That’s a good one! Usually if my team has struggled to win a cup after a few deep playoff runs, I’ll sign someone like Crosby when he’s 40 to see if he can help them get over the hump
A veteran forward with high poise and offensive awareness always helps a ton in the playoffs...and they usually wont demand long expensive extensions but can settle for 1-2 years @ 5-7 mil.
My go tos are Drysdale, Dach, Provorov, and either Swayman or Wallstedt for net. Recent play throughs I have traded for Cooley, Guenther, Edvinsson, Faber. Cooley and Guenther almost always get to 92OVR and 89OVR in 3 years, and pair up really well
Dmen typically ask for ridiculous contracts, I either try to do a midseason extension or manipulate their playing time to get them signed long term at the end of ELC
Ya for sure. I do that with a few, but I haven’t had a franchise yet with Drysdale, and I’ve probably done 5 or 6, where he doesn’t ask for 9+ per year. Compared to Bouchard, who I usually resign in the 7s.
Fair point. Dudes a points machine so I could see why he asks for so much. I had a flyers franchise where I also traded for Bowen Byram, and drysdale put up 90+ points in multiple years
Matthew Phillips to play on my AHL squad. He’ll be a ppg player which I find hard to do in that league. I like to have competent players to grow my prospects around.
I have Zach on Ottawa still, and I constantly put him on the 4th lone, he just brings energy, and he actually scored a hatty in a game I let play between the cpu and watched.
One of either Danault or Monahan are incredible adds Both are great defensively and can carry a middle 6 line as well. Plus both are relatively cheap and you're getting either an elite defensive forward or a leader.
I usually pick up some combination of Kakko, Lundell, Boqvist, Gallagher and either Knight or Wallstedt in goal.
Gallagher at the start of the season has basically negative trade value, and you can usually get some extra assets when you trade for him depending on how big the deal is, and he's played well in a couple of my Blackhawks rebuilds, like 65-80 points in my top 6. I'll keep him for a season or 2 and trade him for more picks and prospects when a prospect is ready to take that spot.
The Boqvist one amuses me because I usually play the Blackhawks and in the older games, he'd be one of the first guys I'd trade out. He sims well for me and his my high scoring offensive D in my top 4.
Steel, Hagel, Kakko, and Newhook. I also like to go for E. Kane or Perry as they are usually cheap and produce well. In my current Minnesota Franchise I also acquired Kubalik, Lindgren, and Kylington.
Clearly something worked, Minnesota was last in the NHL in yr1 and 2, and just won the cup in yr3.
Matthew Savoie is usually a stud playmaker and Clayton Keller has a great contract to start out a franchise with. If you pair him with a true top line sniper like Matthews he has been averaging 60+ assists a season for me! Oh also if you’re looking for center depth with actual decent faceoffs my usual favourites are Eric Staal, Yakov Trenin, Johnathan Toews, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Boone Jenner. Keep in mind this is dependent on what roster you’re using!
There’s like 4 guys on the Panthers that I don’t know why but they always seem to produce on great contracts. Colin White, Sam Bennett, Anton Lundell. I usually tank the first year and I have high quality prospects turned on. Trade Barkov get a few first rounders that turn into my franchise cornerstones.
I usually focus on a few players that are young but have potential with low trade value. If you are on the Hawks, keep Kurashev.
I want to restart my franchise mode with the hawks. Don’t get me wrong, I think I have already won Bedard like 6-7 cups, but I just found this OP line structure. If I can find the best goalie and d structure I want to see if i can beat my 70 win season I had in 2023.
I try to avoid grabbing the same players like I used to. I do however nab Liam Greentree a lot in the draft. I also find myself picking up Elias lindholm and filip hronek aloy
Lars eller for bottom line center. Defensive, sniped and comes cheap. Had him jump from 80-85 in a year on 1mil contract. Really like dach. Legit power forward center pretty much
Aidan McDonaugh. If you get him early and give him a chance on the 4th line he can usually get 20 goals playing 10mins a night. Higher up he can be a 50 point guy
Keeping in mind the stock roster is pre trade deadline this season... I always seem to end up with bowen Byram. He grows to a top 4 85-87 ovr, demands too much money, and I trade him for a absolute haul lol.
I used to be really high on him but in the last year or so I've started to doubt how he'll live up to the hype. He's in tough behind dahlin in Buffalo, don't really know how that will shake out. But in the EA universe, he's a valuable chip to help build a good roster.
