Paul T

Welcome to the slowest, but coolest game world!  haha.  
 
Which team did you take over (old name)?

Yeah, I thought that was kind of cool as well.  Also what a change from S11.  Last season the Italians would have been an average BHL team.  This season, a dominant BHL team and competitive SHL team - with the addition of 18 year old C Marco Ilan 88 OVR and 18 year old F Federico Poli 83 OVR.  If Italy can keep producing young talent at that rate, another 15-20 more years and we will be challenging the Canadians and Americans for world champion.

Hey guys,
 
Giving it a shot in a slower World. Took over the last team in the World I believe. Can't wait to build some close relationships in this World and make it to the top! Let's see how we do in our first season 
 
I'm just getting the feel of my team (Kingston Assassins in SHL) atm, so feel free to send in any offers, suggestions, etc. I'm willing to listen to anything right now 

Season 13 update has been added to the 1st post - and below.  Not much improvement from the Italians this year.
 

Is here anyway we could see a few more details as to what certain simulations are? For instance, I have like 8 offers out to managers right now and due to relegation I'm a bit stressed out because I'm afraid my top guys may just suddenly disappear - POOF! and then there goes my chance at getting anything in return.
 
Boy this sucks...it won't be done simulating for 30 minutes, which means my guys may be long gone before any manager can react

I'd love to see both a contract limit and the ability to loan or recall players. Waivers give me a lot of anxiety, even if they are realistic. 

Stats can be deceiving because of the different leagues.  100 points in the Canadian League is much more impressive than 100 points in the Swedish league.
 
I'd probably lean more towards player development and also factor in Current Overall Rating, Traits, Height/Weight & Injury History.

There was an old NES sports game that ran a headline after each game that was sort of related to how well you are performing.  With Anders' much more sophisticated system here, it would be a fun little addition:  "Elite lose 6th straight, fans want the manager fired!"  
 
It'd be even better if it was customized some how about how so and so had a great game, Player X was booed loudly, and The Goalie had the best game of the season!  It'd add more fun than the Asst Reports, I think, but maybe that is what I am doing wrong!  haha.

What's everyone think of Elite's new look?!?!  I think it is the missing piece I finally need to get out of the basement in the standings!  haha.

A few more losses and you will be out of the bottom 4 in the GHL... and into the top 4 of the SHL!   
 
But all joking aside...
 
 
I have noticed that in some of my wins, my opponent has outshot me/controlled possession - and vice versa with some of my losses.  But if you track the game flow, it "might" be due to team focus.  I'm assuming many teams go Offensive/Very Offensive when losing, while teams play Defensive when winning.  Especially if you take a lead early, this could explain why the shots would be lopsided in the losing team's favor.  I'm guessing that when you play defensive, you get outshot, but your opponent gets less quality shots/chances. 
 
Also I've found that some tactics just work well against others.  My win % over the last 4 seasons is pretty damn good, but there is a certain offensive tactic (which I will refrain from mentioning ) that always gives my team trouble.  And tactics might also come into play with the possession stat.  Puck possession teams will (or at least should) control the puck more than say teams who implement transition rushes.  I'm sure both styles have their advantages.
 
Just a few things to think about. 
 
Then again, I've found a few games results that are just totally random and make no sense from a pure numbers perspective... but that type of thing also happens in real life.  For example the Tampa Bay Lightning are the best team in the NHL this year.  The Ducks are the 10th best team in the west and out of a playoff spot... but earlier this year, the Ducks beat them 4-1.

Whoa. Craziness!  In a matter of days, Kantarik was traded from BHL to SHL, SHL to GHL, then swapped GHL teams.  I'm sure he's pumped to be in GHL this season, but his head must be spinning.
I'll be following to see how he does in GHL this year.

Whoa. Craziness!  In a matter of days, Kantarik was traded from BHL to SHL, SHL to GHL, then swapped GHL teams.  I'm sure he's pumped to be in GHL this season, but his head must be spinning.
I'll be following to see how he does in GHL this year.

If anyone in GHL (or promoting to GHL) is interested in Emil Kantarik, shoot me a message.  I'm not trading him to an SHL team because I don't want to play against him, but I feel like he's asking too much money for the SHL cap, so don't think I could keep him.
 
Player link:
http://www.gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=33977
 
PROS:
88 overall + has been improving 1-2 ratings/year (improved silly season and should be due for another soon)
25 years old
Good size
1st in D points BHL (by almost 20), 3rd in overall points, 1st in overall +/-
Rarely injured, played all 60 last year and every game this year (totally just jinxed him)
 
CONS:
Traits aren't great... he's a diva
Asking for 3.35M salary
 
Best case scenario:  I trade him now - or sign him for next season and swing him to a GHL team.
Worse case scenario:  I sign him and keep him next season.  I definitely don't want to give him away.

These are indeed quite puzzling.
 
From what I've observed(merely observations, not based on actual raw fact),
 
Teamwork: Solely based on traits, doesn't fluctuate without roster moves.
 
Confidence: A mix of individual players' confidences as well as team record. The only time I've seen better than OK confidence was last season in SHL where I had multiple long winning streaks. Even then it didn't rise above "good", so there must be some other factors involved as well. Perhaps some traits factor in?
 
Winner instinct: Largely based on "big games" - trait, goalies seem to factor in more than your average skater. There are also some unknown factors involved that make it fluctuate a little. Possibly season record or recent games affect it somehow. I've witnessed a drop from heroic to strong, and from strong to ok while absolutely nothing else changed. No roster, lineup, confidence or training change. Just time passing, I.E. games being played/training happening(with no modifications to intensity).
 
