Hello all! Some may or may not remember from when i was playing last year. I came back about 2 years ago from many years away. I thought that i'd check in with this place and see what was new. I played a bunch of leagues and struggled. I kind of figured out how to make the playoffs, but that is about it. I've had discussions privately with a few ppl on here, and tried to apply what was told to me with little improvement. I just got fed up with it and havent been on here since June or so of last year. I need to ''go back to school" so to speak and start from scratch with this game and figure out what exactly i'm doing wrong. I'm tired of trying so hard and getting no results.
I have so many questions. I know the basics that ppl have told me over, and over, and over again with the core of the team: High sh% C with high assist and 1.5 shots per game or less, High D rated checker with very low shots, then a high sh% scorer(at least 20%) that averages at least 3 shots per game.If that's correct cool, if not, what should I be doing?
My follow up with this is, how important are your D ratings with your scorer and C? Should they be over 50 or 60, or does it not matter? Can you pick someone other than Lemieux and Gretzky, and win, or is is absolutely necessary to have 1 or both? They are just so damn expensive that it makes it damn near impossible to get a decent scoring 3rd/4th line and I just don't know who to pick for my 3rd and 4th line who dont have D ratings in the single digits and it never seems to really do well for me. Is there certain players from certain seasons that always do well, other than the obvious Lemieux and Gretzky seasons? Then is there some secret to knowing who to pair with who? Should your highest assist guy automatically be matched with your highest goal guy or does that not make a difference? For example, say you pair the 90-91 Adam Oates(61 Games played 90 assists) with the 51 Goal Mike Bullard, instead of Lemieux's 85 Goal season, would Bullard over perform, or would it dud because of how different each season's were? I did a season where i paired that Oates season with the 85 goal Lemieux season and they did great together. Also, do your wingers have to be in their natural position of Left or Right in order to perform? Or does it not matter? Have you had success with certain checkers paired with certain scorers? I feel like i'm probably way off base with how to construct my lines. lol.
I also THINK i know what to do for my D men: usually go with 93 D rated Al Arbour, Ted Harris and Alex Smith. Then choose from from 80 D Faulk, 87 D Klingberg, 95 D Letang, 94 D Daughty, 90 D Byfuglien and the cheap 69 D Gostibere. I usually go with Faulk, Klingberg and Byfuglien. Is that fine or is there some other combo that seems to work? Then, is there some secret as to knowing who to pair with who? Including PP?
I won't ask any more Q's for now. I apologize for bombarding everyone with so much at once. I'm not doing good personally and having some success with this would give me something to be happy about. In 21 post-seasons, i've made the Finals just ONE time. ONE, and that was when I played the first time around. Since coming back, the farthest i've made it is the Conference finals. Twice. I'm clearly doing something wrong and i'm tired of trying so hard and failing. So if anybody wants to take me on as their "student", i am 100% all ears. Ready and eager to get serious and figure this thing out.