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FuzzSHL · 09-19-2020, 02:57 PM

I have been staring at my phone for a little over an hour pondering over the right words to say, the right people to thank, and the right quotes to use to properly express the emotions running through my mind right now. Bittersweet, while appropriate, doesn’t come close to describing the true feeling of this opportunity. I’m not even sure the words I am about to type will be able to properly express them either.

I want to first start by thanking everyone who has made this experience both possible and enjoyable.

Thank you JKortesi, TheDangaZone, TML99, Nictox, Blastmeaway, and SlashACM for the confidence to pursue this opportunity in the first place. Thank you for giving me a chance in St Louis and New Orleans to be a contributing piece of those management groups for a long time. Thank you Trella and Sloth for being my go-tos from Day 1 in Montreal. That first draft is what made all of our successes possible, and without you two I’m not sure it ever happens. Thank you Rich for coming in as my first draft pick and helping out all the new heads we brought in. Thank you ACapitalChicago, RaginCajun, Z0REM, and Fitted for being such huge pieces of the roster and locker room from the moment you got the invite. To this day you all talk in Carolina on the regular. You have made all these seasons not only enjoyable for me, but for the other rookies we drafted over the seasons. Thank you DwightKnight for the scouting, the post-sim screenshots, and genuinely being an awesome person. Thank you BadWolf and any SMJHL HO member over the seasons, not only for putting forth your best effort at making the league better as a whole, but for bearing with me as I grew and learned as a General Manager. Thank you to the SMJHL GMs for just being a truly fun group to interact with every season. And last but certainly not least, thank you Sve7en. It was pure luck you fell to us in your draft, and I don’t know how you do what you do but I refuse to complain. You have put in an incredible amount of work not only towards helping the team run smoothly, but also in making sure every rookie got a sig and was warmly welcomed. You’ve very quickly grown from being just another rookie to one of my closest friends and most trusted confidants. I am over the moon about the opportunity to continue being your General Manager. Never, ever change.

I know I have very likely missed someone to thank. Please just know that I’m sorry for missing you.

When Trella and I took over Montreal in S49, that was a bittersweet moment. I finally got the chance to be a General Manager. My application wasn’t necessarily the best, the franchise was at quite arguably the lowest point of its existence, and I had almost no idea what I was truly getting myself into. What it was though was an opportunity. It was an opportunity to build a community that would rival the one that grabbed ahold of my emotions in St Louis and didn’t let go. It was an opportunity to draft who I wanted to draft, not just give advice on who I thought would be good. It was an opportunity to work with two of my closest friends in Trella and Sloth (thank you for that one, Halifax). As much as it hurt to leave Joe, Nic, TML, Blast, and the whole of St Louis, I was excited to battle the difficulties of being a new General Manager and create something special.

After 7 seasons, special is an understatement.

I was looking through the TPE leaderboards the other day and got curious enough to look at the S50 Draft Class, the first draft I was a part of as a General Manager. Montreal (now Carolina) made 11 selections in that draft and made 2 signings. That Cup winning team in S49 had 13 rookies on it. Of those 13 rookies, FIVE were selected in the first round of the S50 SHL Entry Draft. The players from that draft class who are still active are 2nd, 11th, 15th, 18th, and 20th in terms of overall TPE in that draft class. I was excited about how that draft went for us, but I had no idea it would end up like that. Over the next six seasons we have drafted countless actives and inactives, won a few Cups and even a Laurifer. Despite all the winning that happened, that’s the least I’m proud of.

For any member who has been able to be in the Carolina locker room at any point in the previous 7 seasons, you are what I am the most proud of. It is so incredibly heartwarming to see both new users and veteran users come into the locker room and build each other up through thick and thin. There have been a good number of new users who didn’t know whether or not they would be too active or how much they would earn, but to see those users not only keep coming back, but also see them get voted as Captain by their teammates, start their own media network and cult following, and even set franchise records in their rookie season, words just can’t describe. I truly mean it when I say it is going to be an impossible task recreating the atmosphere that Carolina brings day in and day out. I never would have been able to get to this point if it weren’t for all of you.

