AlexanderRasputin

Hear, hear - very good statement, Paul. I must say that I agree with everything - and a lot of respect to managers who commit long-term and stay with their squads through relegation. This will make eventual wins all the better. 

Looking forward to GHL newcomers as well. Entering a new league and establishing a new team and relationships/rivalries with new managers is one of the parts of GPHM I enjoy most. 

I'm 100% behind the legacy aspect - building the history of the world is what makes this awesome. 
 
If you can grab the images and store them on an external site (i.e. Imgur), I can link them back in here. Team effort

This probably isn't the best thread to post in as it is the exact opposite of trash talk, but it seems to be the only Cage discussion, so what the heck...
 
First, congrats to the Bangers, Plastic Attack, Patriots and Owls for promotion from SHL to GHL.  I am personally looking forward to battling with the Bangers and Plastic Attack again (BHL/SHL Biscuit days).
 
Second, good luck to the Flame, Savage Storm, Dragons, Defenders and Giant Strikers in your playoff quest for promotion.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't pulling for the Flame as I enjoy competing with active managers.
 
Third, good luck to the Elite, Blue Thunder, Battlin Bears and Supersonics, who are all currently battling to stay in GHL.  That's gotta be nerve-wracking.  It's amazing the way the Elite were able to turn their season around.
 
Last, and definitely not least.  Huge kudos to both Fango and Antti (Claws & Kamikazee).  Currently in relegation, but sticking with it.  Too often the only managers that get recognized are the top of the standings, but there's a huge something to be said when things aren't going your way and you stay with the team and keep battling.  I see too many managers who just bail if their team starts losing.  Think more people need to really enjoy the game for what it is.  It's a manager game with a huge element of luck/randomness/chance, whatever you want to call it.  It is just as fun, if not more, when you actually have to put more effort into it or get creative.  The only unsuccessful managers are the ones who leave.  Their loss.  Regardless if your team is doing well or not, you still get to enjoy what the game has to offer.  It's cool to win, but I personally have much more respect for the managers who still have fun even when they don't.

I do too. I think the mascots are fine for the most part, but there is definitely need for more of them. There's a plethora of town names and team names, but at least 60% of them are lacking any sort of matching mascot. The new jersey editor is a gigantic leap forward though, so maybe these other little issues are lining to be dealt with at some point. 

I like some of the odd names in the league.  Wish some of the mascots and emblems were more creative, but I'll take what I can get.  I love the black jersey.  

Awesome thread!
 
I like how Cline is a runner-up in 4 out of 6 possible trophies.

With the end of the season here, I decided to create an awards list for best players in GHL Cage, using NHL template as example - to make it more of a lived-in world, and simply because I think the players deserve some individual recognition for all the work they have done for us this season.
Calculations are shown where relevant. Runner-ups for each category are also included. Enjoy!
 
 
 
ART ROSS TROPHY (Most League Points)
 
IAN FREROT (Wolverines) - 91 points    (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=10043-A)
 
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats)
 
 
 
ALEX OVECHKIN TROPHY - (Top Goalscorer)

ELOUAN SCOTT (Red Tide) - 46 goals                  (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=3196-A)
 
Ian Frerot (Wolverines)
Jeremy Lawhorn (Wolverines)
 
 
 
SILVER PLATTER TROPHY (Best Playmaker) 
 
PATRICK GORNELL (Red Tide) - 56 assists           (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=1776-A)
 
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats)
Marek Koch (Prairie Stars)/Ian Frerot (Wolverines)
 
 
 
VEZINA TROPHY (Best Goaltender)
 
KWESI CUTTER (Prairie Stars)                (https://gameplanhockey.com/goalie?gpid=324-A)
 
Gregoire Wright (Stray Cats)
Renaud Pettigrew (Hawks)
 
 
 
NORRIS TROPHY (Best Defenceman)
 
TENHO SUOMI (Ricochet)                       (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=4037-A)
 
