02-29-2016, 03:15 PM
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3951 wordsI finally hit 1000 TPE, and just in time for the new scale too. Coming off of a season where I put up basically identical numbers to my rookie season I was lucky enough to be part of a team that pulled off a historic comeback in the Challenge Cup finals to bring the trophy home. Next season should be a big test with the new scale and I am excited to see how peoples builds work out.
But, I know you're all just here to hear me talk about you, so I'll get right to it.
linsangeles
You'll always be Vlats to me. I haven't talk to you a ton around the site but I have heard nothing but great things about you. During the S27 draft you brought a player in that I had alot of questions about and you were extremely quick to reply to every question I had. I ended up drafting the player which turned out to be a total bust, but that wasn't your fault and I appreciate your help with all my questions.
Bojo
I love when you draft my players :-x . Mat Lewis-Flood seems to love it in WKP and I know all of my ex-teammates love it there too. You were my second choice when I was entering the draft and I can definitely say it would have been fun to play for you but there is no way I would want to be anywhere but with Esa and our cup. I should also mention that your sigs are still my favorites in my rotation. It took forever to get them out of you but they were so worth it. Anyone reading this who isnt 'aware, those gif sigs I have are all made by Bojo.
Raven
Man I dont know if I ever told you this but when I drafted you I was actually planning on drafting Strawberry Blake there. I had it narrowed down to you two and I think Vancouver was ahead of us. I figured I was gonna take Blake but then Vancouver did so I grabbed you. The reason wasn't even good as to why I was going to take him either. I liked his build better and hated your weakness. That taught me to rank players on activity and not worry about builds. At the time I figured he was going to be the next Tony Flow as he was a friend of sludge, Flow, and that gang. I remember leading up to the draft and talking with you about how you didnt really know much about hockey or werent big into it or something but Eggy and I both thought you could be a good long term SMJHL player who develops slowly. You certainly became much more than that. Leading the league in points, being our team Captain, a monster TPE earner, and now getting the simmer job. You are an awesome choice for the job, congratulations buddy.
Jesster
Legend. Jesster is a legend. Taken first overall twice in your long career with the SHL, that's one hell of a feat. You were a good commissioner for the SMJHL while you held the job as you were always easy to message and quick to reply. As a GM I always appreciated that. Its been really nice to have you as a Montreal alumni who is easy to approach via PM. I always know if I have a question or want your opinion I can count on you giving me an excellent reply that is always extremely respectful, you're one of the good ones around here.
Eggy216
I couldn't ask for a better co-gm. You have a crazy busy life outside of the SHL and you still find time to help me out and do whatever is asked of you. The Killington thread ended up being a big debate about how a GM and co-gm should work and many differing opinions. I fall into the category of appreciating the help and leaning on you in many facets of the job. This team would not be what it is today without you. You are incredible at building relationships with our young players and helping them develop into great players. I hardly knew you when I hired you but I have very much enjoyed talking to you daily and calling you a friend.
Copenhagen
Man I cant tell you how happy I am that you came back. Another one of the SHLers who I talk to daily off site. I was sad when you left Brumm and I when you were still Girard but now that you are back it seems like you picked up right where you left off. I know you're really busy with GOMHL right now but you still have found time to help me out with various grafx requests around here despite just being a player on the team. Our draft this year would not have been what it was without your scouting either. Between Raven, Jepox, Eggy, and yourself we turned out a great draft board and had a draft that made me very happy. Its good to have you back buddy.
lil
Damn, what an awesome member you have become! GM of the Knights, PT director, and an all around awesome person to talk to around here. Thank you for all of your hard work while I was slacking last season on PT's. The SMJHL players are very lucky to have you as their new PT director. From what I have seen so far they should be excited for the changes you are bringing in. I've enjoyed GMing against you since you took over in Kelowna and look forward to years of competition between our teams. I still root for Kelowna in the west, take it to Vancouver please.
formx
Anyone who doesn't share an LR with this dude is missing out. Seriously, I cant even put to words how awesome formx is in the LR. In my opinion you are the glue who holds this team together and despite all the random shit you post you truly care about the team and our players. Wasty picked up a great player when he drafted you and It's gonna be fun to play against you when you finally make it up to the SHL. For now though I am extremely stoked that we still get to keep you in Montreal. You are a big part of this team and will be a big reason why we will hoist the cup this season.
BluesBoy71
The man who gave me my first shot at being a GM. For that I will always be grateful. I still remember when you made the announcement post and I think you had to post to reveal the answer or something. I was shocked that you had picked me, quickly followed by massive excitement. I have really enjoyed GMing in the SMJHL and I wouldn't be in the position I am today without you. Thank you for the opportunity you gave me. PS - Dont suck this year please. I drafted you in fantasy.
