NHL Diary

Wow, lots has happened early on. We are 25 and 13 and the last time I checked we topped the NHL standings. But we have had major shuffles to our lineup since the last update.

First, Tindori, my third line defensemen whose name I've butchered multiple times, gets post concussion syndrome and he's out for awhile. I had a decent replacement for him in Matt Smaby, so not too bad but he will be missed on the PK.

Next, the big one. J.C. LaFlamme sprains his MCL and is out about 3 months. That shit hurt. I've bumped Matt Puemple up to the first line, and brought Molin up to the second line. That makes everyone on my second line right handed, something that I hate. Had to be done though. I believe Dumount moves to right wen on line three, Helm moves to center on line four, and Victor Stalberg gets called up to fill the void. Phew.

Not the last move though, as I made a goaltending change. I glanced at free agency and saw that a elderly Rick Dipietro was not signed. He had went all through free agency and nobody got him (not even desperate Minnesota, who had Ben Bishop starting for them an 81 ovr). So I shopped around Josh Harding. I wanted a second round pick, but ended up accepting a 3rd round pick in the 2019 draft. I then signed Dipierto who, at 87 ovr, was 3 ovr points better than Harding and took about the same in cash.

My huge dilemma now is this. Cary Price will be a free agent at the end of this year. The last contract I gave him was a 4.5 milion dollar a year deal. He is now a 97 overall. So the amount should double, if not much more. I expect him to ask for atleast 10 million. Here's the deal though, other than when him and Brian Elliott dominated the league and won the Jennings Trophy, Price hasn't performed like a 97 ovr during the year. He dominates the playoffs and wins the Conn Smythe any time we win the cup, but I just don't know how I will justify having to get rid of guys like Kelsar and Giroux to pay him this money. Im a little scarred that the Dynasty will come crashing down hard after this season.

My question is, do I make a huge deadline deal of a guy like Keslar or Price to prepare for this, or just let the chips fall?