Quote:1. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
This reality is just one of infinite realities existing alongside this one in parallel. Take us over to one of those realities in which everything is the same but these S52 playoffs have unfolded differently. What happened in that reality's playoffs and who's in the Challenge Cup over there?

While I'm not sure I would really want to endorse an alternate reality, I believe there is one where an even better Challenge Cup Finals match-up exists. I believe in a reality in which we have the Manhattan Rage against the Edmonton Blizzard in what is the greatest moral challenge in Jakub Aittokallio's career. He leads a team he built from scratch to challenge the team who gave him his home, his fame and his fortune.

San Francisco may be the cosmic challenger to the Rage this season, showing this was meant to be as they entered their rebuilds at the same time with a focus on ten seasons prior and now hitting their primes exactly. It's also a team who the Rage often gain from, including Luke Thomason and Luca Veccelli being former Pride draftees now major contributors on the Rage.

However, for me personally, only the challenge of facing Edmonton can ever be the ultimate ending. Maybe one day, we'll manage to meet. But in that alternate universe, it's the best internal struggle of my career, and something where I think it ends in seven games -- obviously, in favor of the Rage.

Quote:Word Count: 194

Quote:2. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
You're put in charge of making the casino odds on the Cup winner for next season. Whom are you giving the best and the worst odds to, and what's your reasoning?

Typically, at this stage you start with who's there. However, with the great variety coming into play for next season, it's going to be difficult to make odds. What I would say is the top odds go to New England, actually. As much as that pains me to say.

New England will have the best player in the league for next season in terms of TPE, with Ola Wagstrom being the complete package and only person capable of building an above and beyond superstar. They also added one of the best defensemen in the league in Rex Kirkby recently. Ultimately, the team is primed to compete. They only miss the goaltender, which can sink a team. However, before anything gets started, having two of the best players in their positions is a great place to be to start things off.

As for the worst odds, it's pretty obviously Toronto. They sit in a difficult division and conference where just making the playoffs is going to be hard. Meanwhile, their defense is patchwork at best, and while they have good goaltending and a few great forwards, they're top heavy at best. They can steal games, but they have no chance of making the playoffs all things considered.

Quote:Word Count: 206

Quote:3. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)
By now, you're probably familiar with the attributes on FHM, and you likely have some sense of what type of build you're going to be aiming for with your player. What one attribute are you going to focus on most? Of all the attributes in the game, what is your player going to strive to be the absolute best at? Why are you picking that specific attribute above all others?

Having read up on the strategies in the sim, we're focusing on something that will utilize our strength down the middle with Luke and myself. In order to best utilize a center-driven strategy, we need to focus in on skating and puck handling. I'll be putting a lot into Offensive and Defensive Read so my player has a great in depth understanding of reading the play and reacting properly, as well as Getting Open so he can drive our success. However, the keys will be in things like speed, puck handling and acceleration.

The hope is thanks to this, we'll be able to drive play directly up the middle and take to the zone quickly. We're going to be a transition team, and so developing that transition offense as well as highlighting what we need to succeed around a very physical and strong team is going to be paramount for me.

Quote:Word Count: 151

Quote:4. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
The Most Generic Prompt of All Time - what is your player looking forward to in the offseason? What are they planning on doing? Training? Relaxing? Testing free agency? Whatever it is, let us know!

This is the longest Jax has made it into the playoffs, the latest he's played in his career. It's also the season he's feeling his absolute best, and expects to see a bit of a slow down in the coming seasons. Due to this, he's going to have to focus on rehabilitation for his training instead. I won't be doing a lot of heavy training with big weights or anything anymore. I'm going to build on my strengths and rehabilitate the injuries I get from a long, long season. It's hard to come back from playing deep into June and be ready to play by September or October, but I feel I'm just young enough to pull it together in time. It's just the focus that I need ultimately on keeping my muscles working without causing any degradation or tearing.

This is the hardest part of every player's career, getting older and having to adjust, but it's something I've hired people to help with and I have faith I can do.

Quote:Word Count: 171

Quote:5. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)
Which player from the Rage or the Pride would you bet on to win a regular season individual award in a future season? What player and what award? What makes you think they'll live up to their potential and take home the hardware?

This feels pretty obvious to me for this season alone. Peter Larson is still a few seasons from regressing and has set himself apart as the best goaltender in the SHL. Beyond that, Barret McCarthy has been nominated for the Stevens Trophy once before and seems in line to do it again. He's primed to eventually take the trophy if not this season then in the near future as he continues his ascent. Luke Thomason is absolutely in line to challenge for the Ron Mexico Trophy at some point, and we have multiple players like Austin Roenick or Phineas Gold who could be Jay McDonald Trophy winners. The most interesting and difficult ones to call, however, will be that David Kastrba should be in line for a Jeff Dar Trophy at some point as FHM gives us more information on defensive play, and similarly I'd bet on Reginald MacIntyre or Andrej Doskocil to take a Bojo Biscuit Trophy or two.

The most likely is Larson, as he continues to set himself apart in the league and is helped by an absolutely incredible defense. However, we have a whole team that has the ability to take it eventually.

Quote:Word Count: 197

Quote:17. Casual Member Special, 3 TPE max - 1 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer - SEND ANSWER IN PM TO "PT DIRECTOR" (tagged below)
A. As determined by draft class, which rostered player is the oldest player in this series?
B. Name TWO players who have played for both the Pride and the Rage.
C. Among ACTIVE PLAYERS, who has the most points scored in Pride franchise history?
D. Who was recently selected as the #1 player in Rage franchise history as part of their Top 50 in 50 series unveiled this season?

**Important**: Send the answers to username "PT Director" with the subject of the message titled “S52 CW" - Do not send it to my personal account; those will not be graded. Do not post the answers in here; you will not get credit for the task.

Done.