ThatDamnWalrus
Let me start by saying sorry for calling you out in the GM area last season. It was fun playing you in the finals last season, congratulations on beating us, but that won't happen this year! You guys beefed up your team big time at the deadline and it paid off with the cup for you. I had been approached with various trade offers at the deadline but I felt content to stand strong and not make any moves. Then you made a couple moves and I was worried. I feel like I only had one foot in the water for the cup, instead of jumping right in. I didn't want to give up any future and in the end it cost Montreal. You were willing to pay, you went all in and you got that cup. Last season, those experiences taught me that I cant have my cake and eat it too. If I want it I have to go for it like you did. Every year I'm learning new things from other GMs and this was one of them.
701 aka YUNG GUAP GOD
You used to be one of my least favorite members on the entire site. When you made that post about changing your attitude I didn't really believe it but as I talked to you more leading up to the draft you seemed more sincere and started to win me over. I have to give you props for completely changing your act around here. You've become a good member who I enjoy. Brummer speaks highly of you and he and I talk daily so that helps. I hope you keep doing what you're doing and dont go back to your old ways. I think most everyone likes you much better since you have had your new player.
Steelhead77
How many great things can I say about you, Esa?! Too many. You are the reason I signed a lifetime contract in Calgary. I wouldn't want to play for any other GM. You're always so positive in the LR and good for a laugh, you always take the time to talk to me when I have questions, and you are a very smart GM when it comes to STHS. When we were down 3-0 in the finals you didn't show any signs of giving up. You had some tricks up your sleeve and with your changes we came back like no team every had to win the cup in four straight after being down so much. That was an incredible season to be a part of, thank you for being our leader and bringing us that cup.
SabresFan
Its too bad you had to retire, I had enjoyed having you around the team both with your player and within the LR. You had a bright future but unfortunately you couldn't deal with the politics around here and instead decided to leave. It's a shame it turned out that way but I wish you the best.
KezKincaid
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so now that you hit 1000 TPE, will Calgary finally make room on their roster so you can be called up?
) Cmon man! I only had a three year junior career! There are PLENTY of people who have as long as, or longer careers than me in juniors!Kez, you've been a blessing to the SMJHL. As a GM I want to say thank you for being an incredible commissioner. You've done an incredible job and made everything about the SMJHL better. I think the SHL commissioners could learn a couple things from the way you have run the SMJHL. I hope you stick around for a long time, it would be damn near impossible for something to fill your shoes.
Mac
I dont know if there is a more popular person to shit on around the SHL than you. I've never really had a problem with you personally and I appreciated you when you were an SMJHL commissioner. Even if you were in over your head you still were extremely responsive to any question or concern I brought up to you which I always appreciated. I have to admit, I wanted Brumm to get PGF more than you. I don't say that to offend you, Brumm is just one of my best friends around here. It would have been great to go head to head and GM against him. Although I haven't paid close attention to the team you have built you seem to have done well enough there and I know its a job you really wanted so I'm glad you are happily keeping the team going.
Nereus
Flembae, we should play The Divison together. I always see you online but never really talk to you. I haven't heard from you much lately, hows the 117th best center in the SMJHL doing these days? Don't go inactive, K?
vbottasnoods
Hey buddy, another guy I see on Xbox Live all the time who I never talk to. I should dummy you at Madden one of these days. You're a good GM to share the SMJHL with. You're always active and easy to talk to about trades even when we dont come to an agreement. You were one of the guys when I was a rookie who helped me learn the ropes. Back in the Knights LR you were one of the active alumni and I think you were actually the first person to teach me to update.
probablydrunk
You and Cope are my two best friends from the site. I hope some day down the line we get to play together, whether that is sometime in our current careers or in the future with our next players. You're awesome to talk to every day be it about NFL, SHL, Xbox, or whatever. Its been great getting to know you and getting you into my Fantasy Football league. I hope you know you're never going to get a championship ring in the league either
. Keep being you man, you rub some people the wrong way but nobody gives a fuck about them anyways.WannabeFinn
Oh hey, I think the last time I did a presser I wrote about how I don't really know you and I had never really talked to you. Here I am months later and I feel like I am going to write the same thing. Besides getting your new position wrong on my "where are they now" post I dont think we have really talked much. You seem like a cool dude though, maybe I just don't post as much as I did when I was still in the SMJHL.
