Holden Caulfield
Eternal Skeptic
I tried posting this before but since I started a new job working 60+ hours a week I wasn't sure how many updates I could post. I think I can still keep up ok with this so I'll try again. Again not sure anyone will care but it's fun for me.
July 2, 2018
Surprise Expansion Announcement!
The NHL announced today that effective immediately the Seattle Totems were opening operations. Seemingly out of nowhere the team popped up and in exchange for a smaller expansion fee they will not have an expansion draft. The team starts with absolutely nothing.
Totems announce GM!
Totems have announced that Rodney McKay is taking over control of the hockey operations as GM. He has no experience at all in the hockey world coming from a academia background. The Canadian is a well know academic with very few people skills, and it appears that Totems think he can just outsmart the "old boys club".
July 5th, 2018
Totems round out staff, including announcing Ralph Krueger as Head Coach
Totems have announced that they have lured Ralph Krueger away from the English Premier League back to hockey with a head coaching job. Clint Malarchuk, Teemu Selanne, Scott Stevens, and Bryan Trottier round out the old school hockey lineup of assistant coaches. Former Stars GM Les Jackson is announced as assistant GM. Mike Sands is announced as head scout with a staff including Joe Nieuwendyk.
July 6th, 2018
Totems announce first round of signings
Totems have signed a wide variety of NHL veterans along with some young players to fill out the system. Notable NHLers include LW Scottie Upshall, RD Cody Franson, RW Alex Chiasson, RW Jannik Hansen, RW Logan Shaw, RW Emerson Etem, LW Dwight King.
July 7th, 2018
Totems announce Vermette as Captain among other transactions
Totems have announced they've signed C Antoine Vermette and named him the inaguaral captain of the team. The 36 year old 14 year veteran has long been lauded as a leader. Also signed are C Nick Shore, C Mark Letestu, LW Shane Prince, RW Drew Stafford, G Kari Lehtonen, RW Daniel Winnik, LD Marc-Andre Gragnani among many other minor leaguers.
July 8th, 2018
Totems announce another round of signings
G Steve, RW Tommy Wingels, RD Ryan Sproul, RD Paul Postma, RW Lee Stempniak, LD Brandon Davidson, RW Brandon Kozun, LD Jakub Jerabek, LW Tomas Jurco, RD Frank Corrado, C Mike Cammalleri are the most notable names announced. More minor leaguers and prospects added as well.
July 12th, 2018
Totems announce last round of major signings.
GM McKay announces that their last round of major signings have been finalized. LD Tobias Enstrom, LW Jussi Jokinen, LW Jiri Hudler, LW Rick Nash highlight the names signed today.
July 28th, 2018
Totems sign veteran Martin
LD Paul Martin, a target of the team from opening day, finally agrees to a one year deal with the team.
July 31, 2018
This month in the NHL
Controversial RD Vyacheslav Voynov returns to the NHL with a 1 year deal with the Canucks. In a subsequent move Vancouver moved RD Troy Stetcher to Calgary for rights to C Milos Roman. Many other minor signings were made.
Training Camp Report
Totems Open Camp with no expectations and roster battles galore
With just a couple months to prepare a roster, it is a truly open battle for spots everywhere. Below are the roster breakdown.
Goalie: Kari Lehtonen and Steve Mason are basically locks for the roster. 23 year old Andrei Kareyev is the wildcard but is facing an uphill battle. Matt Galajda and Stephen Dhillon are expected to battle for backup role in AHL.
Defense: Tobias Enstrom, Jakub Jerabek, Brandon Davidson, Paul Martin and Cody Franson are expected to be locks. The last 2 spots are expected to be contended by NHL vets Frank Corrado, Paul Postma, Marc-Andre Gragnani, and Ryan Sproul. European veteran Michal Cajkovsky and college signee Ian Scheid are expected to be dark horses. Mattias Goransson, Alec McCrea, Thomas Gregoire, and Colton Poolman are minor league bound.
