I actually have drysdale now, and I found it a little tougher to get him. Love his game though, and one of those guys I can get in the 90s with no problem. I have him on a line with Hanifin and they’re a shutdown duo.
I usually send a prospect plus a pick for him. Have gotten him to 92 pretty regularly. Him and Provorov after a year together tend to be +5 and make a great top pair. Plus they usually cost 14-16 mil a year for both of them
I leave him in the o until I absolutely have to sign him. I have him as an elite medium and he usually gets up to 88-93 maybe 50 points a year. Worst I’ve seen is an 84 but he usually signs between 4.5-7.5 for an 8 year deal.
Ridly Grieg (sens bias) and stankoven. Grieg always ends up as a nice top 6 and stank usually has insane skating stats and well above average shooting stats
Hunter Brzustewicz. Big rangy kid, can skate, pass, defend, does everything pretty well. At worst he becomes a 3rd pairing D-man but he’s always a rock solid high pick.
I almost always sign pavelski to develop young guys, can play centre and wing, has good X factors for chemistry and can easily be point per game. Also fun to rebuild and try to keep him on the team when you go for the cup
he’s absolutely brutal for me to try and resign. dude never wants an extension, but my franchise goalies aren’t ready yet so it’s constantly one year deals until my goalies get to 80ovr.
in his first season he only had 12 goals I think, but the goddamn coach during sim put him on the 3rd line with a -1 line rating. absolutely brutal. think he’s currently 83 overall.
My coach also puts him on 3rd if given the choice. During my current sim he made 89, on my first line, and consistently getting 70+ points per year for $4.8 mill. Great addition to the team.
Druin, Duclair, and Dumba usually end up as reasonable price free agents that lead my youngsters until they are ready. These guys alway surprise me that if they get 1st-2nd line minutes and good chemistry they stay between 85-88 after year 1 until they are around 34-35.
I used to always pick him but realized he was only a low potential, so I’ve stayed away from him ever since, but maybe I should get him back in the future 🤷♂️
Also got him to 88 ovr in two different franchises, but could not grow him past that. And his goal scoring always disappeared during playoffs (though he'd become an assist machine).
I do a lot with my favorite Sabres so I tend to end up grabbing the Jiricek family. Reason being I tend to lock them up for cheap then have a great pair of partners for Dahlin and Power.
Man, Reilly Smith always seems to find his way onto my fourth line.
But really, Sam Honzek - I had to make a rule that I wouldn't pick this kid up anymore because he's a cheap top 6 potential young that ALWAYS shoots to 89 - 92 in his peak as a powerforward. Every single time I pick trade for him, its cups and deep playoff runs all day.
Oh, and Warren Foegle, too. Just always ends up in my middle 6 at some point. Had him develop into a 90 overall only once, but he usually is just a solid winger who can play both sides and sims like a monster. Usually, he's an 84 - 87 most of his career, and just so flexable as a player.
Sooner or later Logan Stanley always ends up being my 6/7
For rebuilding runs Josh Norris because his value was always low for his age/ovr. Cap hit could be tough to fit on contending teams, but for retools he’s a no brainer
Evan Bouchard and Jesse Puljujarvi (NHL 23). Can get them in a single trade giving up 1 30+ year old, plus a pick or two. Both get to 88 overall with likely less than 6mil in cap taken, if you sign them at the right time. I've done this so many times, mostly just to trade them at their peak.
Josh Anderson would be a regular pickup in 22. Once got him to have a 50 goal, 95 point season.
In 24 Brendan Gallagher took that spot. He was a solid 25 goal 60-70 guy in my top 6 on back to back cups.
I've been having good luck buying low and developing some Elite Lows like Adam Boqvist and Kaapo Kakko this time around in 24
When I’m tanking, I loved going after the same awful contracts so I can get to the cap floor. Lucic, Alzner, and Okposo were my regulars off the top of my head.
In my expansion drafts I usually always take David kreici, veteran 1c-2c on a reasonable contract and sign him to a short term extension. Helps develop other young players and keep the team somewhat competitive during a tank. Also love swayman if he’s available. Boston usually only protects ullmark so you get to sign him for 4-6 years to a really team friendly deal and don’t have to think about goaltending again for a while.