I can’t end this without talking about New Orleans. I always planned on spending my entire career in purple and black. I never imagined a day that I would play anywhere else. It was truly something special to be able to be a part of a new franchise from Day 1. It has been an honor to be a part of that war room, to get a look behind the curtain of one of the most successful franchises since S46. To Sloth, I always wanted Fox and Jimmy to be linemates. From the moment we got drafted together, I wanted the both of us to be the dynamic duo that the league feared. While Fox may have slipped behind, you kept improving and dominating. You deserve far more recognition than you’ve gotten. To Nic, I’ve been so incredibly lucky to be able to both play alongside and work with you as long as I have. You’ve given me an endless amount of insight and advice and I can’t thank you enough. To Blast, I know you recently left to Atlanta but New Orleans just isn’t going to be the same without you. Your towel gifs are a highlight of my day and your spreadsheet wizardry is beyond underappreciated. To Frith, I know it may not seem like it but you have taught me a lot when it comes to lines. You’ve been a steady head for advice, even injuries (lol). If you ever need someone to talk to about life stuff, my DMs are always open. To Bruins, Jenny, Evan, Huck, and every other player on the Specters, it has truly been a pleasure being your teammate over the seasons. Last, but certainly not least, Joe. No amount or combination of words will ever truly express my gratitude for everything you’ve done for me. You believed in me from the beginning and that confidence has gone a long way. Arguably the hardest part of this whole process has been knowing that you would no longer be my General Manager. No matter what happens or where I go, I know you’ll always be there. I know this isn’t even close to enough, but thank you. For everything.

I know at this point it sounds like I’m rambling, and quite honestly I know that I am, so I’ll get to the point. Thank you, Carolina. Thank you to the players who made my job easy, thank you to my friends who helped keep my head on straight, and thank you to the people who made that opportunity possible. This isn’t goodbye, you will still see me in the locker room talking away. I won’t be going anywhere in that regard. But my time as General Manager has come and gone, and I’ll always relish what we’ve all built, together.

As for this next chapter, I am very excited. To the current Los Angeles roster and valued alumni, I know it is scary seeing an outside hire come in to take the reigns. My main priority as the new General Manager is going to be in building a community and culture much like the one in Carolina: close knit, positive, welcoming, understanding, and trusting of the process. From that point, the winning will follow. This weekend is going to be hectic in finalizing a few things and getting settled in, so please bear with me while I get settled in the transition. These are difficult times we are all in, but as the great Albert Einstein once said: “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”

(I’m on mobile, tags aren’t properly cooperating, I’ll fix them later)

I will now take the time to answer questions about my time in Carolina and anything surrounding Los Angeles.

09-19-2020, 03:08 PMoverdoo Wrote: 1) How are you going to adapt from being a J GM to an SHL GM? Any changes you know you need to make off the bat?

2) Who is going to do better in fantasy, Overdoo or Z0REM?

3) As someone who has only seen limited pins, I must ask how you came to the decision of the Carolina Kraken branding?

4) Which podcast is better, Sloth's or 7's?

5) Who is the best EA NHL player in the NOLA dressing room?

6) Los Angeles relocation to Montreal?

7) Why is chicken a boring meat?

8) Purple, teal, or orange?

Thank you for the 2 seasons in Carolina, they've been incredible and one of the reasons I am still on the site. It is so clear you've made a huge positive difference everywhere you go, and I know you will do the same in Los Angeles. Congratulations on the promotion, you deserve it in every possible way.

