Steve

I apologize gents. 
 
The Biscuit Deferiet Leopards were synonymous with winning.  The Cage Deferiet Leopards became known for dominant regular seasons and first round playoff exits.
 
Also I didn't like the cat logo.  In the old world there was a heavy metal hand sign logo that didn't make it over to the refresh.  It was time for a change.
 
If it helps, you can still think of the team with an 80s metal vibe.  Think part Steel Panther, part Metal Head.

Noooo! Huge Deferiet Leopards fan! Now I know how everyone in Hartford feels!!!

To celebrate the beginning of the 2019/20 NHL season today, the second annual Cage Awards are up!

I added some categories based on feedback from last year, split the D-men awards, and adjusted ratings for others (i.e. removing +/-). 
 
It was once again tough to get into detail, as it is impossible to sort lists bottom up, and only top 20 players by each category are visible, but this should be accurate nevertheless. Including runner-ups as usual. 
 
Scoring was down this season in general, so competition was tighter than last, but goalies still seem to rule the Cage world. 
 
Have at it.


 
 
 
 
ART ROSS TROPHY (Most League Points)
 
SAMUEL LUMPKIN (Nightmares) - 75 points    
 
Vendelin Jaros (Minutemen)
Tintin Petterson (Minutemen)
 
 
 
OVECHKIN TROPHY (Top Goalscorer)
 
ELOUAN SCOTT (Red Tide) - 38 goals - RETAINED TITLE               
 
Theodore De-Nobile (Leopards)
Quinton Goff (Battlin Bears)
 
 
 
GRETZKY TROPHY (Best Playmaker) 
 
YAN SHARSHIN (Red Tide) - 47 assists           
 
Joaquim Harter (Union)
Jeremy Lawhorn (Wolverines) / Riyad Lassiseraye (Minutemen)
 
 
 
VEZINA TROPHY (Best Goaltender)
 
KWESI CUTTER (Prairie Stars) - RETAINED TITLE              
 
Philipe Haywood (Union)
Renaud Pettigrew (Hawks)
 
 
 
ORR TROPHY (Best Offensive Defenceman)
 
YAN SHARSHIN (Red Tide)                        
 
 
NORRIS TROPHY (Best Defensive Defenceman)
 
MAREK KOCH (Prairie Stars)                       
 
ORR - Points leader among defencemen
NORRIS - Calculated with the following formula among D: [PLUS/MINUS + BKS - GVA + TKA], PER also taken into consideration 
 
 
 
SELKE TROPHY (Best Defensive Forward)
 
ALEKSANDAR SCHALLER (Prairie Stars)                   
 
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)
Chad McGraw (Dragons) 
Calculated with the following formula among F: [PTS + BKS - GVA + TKA]
 
 
 
LADY BYNG TROPHY (Most Gentlemanly Player)
 
TINTIN PETTERSON (Minutemen)               
 
Ian Frerot (Wolverines)
Cherif Jackson (Union)
Calculated with the following formula [PTS - PIM]
 
 
 
HART TROPHY (League MVP)
 
KWESI CUTTER (Prairie Stars) - RETAINED TITLE      
 
Samuel Lumpkin (Nightmares)
Philipe Haywood (Union)
 
 
 
CALDER TROPHY (Best Rookie)
 
RADOVAN GIERTL (Steelers)
 
 
 
GOOD SAMARITAN AWARD (Most Giveaways)
 
ADOLFO DURHAM (Owls)   
 
 
 
ROID RAGE TROPHY (Most Hits + PIM + MP)
 
RICHARD YILDIRIM (Tigers)  

That's what she said.

Yeah, I mostly resigned him because of his name!  Shank-Shink will shank a bitch!  

Ego - This can be looked at as the general disposition that a player has. It mainly impacts teamwork and how much the team likes to play with each other. You want to have a good mix of the best but don't get too concerned about having a few of the worse ones on your roster. It goes through these ranks from lowest to highest.
Arrogant, cocky, responsible, friendly, compassionate.
 
Dirty - This is how dirty a player plays the game. The dirtier a player is willing to play the more they push the boundaries of the rules to gain an advantage. That also mean they are more likely to take penalties, especially majors that aren't fighting majors. It goes through these ranks from lowest to highest.
Tough, agitator, respectful, gentle.
 
Leadership - This is a take on how much of a leader presence the player can have in the locker room. This is mostly relevant for whom you want to make captains for your team. This goes through these ranks from lowest to highest.
Anonymus, modest, respected, role model, motivator, commander, true leader
 
Big Games - This is a showing of how the player is likely to respond in big moments. The lower the ranking the more likely they are to make mistakes in big moments. It goes through these ranks from lowest to highest.
Nervous, anxious, stable, determined, heroic.
 
Ambition - This is a showing of how much interest the player has in the sport and how much they care about how good they are. This is mostly going to be used in conjunction with development to determine how good the player might get. This may also have an impact on how long of a career a player may have. This goes through these ranks from lowest to highest.
Lazy, half-hearted, enthusiastic, purposeful, ambitious.
 
Hidden profile:
There is one hidden profile that used to be known. Talent. It was hidden for obvious reason. Everyone would go after the players with the highest ranking in this category without touching any of the others if at all possible. It made it too easy to go after the players that were most likely to be the best in the game.
 
The rankings might not be fully accurate but they are to the best of my knowledge. Also, I don't think I did the best job of describing the different profile points so do not hesitate to point out what is missing or may be worth including.

Yeah, thats nice advantage rly... can fish for players from those already relegated

Yeah, I mostly resigned him because of his name!  Shank-Shink will shank a bitch!  

Yeah, I mostly resigned him because of his name!  Shank-Shink will shank a bitch!  