Forwards: LW Jiri Hudler, LW Mike Cammalleri, C Mike Letestu, C Antoine Vermette, RW Rick Nash, RW Lee Stempniak, RW Drew Stafford, RW Jussi Jokinen, RW Jannik Hansen are considered locks for the roster. LW Scottie Upshall, LW Daniel Winnik, C Nick Shore, RW Jussi Jokinen, RW Tommy Wingels are considered likely to make the roster. LW Dwight King, LW Shane Prince, LW Tomas Jurco, RW Emerson Etem, RW Logan Shaw, RW Brandon Kozun, RW Alex Chiasson are considered the bubble players. Young players LW Ryan Kuffner, C Nico Sturm, C Mason Bergh, Tyler Wong, RW Max Veronneau, RW Tyler Sheehy, and RW Nick Halloran are considered longshots. It will be a full on battle.
September 26, 2018
Totems claim C Martin Hanzal off waivers from Stars
Despite the large contract the Totems have claimed C Martin Hanzal off waivers from the Stars. He will help solidify the weak Totems center ice position.
September 28, 2018
Totems claim RW Tom Kuhnhackl off waivers from Islanders
The grinding RW is claimed to help the depth of the Totems.
Around the NHL news
Avalanche claim LW Max Pacioretty off waivers from the Canadiens. Pacioretty had fallen out of favour in Montreal but the waive was still a surprise.
September 29, 2018
Totems finish pre-season, announce roster
The Totem finish the pre-season 2-4-1 and announce their final roster. LD Marc-Andre Gragnani, LW Daniel Winnik, LW Thomas Jurco, C Nick Shore, RW Tommy Wingels, RW Emerson Etem, and RW Logan Shaw are among the players to hit the waiver wire.
Seattle Totems
Hudler - Cammalleri - Nash
Prince - Hanzal - Stempniak
Jokinen - Vermette - Kozun
Upshall - Letestu - Hansen
Enstrom - Postma
Martin - Sproul
Davidson - Corrado
Mason
Lehtonen
Ex: Kuhnhackl, Stafford
Inj: Franson
IR: Jerabek
Fresno Falcons
King - Shore - Etem
Hancock - Wingels - Shaw
Kuffner - Sturm - Wong
AHL - Sheehy - Veronneau
Gragnani - Goransson
Cajkovsky - Scheid
Gregoire - AHL
Kareyev
Galajda
Ex (Too many veterans): LW Tomas Jurco, RW Alex Chiasson
Alaska Aces
G Stephen Dhillon
RD Alex McCrea
LD Colton Poolman
C Mason Bergh
RW Nick Halloran
The starting roster looks very unimpressive. How will this roster do?
July 2, 2018
Surprise Expansion Announcement!
The NHL announced today that effective immediately the Seattle Totems were opening operations. Seemingly out of nowhere the team popped up and in exchange for a smaller expansion fee they will not have an expansion draft. The team starts with absolutely nothing.
Totems announce GM!
Totems have announced that Rodney McKay is taking over control of the hockey operations as GM. He has no experience at all in the hockey world coming from a academia background. The Canadian is a well know academic with very few people skills, and it appears that Totems think he can just outsmart the "old boys club".
July 5th, 2018
Totems round out staff, including announcing Ralph Krueger as Head Coach
Totems have announced that they have lured Ralph Krueger away from the English Premier League back to hockey with a head coaching job. Clint Malarchuk, Teemu Selanne, Scott Stevens, and Bryan Trottier round out the old school hockey lineup of assistant coaches. Former Stars GM Les Jackson is announced as assistant GM. Mike Sands is announced as head scout with a staff including Joe Nieuwendyk.
July 6th, 2018
Totems announce first round of signings
Totems have signed a wide variety of NHL veterans along with some young players to fill out the system. Notable NHLers include LW Scottie Upshall, RD Cody Franson, RW Alex Chiasson, RW Jannik Hansen, RW Logan Shaw, RW Emerson Etem, LW Dwight King.
July 7th, 2018
Totems announce Vermette as Captain among other transactions
Totems have announced they've signed C Antoine Vermette and named him the inaguaral captain of the team. The 36 year old 14 year veteran has long been lauded as a leader. Also signed are C Nick Shore, C Mark Letestu, LW Shane Prince, RW Drew Stafford, G Kari Lehtonen, RW Daniel Winnik, LD Marc-Andre Gragnani among many other minor leaguers.
July 8th, 2018
Totems announce another round of signings
G Steve, RW Tommy Wingels, RD Ryan Sproul, RD Paul Postma, RW Lee Stempniak, LD Brandon Davidson, RW Brandon Kozun, LD Jakub Jerabek, LW Tomas Jurco, RD Frank Corrado, C Mike Cammalleri are the most notable names announced. More minor leaguers and prospects added as well.