1) The two biggest changes are going to be trade values and consistency. In the J, player turnover happened every season. Whether it was from players aging out, getting called up, or rookies just losing interest or going inactive, there was always turnover. In terms of roster building, I am excited to get to have some solid consistency. These first few days have been essentially a trial by fire when it comes to trading and I'm still getting used to it, but its fun.
2) If you're talking about who will draft better, flip a coin. Your players though? That's a tough one. I don't know if I can answer that.
3) You can find most of the background here, but I'll give you a TLDR. The Montreal locker room was dead and while Montreal as a place was beloved, the branding was....not. I polled as many alumni as I could get in touch with as well as the S49 roster. Alumni were split but the roster at the time was excited about a rebrand. We took some ideas from the roster and the Kraken was a branding that was suggested by someone on the roster. @Wasty helped with a logo and @Hoovuh helped on the captain's patch (was originally an early idea for the main logo), and the rest is history.
4) Don't make me do this
5) In NOLA? Clint is pretty good (alum), as is Nictox and Slash. I was the best though Cool

6) I am not currently in talks to rebrand Los Angeles and honestly haven't given it much thought, if any at all. I highly doubt a rebrand happens or is seriously considered.
7) If you think chicken is a boring meat then you're cooking chicken wrong.
8) Orange for sure.

It has been an absolute pleasure to be your GM these past two seasons. You have an incredibly bright future ahead of you not only in this league but in life as well. Keep doing you and don't let anyone get in the way of your dreams. I'll still be around <3

09-19-2020, 03:10 PMsve7en Wrote: I love you man. So pumped to get this going in LAP.

I know this isn't a question, but I'm gonna quote you anyway. I am so incredibly excited to be on a team with you and continue being your GM. Let's go get you some hardware

09-19-2020, 03:19 PMMike Izzy Wrote: Congratulations and best of luck.

The man, the myth, the Izz. Thank you for the kind words, it is going to be an honor competing against you.

09-19-2020, 03:26 PMRich Wrote: For most of us in the SHL, our first seasons in the league are special. Being on my second player, I fully expected to just go through the motions in the SMJHL. I ended up having a really great time. That S49 class was awesome. I don't contribute much, but I like to keep an eye on the Carolina locker room, and it's incredible. Good luck in LA.

Going into that draft, I had only heard good things about you. I hadn't interacted with you before but I knew I wanted a veteran presence to help any amount of first gens we drafted which ended up being quite a bit. You've popped back in that locker room a fair bit and every time you do it really reminds me just how well that locker room works together. It was nothing but a pleasure being your GM, even for just a few seasons. I hope life is treating you well, man. Thank you.

09-19-2020, 03:53 PMbluesfan55 Wrote: best memory from the s54 challenge cup run, and why was it you scoring a hatty in game 7 against lap?
why did acc ask so many goshdarn questions?
favorite teammate?

I've scored 3 hat tricks in my career. To be completely honest, I forget the first one. It was some regular season game and I should remember it, but, I don't. I remember scoring a hat trick in the Gold Medal game for USA a few seasons ago and that felt really damn good. That S54 Cup Run was so fun and heart wrenching, I don't know how I survived it honestly. While the hatty in the 3rd period against LA was a huge moment of that run, it doesn't come close to what you did for that run. Period.
I might actually have to make a whole new post for his questions alone, Jesus.
I can't pick a favorite teammate.

09-20-2020, 07:30 PMSlashACM Wrote: Good luck, man. Everyone on the site that interacts with you is happy that they did @FuzzSHL

I was expecting a meme or joke of some sort so when I saw this is what you commented, man, I don't have the words. Thank you.

09-19-2020, 03:51 PMACapitalChicago Wrote: 1) What other Carolina branding options never saw the light of day?
2) Did you consider places outside Carolina?
3) Who were your first thoughts as a Co-GM before Trella? Were there any?
4) What was your biggest mistake as Carolina GM?
5) What was it like going into that first draft?
6) How did the turnover of the S50 group affect future plans?
7) What's your SSN?
8) Best trade as a GM?
9) Worst?
10) Biggest regret as a player?
11) Any leaks on how this will affect Michael Fox?
12) What will you miss most from NOLA?
13) Can you tell us anything about your plans for LAP?
14) Hot dogs or hamburgers?
15) Best east coast fast food joint?
16) What will you miss most about the east coast?
17) If you could do it all over again, would you?
18) What was your lowest point as a GM, and what kept you going through it?
19) Best decision you made regarding the CAR LR?
20) Why are you so bad with spelling mistakes?
21) Best emote from the CAR LR?
22) What about NOLA?
23) Best channel from the LR?
24) Favorite game to play with friends?
25) Is there an LAP/TBB rivalry now?
26) What will be the biggest shock going from J competition to SHL competition?
27) Can I stop asking questions now?

