Earning your way to a NHL, from minors or europe

[Pena_FIN]

I sure some of you guys have done it. Started a game in juniors/minors/europe, and build up rep to get a NHL GM job. How long does it take, and what kind of success you need ?

I'm five seasons into my career, which started in finnish elite. I got sacked after two season (hey, it's my first go at this), but was immediately hired by the first available AHL team. While there, I applied to every open NHL gig, no luck (was something like 60th ranked in USA, so no surprise there).
After getting tired of playing with a roster forced on me (I don't coach or watch games, just GM), I took the first available european GM spot.
So now I'm starting my second season with AK Bars (still applying to any open NHL team), and getting really steamed about the goalie situation. After this season I'm going to limit my choices to NHL, Finland and Sweden (during these five seasons I've seen maybe one opening in Swe-1 and Swe-2, none in Finland, so I might have to sit out for a while).

Should I just give up and start a new game in NHL, or is it worth going on trying to earn my way in ?
Just as a reference; In the old Championship Manager games (which are about the same age as this), it never took me more then ten season to work my way from some soccer wasteland bush league, to the helm of one of the biggest european super clubs. And that was definitely worth the effort every time.

[ChoseQuiVole]

Sticking in the AHL is probably your best bet.

If I remember correctly, I spent 4 years in the OHL, then a couple in the ECHL and a couple more in the AHL, got rejected a few times, and finally made it in Minnesota. I quit after 4 years but had to rework my way through ECHL and AHL (in two years I think) before getting another NHL gig. I haven't looked back since.

[CarrotHead]

My best "earnig to way to NHL" record is this. Of course I started unemployed.
06-07: unemployed
07-08: General Manager of Grankkula IFK (FIN-3) I promoted team and after the season I got spot in EHCL team
08-09: General Manager of Columbus Inferno (first on the league, out of the play-offs in first round)
09-10: General Manager of Columbus Inferno (second on the league, out of the play-offs in first round again)
10-11: General Manager of Columbus Inferno (first on the league, out of the division semifinals)
11-12: General Manager of New York Rangers (old GM retires and they accept my CV )

[timmy_t]

As soon as you get to the United States (UHL, CHL, ECHL, or AHL) it's pretty easy to get an NHL job.

If you want to go from Finland to the NHL you should start your game as the GM of either of Finland's national teams (U-20 or Men), and then apply for one of the open jobs in Finland. I just looked and if you are using the latest DB, 3.0, there are jobs in all three leagues including TPS, HIFK, Espoo Blues, and HPK. Do a good job with one of those teams and your national team and your world rank will be high enough to get to the NHL.

Good luck!

[Deleted 25-08-19]

I made it to NHL in 3 seasons, winning 3 Finland's SM-League golds in row. Though i was playing with Jokerit.. Its too easy when they can almost get every player from UFA they want to. ;(

And actually, they asked me for job!

[emrex]

went from unemployed to EHS Eisbären Berlin - on chrismas day '06 no less - dumped them for Phoenix Roadrunners seven months later, lost the kelly cup in '08, and headed to Montreal Canadians. then i traded for niittymäki and haven't played that career ever since.

[gazzw87]

My favourite way to play the game! My best experience of doing this is as follows...

Started unemployed and 'rec player' because thats what I am. Bracknell Bee's in the UK EPL offer me a job. I already knew Bracknell was one of the better teams so I didn't think it'd take too long to get out of the EPL. So I wont the league first go. Second season they up'd my wage budget and I sign a top Latvian from the German DEL to my suprise and totally dominated the league again. So time to move on I thought... I got offered the job in Austria for Villach.. who on my save was TERRIBLE! they was bottom after about 16 games and didn't have any talent. I managed to get them to 4/5th and thought I can't stay here, luckey Khimik Voserensk* got promoted into the Russian Superleague and they accepted me. First season I finished mid table. Second to my surpise i sign Ilya Kovalchuk because Atlanta let his contract run out!! and also managed to get Khabby in goal! I donimated that season. Next season I lured 2 NHL wingers to my team so it was Kolvachuk - NHL - NHL on my top line (sorry i forget their names). I dominated that season also and got the Team GB job. GB had been relegated so i had no games! so i left them. 3rd season in Russia I won again and was enjoying my time but the challenge was NHL. I kept applying for NHL but nothing. I then managed to get the job at Johnstown Chiefs ECHL. Had a poor team and i made the playoffs but was out and didnt do anything. End of that season I apply for Prince Albert Raiders in the Junior Leagues in Canada. I had no idea at that time how to manage them, finished mid table and applied around end of season!. Brigdeport Sound Tigers AHL and New York Islanders farm team offered me the job. I did 1 season with them and again mid table finish. Islanders GM goes and they accept me woo I did 3 season's with the Islanders and just couldn't draft the right guys or sign the right guys and struggled!.. then I stopped playing that save!

English Premier League(2 seasons) > Austrian League(just over half a season) > Russian Superleague(3 seasons) > ECHL(1 season > Canadian Juniors(1 season) > AHL(1 season) > NHL(3 seasons)

That's my story!

Thanks

Gazz

[Jypfan92]

What db you used? Just thinking, how did you get Kovie and Khabby?

[gazzw87]

Hey Jypfan

I use the TBL Unfaked DB only. I just can't use the lidas or any other of the updated ones! Kovie as i said was released by Atlanta and for some crazy reason decided to sign with newly promoted Khimik! He was totally dominant in the Russian league the 3 years I had him. Obviously as soon as his contract was up he left promtly for Colardo Avalanche! Khabby again was just sitting on the FA list. I did intend to get Bryzgalov but he kept saying no, then more a less on deadline day when no NHL teams wanted him he signed with AK Bars which i obviously wasn't very happy about!