I also have a wild, possibly completely misplaced hunch, that your whole roster factors into these, including players in the minors. That could explain some of the weird fluctuations as well as the confidence bar seemingly lagging behind the main roster's overall confidence. But I've zero tangible facts on this.
 
As to whether these have any actual effect on team performance, I haven't figured out. If there's an effect, it would seem to be quite small. Any big movements in the team spirits are (almost) always associated with trades, thus making it hard to judge whether the differences in team performance are a result from the different players or the team spirits changing.

In regards to teamwork and winner instinct I feel they are about managing players traits in your roster, confidence is a whole different ball game but I'll get to that in a bit. I had to make some roster moves at the start of this season to get my teamwork back up. Too many arrogant and cocky players on my team seemed to take my teamwork in the wrong direction and I wasn't willing to test how much of an impact that would have on my team's record. 

Simply signing more heroic or determined players won't affect winning instinct as much as creating a better balance among your team in terms of the trait. Adding more players that push the teams winner instinct in the right direction while also subtracting those that don't will obviously have a greater impact.
 
I know some feel that teamwork, confidence and winner instinct doesn't have that much of an impact but I feel it does in a relative sense. For example, a player that is 95 overall will need to produce far more than a player that is 85 overall to feel confident in their game. So it is the same for a team, if a team has the potential to win the cup that means the players rostered on that team are all going to be really good. So if those players aren't producing at elite rates their confidence will reflect that as will the teams. 

On that point I keep seeing the Biscuits GHL win referenced. The way I see it, if that team was capable of winning the cup, they had elite players on that team. So even though they beat teams that were feeling more confident, their superior player overcame inferior teams that were playing at the top of their game. 

I'm not sure if I perfectly explained the idea I'm trying to convey but basically I see confidence as the ceiling of a players performance. Like so:

---------Players Peak----------
Elite player high confidence
 
Good player high confidence
 
Elite player ok confidence
 
Good player ok confidence
 
Average player high confidence
 
and so on......
 
--------Player slump-------
 
 
Basically I see it as how much of would a good player performing at his peak outperform a great player playing ok relative to his skill level.

So true.  Today I lost to the #11 team in a shootout... but that point secured promotion.  The Leopards are headed to the SHL! 
 
(*finishes last and immediately gets relegated back to BHL )
 
Good luck in the final 4 games, Brent.  It's a great race for 2nd between you and the Eagles.  I apologize in advance if I beat you tomorrow.  ... but if you win, you might actually have a shot at first considering I've lost to the 3 remaining teams on my schedule.

I've seen different opinions on this so the best advice is to try out different combinations and see what works for you. 
 
I would think that for a Checking line you would need some combination of Power Forward, Grinder, Two-Way.  You'll probably want players with high Physical and Defense attributes.  For Energy you would need mostly Grinders and maybe an Enforcer or Power Forward.  You'll probably want players with high Spirit...and maybe Physical/Skating.  For both of these lines, you also may need Tough/Agitator type players, but not sure how much that plays in.
 
* The statements above are purely educated guesses and not concrete facts.
 
** I have never been able to roll out a productive checking line.
 
Good luck.

So true.  Today I lost to the #11 team in a shootout... but that point secured promotion.  The Leopards are headed to the SHL! 
 
(*finishes last and immediately gets relegated back to BHL )
 
Good luck in the final 4 games, Brent.  It's a great race for 2nd between you and the Eagles.  I apologize in advance if I beat you tomorrow.  ... but if you win, you might actually have a shot at first considering I've lost to the 3 remaining teams on my schedule.

I was sweating out today's game.  The Eagles are a well managed team.
 
This might finally be the Leopards year to promote after being a BHL regular for the past 9 seasons.
 

"And here we come again last place moans
Skating down the lonely road to get owned
Like Crosby we all wear too much cologne
...And we've made up our minds
...We'll lose at least 35 more times!
 
Cause we know what it means...
To skate along the lonely rink of dreams!"
 
 
A part of Slaughterville's new theme song for the season 24 lineup calls!

I would almost put money down that I will not end up in 1st place.  Almost.  I'm going to limp toward the finish line this season (again).  A few days ago my 2nd best forward got injured for 9 games.  Today my best forward got injured for 10 games.  I have 7 players who are 81+ and 3 of them are injured...
 
At this point with 9 games remaining, I need to hope either you or the Eagles drop a couple more games.  I hold a 3 game advantage on the Eagles with the point differential tie breaker.  Things would have to go horribly wrong for me to miss out on promotion... but it happened last year, so...

I've seen different opinions on this so the best advice is to try out different combinations and see what works for you. 
 
I would think that for a Checking line you would need some combination of Power Forward, Grinder, Two-Way.  You'll probably want players with high Physical and Defense attributes.  For Energy you would need mostly Grinders and maybe an Enforcer or Power Forward.  You'll probably want players with high Spirit...and maybe Physical/Skating.  For both of these lines, you also may need Tough/Agitator type players, but not sure how much that plays in.
 
* The statements above are purely educated guesses and not concrete facts.
 
** I have never been able to roll out a productive checking line.
 
Good luck.

I would almost put money down that I will not end up in 1st place.  Almost.  I'm going to limp toward the finish line this season (again).  A few days ago my 2nd best forward got injured for 9 games.  Today my best forward got injured for 10 games.  I have 7 players who are 81+ and 3 of them are injured...
 
At this point with 9 games remaining, I need to hope either you or the Eagles drop a couple more games.  I hold a 3 game advantage on the Eagles with the point differential tie breaker.  Things would have to go horribly wrong for me to miss out on promotion... but it happened last year, so...

My team doesn't know what mojo is. If you asked them they'd probably scratch their heads and think you were either talking about coffee or end up calling their lawyer thinking some sexual misconduct occurred