1) I think the one branding I was most disappointed about not being able to make happen (or at least get a mock for) was the Carolina Reapers. In theory, this brand I think would have been absolutely amazing. However, it clashed too much with St Louis, so we couldn't really go through with it even if we had a mock for it.
2) We did. We considered a few places in the Northwest, a few Central locations, and a couple others. Carolina just felt right in the end.
3) Trella was my first. I had a few ideas as backups as he had an application in for J HO at the time, but ultimately I knew Trella was the guy I wanted. Zero regrets
4) My biggest regret is trading the same pick twice. I didn't realize a reddit draft was coming up and mistakenly didn't reddit protect one trade, and it bit me in the ass. Cost me a good bit over the next few seasons so I wish I could have that one back.
5) The first draft was that big S50 Reddit class. It was a very hectic week as Sloth and I did a lot of the scouting before Trella got on, and then the three of us had to get a ranking together of 100+ prospects. Once we actually got into the draft though all that anxiousness went away. The week leading up to it though, man, I don't think anything can rival how stressful that was.
6) We knew that once that class got called up that we would hit a major dip for at least a season. We planned for that and it was part of why we pulled the trigger on the Kaspars Claude trade. We knew the dip was coming and we were at a strong point so we wanted to try and guarantee a Cup. Fortunately for us, that trade bought us two Cups. So all in all, I'm more than happy taking one down season in trade for 2 cups and jumpstarting a dead locker room.
7) Here's all my info, CC included
8) It has to be a tossup, honestly. Either the trade mentioned in #6 or the trade for the pick that got us Mega Skuci.
9) Oh dear. I'm trying to remember all the trades I made and I can't really remember. I'll get back to you.
10) As a player? Not putting more TPe into strength and screening in the transition to FHM. RIP my shooting percentage.
11) My hire and imminent trade? I would expect a top line of Winter/Atreides/Fox, I haven't decided which side Winter and Fox will respectively play on, but take that as you may.
12) Honestly, what I'll miss most is Sloth, Joe, Nic, Frith, and Blast (who is now in ATL anyways). They've been amazing friends over my time on the site and its going to take a while to get used to not having them around.
13) My original plans kind of got shut down by missing this FA period. Check in next season
14) Bottom bun, burger, american cheese, bacon, egg, ketchup, top bun (with sesame seeds).
15) Bojangles
16) I don't know yet, honestly. I'm still trying to get settled in here in LA, I'm crashing with my buddy Wagner for the time being until I find a place.
17) Quicker than a heartbeat.
18) Honestly, this could be answered with #4. What kept me going though was knowing that everyone makes mistakes. There's a reason GMs don't get fired for the first mistake. I took it as a learning experience and started looking ahead. For anyone who is feeling down about a mistake they've made, just keep this in mind: what's happened has happened. You can't change the past, so use your mistakes to learn and grow as an individual. Shit happens, but as long as you learn from it, there will always be a bright side.

For anyone feeling down for any reason, my DMs are always open. I may not always be the most responsive, but I will definitely listen. You matter, regardless of what might be going on in your head or in your life. If you need help, help is out there.
19) The best decision I could have made was signing Fitted. Odd choice for best decision you may think, but for anyone in the Carolina LR, you know that me saying this was the best LR decision is an understatement. Shoutout to the real Terry goat - @Fitted2106
20) Most of the time I'm just plowing through the typing that I forget to go back and check to make sure I got everything right. I've even double and triple checked things and I guarantee I'll always miss something.
21) :TerryCup:
22) :spectergras: or, well, I'm not sharing the second one
23) #general. Its always popping, alum and rostered players alike. It is by far the most active channel in any LR I'm in.
24) Right now it has to be Among Us, though CS:GO, Portal 2, and Sea of Thieves are all very good ones and will always be go-tos.
25) There will be a LAP-TBB Challenge Cup Finals during mine and @trella 's tenure, guaranteed.
26) I can't really answer that without actually having GM'd a season in the bigs.
27) No, never. I demand more.

