Dude, welcome to the joys of an expansion team.
Playing scissors/paper/rock with the team strategies is GOING to get you killed.
I have my Slot Offense trained up to Level 6 specifically because everybody BUT Probie (pretty much) plays a collapsing defense (he gets my Level 5 crash the net offense special for him).
By all means though, PLEASE play your Level 2 or 3 slot defense against me. I'm going to run you over anyhow.
We've got 15 of the original owners still active. We've been at this awhile. By investing in training and scouting, and having 4 1/2 seasons plus four offseasons to do it, we've all got a head start on you.
At Level 8 Training and Scouting, I gain 100 points in team strategy (plus 25 points in the ones I'm NOT practicing) for every hour I practice them. That **** didn't happen for me in season one either. But I'm not playing Season 1, I, and the other 14 original owners are playing Season 5. Give yourself a chance to catch up, and make a list of who you need to take revenge on when you do.
You, Gregos and Finnski are making more money than we did in Season 1, because Pitty raised the TV contract. But still, you're playing season one for your franchise, we're getting the same TV money now, on top of whatever dividends the investments we made in the 1st four seasons pay.
DON'T auto set you lines, set them yourself. Your worst idea will be better than the best the AI can come up with.
And I'd train up ONE each of Offense, defense and power play strategy to a competitive level.