EHM The Blue Line

Hey guys, I havn't been on on here in a while, good to read some new articles, and looking forward to EHM 07.

Anyway, my Sharks team, I really can't work it out lol, I go through 10 game segments, so inconsistant, one segment I'll go 9-1-0 ,next 2-8-0, etc. I fiddle around with training, tactics, lines etc.

I think I'd rather be consistent, than all over the place, if I was consistantly losing, at least I would know that nothing is working, but thats not how it is.

Anyway my team to me looks better than how it performs. With a few lucky trades i have brought in Crosby, Ovechkin and Jovanovski (As I feel as in real life the Sharks need 1 mroe solid defenseman to take the cup)

Line 1: Marleau Thornton Cheechoo Line 2: Ekman Crosby Ovechkin Line 3 Nieminen McCauley Michalek Line 4: Goc Smith Bernier
Ehrhoff Jovanovski McLaren Hannan Davison Preissing McLaren Hannan

Nabokov starting, and Toskala back up, of course.

Now when I look at that team, I think it looks solid, it's kinda got a good balance of speed/finnese and power/strength, and some players (joe and Marleau) with a bit of both.

So my offensive system for line 1 is Attacking,Skating,Crash the net,high forcheck,Zonal, then the rest I select it differently for each player (hitting,board battles, carry puck, shoot/pass etc.)

Line 2 is Normal,Skating,Crash the net, hHgh forcheck,Zonal, once again rest I select individually to suit palyers strengths

Line 3 is Defensive,Skating,Crash the net,High forcheck,Zonal

Line 4 is Defensive,Skating,Crash the net,High forcheck,Zonal

Well that's about it, I do feel that my team is ALOT better than how it performs, but the key is, I relaly would like to keep those players, I don't really want to make any more trades for new players, as I'm trying to keep these players.

So if anyone can offer some new things to try, I would appreciate it alot.

Thanks guys

Tim

Right off I think you may do better from a chemistry/balance standpoint if you split up Marleau/Thornton and move one of them to your second line promoting one of Crosby/Ovechkin to the first. While Crosby and Ovechkin are both awesome and talented young players they are both very young and they need more of a role model/leader to get them playing their best. They'll both benefit from having another experienced top talent on their line to take off the pressure.

Look at what Thornton did for Cheech we he came in and much more dangerous became from the second line. EHM is substantially harder on young players than those players may have done in the actual NHL especially from a consistency standpoint, veteran leadership can go a long way toward keeping younger players from slumps/motivation/attitude issues. It's one of those Crosby and Ovechkin can only help each other through so much as they are both experiencng the league and schedule/talent level etc for the first time. Having someone who isn't on their first go-around the league will get much better results. I know it's hard to think of Crosby and Ovechkin as young players needing leaders not being the leaders themselves but in EHM you've got to to be successful. I've seen Crosby with anywhere between 40ish and 100+ points in his first season depending on who he lines up with and if he's not relied on to 'drive' a line as leader he does much better.

I realize Smith is much more defensive minded and suited to a 4th line role but I think that he might be a good defensive-minded center for a third line with Goc and Michalek to let the two of the try to work a bit of bonus offense from your third line. As Bernier is the youngest and least developed player giving him time with Ville and McCauley should really help him; that would really spread your leadership/scoring experience out among your lines. I can't say for sure but I do know all of these players pretty well and think this could get you some chemistry and consistency together. That's how I'd set them up at least...

Consider a similar approach on D if you aren't already and match up vets with younger players to learn from/be shielded a bit by those vets. That should help you toward your consistency goal.

Thanks Minstrel, I was kind of thinking about splitting up Marleau and Thornton, but putting them together on the powerplay, therefore letting Sid and Ovechkin come together on there own powerplay line maybe like that they could get a bit of confidence due to the man advantage. Smith is a good defensive mind player, but should I leave Bernier on the 4th line, or put him back to Cleveland for a bit let him develop a bit more, and maybe use a Scott Parker so he can melt some skulls, also when I use Scott Parker he chips in offensively quite often, i remember a while ago he had 5 goals in about 20 games, for a grinder on a 4th line, isn't to bad.
Should i keep Ehrhoff on first line D with big Ed? Maybe a Davison Hannan? then a Mclaren Preissing? Or call up Gorges not too sureand Doug Murray doesn't look to flash either...

Thanks for your help

hear from you soon

Tim

Also take a look to your staff,and especially to your head coach. What are is notes in Determination,Level Of Discipline,Work With Youngsters (as you have some baby stars like Ovechkin and Crosby),Coaching Forwards/Defensemen,and Tactical Knowledge?

Also take a look to your assistant coaches... If they have a bad not in Adaptation,and if they prefer a different style of play than the one of your head coach,it may cause interferences in coaching styles,so as the players finally don't know how they have to play

The choice for the capitaincy is also important. The guy with the "C" has to be a model for the team,not only a guy with a good Influence skill. He also have to be good in Determination (he wants the team win),Teamwork (he works for the good of the team,not only for his stats and his salary), and Workrate (he does his best game after game,and also at training). Same thing for the two assistants. And most of all,those 3 guys (C + 2A) MUST BE on your top-two lines (offensive or defensive),as they won't be able to have a real influence on your team if they don't see a lot of icetime... An experienced or veteran captain is also far better than a young futur star,but you should have a young guy as an assistant...

I don't remember every mental stats of your players,but i think Thornton should be your best guy to take the C... And maybe Crosby and Jovanovski for the A's (not sure for Jovanovski... ). That will give you an experienced forward and an experienced D-men,so you'll have your leaders for those two sectors,and you'll also give some responsabilities to Crosby,but not the big ones of the captaincy...

You have good players,so if you also have good coaches,good head coach,good strategy,good lines (pay attention to the post of Minstrel about veterans with youngs...),and good mental leaders,it MUST work well...

I hope it'll go better for your team!

Don't know if you've read it Tim,but the Walkthrough guide (in the download section) may help you very various aspects of the game...