Alucard
Koro! Dude I feel like we haven't talked in forever! Your first couple years in the league I think we had a pretty special group of players. It seems like everyone from that class talks about those seasons that way. Then we all went to the SHL and ended up on different teams, people like myself got onto different SMJHL teams and all of the sudden we dont share an LR anywhere anymore. I don't see you post all that much but you were always more of an LR guy anyways. Its good to see you still around and going strong.
karlssens
I think I could say the same things about you as I just said about Koro. You've been a pretty successful player in your young career. I hope things go well for you in Edmonton, its too bad the way things went in Portland for you. You were starting to emerge as a star for the team and had a big role. I'll be following your career in Edmonton, good luck!
Rich
First we shared the Kelowna LR, then we shared the Calgary LR. Then I left the Kelowna LR and all we had was Calgary, and now youre gone completely :(. I miss you man! You were just like me in your first few years in the league it seemed. TPE whore, insanely active, and hooked on this place. In Calgary I didn't see you post much and that made me sad. You're an awesome member of the SHL and I was really happy to see you become co-gm to lil in Kelowna. I know the two of you will make that team a beast again.
TheNextGreatOne
I don't really know what to say about you TBH. I feel like I see you around the SMJHL GM area, or the player progression area, or Im waiting for you to post a claim thread, but I never have really talked to you outside of maybe a trade talk here or there.
TML99
You are the type of GM the SMJHL needs. Eager to learn and excited for the future. The players of STL are lucky to have you there and could learn alot if they pay attention to the way you handle yourself around here. I have been happy to help you out since you took over the team and its been awesome to see you come around.
Allegiant
Man, this year was disappointing for us in IIHF. You're my go to guy when I have any questions about our team for the upcoming tournament... mainly because I still get Panda and Pandar confused and I'm not sure which one is our federation head. Regardless, thanks for always being quick to answer with the information I need for this team.
Chris-McZehrl
Old man! :lol: Its been fun sharing the Calgary LR with you buddy, I'm gonna miss you, but I wish you the best in Seattle. Its going to be fun to win the cup without you this year so I can rub it in your face :lol:
Kevin "Juice" Bieksa
You're my mock draft go to guy to copy off of every year. Thanks for all the Mock Draft TPE you have earned me
). I feel like we've been rivals since our rookie years. Same draft class, on rival teams, both active, and both spent the same amount of time in juniors. Its been fun man, you had better not go inactive before our careers end.ArGarBarGar
Thank you for leaving Montreal in a great state for Blues and I to pick it up from. You built a strong team that made it easy to bring in new talent who wanted to get into a winning situation. I'm sorry for the way I approached the team name change, I really should have asked for the input of alumni rather than try to make it a big surprise. I have a lot of respect for you and still appreciate seeing you around the LR.
Jogurtaa
Hello, other person. I dont really know much about you, nor have I really ever talked to you. Pettyfer is a pretty damn good player though.
Ohtaay
Alessssssss you da best. I need to share an LR with you one day in the future somehow! like Bottas you helped me a ton as a rookie. I wouldn't have been picked first overall and I wouldn't be as active as I am if it wasn't for your help during my rookie year. There isn't a nicer or more helpful person that I have talked to on this site than you.
Slappydoodle
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If Esa asks you into the shower with him to "see the real parm", Don't Go!Chris-McZehrl
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How you would feel if VLAD McZ would leave the team via Free Agency?Steelhead77
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How does it feel to be a Challenge Cup Champion?I cant even describe it! Especially with the fashion in which it happened. Coming back from down 3-0 in the series was crazy. Nobody in the locker room had any doubts but it was hard hearing it in the media and around the league. To finally prove everyone wrong was amazing
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Is it better than you imagined or about what you expected?Code:
What was it like to score in game 7? Describe that goal to us?Code:
You're line was dominant when put together in the final 4 games, Mack-Randleman-Hill, are you excited about the potential of that line going forward?Code:
What will you do for your day with the cup? Where will you take it?Code:
Coming back from down 0-3 in cup finals does not happen often, if ever, what is special about this team? Did you ever have any any doubts we could comeback?Code:
Back to back 20 goal seasons for Randleman in his first 2yrs in the league, where do you go from here?Code:
Why will Calgary repeat as Champs?Slappydoodle
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Any comments on the developing scandal regarding the use of PEP's in Calgary's comeback?Code:
Did Esa force the team to consume the tainted parms or was it a voluntary thing?Code:
Were you aware the parms had been juiced at the time?mstuk41
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How would you describe the LR environment in Calgary?What are your goals for next season?
Challenge cup or bust. I could care less what I do in terms of stats as long as we win
What chances do you think
has in the IIHF?I thought we had as good a chance as anyone to win it but unfortunately the puck didnt bounce our way. We will be back even stronger than ever next season though, count on it!
What impact do you think the new update scale will have on Randleman?
I think it will be a positive change. This will allow me to have a more diverse build than what I had in the past compared to other players around the league. It will be interesting to see what ends up working and what doesnt.
