Alright boyz, here we go! (NHL EHM Thoughts!)

[sachmo71]

I don't know if you can do an initial draft, but you can start with real player or game generated players.


Question....What is the easiest way that anyone has found to view NHL free agents?

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Anyone else seeing a high number of shots? I'm using normal shooting, and I'm routinely seeing each team in my games averaging over 40 shots a game.

Shots? Or Shots On Goal? What our media (Sportscenter, etc.) typically do is just report on the Shots On Goal, and not all of the shots taken. Keep in mind that Shots On Goal in the game is what we associate with "Shots".

And bbor, no, there's really only one option and that's to jump into the game ala CM. The whole world is essentially create and you pick a team and go with it. No starting with a Complete Draft or anything like that.

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Part of me wishes SI had just concentrated on making the best NHL sim they could, instead of trying to do an entire internaitonal hockey world. I realize that's me being a self-centered North American jerk, but such is life.

I just have to wonder what some guy from Detroit who buys the game at EB will think when he gets it home, fires it up, and the first "news" he sees is that clubs in Switzerland are offering his prospects contracts.

Again, that's just me. Maybe for everyone who thinks like me, there's ten people who wouldn't think of touching the game if it didn't have a full international flavor. In any event, SI made their decision and we'll see how it turns out.

On a semi-related note, what settings are people using at the beginning of a game as far as international leagues? Assuming you're playing the NHL, do you check the other countries? Standard or enhanced? The manual doesn't go into much detail and I don't want to be a.) missing out, or b.) unnecessarily slowing things down.

I'm sure you're not alone but -

* More variety makes for a more realistic game universe (ie. these leagues exist irl and should in a realistic simulation)
* Gives more variety to gameplay and better value for money (ie. when you've mastered the NHL you still have a lot of other leagues to look into)

Finally bear in mind that on a boringly commercial level we're fairly likely to sell more copies of NHL EHM in Europe than in America and for this reason having 'local' European leagues in the game is very important, this is simply down to the fact that SI are fairly well known for our soccer sims in Europe whereas most Americans haven't played a 'text sim' ..... hopefully I'll be proved wrong on this

[Eaglesfan27]

That is a good point, but with my relatively small sample, I'm getting an average of 30 shots on goal a game, which also seems high. Are other people seeing a high number of shots on goal?

Originally Posted by sabotai

Shots? Or Shots On Goal? What our media (Sportscenter, etc.) typically do is just report on the Shots On Goal, and not all of the shots taken. Keep in mind that Shots On Goal in the game is what we associate with "Shots".

And bbor, no, there's really only one option and that's to jump into the game ala CM. The whole world is essentially create and you pick a team and go with it. No starting with a Complete Draft or anything like that.

[Karim]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

That is a good point, but with my relatively small sample, I'm getting an average of 30 shots on goal a game, which also seems high. Are other people seeing a high number of shots on goal?

That's a distinction I hadn't thought of because when I think of "shots" in hockey, it's only "shots on goal". The ones that go wide or blocked aren't counted.

So, once again, are "shots" in game summaries referring to all shots, or just "real" shots? Here's the NA/European confusion again...

[sabotai]

A quick look at the NHL stats, and I see a couple of tema last year that averaged 30.x shots per goal (but they were the highest). Tampa Bay, Detroit and Boston. The lowest team was Washington with 23.7, but most teams averaged 27 or more shots on goal per game, with 30.5 being the most.

[Blackadar]

After playing a bit more, I have some concerns about the trade AI in this game.

I managed to trade Martin LaPointe (BOS) for Reed Low (STL) straight up.
LaPointe is one of the most overpaid players in the league with a contract of $5.5 million dollars that runs for 2 more years. In 34 games he had 8 points and a -8 +/- ratio. He should have been untradable.

But instead, I got Low, who's younger and has a contract for $800k straight up for LaPointe. In 23 games, he has 8 points and a +/- ratio of +5.

I really have a hard time seeing that deal go through in the real NHL, but I could be wrong.

I've also made a couple of other deals for the rights to good foreign players that cost me very little. I managed to get Joel Lundqvist for a song and he's coming over next year. I traded a couple of so-so "rights" players and a 4th round draft choice to get him. Lundqvist has 35 points in 32 games for Frolunda and is only 21 years old. Again, major steal...too much so, in my book.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Blackadar

After playing a bit more, I have some concerns about the trade AI in this game.

