EHM 2007: Best NHL teams to start with

[Tasku]

You can always do an offer to all and dump off the contracts on a sucker AI team, but I have stopped playing that way because it makes it too easy and feels like abusing the system.

Not to make "unrealistic" trades with the AI is quite common way to play this game among the veterans. Makes for a better gaming experience, I reckon.

You should try our challenge. There's all kinds of rules to keep the game a... well... challenge, and the competition is tough.

[vilifyingforce]

Never touched Allison. First line was
Wellwood - Sundin - Poni
Michalek - Scatchard - Foy
Hagman - Betts - Hollweg
Battaglia - Laich - Dingman

McCabe - Kaberle
Leopold - Kubina
Witt - Cairns

Nitty - Toskala

then the game went glitchy..

[jdh79]

You can always do an offer to all and dump off the contracts on a sucker AI team, but I have stopped playing that way because it makes it too easy and feels like abusing the system.

Not to make "unrealistic" trades with the AI is quite common way to play this game among the veterans. Makes for a better gaming experience, I reckon.

You should try our challenge. There's all kinds of rules to keep the game a... well... challenge, and the competition is tough.

Yeah, when I first started playing, I would go nuts with the trades and stockpiling of picks. I would go to the extent of resigning players I didn't want to keep so I could offer them up for draft picks after they were signed. What wound up happening is, not only was it way too easy; I also wound up having way too many prospects, was constantly trading guys off my 50 man if they didn't develop by age 21 or so because I needed the space, and then ended up with even more picks, so the cycle continued. That just made it unrealistic and not fun.

My rules right now are that basically I would not make a trade that wouldn't be realistic in real life. The only time I will allow myself to use the trading boatloads of prospects, picks, etc for a top player is if (a) I am in the playoff race and can use that player (b) the team I am trading with is out of it and (c) that player is an expiring UFA. In those cases, it's realistic and what you would see in real life. Other than that, I used to have a list of guys I had to have (mostly 3rd and 4th line checking type players) and would go in day 1 and immediately acquire guys like Hagman, Sutherby, Dingman, Yelle, Chubarov, Ortmeyer, Betts, etc (AI devalues defensive/checking players) and fill my 3rd and 4th lines with "my guys", trading, demoting or waiving the marginal talent on the roster I inherited. That obviously isn't realistic either, so now I will only go get those role players I like if they are waived or put on the block. Until then, I make do with what I have, or claim guys off waivers if they are better than what I have and wait for the guys I want to become UFAs, waived or put on the block.

I still prefer to revamp the entire coaching/scouting staff when I take over a team, but I don't honestly find that too unrealistic that a new GM would want to bring in his own staff. Guys that are FA when the game starts are also free game, which I think is realistic too. So, if I have the cap space and have a reasonable need for Forsberg, Allison, Scatchard, etc I will go get them. Just like any NHL team out there can go get Forsberg now if they want to. I also will go after international transfers like Vaannen, Esche, Chistov, Leino, etc if they fit into my long range plan. The AI teams sometimes compete and beat me to those guys, so I think that's realistic.

I was having a look at the challenge setup and I may jump in when you run the next one. The only rule that I don't know that I play with is the rule about having to coach games yourself. I always set my tactics on a line and individual player basis but then simulate the games because I find coaching them myself too tedious and time consuming. Plus, as a GM, isn't that why I hire a coach in the first place? By having to coach games, can you enter the game screen and have the action speed on fast-fast forward; does that count.

[jdh79]

Never touched Allison. First line was
Wellwood - Sundin - Poni
Michalek - Scatchard - Foy
Hagman - Betts - Hollweg
Battaglia - Laich - Dingman

McCabe - Kaberle
Leopold - Kubina
Witt - Cairns

Nitty - Toskala

then the game went glitchy..

