You Be The GM Contest

After a long heated argument with a close friend about what a certain hockey GM should have / should be doing for a certain Canadian hockey team, I've decided to start this contest for everyone following Ice Scoopz. We all think we can be the man in charge but really could we? Its a tough job. While fans and owners expect results instantly, a long road of hard decesions comes before victory. Being a GM is a stressful position with lots of demands and huge shoes to fill.

Now it's your turn to fill those shoes! Since everyone thinks differently I thought it would be interesting to see everyones take on their favorite Canadian team and see if they have what it takes to be a National Hockey League General Manager. So heres the contest, each person entering gets to pick any Canadian team and take over from August 1st on wards right up to training camp. I wanna see what you would do to your team. Which free agents would you sign? Who would you trade? Who would you buyout? Which prospects would you bring up? Who would you fire? What would your lines look like? What players would you extend training camp tryout offers too? Every move a GM could make is in your hands. Show us what your team would look like going into the upcoming season. Use whatever approach you think you team should be taking for the next season whether its a rebuild for the future or a 1 year run for the present. I want to see what your make up would be for your favorite Canadian team. Please use detail I want to see the reason and method behind the madness. It doesn't have to be a book but enough logic to make some sense.

It wouldn't be a contest ether without free shit. I'll be judging this contest with my panel so there will be a prize for the winner. What kind of prize you say? Well a cool t-shirt of your favorite Canadian hockey team. The real prize however is being crowned the best wanna be GM. The judging will take place a week after the contest ends giving you time to review all of your fellow rumor fiends teams and leave positive criticize. I'm looking for the team that makes the most sense / the best fit. The team with the most logic behind it and at the same time keeping the theme of being realistic will win the contest. Creativity is also a major factor so use those noggin's.

In the next few days I'll have a new category setup in the Forum for contests and BE GM will be where your to post your teams. Yes that means you have to sign up for the forum. If you need help or have any more questions please feel free to e-mail me at ice_scoopz@bell.blackberry.net and I'll answer you inquiries. The deadline for this contest will be Sunday August 15th at midnight. Goodluck

Here are the rules:

1. Salary Cap Friendly - The cap counts in this one so stay under the cap max but over the cap minimum. The cap max for 2010-2011 is 59$ million and the floor is 43 so keep that in mind when wheeling and dealing.

2. Trade Realistically - When it comes to trades obviously the Pittsburgh Penguins won't trade Sidney Crosby to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Jeff Finger. The same goes for free agency, a player that is still in his prime and made 2 million last season most likely wouldn't except a deal for 500K$. The more realistic it is the funner it is. I was going to put a limit on trades but I figured some of the 6 Canadian teams do need a shake up but that being said realistically you cant deal 50% of a team without serious damage. Just put your feet in the other teams shoes, think to yourself would this make sense for the other end? The more rumored player the better.

3. Free Agent Frenzy - When signing free agents remember your RFA's count as well so get them locked down. Any of the remaining free agents are up for grabs so their at your disposal. Anyone who had not signed before August 1st is still avaliable and any players signed, waived or boughtout after August 1st do not exist on your team. I'll even accept any European free agents that have NHL release clauses so do your research.

4. Canadian Teams Only - Please stick to any of the Canadian teams as most of you are Canadians following this site and it makes it easier limiting it only 6 teams. anybody can pick any team this isn't first come first serve as we could have an entire contest of Ottawa Senators. 1 entry per GM so only 1 team post, if more than one is posted because you have some time and this is up your ally, the 1st team posted by that user will be the entry.

5. Show Your Work - I wanna see some reasoning behind your changes to your club. With each move or change made a little explaination would be helpful in determining why you made the decesions you did, especially in the judging part as well. The more detail the better.

6. Musical Chairs - You may alter any players position to another but explain your purpose in doing it and keep in mind some players play the positions they do for a reason. Moving a center to the backend may not be a smart move but switching wing could be done without much trouble. Also if a player is more suitable in your opinion or has played a certain position is the past thats alright with me as well.

7. The Future - Feel free to sign any prospect you feel could make an impact, any prospect your team owns is in your tool shed to use. I'll make an exception for any prospects with commitments. You may sign them unless they specifically said before August 1st that they did not want to sign with your club. bring players up from the minors as well, we won't worry about players that have to pass through waivers ether.

8. Be Friendly - I expect everyone participating to leave comments on others teams but please be respectful. You may question a decision and point out issues but be nice about it. No name calling or bickering please, just friendly debate.

9. Stick To The Board - Use the Forum to post your team, please don't e-mail me or post on the main site. The forums there for a reason and the whole idea of this is to get more users signed up and using it regularly.

10. Finalize - The last call for teams to be posted is August 15th Eastern time no teams will be excepted after that deadline to be fair, even if you have a doctors note. I have a final say to the judging so please don't question it, you have your chance to question your fellow scheming GM's once they post it so don't stress me when I post my rankings of the top 3. You can take it out on me when I post each of my versions of the 6 Canadian teams.

Have Fun And The More That Enter The Better!! Goodluck!