I managed to trade Martin LaPointe (BOS) for Reed Low (STL) straight up.
LaPointe is one of the most overpaid players in the league with a contract of $5.5 million dollars that runs for 2 more years. In 34 games he had 8 points and a -8 +/- ratio. He should have been untradable.

But instead, I got Low, who's younger and has a contract for $800k straight up for LaPointe. In 23 games, he has 8 points and a +/- ratio of +5.

I really have a hard time seeing that deal go through in the real NHL, but I could be wrong.

I've also made a couple of other deals for the rights to good foreign players that cost me very little. I managed to get Joel Lundqvist for a song and he's coming over next year. I traded a couple of so-so "rights" players and a 4th round draft choice to get him. Lundqvist has 35 points in 32 games for Frolunda and is only 21 years old. Again, major steal...too much so, in my book.

Lapointe is overpaid. This is true. Despite Reed Low's unnatural scoring burst of 8 points in 23 games, Low is basically a one dimensional goon. Lapointe is more than that. I have no idea how he is rated in the game, but despite his low offensive output, he's tough, he hits, and he's a huge character guy. In some ways, I would find the AI more suspect if they had traded Lapointe for Low, unless they were simply looking to dump salary.

As for Lundqvist, maybe the organization that traded him doesn't think he has any NHL potential. 35 points in 32 games for Frolunda does not guarantee NHL success. Remember there are all sorts of things that add up in determining whether or not a prospect will make it.

Then again, this is all coming from someone yet to play the game.

[Blackadar]

Counter:

LaPointe is massively overpaid - one of the joke contracts in the NHL. He's virtually untradable. To be able to dish him off for Low (who has some skill and brings toughness) straight-up is a pretty fortunate deal for the Bruins. I can't see any real NHL team making this deal and saddling themselves with LaPointes' contract.

As for Lundqvist, there are reports flying out of the Frolunda league about he's becoming a superstar and one of the games' best players. That's how I found out about him and his ratings are easily NHL-worthy. It's one thing if he didn't have great ratings. But given the news reports (he's now on the national team, etc.), it seems like of absurd to give him up for 2 warm bodies and a 4th round draft choice.

Neither deal is as bad as, say, Barry Bonds for Chan Ho Park, but both of those deals are pretty lopsided.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by rexallllsc

My team traded Frolov and Cammalleri (Frolov is a top prospect) and ap ick for Alex Kovalev...at the trade deadline. Pretty cool if you ask me (even though I wouldnt have made the trade, the trade makes sense).

Good to hear. In the demo, a team like Montreal who was out of contention would still consider all their top players to be "untouchable" and would refuse to listen to offers. I think in my (beta) demo season, the trade deadline came and went with only two trades league-wide. Glad to hear that they may have tweaked this.

What about the "team needs" feature, are last-place teams now showing anything other than "they want veterans who can help now"?

[Honolulu_Blue]

I love Marty Lapointe. Do I love him enough to pay him $5.5 million a year? No. He has had some bad health problems. Even when healthy he's a 20 goal scorer at best. He has a ton of character and leadership. He's 10x's the player Low is. If whatever team had the money to get LaPointe and really, really wanted an upgrade at right wing, it's a good trade. I was sad to see Lapointe leave the Wings. His goal against Patrick Roy in Game 6 of the 1997 Western Conference finals is one of the ages. The shot literally tore apart Roy's catching glove. Low has played in 250 NHL games, has 3 goals, 16 assists, and 694 pims. LaPointe's salary is an albatross around the neck of any team, but I dont' see the trade as all that lopsided. Hell, if I was the GM in the game and the Bruins were offering me Lapointe for Reed Low, I just might take it. Assuming I had a butt load of cash and not much to spend it on.

[MrIllini]

Low is a slug...if the Blues could shrug him off for Lapointe, I'd jump for joy.

[Simms]

I haven't played far enough to verify this myself, but a friend of mine just mentioned to me that in the playoffs, the wrong teams are getting home-ice advantage.

eg. He's playing as the Senators and finished 1st in the East. Against the Devils in the Conference finals, New Jersey had home-ice. In the west, Dallas won the President's Trophy, but Colorado has home-ice advantage in their series.

Can anyone else confirm this?