Marek Koch (Prairie Stars)
Clemens Andresen (Union)
Calculated with the following formula among D: [PTS + Plus/Minus + BKS - GVA + TKA], PER also taken into consideration  
 
SELKE TROPHY (Best Defensive Forward)
 
WESLEY SOUDERS (Leopards)                   (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=8314-A)
 
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats), 
Calculated with the following formula among F: [PTS + Plus/Minus + BKS - GVA + TKA]  
 
LADY BYNG TROPHY (Most Gentlemanly Player)
 
IAN FREROT (Wolverines)               (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=10043-A)
 
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats)
Ondrej Valabik (Hawks)
Calculated with the following formula [PTS - PIM]  
 
HART TROPHY (League MVP)
 
KWESI CUTTER (Prairie Stars) - 80 PER        (https://gameplanhockey.com/goalie?gpid=324-A)
 
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)
Clemens Andresen (Union)
 
 
 
 
*Notes: Calculations may not be entirely accurate due to limited visibility and inability to sort by position in GPHM stats format - if anyone sees mistakes, let me know and I will fix.

With the end of the season here, I decided to create an awards list for best players in GHL Cage, using NHL template as example - to make it more of a lived-in world, and simply because I think the players deserve some individual recognition for all the work they have done for us this season.
Calculations are shown where relevant. Runner-ups for each category are also included. Enjoy!
 
 
 
ART ROSS TROPHY (Most League Points)
 
IAN FREROT (Wolverines) - 91 points    (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=10043-A)
 
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats)
 
 
 
ALEX OVECHKIN TROPHY - (Top Goalscorer)

ELOUAN SCOTT (Red Tide) - 46 goals                  (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=3196-A)
 
Ian Frerot (Wolverines)
Jeremy Lawhorn (Wolverines)
 
 
 
SILVER PLATTER TROPHY (Best Playmaker) 
 
PATRICK GORNELL (Red Tide) - 56 assists           (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=1776-A)
 
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats)
Marek Koch (Prairie Stars)/Ian Frerot (Wolverines)
 
 
 
VEZINA TROPHY (Best Goaltender)
 
KWESI CUTTER (Prairie Stars)                (https://gameplanhockey.com/goalie?gpid=324-A)
 
Gregoire Wright (Stray Cats)
Renaud Pettigrew (Hawks)
 
 
 
NORRIS TROPHY (Best Defenceman)
 
TENHO SUOMI (Ricochet)                       (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=4037-A)
 
Marek Koch (Prairie Stars)
Clemens Andresen (Union)
Calculated with the following formula among D: [PTS + Plus/Minus + BKS - GVA + TKA], PER also taken into consideration  
 
SELKE TROPHY (Best Defensive Forward)
 
WESLEY SOUDERS (Leopards)                   (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=8314-A)
 
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats), 
Calculated with the following formula among F: [PTS + Plus/Minus + BKS - GVA + TKA]  
 
LADY BYNG TROPHY (Most Gentlemanly Player)
 
IAN FREROT (Wolverines)               (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=10043-A)
 
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats)
Ondrej Valabik (Hawks)
Calculated with the following formula [PTS - PIM]  
 
HART TROPHY (League MVP)
 
KWESI CUTTER (Prairie Stars) - 80 PER        (https://gameplanhockey.com/goalie?gpid=324-A)
 
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)
Clemens Andresen (Union)
 
 
 
 
*Notes: Calculations may not be entirely accurate due to limited visibility and inability to sort by position in GPHM stats format - if anyone sees mistakes, let me know and I will fix.

“Ok team, let’s hage a meeting next week to discuss this more in depth - Paul you do research on...” What the heck! This is seriously where this conversation is taking my mind - to my job! This is a game! Let’s loosen up a bit, get creative, no paper stamping, super analytical feedback needed.
 
On another note, Rasputin’s team just shoved a stick up my guys’ rears the last game in Buzzer. Still pulling the splinters out...which reminds me, this is primarily a GHL conversation so I’ll let you guys get back to it, this GM is going to hop back in my 95’ Toyota Camry and have a Bologna sandwhich my grandma made me before heading to the rink to coach overweight bon-bon eating ice slugs!