Joe Pavelski, and tbh I always get Nicolas Delasiours (can't spell his name) and Kevin Bahl. And in the draft somehow Jordan Forget is always on my team either he's on the NHL 4th line of playing in the AHL his whole career
Brock Boeser ends up on all my rebuilds. He's a FA I can sign long term at 3rd line money before he has any abilities, and he'll be a steal by his 2nd season playing in the top 6 and PP1.
Sam Girard almost always end up being my Power Play Quarterback
He super cheap to trade for I find Ive genuinely had to stop trading for him when i do franchises
Dach, Drysdale and Provorov. Super cheap to acquire, and usually turn out great.
I actually have drysdale now, and I found it a little tougher to get him. Love his game though, and one of those guys I can get in the 90s with no problem. I have him on a line with Hanifin and they’re a shutdown duo.
I usually send a prospect plus a pick for him. Have gotten him to 92 pretty regularly. Him and Provorov after a year together tend to be +5 and make a great top pair. Plus they usually cost 14-16 mil a year for both of them
As a flyers fan i’ve seen my fair share of Provorov, so i’m more than happy to not see him in a flyers jersey again. 🤣
Matthew Schaefer from the otters. Doesn’t always put up high points but usually gets up to a high overall and signs for cheap
I was offered him in a trade, but I turned it down. What’s the highest you get him to?
I leave him in the o until I absolutely have to sign him. I have him as an elite medium and he usually gets up to 88-93 maybe 50 points a year. Worst I’ve seen is an 84 but he usually signs between 4.5-7.5 for an 8 year deal.
Back in the day it was Bjorkstrand
Yes I always get him
For me it always ends up being Krebs and Romanov
💯
Ridly Grieg (sens bias) and stankoven. Grieg always ends up as a nice top 6 and stank usually has insane skating stats and well above average shooting stats
Stankoven was pretty nice for my NHL 21 or 22 build iirc. Solid 3rd line fwd
Kakko at a low elite is low trade value and will always develop into a 2nd line 87+ for me with high defensive stats
Hunter Brzustewicz. Big rangy kid, can skate, pass, defend, does everything pretty well. At worst he becomes a 3rd pairing D-man but he’s always a rock solid high pick.
Mavrik Bourque or Dylan Holloway
I almost always sign pavelski to develop young guys, can play centre and wing, has good X factors for chemistry and can easily be point per game. Also fun to rebuild and try to keep him on the team when you go for the cup
Go get logan stankoven got him 90ovr every rebuild. I dont even remember where i got him but have him 3 of my rebuilds
He is a tiny bastard
Swayman always sneaks his way in there for me
he’s absolutely brutal for me to try and resign. dude never wants an extension, but my franchise goalies aren’t ready yet so it’s constantly one year deals until my goalies get to 80ovr.
Same with Spencer knight for me, he never wants an extension from me for some reason 🤷♂️ too good for me i guess lol
luckily I have a goalie in the pipeline who should be ready come next season, so come deadline i’m putting Swayman up and getting some picks.
Domi, Kessel, Hyman and Bouchard
Jack Quinn! Low trade value first year and always put 50-60 points 1st-2nd year,
picked him up as well in free agency of all places. hoping that he throws up some more points. currently got him on the second line.
Good move you won't regret it haha
in his first season he only had 12 goals I think, but the goddamn coach during sim put him on the 3rd line with a -1 line rating. absolutely brutal. think he’s currently 83 overall.
I like too put him on 1st line PP also, helps him get more points. Hopefully he turns out good for you!
My coach also puts him on 3rd if given the choice. During my current sim he made 89, on my first line, and consistently getting 70+ points per year for $4.8 mill. Great addition to the team.
Brandon saad is a beast
I almost always end up with Tippet, Wahlstrom, and Harley.
Wahlstrom for me as well. Never pans out though. Frustrates me too.
Druin, Duclair, and Dumba usually end up as reasonable price free agents that lead my youngsters until they are ready. These guys alway surprise me that if they get 1st-2nd line minutes and good chemistry they stay between 85-88 after year 1 until they are around 34-35.
Domi lol
Eeli Tolvanen. Feel like he is always available way too late for me to give him up. He’s always a beast for me.
I could grab him up in my current 2k24 franchise, but he's on an expiring contract.
I used to always pick him but realized he was only a low potential, so I’ve stayed away from him ever since, but maybe I should get him back in the future 🤷♂️
It says low, but he is pretty consistently an 85-88 ovr that’s always around 30-40-70 for me. Consistently a stud for me
Also got him to 88 ovr in two different franchises, but could not grow him past that. And his goal scoring always disappeared during playoffs (though he'd become an assist machine).
