Sorry haven't updated in a while. Into November 1996 so here's a quick Off-season recap:
Signings:
Resigned John LeClair(3yrs/$1.52M)
Resigned Peter Forsberg (3yrs/$1.85M)
Resigned Wayne Gretzky (1yr/$1.72M)
Signed Free Agent
Chris Pronger(3*/4*) to a 4yr/$3.3M deal
Couldn't resign Roger Neillson as Head Coach (Couldn't afford him
) so we hired up and comer Benjamin Beavington(20 in tactics and 12 in-game tactic rating). Our bench is loaded with Gerry Cheevers as our goalie coach while Jacques Demers, Ken Hitchcock and Barry Trotz hold the other A.Coach positions. I'm going to promote either Hitch or Trotz after Beavington leaves.
Draft:
Drafted Danius Zubrus with the 24th Overall pick, then dealt our 4th, 5th and 6th round picks to TB for their 1997 3rd Round Pick
Notable draftees:
#1 C Pavel Datsyuk - Florida
#2 G Nicklas Backstrom - TB
#3 LD Mark Streit - Anaheim
#4 C Daniel Briere - NJ
#5 C Eric Belanger - NYI
#6 LW Matt Cooke - SJ
#11 Tomas Kaberle - PHX
#14 Chris Phillips - NYR
As of November 24th, 1996 we're sitting at 14-6-3 which is #2 in the East behind the damn Penguins(18-2-1) despite having scoring the most goals(99). We've allowed 68 goals, so goaltending will be something I'm looking to shore up with Hextall(2.5*) and Garth Snow(1.5) holding it down at the moment.