With the end of the season here, I decided to create an awards list for best players in GHL Cage, using NHL template as example - to make it more of a lived-in world, and simply because I think the players deserve some individual recognition for all the work they have done for us this season.
Calculations are shown where relevant. Runner-ups for each category are also included. Enjoy!
 
 
 
ART ROSS TROPHY (Most League Points)
 
IAN FREROT (Wolverines) - 91 points    (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=10043-A)
 
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats)
 
 
 
ALEX OVECHKIN TROPHY - (Top Goalscorer)

ELOUAN SCOTT (Red Tide) - 46 goals                  (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=3196-A)
 
Ian Frerot (Wolverines)
Jeremy Lawhorn (Wolverines)
 
 
 
SILVER PLATTER TROPHY (Best Playmaker) 
 
PATRICK GORNELL (Red Tide) - 56 assists           (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=1776-A)
 
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats)
Marek Koch (Prairie Stars)/Ian Frerot (Wolverines)
 
 
 
VEZINA TROPHY (Best Goaltender)
 
KWESI CUTTER (Prairie Stars)                (https://gameplanhockey.com/goalie?gpid=324-A)
 
Gregoire Wright (Stray Cats)
Renaud Pettigrew (Hawks)
 
 
 
NORRIS TROPHY (Best Defenceman)
 
TENHO SUOMI (Ricochet)                       (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=4037-A)
 
Marek Koch (Prairie Stars)
Clemens Andresen (Union)
Calculated with the following formula among D: [PTS + Plus/Minus + BKS - GVA + TKA], PER also taken into consideration  
 
SELKE TROPHY (Best Defensive Forward)
 
WESLEY SOUDERS (Leopards)                   (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=8314-A)
 
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats), 
Calculated with the following formula among F: [PTS + Plus/Minus + BKS - GVA + TKA]  
 
LADY BYNG TROPHY (Most Gentlemanly Player)
 
IAN FREROT (Wolverines)               (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=10043-A)
 
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats)
Ondrej Valabik (Hawks)
Calculated with the following formula [PTS - PIM]  
 
HART TROPHY (League MVP)
 
KWESI CUTTER (Prairie Stars) - 80 PER        (https://gameplanhockey.com/goalie?gpid=324-A)
 
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)
Clemens Andresen (Union)
 
 
 
 
*Notes: Calculations may not be entirely accurate due to limited visibility and inability to sort by position in GPHM stats format - if anyone sees mistakes, let me know and I will fix.

Awesome work!  I was thinking about doing something similar, but I'm glad someone beat me to it. 
Great to see a Leopard win one.  Helluva season, Souders!

Great idea and great work. I would suggest that we add screenshots of players, at least overview.
 
I can crop them so you can fit them easily.

With the end of the season here, I decided to create an awards list for best players in GHL Cage, using NHL template as example - to make it more of a lived-in world, and simply because I think the players deserve some individual recognition for all the work they have done for us this season.
Calculations are shown where relevant. Runner-ups for each category are also included. Enjoy!
 
 
 
ART ROSS TROPHY (Most League Points)
 
IAN FREROT (Wolverines) - 91 points    (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=10043-A)
 
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats)
 
 
 
ALEX OVECHKIN TROPHY - (Top Goalscorer)

ELOUAN SCOTT (Red Tide) - 46 goals                  (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=3196-A)
 
Ian Frerot (Wolverines)
Jeremy Lawhorn (Wolverines)
 
 
 
SILVER PLATTER TROPHY (Best Playmaker) 
 
PATRICK GORNELL (Red Tide) - 56 assists           (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=1776-A)
 
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats)
Marek Koch (Prairie Stars)/Ian Frerot (Wolverines)
 
 
 
VEZINA TROPHY (Best Goaltender)
 
KWESI CUTTER (Prairie Stars)                (https://gameplanhockey.com/goalie?gpid=324-A)
 