You did go get Niity though, which is probably a huge reason why you won. That is one guy that I no longer will go after just because the AI Flyers never seem to value him as they should and give him away for too easy, and I think it kills the challenge to get a Kiprosoff-calibre goalie cheaply like that. If I take over a team that has a naff G situation, I will live with it for this year unless a better G is put on the block/waived and will go after Esche as an international transfer after year 1 or maybe sign Kolzig or Theodore or something. If I want to have Niity, I will take the Flyers.

[Tasku]

By having to coach games, can you enter the game screen and have the action speed on fast-fast forward; does that count.

I think most people play that way. I don't think that many actually watch the highlights. By "coaching the game" they are simply making line- or tactical changes as the game clock runs forward. I'm not sure about the rule on coaching in the challenges, because I don't actually play the challenge myself. I'm too slow on the game to keep up with these guys. I personally like to watch my highlights and sometimes there might be long stretches of time, when I have no time to play at all, and for that reason, I don't want to take the challenge and then worry about keeping up with the pace. Might try it someday though, but for now, I'm just watching the others.

[WoodbineWolves]

Just saw this thread, so I thought I'd jump in (albeit a bit late)

I always start with the Caps (living in the DC area, I gotta go with the home team)

I've never missed the playoffs, even from year one, often making the finals in subsequent years.

I've found the biggest benefit of the Caps is the Salary Cap.

What I do in the summer is look for a top-line free agent C. I've gotten both Drury & J. Allison before. I put which ever one I get on the 1st line with Ovechkin. I put Zubrus on the 2nd line, usually with Semin. Also, if there are any other young (<31) top line players, I try to sign them.

I also try to find a pretty good RW to go on the first line. One year, Fehr tore up training camp & exhibitions, so I started him and he finished with an average 8+ rating and serious consideration for rookie of the year.

Towards the trading deadline, I also look for a very offensive forward when teams want to dump high salaries (once again, the salary cap helps). It always seems that TB wants to dump St. Louis, so I typically pick him up. I also look for a top line "defensive" defenseman to shore up the defense. I'm usually in the playoff mix at this time, so these pickups typically ensure that I'm in the playoffs. In my trades, I hardly ever trade for older (>34),high-priced talent, unless I need to "rent" a player for the year due to injuries.

I also set the settings for the first two lines to shoot early & often, with a high tempo, figuring you can't score if you don't shoot, and if you're in the offensive zone, it's very hard for the other team to score. Granted you're more prone to giving up breakaways, but with Olie in goal, and a couple of good defensemen, I usually end up in pretty good shape.

The only consistent problem I have is getting a goaltender to replace Olie in 2-3 years. I seem to always lose out on the franchise goalies during FA, and I never seem to be able to develop my own. The closest I've come is Stana, who is solid, but he really can't take over a game, so any thoughts would be appreciated.

[jdh79]

You're in a tough spot if you sit on Kolzig for 2 more years. If you let him go after year one, you can sign Biron for 3 yrs at like 2.1 million in free agency and he becomes a very solid but not franchise type goalie. If you wait for 2 or 3 years to be up, there aren't may good options. After year 4, it's a massive free for all on franchise goalies, with Luongo, Turco, Kiprusoff, Nabokov, as well as some of the young franchise type goalies sometimes (Miller, Lundqvist, etc) hitting UFA. If you can hold through for 4 years, you should be able to make offers to all of the top FA goalies after year 1 and get one of them.

Or, you can go after the Hasek regen after year 4, but you'll be looking at 3 years or so after that before he's NHL ready. Even if I draft Hasek regen, I'd still be looking at signing a goalie after year 4.

[Shadd666]

For goalies, take a close look at Carey Price. The Habs usually don't sign him and most of the time release his rights by the end of season 1 (at least with the original/unfaked DB).

If you stay 2-3 years with Kolzig, bring Price as a backup and give him 30-40 games a year, giving him experience, while learning from old Kolzig. When Kolzig retires, Price should be solid enough to perform a decent to great job as a starter. Then it should be up to you... Wait after season 4 and sign a big franchise goalie if Price is not good enough yet to be so, or continue to devellop only Price if he's already delivering.

