EHM The Blue Line

Nino--yeah not really concerned with that for my game, and I knew why it was happening. McDavid is huge for example..and this Blake Clarke guy on Florida. But for the purpose of this game, I am not worried. If someone takes over the UUDB and wants to work on it, they may have to make changes to how they put the prospects in for their height and weight. They were also in some cases (Sam Reinhart, and others) assigned to teams at like age 11 in Junior or high level Euro Junior hockey. For instance Sam played NINE years in the WHL (1 with Kootenay, 8 with Saskatoon). Jake VIrtanen as well played 9. IT definitely stunted their development, but not much as VIrtanen scored a ton in the NHL last season with the blackhawks. Sam however has not done that well in the NHL. He has actually only played 23 games in the show. 4 with Carolina and his last 19 with Philly over 4 seasons. In his last 4 years he has only played those 23 games plus 74 in Albany. He has not been injured for any length of time.

Of note...his size did not go too hog wild. He is 6'3 200.

Boston Bruins potential top line


Milan Lucic6'3 211 30 5.415 exp 19-20 - Phil Kessel5'11 187 31 4.57 exp 19-20 - Hannu Ranta6'0 202 22 1.48 exp 19-20 RFA

Victor Hedman6'6 220 28 4.77 exp 19-20 UFA - Alex Pietrangelo 6'3 213 29 6.21 exp 19-20 UFA

Alex Montoya6'2 194 34 1.77 exp 19-20


Note in regards to Boston...Phil Kessel and Montoya ended 2018-19 in the minors. So just an FYI about their situation.

Flyers look really Adam Oates so you should take them

batdad wrote:Nino--yeah not really concerned with that for my game, and I knew why it was happening.

Yeah I figured so (just wanted to post for the "general information" of others who might not know)

I think the real "giants" are those that start as babies/toddlers (youngest players in the 1974 database are under age 1 at start-up). The UUDB with a 2006 start date doesn't yet have many/any players under age 10

batdad wrote:They were also in some cases (Sam Reinhart, and others) assigned to teams at like age 11 in Junior or high level Euro Junior hockey.

Sounds like the UUDB needs some "minor hockey leagues" created like the 1974 database has (and the 1998 database that CJ and I are working now does too)

Peter-Did you vote?

To be honest, as I look at all the teams - none of them look horrible. They all have something to offer that could make them successful.

Isles with McDavid and Schneider, Bruins with the strong D and a couple of young guys that are going to make impacts, Panthers with a decent top line, Devils with Drouin and Pulkinnen (if he resigns), Flyers with Sam Reinhart, Giroux and Carter, Zadorov, Doughty (but not much else on D), and of course those two teams without any votes that have the SUPERSTAR STUDS.

I think I can have some success with any of the teams...but I have a feeling that the Flyers, Bruins and Panthers will be the toughest of the seven to win with. Devils would be tough as well.

I went and looked at the Wester teams, and none of them are in as tough shape as those 3, or even the Isles or Devils.

For comparison

Chicago -- no playoffs last 5 seasons, but 410 points (higher than all teams in East)
Ducks-2 playoffs last 5 seasons, 426 points. Won 2007 Stanley Cup.
Coyotes-1 playoff last 5 seasons, 398 points (almost comparable but have John Carlson, Logan Couture, Max Pacioretty (all 35 goal scorers)
LA Kings-2 playoffs last 5 seasons, runner up for STANLEY CUP in 2017 (2 years ago), 443 points (how they missed with 93 points I dunno)
COlorado-3 playoffs last 5, won Stanley Cup 2015, 487 points (3 over 100 point).
Nashville-2 playoffs last 5, 431 points (1 100 point season)
Dallas-1 playoff last 5, 434 points.

So the West is clearly much stronger than the East. THose are the bottom 7 finishers from 2017-18 in the West as were the teams in the poll the bottom 7 in 2018 from East.

Scouting around the teams

Philadelphia--No Euro scouts on staff at all. 12 scouts total, only 1 with rep of superb.
Pittsburgh--No Euro scouts on staff. 12 scouts, 3 superb.
New Jersey-No Euro scouts. 12 scouts, ZERO superb
NY Islanders-1 Euro scout (Czech), 12 scouts, 3 superb
Boston-No Euro scouts, 12 scouts, 5 superb
Florida-No Euro scouts, 12 scouts, 6 superb
Washington-1 Euro scouts, 12 scouts, 4 superb

So by following my rule I am going to be short scouts for at least 3 years. I can only hire one per season, and if I fire one or more....Ouch.
It appears all teams need Euro scouts to use my scouting system...this is not going to be easy to get out and scout accurately.

Best situation for scouting appears to be Washington. Worst appears to be New Jersey followed closely by Philadelphia and Boston. So that all follows the voting pattern.

To me...Philly, Florida and New Jersey are the worst situations overall. Not necessarily in that order.

Yes, i voted

At least with Philly you have a decent defense which can help you getting through the first season while you try to build your offense or their goalie if necessary. I don't remember who it was.

batdad wrote: Sami Aittokallio-6'4 198 26 3.05 exp 19-20 UFA (regen who is average starter)

He's is not a regen. He's in the Avalanche organization IRL

Oh...okay. Just one of those Finnish names I have never heard of before.

At least you spelled it right!

LOL. Copied very carefully from the game.

Hey Batdad-

I like this idea. It will be fun for you, that's for sure. I voted for New Jersey because I think you could build them up and get them going in the right direction.

Here's my suggestion to make your drafting a little harder: Draft BPA according to the rankings. For example: You're in the 2nd round and picking 37th overall so you will have to pick whomever is next available and not go down the list to get someone you like more.

I think that would make it more challenging for you (in a good way).

What do you think?

God no. That will absolutely kill chances. . I am not that good. But I hardly ever have drafted guys that my scouts like.


I am thinking about having to draft the most popular suggestion of my scouts but have not fully decided on that yet. I think for first draft since I will have no reports at all I will just go with who I think I should.

After that I have some thinking to do about how to do it.

I will definitely have to have a scout in that country in order to be allowed to take him. So euros are not going to be drafted much first few years.

batdad wrote:I will definitely have to have a scout in that country in order to be allowed to take him. So euros are not going to be drafted much first few years.

darn that's harsh! But I like it.

It's not that harsh. That's how many of us played the retro 1974 challenges.

batdad wrote:I am not that good.

Now there's a quote to remember!

bruins72 wrote:It's not that harsh. That's how many of us played the retro 1974 challenges.

As a challenge maybe but it's still harsh IMO. N-A scouts can easily take a plane and go to Europe.

The hardest part for me will be not drafting guys that I really like because they are from a country I do not have a scout. I basically scout the guys, but hardly ever listen to my scouts, and go with what I think. In the entire time I have played EHM I have never listened to the scouts.

I don't like to rely on them too much as well. Their judgement is weird sometimes when it comes to guys with mostly 7 and 8 and they say he's going to be a futur first liner like Daniel Sedin.

Wow. up to 15 votes. It is times like these where you realize that there are a few great people who contribute to this site regularly, and then about another 100-200 who occasionally come around. And a ton of people who just read and never log on.

Come on boys...GET OUT THE VOTE.

So things are getting close. I am itching to play, and was going to start today, but now will let the poll run its course.

Here is why I am itching. Will be fun to see what I can do with that guy's skating.

20 creativity, 9 passing

yeah.. that likely has to do with the 9 years in the WHL he played due to some of the issues.