Gregoire Wright (Stray Cats)
Renaud Pettigrew (Hawks)
 
 
 
NORRIS TROPHY (Best Defenceman)
 
TENHO SUOMI (Ricochet)                       (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=4037-A)
 
Marek Koch (Prairie Stars)
Clemens Andresen (Union)
Calculated with the following formula among D: [PTS + Plus/Minus + BKS - GVA + TKA], PER also taken into consideration  
 
SELKE TROPHY (Best Defensive Forward)
 
WESLEY SOUDERS (Leopards)                   (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=8314-A)
 
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats), 
Calculated with the following formula among F: [PTS + Plus/Minus + BKS - GVA + TKA]  
 
LADY BYNG TROPHY (Most Gentlemanly Player)
 
IAN FREROT (Wolverines)               (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=10043-A)
 
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats)
Ondrej Valabik (Hawks)
Calculated with the following formula [PTS - PIM]  
 
HART TROPHY (League MVP)
 
KWESI CUTTER (Prairie Stars) - 80 PER        (https://gameplanhockey.com/goalie?gpid=324-A)
 
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)
Clemens Andresen (Union)
 
 
 
 
*Notes: Calculations may not be entirely accurate due to limited visibility and inability to sort by position in GPHM stats format - if anyone sees mistakes, let me know and I will fix.

I'm not sure +/- should be a factor at all in the calculations. Also for defensive forward I'm not sure points should be a factor either. Either way great work.

With the end of the season here, I decided to create an awards list for best players in GHL Cage, using NHL template as example - to make it more of a lived-in world, and simply because I think the players deserve some individual recognition for all the work they have done for us this season.
Calculations are shown where relevant. Runner-ups for each category are also included. Enjoy!
 
 
 
ART ROSS TROPHY (Most League Points)
 
IAN FREROT (Wolverines) - 91 points    (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=10043-A)
 
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats)
 
 
 
ALEX OVECHKIN TROPHY - (Top Goalscorer)

ELOUAN SCOTT (Red Tide) - 46 goals                  (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=3196-A)
 
Ian Frerot (Wolverines)
Jeremy Lawhorn (Wolverines)
 
 
 
SILVER PLATTER TROPHY (Best Playmaker) 
 
PATRICK GORNELL (Red Tide) - 56 assists           (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=1776-A)
 
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats)
Marek Koch (Prairie Stars)/Ian Frerot (Wolverines)
 
 
 
VEZINA TROPHY (Best Goaltender)
 
KWESI CUTTER (Prairie Stars)                (https://gameplanhockey.com/goalie?gpid=324-A)
 
Gregoire Wright (Stray Cats)
Renaud Pettigrew (Hawks)
 
 
 
NORRIS TROPHY (Best Defenceman)
 
TENHO SUOMI (Ricochet)                       (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=4037-A)
 
Marek Koch (Prairie Stars)
Clemens Andresen (Union)
Calculated with the following formula among D: [PTS + Plus/Minus + BKS - GVA + TKA], PER also taken into consideration  
 
SELKE TROPHY (Best Defensive Forward)
 
WESLEY SOUDERS (Leopards)                   (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=8314-A)
 
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats), 
Calculated with the following formula among F: [PTS + Plus/Minus + BKS - GVA + TKA]  
 
LADY BYNG TROPHY (Most Gentlemanly Player)
 
IAN FREROT (Wolverines)               (https://gameplanhockey.com/player?gpid=10043-A)
 
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats)
Ondrej Valabik (Hawks)
Calculated with the following formula [PTS - PIM]  
 
HART TROPHY (League MVP)
 
KWESI CUTTER (Prairie Stars) - 80 PER        (https://gameplanhockey.com/goalie?gpid=324-A)
 
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)
Clemens Andresen (Union)
 
 
 
 
*Notes: Calculations may not be entirely accurate due to limited visibility and inability to sort by position in GPHM stats format - if anyone sees mistakes, let me know and I will fix.