You should also land Nabokov from the Sharks after season 1. He always wants a new challenge and San Jose are willing to give him. However, i don't think he deserves his 5M$... At least not the only time i had him. Decent starter, but not a dominant force for me.

[WoodbineWolves]

Thanks for the goalie help, I'll try it out. I'm in the 2008-2009 (early January) season right now wth Kolzig & Stana as my goalies, with P. Sauve at Hershey. Sauve has good attributes now (Blk 16, Glv 17, Rec 16, Ref 15, Reb Ctl 15), so hopefully another year in the minors will help him improve. I've also got Robert Muller (Blk 16, Glv 16, Rec 14, Ref 15, Reb Ctl 14) in the minors. He may be a possibility for the future also. I may have to bite the bullet and "rent" a good goalie for the next year if Stana can't handle it, while I wait for my two prospects to mature. Time will tell, although if a Franchise goalie is available, I'll go get him, as long as he's in his early 30's.

One time I tried the top-tier FA's, but my BOD wouldn't let me offer them what they wanted.
The other time, I offered what they wanted, but they went somewhere else.

Speaking of Kolzig retiring, I usually let him go after the 2nd season, maybe the 3rd, I closely monitor his Stamina during the 2nd season. When I let him go, he usually sits on the FA list for 1-2 years then disappears. What I would like to do is bring him back as a coach or Asst. GM, but I can never find him. If I offer him these jobs while he's on the FA list, I get the message that he still wants to play. So, how can I get Kolzig back on the list so I can offer him a coaching or front office job?

[jdh79]

To sign one of the top franchise type goalies, you will have to give them 5-6 M/year. Therefore, it's critical to make sure you have at least that much room under both your cap and budget by July 1 of that year. Look ahead at who the pending UFAs are (sort player search by expiring-UFA-group III) to see if you likely want to make a run at a big gun.

As far as getting players to want to go there, Washington is about mid-tier I find on the player's want list. When you make an offer, take a look at who else made offers. If you see any of the Canadian teams, the Rangers, or Detroit there, you can probably forget about it. Otherwise, you stand an even shot against the rest of the teams. Usually you can't get your top choice, but the franchise goalies seem to become UFAs in bunches, and obviously all of those high attraction teams won't all need a goalie or have the cap room that offseason, so you can usually get one of them.

[BjornE]

Is there a team you can recommend to a rookie?

A team to learn, to experiment without getting punished too hard? I know the basics of hockey and the NHL, but I just want a game to "practice", before guiding the Rangers to glory

[bruins72]

To be honest with you, the Rangers aren't a very hard team to start out with. They've got great goaltending and several offensive stars. The only area I find weak is their defense... but you could always practice your trading to rectify that.

[BjornE]

That's true, with their team and goalies they should make playoffs anyway.

Stupid, that I didn't think about it. Thanks

[Shadd666]

And if you don't want to be annoyed by the possibility of being fired, you should disable the human sack in the option. Then, no matter what you do, you'll stay in charge and can practice the way you want

[Dayum]

hey everyone I've taken some time off from this great game and am looking to get back into it. I'm looking for a real challenge, so I'm wondering who would be the hardest team to start with(using either default database or unfaked) and why you think that.

Merged

[gibson41]

If you let him go after year one, you can sign Biron for 3 yrs at like 2.1 million in free agency and he becomes a very solid but not franchise type goalie.

Biron has became a franchise goalie for my Blackhawks game. Like 10 seasons, he was putting some great numbers, always less than 10 loses in season. I had Price as backup and a potential starter, but at age 25 he wasn't putting great performances, was always overshadowed by Biron, so I just let him go. I tried to split the season between these two, but Biron made it for me. At 36 he signed a 4-year contract for me, news saying he wants to spend the rest of his career in CHI.

Biron did it for me.

[Franck]

hey everyone I've taken some time off from this great game and am looking to get back into it. I'm looking for a real challenge, so I'm wondering who would be the hardest team to start with(using either default database or unfaked) and why you think that.

