EHM The Blue Line

Seems like most of you tend to start off with NHL teams. I myself tend to go with the Rocky Mountain Rage from the CHL.

I only do that because they are the expansion team in this version of the game.

Which means that I enjoy setting my own franchise records and so forth from day one.

You know what I mean?

Anyway, if I had to start with some NHL teams without doing the draft. Then I would go with the Penguins and Flyers. Those are some of the top teams to use if you want to honestly just start winning like crazy. They have so much young talent that you can work with and most people think that you wouldn't want to start with them and go with a team like the Stars or someone with more veteran players.

But all in all, veterans leave, those young guns that you have on the Penguins will be there for many years.

JPoolTX wrote:Seems like most of you tend to start off with NHL teams. I myself tend to go with the Rocky Mountain Rage from the CHL.

I only do that because they are the expansion team in this version of the game.

Which means that I enjoy setting my own franchise records and so forth from day one.

You know what I mean?

Anyway, if I had to start with some NHL teams without doing the draft. Then I would go with the Penguins and Flyers. Those are some of the top teams to use if you want to honestly just start winning like crazy. They have so much young talent that you can work with and most people think that you wouldn't want to start with them and go with a team like the Stars or someone with more veteran players.

But all in all, veterans leave, those young guns that you have on the Penguins will be there for many years.

Well, they like to choose Stars or Red Wings, or those veteran teams because they want to rebuild the team. Penguins are already in the rebuilding state so half of the work is done...and personally, I would never start a game with Pens . I enjoyed playing with Chicago Blackhawks and N.Y. Rangers. If you want challenge, try Nashville, Phoenix or St.Louis Blues, they don't have any big guns, couple of young stars, and then b-class old guys

bruins72 wrote: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.

So, in 2011 I finally made it: I added a bit more grit to my line-up (Hartnell, Sutherby, Pettinger) and tweaked my lines, and the reward was finally winning the SC
And yes, Brule, Nash and Zherdev really tore up the league - Nash even had 21 goals in 23 PO-games
On top, John Tavares won the Calder Trophy with 84 points.

Here's my winning team:

Nash - Brule - Zherdev
Pettinger - Tavares - Hartnell
Fedoruk - Sutherby - Eager
Picard - Stamkos - McArdle

J. Staal and Mair play for Staal or Sutherby, depending on their performance.

Morris - Burns
Preissing - M. Staal
Ehrhoff - Methot

Niitymäki
Rämö

[quote="Woody19"]On top, John Tavares won the Calder Trophy with 84 points./quote]
Woody19, you built a good team there in 2011. However, from my own experience, to get the best out of Tavares you need at least one scoring winger on his side. So if you'd like to make him even better try to trade for a proven scorer or use A.Picard instead of Petty. I have Elias-Tavares-Hartnell - an explosive line for years to come. You need gritty players to win it all (probably not on your 2nd line), but proven scorers are those who put buisquits in the basket.

The Coyotes are a good challenge. They start with Aebischer who is a decent enough nettie. The D corps includes Jovo, Morris and Boynton but the only good player of Offense is Doan. York and Reinprecht are ok but not players you would ideally want as 1st Liners.

Meuller, Hanzal, Yandle, Pestunov & Summers are good youngsters who turn into good players with a little tlc.