The fact that I finished 1 pt behind have home ice advantage in the play-in playoffs is a major victory for me no matter what happens!  Although, I'm clearly the favorite against Turkey Creek, haha!   
 
The second half of the season my record was 16-4-2-18.  Not great, but considering I was convinced it would be auto relegation around game 45 and did my trades accordingly, kind of crazy.  Multiply the second half of the season by 2 and I'd (in theory) would have been competing for 7th or 8th place.  Had I not had a bit of an unlucky 5 and 4 game losing streaks in the last 20, I would have been solidly competing for 10th place.  Two of those losses were to Steelers!  Winning those alone would have brought me within 4 pts of him.  Every game really does count!  Excited to see what the playoffs bring for all of you, good luck!  

Paul, I can tell you that before the reset, I switched tactics every game to hard counter the opposition tactic. The results were decent - I moved up from IHL to GHL promoting every 1st/2nd season, and was in 2nd place before the reset, with a great record.

My lineup at the time was very good - perhaps top 3 in the league, so I would assume that addressed some of the shortcomings with players not fitting tactics. 

With that said - this season, I built my team around a tactic and have not switched from it since, and I have similar success. So...looks like my answer to your question is, at best, uncertain .

Ambition is probably the most important one for me right now, as I prefer growing younger players. Heroic players do consistently play better than similar non-Heroic players, though, so that remains an important one to look for.

Would be very good to have an Achievement system within the game to add detail and set smaller goals during the season for managers aside from winning the league/cup. 

Examples (Each of these would be worth X manager experience points): 
 
1) Win 10 games 
2) Score 5 goals in a game
3) Have a player score 30 goals a season
4) Have a player score 100 goals for the club
5) Finish top 3 in league season
 
A screenshot of how Football Manager does it is attached.
 
This is a proven system in other sims, and it encourages active player participation, as well as the ability to compare yourself with other managers on a much more detailed level.

Finally, this would also be a much more accurate measure of manager reputation. More achievements/experience = higher reputation. Keep still the reputation that is based on placement but allow for greater variety based on gameplay. 


 
 

Hi!
 
Really good suggestions! We are reading this carefully and will try to make the game more live of course. We have plans to extend the experience for more recognition when winning and player trophies and such. Even an "all star game" are things we look at.
 
About play by play there is a bit more into it and we are looking how to implement such a thing. We have heard rumours that if it's not good it could ruin the game so we want to make it as good as possible from the start. Can't promise anything right now. A lot of focus right now is to fix minor bugs and help new managers joining the game because we get more and more coming everyday.
 
Hope that satisfied a bit?! 
 
We are listening to all your suggestions and we together will make this the best manager game!
 
PS. About the interview thing, if anyone want to be our official ingame reporter with interviews with managers and stuff. Feel free to take the role as "Game Plan Hockey Managers Reporter" Could make a new section here on the forum if anyone up for it?! DS.

So I was wondering if, in the future, it would be possible for us to manage our affiliate teams too.  It kind of sucks when a free agent or bad player is getting better playing minutes over a prospect that I want to grow.  I also think it would make the developing system a little better as if you want to work on a player's defense, you can play them in a more defensive role as opposed the the computer tossing them wherever.  I know training is partially available to do this, but being able to make a player more well-rounded in the aspects we want would be cool by setting up and managing affiliate team lines.
 
Also, I saw in a different forum, the idea of adding national teams.  To expand on that, having a world cup would be really cool and it would also add something else for us to follow when our team gets eliminated from the playoffs, as there is only so much you could do with scouting and contracts at the end of the season.
 
Just a couple of suggestions.  Hope to see these added, but otherwise, I've been liking 2.0 so far

now i understand the idea behind making players that are "cocky" and "arrogant" seem like a bad thing, and if you have a lot of these players, that would be a detriment to the dressing room chemistry, and this suggestion would sort of make having a lot of those players a positive, but here goes. 

