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Volume 9.1      The New Season

A Team is Only as Good as Its General Manager

NEW GUYS MAKE A QUICK IMPACT

Ryley Weir Looks Back at the DWSHL's recent History and finds hope for the active GM

Three out of the last 4 seasons the DWSHL have seen cellar Dwellars become Drunks Cup champions. Flashback 2005. The #2 seed Winnipeg T-Rex captured their first Drunks Cup. If you recall in 2001, the T-Rex were the 2nd worst team in the league. Most Gm's would have given up. But a GM is only as good as his team. "If your team isn't good, then you make changes on it. I didn't give up on my team because if they weren't producing, then it was my fault. I wasn't goign to quit the league like most Gm's do when they inherit a team. I was going to stay with it and make it better." Said Gm Ryley Weir. And he did just that. In 2002 The T-Rex gained 20points from the previous season standings, but fell 2 points short of the 8th seed in the playoffs. Finally in 2003 the T-Rex made the playoffs and in '05 captured the Drunks Cup. Season 6 we saw the Denver Bison winning the drunks cup. Although the team hasnt had a consistant Gm, the team was worst, 2nd worst and 3rd worst their first 3 seasons before making the playoffs in 2004. Finally the Michigan Falcons. Formerly known as the Amhurst Army Ants. Gm Randy Steffertook over the team in Season 2. Steffer came into the league more than prepared totake on thechallanger of turning his team around. Steffer was trade heavy his first 2 seasons in the league, hen has been laid back ever since. His team finally made the playoffs for the first time in season 6. In season 6 the Army Ants got knocked out in round 1 of the plaoffs after being 4th seed. In season 7 his team became the Michigan Falcons. The team got knocked out of the second round in season 7. In season 8, the Michigan Falcons contuinued their playoff streak and were ranked 6th. The team instantly turned heads when beating the #3 seed Kings and takingout the dominant Battalion in the conference finals. Finally to conclude they won the Drunk's Cup for season 8beating the Chevaliers. Both these teams had no confidence, no fans showing up. But they stepped up their roles and turned their teams around in 3 seasons and won the Drunks cup.

The Toronto Skyleafs, the Sundsvall Vikings, the Quebec Crunch, and the Helsinki Nighthawks all have new GMs who have made every effort to change the direction and faces of their respective teams. Big trades are frequent in the DWSHL, but these guys have brought a new energy and vigor to the big trade, jumping in with both feet. Future Digest editions will likely spend many a text box on these guys, but for now, we send them a loud and raucus welcome to them and wish them the best of luck.

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The Commisioner Drops Some Science and Gives us the State of the League as He Tosses Out His 9th Season

Gentleman, First off, I would like to thank everyone for their continued support of the league and for their commitment to participate.Your activity and competitive nature is what makes the league what it is and keeps us in business. My agenda in this piece is to discuss realistically the phases that will take place over the next few DWSHL seasons. On tap first will be the releasing of rosters, which will feature a stern set of numbers for a second straight year. This season I anticipate overhauling the charts once again and I'm set on getting those reposted for all to see. With posted rosters will come the resumption of trades with a cut period returning again either prior to or during trades. After some time for trading we will work up to the draft. This year I had hoped to do two draft radio shows, but at the very least I will try and get one done (a recap show). For this year's free agency GMs can expect a crop 10x greater than any year in the past. This will be the first year of the new UFA age and coupled with some aloof GMs and some off the board free agents, their should be ample chance for all to remodel. Sometime in the season I would like to designates a four member DWSHLPA and a four member owners committee as the CBA is set to expire following DWSHL10. Pro rerates will return after DWSHL9 as will audits. Those are the obvious bare fact bare bones of the DWSHL9 season. I do plan on reworking the support pages of the site and would also like to strive for more regular site updates. Another few things on the horizon figure to shake things up for the next CBA. For starters, I'm fairly confident the DWSHL will sign on with a new sim program, something that will bring rule changes galore to the league. Also, I intend to retire as commissioner after 10 so some transitions will need to be made in advance. For now that's all. Best of luck in DWSHL9 and continue your support of the league. Ty

Player Movement the Name of the Pre-Draft Game

The IceDogs picked up Steve Yzerman for what appears to be his farewell tour to replace Joe Sakic, who moved to Houston in exchange for a package of players including Ryan Smith. Harvie appears rededicated this off-season is back to work building a deep and balanced team. Tony Amonte left the IceBats, who replaced their big scorer with a big goaltender in the shape of Robert Esche, which cost Antwerp prospect goaltender Devan Dubnyk. The Zurich Piranhas got a basketful of talent for their first pick, as Winnipeg looks to add one more premier talent to their young line-up. Joe Thornton and Ed Jovanovski move to Nashville sustaining the Battalion’s threat to the East and the JD as the SkyLeafs prepare to build up their roster after an off year. The same SkyLeafs traded half of their roster for half of the Sundsvall roster. The Digest doesn’t have the space or the time to list all those names. One of those names was Eric Lindros, who was summarily flipped to the new Nighthawks management for McEachern and Phil Sauve. And if guys aren’t being traded, they’re being cut. Keith Carney and Roman Cechmanek are the big names, with Brian Savage, and Darren McCarty are some of the lesser names. These moves are all part of some wholesale changes being made by clubs who are in the swings of rebuilding, most notably the Reno Riptide. In addition to player movement, picks have been swapped as guys angle for the first draft that has the benefit of using the new DWSJL statistics.

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Topics for Future Digest Issues

The Impact of the new DWSDL rules for competitiveness DWSJL recap GM interviews Division Previews Draft Coverage The Coaching Changes Goaltender Rankings Sophmore Coverage (previewing last season's top rookies and their potential for their 2nd seasons)