[MrIllini]

Originally Posted by Simms

I haven't played far enough to verify this myself, but a friend of mine just mentioned to me that in the playoffs, the wrong teams are getting home-ice advantage.

eg. He's playing as the Senators and finished 1st in the East. Against the Devils in the Conference finals, New Jersey had home-ice. In the west, Dallas won the President's Trophy, but Colorado has home-ice advantage in their series.

Can anyone else confirm this?

that's a feature added to frustrate those playing in canada

enjoy!

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Simms

I haven't played far enough to verify this myself, but a friend of mine just mentioned to me that in the playoffs, the wrong teams are getting home-ice advantage.

eg. He's playing as the Senators and finished 1st in the East. Against the Devils in the Conference finals, New Jersey had home-ice. In the west, Dallas won the President's Trophy, but Colorado has home-ice advantage in their series.

Can anyone else confirm this?

I saw similar complaints over on the SI boards. Sounds like something that could/should be fixed easily with a patch.

[Anthony]

LaPointe is massively overpaid - one of the joke contracts in the NHL. He's virtually untradable. To be able to dish him off for Low (who has some skill and brings toughness) straight-up is a pretty fortunate deal for the Bruins. I can't see any real NHL team making this deal and saddling themselves with LaPointes' contract.

you must not have followed any of the trades that the Rangers made last year. they moved their overpaid players like Kovalev, Anson Carter, Nedved, etc, and didn't wind up with any franchise prospect, rather they got some guys who *could* develop into something, but mostly they aquired draft picks. even a franchise defensemen like Brian Leetch didn't bring back anyone to write home about.

Glen Sather, Rangers GM, traded away guys who were on the All-Star team at one point or another and got back some players who most likley won't develop into the guys they were traded for.

i'd be concerned if the Blues took LaPointe and weren't in the playoff hunt (were they, cuz some teams get desperate the closer they are to reaching the playoffs). but if you ask me, if i were the Blues I'd do the trade. LaPointe might be overpaid but i suspect the kid you got for him won't ever amount to much.

if every trade made "sense", it'd be no fun. sometimes some teams get raped, other times it's not so obvious who made out in a deal. if all that ever happened was only players of equal talent were traded for each other that would take a lot of the challenge out of it.

[LionsFan10]

Originally Posted by Hell Atlantic

you must not have followed any of the trades that the Rangers made last year. they moved their overpaid players like Kovalev, Anson Carter, Nedved, etc, and didn't wind up with any franchise prospect, rather they got some guys who *could* develop into something, but mostly they aquired draft picks. even a franchise defensemen like Brian Leetch didn't bring back anyone to write home about.

Glen Sather, Rangers GM, traded away guys who were on the All-Star team at one point or another and got back some players who most likley won't develop into the guys they were traded for.

i'd be concerned if the Blues took LaPointe and weren't in the playoff hunt (were they, cuz some teams get desperate the closer they are to reaching the playoffs). but if you ask me, if i were the Blues I'd do the trade. LaPointe might be overpaid but i suspect the kid you got for him won't ever amount to much.

if every trade made "sense", it'd be no fun. sometimes some teams get raped, other times it's not so obvious who made out in a deal. if all that ever happened was only players of equal talent were traded for each other that would take a lot of the challenge out of it.

Excellent point

[SirFozzie]

Love it! Guy from the SI Games board had his game marred by a full on 6v6 brawl slobberknocker.

Recaps and pics available at http://hem.passagen.se/hp96toh/ehm/

[Ajaxab]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Love it! Guy from the SI Games board had his game marred by a full on 6v6 brawl slobberknocker.

Recaps and pics available at http://hem.passagen.se/hp96toh/ehm/

That is great. Looks like they got Canadian major junior hockey right.

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by Blackadar

As for Lundqvist, there are reports flying out of the Frolunda league about he's becoming a superstar and one of the games' best players. That's how I found out about him and his ratings are easily NHL-worthy. It's one thing if he didn't have great ratings. But given the news reports (he's now on the national team, etc.), it seems like of absurd to give him up for 2 warm bodies and a 4th round draft choice.

You're forgetting one important thing though. I'm not sure this is how it's done in EHM, but in CM the ratings you see are contigent on the player's competition and the league they are in. They could take a dive. The numbers you see are not set in stone, they're not the values stored in the game. They are values that depend on your scouts, the player's competition, how he's played, and the league he is in. A 15+ player in a minor league is not a 15+ player in the NHL.

