How's it going in EHM2007? What team Are You?

[stone169]

I have the Sens. Using the original DB. I'm doing pretty good. It's currently 2013 and I've been to the Stanley Cup final twice, winning it once.

The reason why I'm posting is because I just saw something interesting that I haven't seen before in the game and I didn't know where to post it.

One of my draft picks, Derek Pare who plays for Drummondville, just got suspended for one game for:

"Derek Pare angered opposition fans by making a rude gesture to them."

I've been playing this game for many years and it never ceases to surprise me.

[Loosie]

I've seen a few of these over the years, none in my own game but there was a posting in the screenshots thread about this.

[Firebird350]

Just started up a new game after having not played in awhile. I decided to do something different and start with a fantasy draft as I thought it would be an interesting way to test my ability to build a team from the bottom up. I selected the Florida Panthers, and won the Presidents trophy and Stanley cup in my first season. I pretty much focused on building a strong physical, defensive team with enough scoring talent in the top two lines to carry the team. It was the first time I focused on using primarily defensive tactics, and it was a smashing success. My team finished the year with the second fewest goals against, the fewest average of shots on goal against, and my goalie (Jonas Hiller) was second in Vezina voting. I was also one of the most penalized teams in the league due to my hard hitting style tactics! Fun way to play though. My cup winning lineup was this:

Patrick Marleau - Ryan Getzlaf - Magnus Paajarvi
Colin Wilson - Mikko Koivu - Nathan Horton
Taylor Pyatt - Samuel Pahlsson - Brandon Sutter
Jed Ortmeyer - Wayne Primeau - Cal Clutterbuck

Robyn Regehr - Shea Weber
Braydon Coburn - Henrik Tallinder
Mark Stuart - Anton Babchuk

Jonas Hiller
Johan Hedberg

I have since replaced Taylor Pyatt with Marco Sturm on my 3rd line and Henrik Tallinder with Kevin Bieksa on my 2nd defence pair. Ill give up a bit of my size, but get more scoring punch so we'll see how that works in the coming season! If the game gets two easy from this point Ill apply for a job at one of the bottom feeders in the league and see if I can turn them around.

[Tasku]

I'm the Washington Capitals, going on season 2032-33. My key players include such well known stars as Michael Jackson, Neil Trepanier, Milan Rusnak, Richard Nyqvist and Norman Houle.

I've been in the top 3 of my conference quite alot, but have had some bad runs in the playoffs lately. Just like the real Caps, I do well in regular season, only to be kicked out on round one or two in the post season. darn...

[Firebird350]

I'm the Washington Capitals, going on season 2032-33. My key players include such well known stars as Michael Jackson, Neil Trepanier, Milan Rusnak, Richard Nyqvist and Norman Houle.

I've been in the top 3 of my conference quite alot, but have had some bad runs in the playoffs lately. Just like the real Caps, I do well in regular season, only to be kicked out on round one or two in the post season. darn...

Thats so frustrating. Ive had trouble in some of my past games doing poorly in the playoffs, even in years where I dominate the regular season. Thats why when I started my most recent game with the Panthers I tried out a new tactic once I reached the postseason. I usually play a very hard hitting, smash mouth style in the regular seaon, but after a narrow victory in round 1 of the playoffs, I turned my aggressiveness and hitting down to "Easy" which resulted in my team going to the box drastically less than my opposition. I then dismantled my opponents on the powerplay. The result? I swept my round 2 and 3 oppponents and won the cup in 5 games using that tactic-one playoff loss in 3 series!!! my most dominating playoff performance ever! It seems it helps to switch tactics up a bit to throw the AI off guard.

[Tasku]

Well done! I've done some changes to my tactics too, but usually it seems like it's a coin toss. I lose like 4-3 or something like that. Very frustrating. Haven't found any tactic that would always work and bring me nothing but victories.

[Firebird350]

Well done! I've done some changes to my tactics too, but usually it seems like it's a coin toss. I lose like 4-3 or something like that. Very frustrating. Haven't found any tactic that would always work and bring me nothing but victories.

Yeah its so hard to get the "perfect tactics" nailed down. I dont know if your team usually gets penalized alot (mine does lol), but if they do try dropping your aggressiveness down to lower than what you normally use in the regular season. I find special teams play usually decides it in the playoffs. Anyway, gonna enjoy my cup win now because my toughest competition in the eastern conference just signed Chara and Lidstrom in free agency. rubbish!