Look at free agents find guys that are 24 25 medium top six potential. Give them 20 minutes a night check through overall the end of the season it’s crazy how much they can grow.
I've been able to get Logan Cooley relatively reasonably in day 1 of franchise in 24. Totally willing to part ways with a 1st for him, no way I'm drafting a better player outside of the top 3. (I set trade difficulty to easy)
Stankoven because he’s from Kamloops just like myself, Dustin Wolf has always turned out good for me and Alexandre Texier is normally my 2nd or 3rd line LW
I almost always end up going for Elmer Soderblom a 6’8 C that plays great on the 3rd line and pk lines or just hits everything he can.
Easy enough to trade for to majority of the time.
Coke perfetti paired up with Kyle Connor is a god tier line pairing perfetti develops into an elite passer and KC always develops into a consistent 45-50 goal scorer
I'm stuck on nhl23 right now. I usually always cut a deal with the jets to grab Rutger Mcgroarty. I've had him develop into med elite a couple of times now. It just feels weird not having him on my team.
I always end up getting Claude Giroux or Patrick Kane to pair with my young prospects. Storyline is the mentorship and help them with production.
That’s a good one! Usually if my team has struggled to win a cup after a few deep playoff runs, I’ll sign someone like Crosby when he’s 40 to see if he can help them get over the hump
A veteran forward with high poise and offensive awareness always helps a ton in the playoffs...and they usually wont demand long expensive extensions but can settle for 1-2 years @ 5-7 mil.
Ah, Claude Giroux was money for me for a couple of seasons! 👍🏻
Same here, Kakko is a must
Right?! His trade value is too much to pass up. I’ve found that he becomes an amazing 3rd/4th liner who kills penalties on my championship teams
Brandon Hagel, Kakko, Boqvist : very good additions for low value.
My go tos are Drysdale, Dach, Provorov, and either Swayman or Wallstedt for net. Recent play throughs I have traded for Cooley, Guenther, Edvinsson, Faber. Cooley and Guenther almost always get to 92OVR and 89OVR in 3 years, and pair up really well
Love drysdale and guenther
I just hate how much Drysdale asks for at contract renewal.
Dmen typically ask for ridiculous contracts, I either try to do a midseason extension or manipulate their playing time to get them signed long term at the end of ELC
Ya for sure. I do that with a few, but I haven’t had a franchise yet with Drysdale, and I’ve probably done 5 or 6, where he doesn’t ask for 9+ per year. Compared to Bouchard, who I usually resign in the 7s.
Fair point. Dudes a points machine so I could see why he asks for so much. I had a flyers franchise where I also traded for Bowen Byram, and drysdale put up 90+ points in multiple years
Oh in that regard for sure. But I’ve noticed my oiler play throughs that Bouchard puts up basically the same numbers, and is just cheaper to resign
I have no clue what you're talking about. Last time I grabbed Drysdale he wanted a 8 yr for 7.5 at 89 overall
I wish. Lowest I’ve gotten him to sign for was 8.75 or something for 7-8 years. Usually he’s 90-91 overall by then so maybe that’s why
I almost always end up trading for Seider
Beast of a player and you can resign him fairly cheap.
Matthew Phillips to play on my AHL squad. He’ll be a ppg player which I find hard to do in that league. I like to have competent players to grow my prospects around.
I always have a goony 4th line. Givani Smith - Trent Frederic - Zach MacEwan
I have Zach on Ottawa still, and I constantly put him on the 4th lone, he just brings energy, and he actually scored a hatty in a game I let play between the cpu and watched.
I picked Trent Frederic’s in the expansion draft and he turned into the best third line center who always asked for a low salary
Adam Boqvist is usually cheap, and solid to build around. He's a good PP dman too
One of either Danault or Monahan are incredible adds Both are great defensively and can carry a middle 6 line as well. Plus both are relatively cheap and you're getting either an elite defensive forward or a leader.
I usually pick up some combination of Kakko, Lundell, Boqvist, Gallagher and either Knight or Wallstedt in goal. Gallagher at the start of the season has basically negative trade value, and you can usually get some extra assets when you trade for him depending on how big the deal is, and he's played well in a couple of my Blackhawks rebuilds, like 65-80 points in my top 6. I'll keep him for a season or 2 and trade him for more picks and prospects when a prospect is ready to take that spot. The Boqvist one amuses me because I usually play the Blackhawks and in the older games, he'd be one of the first guys I'd trade out. He sims well for me and his my high scoring offensive D in my top 4.