July 12th, 2018
Totems announce last round of major signings.
GM McKay announces that their last round of major signings have been finalized. LD Tobias Enstrom, LW Jussi Jokinen, LW Jiri Hudler, LW Rick Nash highlight the names signed today.
July 28th, 2018
Totems sign veteran Martin
LD Paul Martin, a target of the team from opening day, finally agrees to a one year deal with the team.
July 31, 2018
This month in the NHL
Controversial RD Vyacheslav Voynov returns to the NHL with a 1 year deal with the Canucks. In a subsequent move Vancouver moved RD Troy Stetcher to Calgary for rights to C Milos Roman. Many other minor signings were made.
Training Camp Report
Totems Open Camp with no expectations and roster battles galore
With just a couple months to prepare a roster, it is a truly open battle for spots everywhere. Below are the roster breakdown.
Goalie: Kari Lehtonen and Steve Mason are basically locks for the roster. 23 year old Andrei Kareyev is the wildcard but is facing an uphill battle. Matt Galajda and Stephen Dhillon are expected to battle for backup role in AHL.
Defense: Tobias Enstrom, Jakub Jerabek, Brandon Davidson, Paul Martin and Cody Franson are expected to be locks. The last 2 spots are expected to be contended by NHL vets Frank Corrado, Paul Postma, Marc-Andre Gragnani, and Ryan Sproul. European veteran Michal Cajkovsky and college signee Ian Scheid are expected to be dark horses. Mattias Goransson, Alec McCrea, Thomas Gregoire, and Colton Poolman are minor league bound.
Forwards: LW Jiri Hudler, LW Mike Cammalleri, C Mike Letestu, C Antoine Vermette, RW Rick Nash, RW Lee Stempniak, RW Drew Stafford, RW Jussi Jokinen, RW Jannik Hansen are considered locks for the roster. LW Scottie Upshall, LW Daniel Winnik, C Nick Shore, RW Jussi Jokinen, RW Tommy Wingels are considered likely to make the roster. LW Dwight King, LW Shane Prince, LW Tomas Jurco, RW Emerson Etem, RW Logan Shaw, RW Brandon Kozun, RW Alex Chiasson are considered the bubble players. Young players LW Ryan Kuffner, C Nico Sturm, C Mason Bergh, Tyler Wong, RW Max Veronneau, RW Tyler Sheehy, and RW Nick Halloran are considered longshots. It will be a full on battle.
September 26, 2018
Totems claim C Martin Hanzal off waivers from Stars
Despite the large contract the Totems have claimed C Martin Hanzal off waivers from the Stars. He will help solidify the weak Totems center ice position.
September 28, 2018
Totems claim RW Tom Kuhnhackl off waivers from Islanders
The grinding RW is claimed to help the depth of the Totems.
Around the NHL news
Avalanche claim LW Max Pacioretty off waivers from the Canadiens. Pacioretty had fallen out of favour in Montreal but the waive was still a surprise.
September 29, 2018
Totems finish pre-season, announce roster
The Totem finish the pre-season 2-4-1 and announce their final roster. LD Marc-Andre Gragnani, LW Daniel Winnik, LW Thomas Jurco, C Nick Shore, RW Tommy Wingels, RW Emerson Etem, and RW Logan Shaw are among the players to hit the waiver wire.
Seattle Totems
Hudler - Cammalleri - Nash
Prince - Hanzal - Stempniak
Jokinen - Vermette - Kozun
Upshall - Letestu - Hansen
Enstrom - Postma
Martin - Sproul
Davidson - Corrado
Mason
Lehtonen
Ex: Kuhnhackl, Stafford
Inj: Franson
IR: Jerabek
Fresno Falcons
King - Shore - Etem
Hancock - Wingels - Shaw
Kuffner - Sturm - Wong
AHL - Sheehy - Veronneau
Gragnani - Goransson
Cajkovsky - Scheid
Gregoire - AHL
Kareyev
Galajda
Ex (Too many veterans): LW Tomas Jurco, RW Alex Chiasson
Alaska Aces
G Stephen Dhillon
RD Alex McCrea
LD Colton Poolman
C Mason Bergh
RW Nick Halloran
The starting roster looks very unimpressive. How will this roster do?