That is if it's done the way it is in CM, anyway.

[rexallllsc]

Who do I get in touch w/ re: billing issues? My card got hit twice (my fault)...

[sabotai]

I'd imagine you would contact Softwrap (the people who do the license for the game)

[Blackadar]

Originally Posted by sabotai

You're forgetting one important thing though. I'm not sure this is how it's done in EHM, but in CM the ratings you see are contigent on the player's competition and the league they are in. They could take a dive. The numbers you see are not set in stone, they're not the values stored in the game. They are values that depend on your scouts, the player's competition, how he's played, and the league he is in. A 15+ player in a minor league is not a 15+ player in the NHL.

That is if it's done the way it is in CM, anyway.

Is that the way it's done in CM? Seriously, I never noticed that...

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by Blackadar

Is that the way it's done in CM? Seriously, I never noticed that...

I'm pretty sure. I think Marc explained it in a thread not too long ago (See if I can dig it up)

[Eaglesfan27]

From what Marc said in that thread, I think he said the "form" rating is league dependent, because a guy is playing against easier competition his form might appear higher than it would in a more difficult league. However, I'm fairly sure that he said the attribute ratings do not change due to which league the player is in.

Edited to add: I've certainly never seen attribute ratings change immediately when I bring guys up into the EPL in soccer, however, I have seen their form suffer as they adjust to the higher level of competition.

[MrBug708]

I thought that was more so the form rather then the attributes

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by sabotai

I'm pretty sure. I think Marc explained it in a thread not too long ago (See if I can dig it up)

Actually, he explained it differently. The ratings are the ratings, period, once adjusted for scouts (so, yes, that part of what sabotai said is true).

So a guy with a 15 slap shot in Finalnd has as good a slap shot as a young star with 15 in the NHL, if the scouts are the same.

Where there is a difference is that there are very little things in the game (or in CM) that are based off of one rating. Shooting a puck doesn't entail just the slapshot ratings, but a whole host of other ratings, along with plenty of hidden ones as well. It's generally flaws in those other ratinsg that account for a player doing well in one lower leageu, but not so well in a higher talent league.

I remember the post you guys are talking about by Marcx Vaughan and that was the essential message. The ratings based on competition thing isn't true (in CM or here).

CR

[sabotai]

Yes, you guys are right. I can't find the thread, but I remember now Marc saying an example would be in CM where a guy who has a 20 for Crossing will always have a 20 for Crossing, but other attributes (both visible and hidden) might allow him to cross great in practice and lower leagues, but prevent him from being able to cross great in games in the upper leagues. So just because the guy has 20 in crossing does not not mean he'll always be crossing great.

[sabotai]

dola,

Here we go, the top 2 post on this thread page: http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/f...light=Crossing

[ice4277]

Originally Posted by sabotai

Yes, you guys are right. I can't find the thread, but I remember now Marc saying an example would be in CM where a guy who has a 20 for Crossing will always have a 20 for Crossing, but other attributes (both visible and hidden) might allow him to cross great in practice and lower leagues, but prevent him from being able to cross great in games in the upper leagues. So just because the guy has 20 in crossing does not not mean he'll always be crossing great.

This is correct. I can take a pretty mean PK outside in the park with a friend standing in net. Technically, it looks pretty good and is tough to stop. But put me out to take one in a World Cup Final, and I will probably poop myself before I begin my run-up.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by ice4277

...I will probably poop myself...

Let's hear more about this.

[ice4277]

I can email you some pics later if you want.

[MizzouRah]

I'm still having trouble understanding some of the nuances of this game.

Time to read some more posts over at SI.


Todd

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

On a semi-related note, what settings are people using at the beginning of a game as far as international leagues? Assuming you're playing the NHL, do you check the other countries? Standard or enhanced? The manual doesn't go into much detail and I don't want to be a.) missing out, or b.) unnecessarily slowing things down.

Bump on this, since I think it got missed the first time around. If I'm mainly looking to sim the NHL, can I turn off all the other leagues and still get things like international prospects and tournaments? Will it effect the sim speed at all?

[sabotai]

I have all leagues running on enhanced and the sim speed is good. What are you computer specs?

[Johnny93g]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Bump on this, since I think it got missed the first time around. If I'm mainly looking to sim the NHL, can I turn off all the other leagues and still get things like international prospects and tournaments? Will it effect the sim speed at all?