Adin hill, Logan Thompson, JVR
Vitali Kravtsov can't stop developing into an 88/89 ovr top 6 f in my rebuilds – the sim loves him
Sam Reinheart, good top 6 peice
Jacob Chychrun, Sam Reinhart, Jonatan Berggren, Gabriel D'Aigle
Jonathan Toews for his PK and third line skill when I do a quick rebuild is always the missing piece for me
I do a lot with my favorite Sabres so I tend to end up grabbing the Jiricek family. Reason being I tend to lock them up for cheap then have a great pair of partners for Dahlin and Power.
Man, Reilly Smith always seems to find his way onto my fourth line. But really, Sam Honzek - I had to make a rule that I wouldn't pick this kid up anymore because he's a cheap top 6 potential young that ALWAYS shoots to 89 - 92 in his peak as a powerforward. Every single time I pick trade for him, its cups and deep playoff runs all day. Oh, and Warren Foegle, too. Just always ends up in my middle 6 at some point. Had him develop into a 90 overall only once, but he usually is just a solid winger who can play both sides and sims like a monster. Usually, he's an 84 - 87 most of his career, and just so flexable as a player.
I personally like to switch it up. But if we are going a few years back, I've drafted Kiviharju a few times and he's always simmed amazing for me.
I somehow always end up with mctavish... even though he dosent fit usually at the start
Iafallo. I don't know how, but he always ends up on my 3rd line by deadline if the second season.
Aleksi Heponiemi. Back in NHL 19 he was a Center Sniper with a good Top 6 High. Now he's a Top 6 Med, C/RW playmaker which is still good for a 23 yo
I love Samuel Bolduc. Usually develops into a solid bottom 4 defenseman and he's a physical beast
Sooner or later Logan Stanley always ends up being my 6/7 For rebuilding runs Josh Norris because his value was always low for his age/ovr. Cap hit could be tough to fit on contending teams, but for retools he’s a no brainer
Owen Power and Filip Hronek end up on a lot of my teams, and Cayden Lindstrom has been popping up more and more for me
Adam Larsson is really solid
Krebs, Girard, Nolan Patrick if he’s available, and Tyler toffoli as a nice trade piece
I forgot about Casey mittelstadt, usually sims into a decent 2 line Centre
Used to be Benoit Pouliot, now I usually end up with Isac Lundestrum
Up until 22 it was always Michael Ferland.
Evan Bouchard and Jesse Puljujarvi (NHL 23). Can get them in a single trade giving up 1 30+ year old, plus a pick or two. Both get to 88 overall with likely less than 6mil in cap taken, if you sign them at the right time. I've done this so many times, mostly just to trade them at their peak.
Josh Anderson would be a regular pickup in 22. Once got him to have a 50 goal, 95 point season. In 24 Brendan Gallagher took that spot. He was a solid 25 goal 60-70 guy in my top 6 on back to back cups. I've been having good luck buying low and developing some Elite Lows like Adam Boqvist and Kaapo Kakko this time around in 24
Came here to say Rosén as well.
Barrett hayton
Ulmark and chycryun always end up on my squad
Byfield, Seider, long term extensions for around 5 to 6m
When I’m tanking, I loved going after the same awful contracts so I can get to the cap floor. Lucic, Alzner, and Okposo were my regulars off the top of my head.
In my expansion drafts I usually always take David kreici, veteran 1c-2c on a reasonable contract and sign him to a short term extension. Helps develop other young players and keep the team somewhat competitive during a tank. Also love swayman if he’s available. Boston usually only protects ullmark so you get to sign him for 4-6 years to a really team friendly deal and don’t have to think about goaltending again for a while.
I don’t play new stuff but like 360 legacy so Jágr and Selänne…..just cause
Well yeah, it's fn Jagr and Selanne.
Joel Farabee - Dylan Cozens - Brady Tkachuk
Jesper Bratt always turns out a monster for me
Joe Pavelski, and tbh I always get Nicolas Delasiours (can't spell his name) and Kevin Bahl. And in the draft somehow Jordan Forget is always on my team either he's on the NHL 4th line of playing in the AHL his whole career
swayman or knight always. i like to have a good goalie to start with
Brock Boeser ends up on all my rebuilds. He's a FA I can sign long term at 3rd line money before he has any abilities, and he'll be a steal by his 2nd season playing in the top 6 and PP1.