Kraken Find GM, Get Ready For Upcoming ACHL Inaugural Season

By Wes Mucyk (Seattle Kraken) On Monday 19th August 2024 / 1:49am

Sometime in the past, news broke that the hockey world would be getting a new top league.  The ACHL.  A 32 team league that would begin it's inaugural season near the end of summer 2024.

   Franchises and ownership groups were in place early 2024.  It was time to start work on the real stuff that mattered.  1st organizations began looking for their GM's.

   The Seattle Kraken hired Wes Mucyk to be the franchise's 1st GM.  He was signed to a 2 year deal.   This Kraken GM brings experience and a winning pedigree.  Seattle fans were very excited to hear the news of the hire, and anticipate great things for the franchise.

    Mucyk quickly got to work hiring the team's coaching staff and began filling all other openings.  Now the real work began.  The ACHL inaugural draft followed by the prospect draft.

   After the dust settled, the Kraken came out as a franchise in the "rebuild" state.  There are a couple of pieces on the pro team which may be there a while, but fans, and the organization are mostly excited about what's coming down the pipeline.  Guys like Crouse,Batherson, Nurse could be wearing Kraken jersey's for many years, along with a maybe on Niederreiter and Rakell.  Rumor has it that the team and Matt Duchene are trying to work out a new deal.  If he does sign, it is expected that Duchene would be moving to the wing come season 2.

   GM Wes Mucyk has identified the key pieces, or core if you will, for the team's long term plan.  Those pieces are, the top 2 centers down the middle in Leo Carlsson and Cole Sillinger.  On the backend David Jiricek and between the pipes Yaroslav Askarov.

       Now we find ourselves ramping up to start the 1st ever ACHL regular season.  Get ready for some great Armchair Hockey League action!

Justin Parrott (Toronto Maple Leafs) On 23rd August / 1:32am : Future is bright for the Kraken. Best of luck to you and the boys along the way!

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ACHL Draft Day Delirium: Superstars Land, Surprises Abound!

The ACHL Draft Day dust has settled, but the echoes of "whoa!" and "did they really just pick...?" are still ringing in our ears! From the top picks to the late-round steals, this inaugural draft was one for the history books.

Superstar Showdown: The Edmonton Oilers, fueled by a trade with the Lightning, snagged the generational talent Connor McDavid at number one. Talk about a dream start for the franchise! Meanwhile, the Golden Knights threw a curveball by selecting Auston Matthews at two, setting the stage for a potential Pacific Division rivalry for the ages.

Beyond the Big Names: Don't let the McDavids and Matthews steal the show! The first round saw an avalanche (pun intended) of young talent flying off the board. From Nathan MacKinnon to Cale Makar and Nikita Kucherov, these future stars will be lighting up the ACHL for years to come.

Trades Take Center Stage: But the real drama unfolded beyond the top picks. Our GMs pulled off some blockbuster trades, leaving us scratching our heads and hitting refresh on the league website. The Wild sending their pick to the Blues, and the Devils acquiring one from the Stars – something tells us these teams have a master plan in the works!

This is Just the Beginning: Folks, we've only just begun! With 350 picks down and 1255 more to go, the prospect draft promises even more intrigue. And then, the real test: the season opener! Get ready for a battle royale, ACHL fans, this league is about to explode!

Stay Tuned! Keep your eyes peeled on the official ACHL inaugural draft google sheet for the full schedule breakdown, including all the trades and hidden gems drafted late. Remember, some teams acquired picks through those trades, so the "via..." tag holds the key to these strategic maneuvers.

The Future is Bright: With these powerhouse rosters taking shape, the inaugural ACHL season is poised to be an epic spectacle. Buckle up, hockey fans, we're in for a wild ride!

- ACHL AI BOT

Welcome to the Armchair Hockey League (ACHL): A New Era of Sim Hockey!

Welcome Armchair General Managers!

On behalf of the ACHL, we are thrilled to officially welcome you to our inaugural season. This league is designed for passionate hockey fans and sim enthusiasts, and we are so excited to see the strategies, rivalries, and dynasties that will unfold ahead.

What to Expect:

• Competitive Sim Hockey: We'll be running two full seasons per year, using the SimonT 1.5 engine for the most realistic gameplay possible.
• Draft & Team Building: The inaugural draft is just around the corner, where you'll assemble your rosters and lay the foundation for your franchise. Keep an eye on Slack for the draft schedule and details.
• Active Community: We're building a vibrant community of GMs who love to talk hockey and have a good time. Join the conversation on Slack and connect with your fellow managers.

A League Built for You:

This league is designed by GMs, for GMs. Your feedback and ideas are invaluable, so don't hesitate to share your thoughts. Together, we'll shape the ACHL into the ultimate sim hockey experience.

Stay Tuned!

More announcements are coming soon, including details on the draft, schedule, prizes, and more. Make sure you're following our Slack for all the latest updates.

We can't wait to drop the puck on this exciting new season! 

Cheers,

Andrew & Justin

Commissioners, ACHL