[umwoz]

Wow, the second draft in the latest Manimal DB is god awful. I had the second overall, didn't like any top guys so traded back to 7, took a solid defense prospect. But the rest of the draft had NOBODY interesting to draft, I even traded a few 3rds and 4ths for picks next year. Outside of Barkov this draft is terrible(Mackinnon didn't look so great).

[Pylon]

I totally agree about the second draft is god awful, personally the first one is pretty Adam Oates too outside of the top 10 or whatever.

Now to get back on topic.

I always play with the Leafs, I tired other teams but I always find myself getting widdled off about the moves the CPU GM makes for the Leafs so I gave up and just stick with my team.

I've played with the Leafs using various rosters starting from 3.0 many times.

MY first GM attempts went horribly, bottom of the league for 3 seasons and eventually I got fired.

My second attempt went a lot better, probably becasue I actaully used custom tactics instead of the Adam Oates default ones, didn't win anything in 10 years but I had lots of fun and didn't get fired, but the new rosters came out so I decided to start again.

My third attempt was stellar, did pretty well for the first five seasons, and lucked out on an AMAZING draft choice (I think it was a rick nash regen or some other left wing) suffice to say once i brought him in as a 21 year old I won TEN STRAIGHT cups... yep you read it right. 10 straight. I stopped playing after I beat the habs in total stanley cups (25) at that point I didn't really have much else to play for.

My next few times i restarted nothing amazing happened but still had lots of fun.

Now with the new 4.0 rosters i'm finding it harder to win, mainly because the lack of left wingers with the leafs.

I would also point out than I never make any insane trades, like 20 prospects for ovechkin or whatever. I trade 1 for 1 and only when it makes sense, usually my first move is to grab a left winger for a right winger to even out my team... Once in a while I go after big fishes in the free agent market but I tend to sign younger, less known players for a lot cheaper.

In my opinion the reason for my success is I like to use very offensive tactics... true my goalies GAA and SV% sucks, but thats the price i pay, although in the playoffs they tend to do a lot better.

Another thing i do is draft, sign, trade for local boys from toronto and the ontario region, for some reason all they do is play well.

I do have a question however, in back to back games, do you guys usually switch goalies. I almost always do because it makes sense to me at least, however the game seems to not like this becasuse my goalies tend to lost form when i do.

[Tasku]

Well done! I've done some changes to my tactics too, but usually it seems like it's a coin toss. I lose like 4-3 or something like that. Very frustrating. Haven't found any tactic that would always work and bring me nothing but victories.

Yeah its so hard to get the "perfect tactics" nailed down. I dont know if your team usually gets penalized alot (mine does lol), but if they do try dropping your aggressiveness down to lower than what you normally use in the regular season. I find special teams play usually decides it in the playoffs. Anyway, gonna enjoy my cup win now because my toughest competition in the eastern conference just signed Chara and Lidstrom in free agency. rubbish!

I think I've done that many times. I usually play aggressive in the regular season and the same tactics don't seem to work in the playoffs, so I change them up. I'm hoping the coin will flip my way next season!

[batdad]

Playoff Series Game 1: Breakout: Free Centre zone: Positional Offense: Triangle forecheck: 3-2 Line Use: F; Normal D Normal
Playoff Series game 2: Breakout: position Centre zone: positional Offense: Triangle forecheck: Pos low. Line USe: F:NOrmal D: Normal
Playoff Series Game 3: Breakout:Free Centre: Positional Offense: Triangle Forecheck: 3-2 Line USe: FOrward Overload, D Normal
Playoff Series Game 4: Breakout:Positional Centre:Positional Offense: Overload slot Forecheck:3-2 Line Use: Match 1-1, 2-2, 3-3,4-4 and Forward Normal Def Normal
Playoff Series Game 5: Back to game 1 stuff, save Overload forwards
Playoff Series Game 6: Game 2
Playoff Series Game 7: Game 3 set up

This is a secret. Tends to work so well for me, that I rarely end up going to game 7
My power play is Free, position, overload slot and then game 4 change to triangle, game 5 back to overload slot. Forecheck rotates 3-2 positional low in game 3, and game 5.

The only other changes I make...I rotate my 1st and 2nd line RW or C back and forth. Whoever is 1st line even strength is 2nd line PP, whoever is 2nd line even strength is 1st line PP. I switch this back and forth every game

These small changes seem to be enough to throw tactics of opponent off, unless they are VERY GOOD. It is rare I go even to game 6. Only times I do are when I don't think my goalie is good enough.

Works for me in every league I have played.

[Tasku]

Hm. Interesting.

I'm just reluctant to use something like that, going the same way every time. I like to make changes according to the game I've just played. If you get my meening... Part of me doesn't even want to find a sure way to win, cause I want to keep the game challenging.