The Leopards tumbled into the playoffs this season losing 7 of our last 12 games.  Seems eerily familiar to last season where we finished #2 and got bounced in 4 games.  Time to see what this team is made of.  If we don't make it to the Eastern Conf Finals (at least) things might get blown up.
 
Round 1 opponent, the always dangerous Cedar Rapids Minutemen.  We split the season series 2-2, however the Minutemen held a +3 goal differential in those games.  We're not nervous.  Who's nervous?  

Center Ismail Shank-Shink signed a contract extension and will stay in Eldred Elite for 3 more years
 
I love this guys name.

so, playoffs coming soon... here is my score so far, with all possible opponents
 
Vs Leopards 2-2
Vs Union 1-2
Vs Minuteman 4-0
Vs Duhawks 2-1
Vs Nightmares 1-3
Vs Red Tide 1-3
Vs Bulldogs 3-1
 
Too bad we don't have head to head info on versus page. I just can't seem to get going against some teams, Red Tide and Nightmares would be first to point out. Last season as well. Might be playstyle? Anyways, looking forward to playoffs

Five to go and it looks like the top 2 spots in both conferences are locked.  Also, the eight playoff teams in the east are likely settled, but those standings are tight!  Clearly coming down to the last game.  I'm just hoping for a gust of wind to keep me in the 8th spot five days from now!!!!  

Ask what you want to know as scouting can quickly get rather broad. I assume you mean scouting younger players specifically though?

I've read that conversation 3 times now and I end up laughing out loud every time. Just priceless. Really shows how well the assistant is up for his job.

Just a friendly reminder that the transfer deadline is coming up on Day 66 (Round 60).
Roughly 10 days from now!

Ha, I stopped reading the Asst reports a few seasons ago.  Chasing those comments led me nowhere.  I'd like to see the assistant just go away.  In its place see more ways to influence individual player development or other off ice type impacts.  

Ha, I stopped reading the Asst reports a few seasons ago.  Chasing those comments led me nowhere.  I'd like to see the assistant just go away.  In its place see more ways to influence individual player development or other off ice type impacts.  

The Outlaws and Duhawks do not like each other, eh?  5 fights in a single game.  I've never seen that before.  And the game ended 1-0 in a shootout.  Instant classic!

Home record:  15 - 2 - 0 - 1
 
Away record:  4 - 2 - 3 - 7

Here, I talked to assistant to clear some things.
 
IP: Hi mate, lets talk about the game yesterday. And some other reports from last week.
A: Ok.
IP: We won 5-2 yesterday.
A: Yes.
IP: Lets discuss your report.
A: Ok.
IP: Team showed no signs of underestimating our opponent.
A: No, they didn't. They went in the game fierce and furious.
IP: But the team captains failed to prepare the team on our opponent?
A: Well, yes...
IP: How so?
A: I don't know... maybe they didn't prepare... uhm... maybe they didn't motivate players enough.
IP: Lets talk about Hoglund. 3 points for 6 minutes of ice time. Awesome.
A: Yeah, but he wasn't quite happy with his performance. His confidence is dented and he is crying in locker room now.
IP: How so?
A: He had 0 hits and 0 takeaways.
IP: But he scored a goal and had two assists.
A: No hits, no takeaways...
IP: Lets talk about Breton. He didn't have best of game, but you said that his bodychecks really boosted his confidence.
A: Yeah, but he displayed some very weak bodychecks.
IP: Ok?
A: Well, he is a player who gets his cofidence boosted only if he does weak bodychecks.
IP: Oh, ok. I didn't know that. Lets talk about game against Tomahawks, where our goalie got pulled out in first peried after allowing 4 goals from 7 shots. How did he feel after the game?
A: Great, he was very happy with his performance and it took his game to whole another level.
IP: I can see that. I see you mentioned that he didn't fit his role good? (Role 30)
A: Ah, yes. Well, he is a goalie, but naturally he is soccer goalie and being on the ice really makes it hard for him.
IP: Berthellete had a fine game. You mention that he protected the puck really well in the offensive zone.
A: Yeah, he was awesome.
IP: He also had great checking game.
A: Yes, thats what he does. I gave him 80 for his physical performance.
IP: But your report states that he failed in physical play getting past the opponent with the puck.
A: Yeah, he can't handle the puck.
IP: But he protected the puck really well?
A: Yeah, when he got the puck he protected him along the boards great, but if he skates with it then he failed.
IP: Ok. One more thing comes to mind.
A: Yes?
IP: You said that Arnesen wasn't affected by fatigue during the game at all.
A: Nope, he is incredible.
IP: But you said that he had problems with endurance and failed in recovery. Recovery of what?
A: I don't know.
IP: How he wasn't affected by fatigue if he had problems with endurance?
A: Uhm, maybe he was saving himself for last period and then, I don't know, game finished and he realised that he isn't fatigued at all.
IP: Ok. Cya tomorrow.
A: Bye.

Hold on to your hats, ladies and gents. The Cats aren't done yet.

Same!
 
my next 11 are all current playoff teams >.

There's been a SHG scored in just about 50% of my games this season.  Think that's the 9th one scored against me in 22 games - and I've probably scored 4 or 5.  Crazy.

The next 8 or so games for me will show if my early success is fleeting or if I've truly turned the team around from last season's mess.  All 8 games are against teams currently in the playoffs and most in the top half of the standings.  Lost a weird one against Leopards last night.  We each had a SHG and he went 1/2 on PP against the #1 PK unit in the league (well, before last night, haha!) by getting three goals in the 3rd to win 4-2.  Didn't help I was short handed the last 3.5 minutes of the game either!