Some other strange things was Frolunda Indians was THE BEST team on my save it seemed. they had an awesome roster and won the Swedish league and euro cups consistanly. They had Rob Neidermeier and Nick Lidstrom while I was in the Russian League! Mikhail Grabovski and Marian Gaborik were my other 2 NHL'ers I had.
Thanks

Gazz

[Jypfan92]

Oh, that looks like lockout season, Lidström, Gaborik and others in Europe. Is the reputation of the European leagues bigger than in original db? I play a lots of original db with some editings, and once I sign Teemu Selänne to Jokerit, but he retired before season started. I have never seen any NHL-stars in Europe, even though I have made reputation of the European leagues much better.

[gazzw87]

As far as im aware the repuations are...

NHL 20
Sweden 14
Russia 13
Czech 13
Finland 13...

For the 'top' leagues. I once seen Peverley now of the Boston Bruins sign with Belfast Giants in the UK Elite league. Like I said i only ever use the TBL Unfaked databse. I guess it just shows how random the game can be!

[Jypfan92]

^ It happened something like that to me: Milan Kopecky has been first line center in Karlovy Vary and last season he was their 3rd best points scorer last season (08-09). He became UFA and then he made contract with HC Fassa, that plays in Italian Serie A. Ok, Kopecky ain't same caliber with Peverley and others but still, never seen any known player going to small league.

[racicot]

I have never successfully done it. I started with the Colorado Eagles of the CHL. Led the league in points and won the cup all 4 seasons (it's actually quite easy, all you have to do is poach talent from Canadian Interuniversity Sport). Kept applying for NHL jobs and no one cared. After 4 dominant championship seasons my reputation didn't change at all.

I accepted a job in Rimouski of the QMJHL in the off season. They were dead last and had an awful roster. Turned the team around, and finished second in the conference in my first year and lost in the finals. Next season I finished first in the conference and lost in the third round. Still no offers and no rep change.

Don't really know what I have to do. I did get an AHL contract, but I hate playing with pre-assembled rosters.

[Wroom]

I've made it from SEL. Think it took two-three seasons.

I've always made it from Norway. But I took some national coaching jobs along the way. Canada/USA. So, winning or getting far in those championships might have helped my case.

[timmy_t]

But I took some national coaching jobs along the way. Canada/USA. So, winning or getting far in those championships might have helped my case.

Yeah, Wroom's right. It's all about raising your reputation. You could win a hundred championships and it won't raise your rep more than one or two with Canada/USA. Heck, you can just get one of the weaker teams like Ukraine or Kazakhstan and raise your rep in one year.

[canucksfan94]

Took me 4 years with the Vancouver Giants (WHL) and a job with Switzerland's national team before the Flyers hired me. The team was actually in good shape but had a bad year, so I didn't have much work to do to turn them around.

[Pena_FIN]

I haven't made it yet, but national teams are definitely the key in.

I took the Norway job, using a downloaded tactic (I usually don't coach games or set tactics), so basically I'm cheating to raise me rep (I'm 9-0 against euro challenge scrubs, and my rep is taking huge leaps). If I can have decent results in the olympics and WC, I think I have enough rep to land the NHL gig.

So, taking an internatioanal job, some of which are unrealistically easy to get, you can probably do it with ease.
But if you aim for realism, it's a really hard task. Seriously, IRL, Switzerland is not going to give their national team head coach job to some foreign minor league hot shot.

[Kopi]

in ehm 05 is also important nationality since i play as Slovenian i have big problems getting abroad at 1st as they dont recognise english as 2nd language..even i could win 10 Slovenian championships no way to get a job in better leagues.

[gazzw87]

in ehm 05 is also important nationality since i play as Slovenian i have big problems getting abroad at 1st as they dont recognise english as 2nd language..even i could win 10 Slovenian championships no way to get a job in better leagues.

I find nationality helps in EHM 07 too if you pick just English like me you end up usually in Norway or England, yet if you pick English/French (can speak french so sometimes i do) you can get ECHL/CHL jobs right away!

[Kopi]

Well in my ehm 05 i started as American as i thought it will help me to move around the world easier but then in save game editor put as 2nd nationality Slovenian so i got a chance to lead my national team..

[gazzw87]

Well in my ehm 05 i started as American as i thought it will help me to move around the world easier but then in save game editor put as 2nd nationality Slovenian so i got a chance to lead my national team..

I've read stories of people getting 'stuck' in the Austrian and Slovenian leagues on EHM while trying to raise rep and move up the leagues - if that has anything to do with it? I myself got stuck in Austria at one point and had to resign and more a less start over after a few years! Villach I think it was, shocking team and blamed me for everything

[Lazion]

I've read stories of people getting 'stuck' in the Austrian and Slovenian leagues on EHM while trying to raise rep and move up the leagues - if that has anything to do with it? I myself got stuck in Austria at one point and had to resign and more a less start over after a few years! Villach I think it was, shocking team and blamed me for everything

I got job offer from AHL after three years in Salzburg, Austria and after couple seasons in AHL I got job in NHL. I had pretty dominating team in EBEL and won three championships. Before that I was multiple years in SM-League.. basically I took control of worst team and when I won first SML championship I moved in Austria.

[Kopi]

Well when the game came out (EHM 05) i played it with my favourite team from Slovenia thats ZM Olimpija and won i think 7 or 8 championships in a row hoping for gettin out of there to stronger league...boy i was wrong. I think at the end i got to Norway or something..anyway not to say that in Slovenia i had troubles to sign players from abroad at least near as good as domestic players. Ofcourse i contact SI and tell them the story and they figure it out that problem is my nationality and that we "don`t speak English" at all

So i think they later on solve this with the patch..never tried it again...