This is a State of the Union for the Kraken, not writing articles. Although it seems that is needed as well as the last one was mine in May!
There are a few things in the CCHL that will always happen:
- Sumit is going to piss someone off enough that they will complain or quit. (Sidenote, who is in charge of the shame gif now?)
- Steph's team some how will miss the playoffs.
- The biggest "hype-girl" in the league will be Dallas for their own team.
- Chicago and Seattle make the playoffs.
Well that last line is clearly going to change after a disaster year in Seatlle.
When Mr. Malkin decided Edmonton was nicer than Seatlle, that dug a deep wound into the team that we could not recover from this season. With Malkin gone, the other vets could not pick up the slack and help the team move forward. After a panic early in the season by trading Rantanen, GM Ostrom decided to cut the age down on the team, as well as salary, to start rebuilding a young foundation to move forward with.
The plan moving forward is to have a base of under 30 year old to help build around, and spend smartly in the UFA season to bring Seatlle not only back to the playoffs, but to actually be able to beat Calgary in round 1.
With a foundation of MacKinnon who was named as Captain after the departure of Byfuglien, Pietrangelo as Assistant Captain, and a roster filled with guys like Mittlestadt, Meier, Parayko, Rust, Copp and Chartier, the foundation is set. Oh, according to the math, Seatlle will also have close to $20 million to spend on UFAs as well or take on a big name player via trade.
Some folks are also wondering where my press conferences have gone? Well I was afraid to face the music of the media and fans so I cancelled them all. Instead I replaced them with an annoymous comment box placed outside the arena. I will now take the time to answer some of these comments. After filing through over 69 submissions (how you doin), only 5 were not directly insulting my leadership qualities.
Q1 - The one is from someone named S.P. - Your team is doing worse than Philly in the standings, how does that make you feel?
A1 - Listen, I like Philly's GM. No one takes more of a lashing than that guy. He somehow takes a team that would lose to my div 6 men's league team and puts them above .500 in the CCHL. He also knows the silliest loop holes in the rule book, but forgets the simplest ones so it keeps everyone entertained. I secretly hope he makes the playoffs just to see the haters lose their minds.
Q2 - This one is from DanielleLover69 - You lost your only game against Philly this year, and also wouldnt trade Kesler to Philly for a late 1st and 3rd. Are the two related? Also, you have any Danielle pics?
A2 - Yes we lost our one contest to Philly, and no it was not related to the Kesler deal. The reason I did not trade Kesler to Philly for a late 1st and 3rd was because I did not want a late1st and 3rd. I wanted a player, and got that in Bertuzzi. I mean the constant messages saying I won't find a better offer didn't help, but hey to each their own. And no comment on the last question.
Q3 - This one is from FlamingInCalgary - What is worse, losing to Calgary in the first round in the playoffs or not even making it? Because man you lose to Calgary a lot.
A3 - Well I mean both suck, but this one hurts even more as I don't have my first round pick. So this season, yes not making the playoffs is worse as Carolina won't let me hear the end of it. But the jury is still out on if he will chirp me more than Chad does when he beats me round 1.
Q4 - This one is from CarolinaLoterrycanes - Hey, where is your first round pick? Can't find it on your depth chart? Whats the deal?
A4 - ...
Q5 - This one is from BrokebackFlyers - Hey man, want to trade me MacKinnon for Wsh 1st, Phi 3rd, Corey Perry? Let me know!
A5 - No thanks.
If you have any questions you wish to submit, you can ask them in the #KrakenTheKuestions channel in slack!