Not sure if a suggestion is even the proper term, but more of an observation. My team is bad, and they have been doing bad, and I ran a lot of players through my team this season, so there are a lot of players that have been sat for long periods of time. I get that this hurts their confidence and I understand the reasoning behind this in the game. But I have players that are "cocky" and "arrogant" who are "anxious" or "uncomfortable", wouldn't these players always have high confidence? isn't that what being cocky or arrogant is? always thinking your hot stuff, which means they would have little issues in the confidence department.

Now, if you changed it so that "cocky" and "arrogant" players were always confident, or at least had a confidence floor of "good", this would mean that bringing in those types of players would be a positive because they would always play at a higher level than someone who is the same skill level but has "uncomfortable" or "anxious" confidence. So I can understand that it sort of defeats the purpose of having personality issues being bad for a team. But if you could find a balance between them always being confident but they hurt the team chemistry enough that it's not worth it, etc, it may work. Or you could leave it as is, and that would be fine. As stated, not really a suggestion, just a funny observation.

Question for the community.  I've wondered this for a while.
 
Let's say you take over a team on the last day of the season and are in a must win game (for whatever reason).  You notice that all your players are a perfect fit for a Dump and Chase offense - however - the team has been set to Crash the Net with a full green familiarity bar.  Changing to Dump and Chase would go full red.
 
Do you:
A ) Keep your Off tactic set to Crash the Net (Pro: your team is familiar, Con: your players don't fit).
B ) Change your Off tactic to Dump and Chase (Pro: your players fit perfectly, Con: your team is unfamiliar).
 
Which would have the bigger positive/negative impact?  Obviously B is better long term, but for 1 game only.  Not sure if there is a correct answer here, just interested in what other managers would do and why.

I'll start with these two, because I love both suggestions.  IMO, the more in depth, the better.  About a year ago, I made a suggestion that teams should not be limited to a single offensive or defensive tactic.  Instead, it would be cool if we were allowed to play different tactics per line.  For example, Line 1 could use Possession, Line 2 is Dump and Chase, Line 3 could Crash the Net and so on.  Or if we wanted to limit it in any way, allow teams to become familiar with 2 offensive and defensive tactics, each, instead of all of them.  That way we could build a more versatile team, which would drive interest.
 
 
 
This one I don't agree with.  I think player progression is right where it should be.  One of the main reasons for the game refresh was to get ratings back in check.  If players increased like they used to, every GHL team would again be full of 90+ players and it would take a lot of the strategy out of it.  IMO, it's good to see some top line players in GHL that have an attribute flaw here and there.  Also, I've seen some younger players who are improving quite nicely.  But overall, I think current development is optimal for the game long term.
 
*Edit: either that, or we increase the rate of improvement, which would add some excitement, but start the ratings much lower.  Top 6 guys in GHL draft right now are 85-88.  We could start them at 75-78.
 
 
 
My original suggestion was for a trade deadline around day 66, which happens now, and for it to be locked through end of season.  Anders went a different direction and opened it up again during playoffs for a few reasons (1) to keep eliminated managers interested (2) to allow the team that got relegated via playoff a chance to make moves before next season.  Both of these are understandable.  To your point, it definitely is not the most fair approach, but the goal should be to make the playoffs and try to win it all.  If eliminated teams are making moves during that time, then it is what it is.
 
I think there is a simple solution here.  Teams who are still in the playoffs can make verbal offers.  If I'm in 11th or 12th place and have to battle for relegation, I would already be talking to all the playoff team managers and coming up with a plan in case of relegation.  But I guess I'm also optimistic that relegating managers would accept the "best" offer for their players to keep things fair and not the very first offer thrown their way.
 
This is also the reason why I think players should ask for a bit of money during negotiations, so it's harder to score a guy like Elie Breton and also have a lot of depth.  I feel that if you have a few 94+ players on your roster, they should come with a high cap hit and there should be holes in your roster elsewhere.
 
This topic is definitely worth a lengthy discussion.  Interested to keep it going and see what others have to say.

Everything you suggested would be good. Also best players in differents stats in your team would be cool too!