Aleksi Kettu

trella · 09-19-2020, 03:00 PM

GOAT.

Thanks to @karey and @JSS for the sigs!

Former USA Fed Head, Carolina Kraken Co-GM, Tampa Bay Barracuda GM

peej2189 · 09-19-2020, 03:03 PM

Fuzz, thank you for taking your shot on drafting me to Carolina. Had I not landed in your hands with Trella and 7 there to guide me, I doubt I would have stayed active. Congrats on this big move! All of those in LAP better expect the best LR you've ever been in.

overdoo · 09-19-2020, 03:08 PM

How are you going to adapt from being a J GM to an SHL GM? Any changes you know you need to make off the bat?

Who is going to do better in fantasy, Overdoo or Z0REM?

As someone who has only seen limited pins, I must ask how you came to the decision of the Carolina Kraken branding?

Which podcast is better, Sloth's or 7's?

Who is the best EA NHL player in the NOLA dressing room?

Los Angeles relocation to Montreal?

Why is chicken a boring meat?

Purple, teal, or orange?

Thank you for the 2 seasons in Carolina, they've been incredible and one of the reasons I am still on the site. It is so clear you've made a huge positive difference everywhere you go, and I know you will do the same in Los Angeles. Congratulations on the promotion, you deserve it in every possible way.

***sve7en*** · 09-19-2020, 03:10 PM

I love you man. So pumped to get this going in LAP.

FuzzSHL · 09-19-2020, 03:11 PM

Fucking mobile.

Aleksi Kettu

Fitted2106 · 09-19-2020, 03:14 PM

Legend

ACapitalChicago · 09-19-2020, 03:15 PM

09-19-2020, 03:00 PMtrella Wrote: GOAT.

S66 Damian Littleton

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DeletedAtUserRequest · 09-19-2020, 03:19 PM

Congratulations and best of luck.

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**Rich** · 09-19-2020, 03:26 PM

For most of us in the SHL, our first seasons in the league are special. Being on my second player, I fully expected to just go through the motions in the SMJHL. I ended up having a really great time. That S49 class was awesome. I don't contribute much, but I like to keep an eye on the Carolina locker room, and it's incredible. Good luck in LA.

ACapitalChicago · 09-19-2020, 03:51 PM

What other Carolina branding options never saw the light of day?

Did you consider places outside Carolina?

Who were your first thoughts as a Co-GM before Trella? Were there any?

What was your biggest mistake as Carolina GM?

What was it like going into that first draft?

How did the turnover of the S50 group affect future plans?

What's your SSN?

Best trade as a GM?

Worst?

Biggest regret as a player?

Any leaks on how this will affect Michael Fox?

What will you miss most from NOLA?

Can you tell us anything about your plans for LAP?

Hot dogs or hamburgers?

Best east coast fast food joint?

What will you miss most about the east coast?

If you could do it all over again, would you?

What was your lowest point as a GM, and what kept you going through it?

Best decision you made regarding the CAR LR?

Why are you so bad with spelling mistakes?

Best emote from the CAR LR?

What about NOLA?

Best channel from the LR?

Favorite game to play with friends?

Is there an LAP/TBB rivalry now?

What will be the biggest shock going from J competition to SHL competition?

Can I stop asking questions now?

S66 Damian Littleton

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***bluesfan55*** · 09-19-2020, 03:53 PM

best memory from the s54 challenge cup run, and why was it you scoring a hatty in game 7 against lap?
why did acc ask so many goshdarn questions?
favorite teammate?