Aaron's Team: The Chicago Blackhawks.
32-20-5-2,
here's the record of the Hawks, good for 71 pts and
3rd place in the West conference. A team that has one of the greatest core and
keeps improving as proves the acquisition of Cory Stillman and defenseman Jason
Smith...
Aaron aka Stajanfan
can be. without a doubt. categorized as one of the elite GMs in the CMHL. Great knowledge
of prospects with an ever greater knowledge of his strengths and weaknesses.
Last year, he astonished the CMHL world after putting his hands on unreachable
Alexander Ovechkin for a beer and a shot of tequila... Alexander the great completes one of the
best first line, on papers, with the magician Sydney Crosby and the speedy Afinogenov. But what improved this season
was his understanding of the league and
what’s needed to win. Therefore, He has one of the most impressive 2nd line as well. Brind’amour,
Stillman, Bondra adds experience and leadership needed for a team to face the
challenge of the post season.
The defense is steady with the likes of Norris winner Lidstrom and the future
can be seen in the eyes of Pitkanen, a smart addition to the team this year.
Jason Smith, as stated in the opening, knows what is needed to win as he proved
in last year performances.
Nikolai Khabibulin finalizes the team and as if it wasn’t enough, could steal a
game here and there by his skills alone. The superstar goalie enjoys until now,
one of his best CMHL season.
Now
looking at the actual season, the Hawks didn't enjoy any big winning stretch but
are keeping the wins ratio steady. With 4 of the players managing more than a
point per game, the last 10 games saw a short, but realistic to their position,
6-3-1 winning record. In those games, they managed to end the huge winning
streak of the Devils with an outstanding 4-0. A good way to see how the team
reacts under pressure is their match-ups against close competition. Looking at
it deeply, they destroyed the BlueJackets all year long (7 wins - 1 Tie) but
have had a losing record against all the other big guns in the West. Oilers,
Flames, Ducks, Stars and Sharks did all have the best of them until now, but
Chicago can still put the balance in their favour during the last stretch.
All in all, the hawks deserve their winning record. The names in the team surely must keep Stajanfan awake 24/7
from all the proposals he must receive throughout the league, and while we could think he would sit on his
good fortune, like
every elite GMs, he keeps improving in hopes of reaching the status of Dynasty...
The only "bemol" would be his lack of success against equal teams, something
that will need remedy in order to enter post season in the best of conditions.
Something I have no doubt he will manage to do...
5 minutes with a Gm at work:
“You’ve worked obviously hard on your squad
Aaron, what in your
opinion is the reason of your success?”
-Well I believe there
are many reasons for my success. I feel that I have two number one lines that
compliment each other very well, and the balance of youth and leadership gel
well together. Also my defense is rock solid, with Lidstrom and Morris being
Norris type defenceman. I have built my defense around size and strength,
being good defensively, and excellent passers who are also smart with the
puck. And of course Khabibulin, who has been sensational the past two seasons,
and having a top goalie who can steal games on any given only adds to the
success of the team.
“As far as planning/organisation goes, Do you have any teams you look up to
either in the NHL or CMHL?”
-I watch what all the
top teams do in every deal, their strategies within the deal. I would say in
the CMHL I would look up to this years Buffalo Sabres, and as much as it pains
me to say it, Columbus. They are deep in every position, have excellent
futures, and the GM's are first class.
“ Will Ovechkin and Crosby be hawks for life?”
-As long as I am the GM
in Chicago, Ovechkin and Crosby will be in a Hawks uniform. I cant ever see a
way to justify dealing a 22 year old Ovechkin and a 20 year Crosby. They are
arguably the top two players in the league, and they are just starting to
reach their full potential, which is a very exciting thought.
“How much do you involve yourself in the league in order to come up with those
trades, is it a full time job?”
-I devote almost all of
my free time to the league, and it is worth every minute. With the work that
Mat puts into the league, I feel its my responsibility as a GM to give my time
back to the league he has built and make it the best league it can be. As far
as the trading and success goes, it comes with experience. I believe I am a
far better GM than when I was first hired. I don't think I could ever have
built the team I have without putting in the time I have put in.
“let’s say tomorrow you get the right to have realized one wish in order to
improve either your team or the CMHL, what would you do?”
-One wish: to have 30
GM's logging in and being on the boards every day. That would be one wish I
would hope for, it would be out of this world. Having over 20 extremely active
GM's is great, and the thought of having all 30 GM's being here every day
contributing to the league is almost surreal.
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