[philou21]

Well if your team is really good of course you will keep winning but with an average team, if you really want to win it's gonna be useful.

[Tasku]

My team is pretty good, but by paying more attention to my wages I could sign more stars and improve my lineup. I tend to have alot of high wages, because I like to keep the core of my team and offer extensions, which usually means the wages go higher every season. If I'd let them go to FA and then resign them, I could prolly knock a few mils of my salaries. I usually don't do that though. Only if the player is clearly overpayed and I still want to give him an extension, only then will I pass them thru FA to drop their salaries.

At the moment, for example, I have ten players in my team with wages more than 1 million per year. Top wage is 8 million. Six players make more than 5 mil per year.

[batdad]

I have used several different variations...that is the one I am using right now. Basically it is just change tactics a bit, without moving too much around every game....throw the opponent off here and there..move wingers or centres on lines to other ones one by one...etc. I don't just use those ones...they are the ones for now. I don't often change the main offensive tactic because that seems to cause me to get smoked...

And my team...in Anaheim right now has no business being as good as it is...my goalie is horrid (15, 12 blocker, glove) yet I am at the top of the conference, and 2 years ago lost in g7 final to Boston, and last year to LA in semi final in 7 ....boston and LA are very very good and goaltending is unreal on both teams.

[Lazion]

Finished another season in Columbus - 2011/12

We had good regular season. President Trophy 109 pts, but we lost to Dallas in playoff's second round.
Dallas defensive tactics totally shutted down my offensive style.. we scored only 14 goals in seven games.

I was lazy in player market and only completed one trade during season and three trades in june.

In deadline I traded Derek Morris, Wayne Simmonds & Nathan Gerbe for Sens Joni Pitkänen.

June trades
Kaspars Daugavins & Jonas Hiller for Flyers Andreas Nödl & Paul Gaustad
Timo Pielmeier for Preds 2nd round pick
2nd round pick for Canucks 2nd round pick & rights for Hubert Labrie

I also re-signed Steve Eminger and signed Joffrey Lupul in december for a season end contracts.

Players leaving in July
J.Lupul UFA
A.Plante RFA
J.Tavares RFA
S.Eminger UFA

Tavares is excellent player but currently I dont have cap space to sign him. And in other hand I have plenty of good center prospects in my system so I might just trade Tavares away.
Also I'm looking to dump Ladd or Staal so youngsters can play in more important role.

Current lines for upcoming season
R.Nash - S.Stamkos - T.Konsorada
J.Staal - D.Brassard - A.Nödl
A.Ladd - P.Gaustad - G.Nemisz
R.Hollweg - J.O'Brien - P.Maroon

J.Pitkänen - V.Hedman
M.Methot - K.Shattenkirk
C.Barker - A.McQuaid

S.Mason/P.Rinne

2011/12 player stats:

name-gp-assists-goals-PIMs-AvR
CENTER
J.Staal 82 19+22 41 7.55
S.Stamkos 82 54+82 58 8.96
D.Brassard 82 25+36 28 7.70
J.Tavares 82 31+41 36 8.16
J.O'Brien 81 4+13 110 6.96
LW
R.Nash 80 70+67 66 8.69
A.Ladd 74 17+28 61 7.32
R.Hollweg 58 4+1 105 6.53
P.Maroon 43 7+13 44 7.09
K.Daugavins 81 7+10 48 6.91
RW
G.Nemisz 23 5+7 18 7.30
T.Konsorada 82 37+86 16 8.29
W.Simmonds 46 3+3 29 6.63
J.Lupul 47 17+23 57 7.55
DEFENCE
J.Pitkänen 27 2+10 18 8.19
V.Hedman 75 3+23 28 7.79
M.Methot 74 2+11 48 7.65
K.Shattenkirk 77 4+19 80 7.12
C.Barker 82 7+34 77 7.55
A.McQuaid 35 0+5 28 6.83
K.Medvec 11 0+2 2 6.91
D.Morris 55 5+22 49 7.87
S.Eminger 52 2+11 16 7.79
GOALIES name-gp-GAA-SV%-AvR
P.Rinne 42 2.95 0.896 7.79
S.Mason 41 2.83 0.894 7.73
J.Hiller 3 4.33 0.860 7.00

Season end trophies:
Art Ross 1st R.Nash, 3rd S.Stamkos
Calder 1st V.Hedman
Jack Adams 3rd R.Chernomaz
Lady Byng 2nd T.Konsorada
Lester Pearson 2nd S.Stamkos
Maurice Richard 1st R.Nash
Second All-Star Team J.Pitkänen & R.Nash
Rookie All-Star Team V.Hedman, P.Maroon & K.Daugavins

[IslesEnforcer]

In 2012-13 and just won the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row with the Islanders. I use a variation of the RED_PlayMover tactic. Islanders came in second place behind Atlanta. 105 pts to my 103. Swept the Rangers, beat Ottawa and Boston. Took the cup in 5 games against Calgary.

