in Carolina and nearly max-earned, making him highly touted, highly scouted and highly sought. He was a great locker room presence. Unfortunately, he could not translate his junior game into the big leagues. He maxxed out at about 800 before sinking down the depth charts and fading into obscurity. This is huge considering chicago’s buoyant history of drafting studs. Where did it all go wrong for Vitecek, who never played a single game in the big leagues? If he had stuck to his full potential, what would chicagos depth chart look like? Perhaps a 2nd line forward would have been shipped out of town for depth pieces/picks given the TPE surplus. It really goes to show the domino effect one BUST can have, and vitecek BUSTED .. hard.

4. Written, 3 TPE, Rules (150 words min.)
There have been a lot of rule changes in the SHL. Where do you think these changes have gone right, where do you think they have gone wrong? Would you ever want to go back to a previous way of doing things? Do you think the SHL is fine as is?


I think the SHL is fine as is. I like the switchup from STHS to FHM as there was a fatal flaw in STHS system (the passing glitch). I think mainly people want to see more parity. It’s going to take a while to not see Hamilton in the top 4 consistently, year after year. We just have to bear the brunt of it and see rebuilds/retools take place. It won’t be rapid change and we need to get used to that. I love the double prompt PTs even though I barely do my PTs now. I think a good rule change would be to stop regression or at least don’t start regression as early as it is. It totally messes with rebuilds and retools. I’m not sure how our forge are going to go for it without me at 100%. But, mostly, I believe the shl is absolutely fine as is.

6. Written, up to 4 TPE - Grab Bag: Pick up to 4 Challenge Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words.

a. What is worth more to you, a cup win in the FHM era or the STHS era?

I think a cup in the FHM era will be worth more once the rebuilding teams get a taste of that championship. So far it’s been a tossup between 4 teams, Hamilton, Chicago, buffalo and Texas. When teams like Tampa Bay and Los Angeles break the glass ceiling of an FHM challenge cup, it’ll be the most exciting thing to happen to the league since the simon T era.

b. Be honest, would we have seen the same final 4 as last year (Chicago, Texas, Hamilton, Buffalo) had BUF/HAM and TEX/CHI not run into each other in the second round?

Yes. It is not mistake that teams may be able to sneak by these four teams in the season, but when you play Texas, buffalo, Hamilton or Chicago in a 7 game series, the odds are simply not with you. The parity feels like the NBA (not complaining just an observation).

c. Hamilton has a population of roughly 5 people. Where would you relocate the franchise?
Hamilton is a gross city. However, with their success I’m not certain you can move them without some backlash. I think that Toronto and New York can both field a 2nd team. But, I think that the SHL must expand into non-traditional hockey markets. I would bring a team BACK to West Kendall just because. West Kendall Steelhawks.

d. Who is the best player to NOT make the final in the past 2 years?

The best player to not make the final in the past 2 years is Eko Van Otter. Sure, he may be declining due to the SHL’s draconian regression rules, but EVO ages like a fine wine. He leads his Atlanta Inferno both on and off the ice with a crazy kinda slapshot, a killer singing voice, and Machiavellian linguistics.

14. Written, 3 TPE, Blow it up (150 words min.)
In your opinion, which team is on track to completely sell off all assets and begin a long rebuild? A few teams are already in the midst of this, but what teams are watching their window slowly close and need to get younger soon in order to start the climb back to the top?


WHO HAS TO BLOW IT UP? I think that the team that has to absolutely abandon ship, blow everything up, sell for assets and young guys is none other than the Hamilton steelhawks. Sure, they may win a lot and currently win, but how long will it last? These guys window is coming to a close and they know it. It’s best to go out ‘on top’ and sell your old guys while they still have value. Trade everyone for picks, and rookies. Make a solid plan to be good again around the S73 season please. I think Buffalo, Texas and Chicago can follow suit. Maybe Texas shouldn’t, but the 3 eastern teams have to do something to ensure success in the future. Success NOW isn’t guaranteed. If these GMs are so good, they should show us what a solid rebuild they can complete. GMS must go through one mandatory rebuild as part of the SHL hall of fame process.


16 TPE TOTAL