Merged

The Blues would probably be the hardest team to start with.
Poor players, veterans taking all the cap space, low attendance and poor goalkeeping. Erik Johnson is probably the only good thing about them.

[Hypnotist]

hey everyone I've taken some time off from this great game and am looking to get back into it. I'm looking for a real challenge, so I'm wondering who would be the hardest team to start with(using either default database or unfaked) and why you think that.

Merged

I don't know if I can say any NHL team is hard to start with. Jettison dead weight players, add Niitty, Handzus, Sutherby, Dingman and a couple of others that are easily had and... Viola! A Cup Contending Team! The Challenge rules make it more restricted and thus slightly more challenging. You want hard, run a US minor pro team (although not the AHL, you have little to no control and even less budget). Ask anyone who took part in the ECHL Challenge. It unbearably frustrating at times , but much much more diffcult to ice a championship level team night in and night out.
JMO.

[Woody19]

Back again after a long time off...
I started a game with the Blue Jackets and I found it pretty difficult to turn them into a competitive team. I'm in my sixth season and been making the play-offs the past four, but so far my team isn't a serious cup contender, although I'm pretty happy with my current line-up:

Nash - Brule - Zherdev
Picard - Tavares - Pominville
Fedoruk - J. Staal - Eager
McArdle - Franzen - Mair

Morris - Liles
M. Staal - Preissing
J. Johnson - Ehrhoff

Niitymäki
Rämo

As said by others before, a good team to start with are the Caps: I usually have no major difficulties turning them into a successful dynasty after 3-4 seasons 8)

[bruins72]

The Blue Jackets are a VERY easy team to turn into a powerhouse. We used them as a challenge team here at TBL a while (okay, a long while) back. I'm guessing some people still have their games saved from that challenge and go back to them occasionally. You've got all the building blocks there. A couple good trades and you're on your way.

[Woody19]

The Blue Jackets are a VERY easy team to turn into a powerhouse. We used them as a challenge team here at TBL a while (okay, a long while) back. I'm guessing some people still have their games saved from that challenge and go back to them occasionally. You've got all the building blocks there. A couple good trades and you're on your way.

Okay, looks like I'm doing something wrong... Thanks.

[bruins72]

Yeah, you might want to check the tactic thread and the training thread. You've got a decent team there.

[batdad]

If you handled Brule right, he should at least be putting up 110 pt seasons now. Zherdev and Nash should dominate the league.

[Woody19]

If you handled Brule right, he should at least be putting up 110 pt seasons now. Zherdev and Nash should dominate the league.

Well, they're all not doing nad and Brule is scoring alright, but he's nowhere near dominating

[Hypnotist]

The Blue Jackets are a VERY easy team to turn into a powerhouse...

Definately. Get Nash a decent playmaking center and he'll tear the league apart. Put Zherdev at RD on the 1st PP unit and set him to Playmaker. These are the lines I used in my first season in which the team went 58-21-3 & won the cup (TD = Trade deadline aquisition).

Nash - Handzus-Modin
Balasik - Svitov-Zherdev
Dingman - Sutherby - Ortmeyer (shutdown line)
Chimera - Malhotra - Clymer

Brewer - Rafalski (TD)
Vaananen - Foote
Witt (TD) - Klesla

Niittymaki
Leclaire

Name G - A - P
Nash 54-59-113
Modin 41-64-105
Handzus 25-25-67 (65 games)
Svitov 31-54-85
Zherdev 37-44-81
Balastik 64-24-55

In the 2nd season I on a whim offered a contract to Mats Sundin and he signed for $5.5 mil after Toronto bailed on him. The only other change to the roster was ditching Chimera for a DP and Malhotra for Hagman after Ortmeyer bolted (who I picked up on to waivers later). Through 61 games the team is 46-11-4. Sundin has 45G & 104P, Nasher has 37G & 101P. It's just insane.