I coach all my affiliates as well as Bridgeport also came in second to Hartford. I swept every series, finally going head to head with Hartford. I was a little scared because I had pretty much owned them towards the end of the season. I figured they would catch on to my tactics so I switched them up. Hartford blew me out the first game and then beat me in OT in game 2. Obviously tactic switch wasn't working so I went back to my old tactics and beat them four straight. Ended up playing Texas in the finals and noticed they swept every game in all three series. I figured this was an easy loss but I took them to seven games before losing out.

Utah always was a good team with me at the helm. I always came in first in my division but Springfield and Bakersfield always had these ridiculous squads. Springfield actually was 46-2 at one point. Anyway I have Jason SIkora as my goalie for Utah. Not sure if he's a regen or a real player but he is unreal. The guy literally stole many games for this team and with his stellar play along with Lucas Lessio scoring over 140 points for me, I found my way into the finals again. Unfortunately, Springfield beat me quite soundly in 6.

This season the Islanders are in fourth place but I am struggling. It's still early but I am inconsistent. I hope to fix that soon. Brigdeport is 15-1-1 right now but both of my goalies are injured. I had to call up Sikora who is 4-1 thus far. He will be starting in Bridgeport next season. That leaves Utah with garbage this year. Theres no clear cut star on this team for the first time in years. John Tavares, Nino Neiderreiter, Tyler Maxwell and Lucas Lessio have all started off in Utah and scored over 100 points in their rookie years. I do not believe theres a 100 point scorer on this team. I'd be lucky if there a 70 point scorer. Obviously this is a problem that may get me fired. i really have to work with this team.

[kadri43]

I'M playind with the 4.1b patch
Toronto MAple LEafs
Kovalchuk-Crosby-Nash
Kulemin-Carter-Brown
Torres-Kadri-Kessel
Avery-Rupp-Orr

Suter-Phaneuf
Jovanovsky-Schenn
Kelsla-Morris

Lundqvist-Gustavsson

I won two stanley cup in two years.
GO LEAFS GO

[batdad]

That's the leafs? Never would have guessed. Amazing trades. Wow. You are busier than burke dealing away top picks and 5th liners. What next? Monster, Rupp and Orr for Stamkos. Probably need to add a 5th.

Good luck on 3 in a row. This game is real hard on 2x defending champs. The AI catches up.

[tscyadi4]

Using the Unfaked Updated Rosters.
Anaheim Ducks
Kariya - McDonald - Selanne
Penner - Getzlaf - Perry
Pahlsson - Rucchin - R. Niedermayer
Moen - Marchant - Parros

S. Niedermayer - Pronger
Visnovsky - Lydman
Vishnevski - Beauchiman

Giguere
Bryzgalov

In my first season just started up yesterday. I traded the following: Sean O'Donnell, Ian Moran, Chris Kunitz, Michael Leighton, Shane O'Brien, Bruno St. Jacques, Brian Salcido, Travis Green, Todd Fedoruk, Shawn Thorton, Ryan Shannon, John DeGray, Mark Mitera, Brendan Mikkelson. I think thats all....
The suckish thing is, I have a great d line especially with Ossi Vannanen as my 7th dman. But Visnovsky is out for 4 months and Sauer whom i also acquired is my new #7. Giguere is sick as is Bryzgalov. Plan on trading Bryzgalov at the end of the season for draft picks to restock the depth for next season. Team is 1st in western. Also have John Curry and Jonas Hiller, and Brian Elliot. so my team is quite stacked I'd say. IN realistic terms. Problem is that I just feel like my team is too good....I don't like that and typically restart but I'm trying to push myself through this.....Anyone think I should just keep playing? lol

[grazza]

If you feel it is not challenging enough make a challenge out it e.g. you are not allowed to trade away players you draft or run a team with just europeans etc. Though i would wait and see I remember having a Ducks team that dominated in regular season but would too often choke in the play offs, unless you are winning a few cups in a row there should be a challenge enough there for a while.