Ive got the NHL, and the juniors goin in mine...thats all...goes fast...the juniors are just starting, world cup, world championship, and olympics are also there, so the international tourny's will be there if you dont do a full world sim

[Maple Leafs]

Cool, thanks.

Another question: if you "delay" an offer, is anything ever supposed to happen? I've delayed a trade (so my scouts could have time to actually give an opinion on a guy who was offered to me), but I never hear anything about it again.

[sabotai]

In CM, when you delay something, it lasts for a week and then it comes back up.

[chrisj]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Cool, thanks.

Another question: if you "delay" an offer, is anything ever supposed to happen? I've delayed a trade (so my scouts could have time to actually give an opinion on a guy who was offered to me), but I never hear anything about it again.

I've done that a few times, and have had teams cancel the trade on me... might be what's happening to you?

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by sabotai

In CM, when you delay something, it lasts for a week and then it comes back up.

That's what I thought. It worked that way for a coach signing, but for the trade I never did hear back from the team. The players kept the little "bid" symbols, but the trade never happened.

Final question for tonight: is it me, or are all the "orders" you assign to a player actually assigned to the position (i.e. LW2) rather than the player (i.e. Gary Roberts). In other words, if tell Alex Mogilney that I want him to pass, float and stay out of the corners, and I tell Owen Nolan to bang and fight, and after a few games I swap them in the lineup, Mogilny thinks I want him to suddenly start dropping the gloves every night?

[druez]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

That's what I thought. It worked that way for a coach signing, but for the trade I never did hear back from the team. The players kept the little "bid" symbols, but the trade never happened.

Final question for tonight: is it me, or are all the "orders" you assign to a player actually assigned to the position (i.e. LW2) rather than the player (i.e. Gary Roberts). In other words, if tell Alex Mogilney that I want him to pass, float and stay out of the corners, and I tell Owen Nolan to bang and fight, and after a few games I swap them in the lineup, Mogilny thinks I want him to suddenly start dropping the gloves every night?

Good question. I believe it is position specific and not player specific.

[Johnny93g]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

That's what I thought. It worked that way for a coach signing, but for the trade I never did hear back from the team. The players kept the little "bid" symbols, but the trade never happened.

Final question for tonight: is it me, or are all the "orders" you assign to a player actually assigned to the position (i.e. LW2) rather than the player (i.e. Gary Roberts). In other words, if tell Alex Mogilney that I want him to pass, float and stay out of the corners, and I tell Owen Nolan to bang and fight, and after a few games I swap them in the lineup, Mogilny thinks I want him to suddenly start dropping the gloves every night?

My god I hope not.....I enjoyed watching Alex playing gritty in the playoffs, but lets leave that to Nolan, Roberts and company.....Although i wouldnt mind seeing Mogilny drop the gloves and kill Allferdsson, which im sure he'd do

[The_herd]

Ok, I'm in the 2004 draft and I won the lottery with Pittsburg, after finishing with the 2nd worst record. I get the email to start the draft and it says I'm picking second. Assuming it was just an error in the message, I go to the draft. However, I can't get it started because the "draft" button is greyed out.

Any suggestions?

[RPI-Fan]

Originally Posted by druez

Good question. I believe it is position specific and not player specific.

^
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From my experience, this is correct.

[The_herd]

NM, I'm an idiot. (as usual)

[The_herd]

Once again, I'm an idiot with this interface. Can someone tell me how to view free agents in the offseason?

[MrBug708]

Does Assistant Manager do anything? How does he help you out?

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Love it! Guy from the SI Games board had his game marred by a full on 6v6 brawl slobberknocker.

Recaps and pics available at http://hem.passagen.se/hp96toh/ehm/

This has to be my favorite part:

2 20:58 Calgary Brust 2:00 Goalie leaving crease
2 20:58 Kootenay Glass 2:00 Goalie leaving crease
2 20:58 Calgary Brust 20:00 Unknown
2 20:58 Kootenay Glass 20:00 Unknown


Picking a fight from all the way across the rink is clutch.

[Karim]

What's with the unknown penalties?

[ice4277]

Originally Posted by druez

Good question. I believe it is position specific and not player specific.

This is how it has always been in the CM series so I would assume it remains this way in NHL EHM. Maybe there is a way to give instructions to each line separately?