[tscyadi4]

Well I restarted. Using the unfaked updated rosters heres my ducks team after 2 stanley cups in two seasons.....(no bs either i used only trading tech)
Paul Kariya - Andy McDonald - Teemu Selanne
Dustin Penner - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry
Chris Kunitz - Samuel Pahlsson - Rob Niedermayer
Bobby Ryan - Steve Rucchin - George Parros

Scott Niedermayer - Chris Pronger
Lubomir Visnovsky - Robyn Regehr
Henrik Tallinder - Francious Beauchemin

J.s. Giguere
Jonas Hiller

Depth:
Keith yandle
Jeff Shultz
Kyle Cumiskey
Nathan Gerbe
Matt Beleskey
Marcel Goc
Petteri Nokelainen
Zach Hamill
Peverley
Jones
Mancari



Prospects:
Jake Allen
Tyler Myers
Luca Sbisa
Jeff obrien
Adam Henrique
T.J. Galiardi
Nicolas Deschamps
Sean Bergenheim
Wayne Simmonds


Heres trades I made
Ducks: Dipenta, Kunitz, O'Donnell, Marchant, 1st Rounder
Sabres: Mancari, Lydman, Tallinder, Thomas Morrow, Nathan Gerbe, Mike Weber, Vyacheslav Buravchikov

Ducks: Mark Mitera, 1st Rounder, 3rd Rounder
Flames: Robyn Regehr

Ducks: Michael Leighton, David Mckee, Brett Skinner, Stan. Chistov, Bryce Swan
Thrashers: Rucchin, Vishnevski, 7th, 3rd, and 6th rounder

Ducks: De Gray, Levausseur, Mikkelson, 1st rounder
Predators: Ramzi Abid, Brookbank, Kariya, Santorelli

Ducks: Janne Pesonen
Blue Jackets: 4th and 5th

Ducks: 4th rounder
Predators: Scott Nichol

Ducks: St.Jacques
Flames: 4th rounder

Ducks: Todd Fedoruk, Genoway, Jason Bailey
Kings: Constantin Braun, David Meckler, 4th round

and theres more ill upload later.

[Filip Croatia]

Playoff Series Game 1: Breakout: Free Centre zone: Positional Offense: Triangle forecheck: 3-2 Line Use: F; Normal D Normal
Playoff Series game 2: Breakout: position Centre zone: positional Offense: Triangle forecheck: Pos low. Line USe: F:NOrmal D: Normal
Playoff Series Game 3: Breakout:Free Centre: Positional Offense: Triangle Forecheck: 3-2 Line USe: FOrward Overload, D Normal
Playoff Series Game 4: Breakout:Positional Centre:Positional Offense: Overload slot Forecheck:3-2 Line Use: Match 1-1, 2-2, 3-3,4-4 and Forward Normal Def Normal
Playoff Series Game 5: Back to game 1 stuff, save Overload forwards
Playoff Series Game 6: Game 2
Playoff Series Game 7: Game 3 set up

This is a secret. Tends to work so well for me, that I rarely end up going to game 7
My power play is Free, position, overload slot and then game 4 change to triangle, game 5 back to overload slot. Forecheck rotates 3-2 positional low in game 3, and game 5.

The only other changes I make...I rotate my 1st and 2nd line RW or C back and forth. Whoever is 1st line even strength is 2nd line PP, whoever is 2nd line even strength is 1st line PP. I switch this back and forth every game

These small changes seem to be enough to throw tactics of opponent off, unless they are VERY GOOD. It is rare I go even to game 6. Only times I do are when I don't think my goalie is good enough.

Works for me in every league I have played.

Hmm...I just copied your tactics and get lost from Kings in seven games.

I am using 4.1 rosters and my Avalanche team is smth like this :

GK's : Varlamov, Giguere
DF's : J.Johnson, E.Johnson,Burns,Greene,Pitkanen,Letang,
FW's: Duchene, Stastny, Malkin, Grabner, Ryan, Downie, McGinn, Hejduk, Landeskog, Kobasew, Malone (Brad), Mercier

That's pretty strong defense and top9 group of forwards to get eliminated from Kings

[batdad]

Nothing is perfect. Plus I always use individual tactics as well. It has pretty much been foolproof for me save for a couple of times when I did not have the right kind of players. It is not foolproof for sure if you are not coaching the games yourself. I have been not coaching in my long term save game, and I have only won the cup once in 7 years as GM of the Ducks. Yep...finally won it!

2 more with them and then I will move on to a bottom feeding team to rebuild them...

[IslesEnforcer]

I just lost my first game in my Bridgeport Season. I am now 42-2. Looks like my tactics are finally failing me. Teams aren't fooled anymore, although i can believe it took this long. But anyway, time to tweak and cruise to the playoffs. (hopefully )