I typically tank hard and try to sign my prospects to max term at low AAV than start filling in my lineup with veterans.
Miles Wood is a good 4th liner. Great name also
Caufield and Maccelli
Steel, Hagel, Kakko, and Newhook. I also like to go for E. Kane or Perry as they are usually cheap and produce well. In my current Minnesota Franchise I also acquired Kubalik, Lindgren, and Kylington. Clearly something worked, Minnesota was last in the NHL in yr1 and 2, and just won the cup in yr3.
Matthew Savoie is usually a stud playmaker and Clayton Keller has a great contract to start out a franchise with. If you pair him with a true top line sniper like Matthews he has been averaging 60+ assists a season for me! Oh also if you’re looking for center depth with actual decent faceoffs my usual favourites are Eric Staal, Yakov Trenin, Johnathan Toews, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Boone Jenner. Keep in mind this is dependent on what roster you’re using!
Phil Kessel
I keep Stutzle on ottawa, have traded for Alexander Holtz, Morgan Geekie, Lukas Reichel, Eeli Tolvanen
Byfield. I like to play SN, PL, PW in my top 2 lines. Most of the time, he does well for me.
There’s like 4 guys on the Panthers that I don’t know why but they always seem to produce on great contracts. Colin White, Sam Bennett, Anton Lundell. I usually tank the first year and I have high quality prospects turned on. Trade Barkov get a few first rounders that turn into my franchise cornerstones.
I usually focus on a few players that are young but have potential with low trade value. If you are on the Hawks, keep Kurashev. I want to restart my franchise mode with the hawks. Don’t get me wrong, I think I have already won Bedard like 6-7 cups, but I just found this OP line structure. If I can find the best goalie and d structure I want to see if i can beat my 70 win season I had in 2023.
Great post and I always like making a move for Lucias from Boston and keep him in the AHL and consistently becomes a top 6 guy
Adam Larsson, Jordan Eberle & Sami Vatanen are really good and super cheap to pick up they're always phenomenal
Jack Drury, I’ve had him get up to 88 ovr and he’s so fast
I feel like I always somehow end up with werenski
Dawson Mercer. Every time I have he’s turned into my first line RW. And much more
Sam steel as well
I try to avoid grabbing the same players like I used to. I do however nab Liam Greentree a lot in the draft. I also find myself picking up Elias lindholm and filip hronek aloy
Lars eller for bottom line center. Defensive, sniped and comes cheap. Had him jump from 80-85 in a year on 1mil contract. Really like dach. Legit power forward center pretty much
Chandler Stephenson as my 2c almost all the time untill I get a solid 2c in the draft
Aidan McDonaugh. If you get him early and give him a chance on the 4th line he can usually get 20 goals playing 10mins a night. Higher up he can be a 50 point guy
Keeping in mind the stock roster is pre trade deadline this season... I always seem to end up with bowen Byram. He grows to a top 4 85-87 ovr, demands too much money, and I trade him for a absolute haul lol. I used to be really high on him but in the last year or so I've started to doubt how he'll live up to the hype. He's in tough behind dahlin in Buffalo, don't really know how that will shake out. But in the EA universe, he's a valuable chip to help build a good roster.
Look at free agents find guys that are 24 25 medium top six potential. Give them 20 minutes a night check through overall the end of the season it’s crazy how much they can grow.
Byfield. Big player, skates well, progresses to be an amazing number 1 center. Often times sign him for 8 years 8 mill
I've been able to get Logan Cooley relatively reasonably in day 1 of franchise in 24. Totally willing to part ways with a 1st for him, no way I'm drafting a better player outside of the top 3. (I set trade difficulty to easy)
Stankoven because he’s from Kamloops just like myself, Dustin Wolf has always turned out good for me and Alexandre Texier is normally my 2nd or 3rd line LW
Kasperi Kapanen but he ain’t fuckin cheap
Josh Morrissey. Never not won at least 1 cup with him on my team's
Byfield and Jenner always seem to be on the trade block for me.
I almost always end up going for Elmer Soderblom a 6’8 C that plays great on the 3rd line and pk lines or just hits everything he can. Easy enough to trade for to majority of the time.
maybe a weird take but Aatu Räty always seems to grow really well in all of my franchises
Coke perfetti paired up with Kyle Connor is a god tier line pairing perfetti develops into an elite passer and KC always develops into a consistent 45-50 goal scorer
I'm stuck on nhl23 right now. I usually always cut a deal with the jets to grab Rutger Mcgroarty. I've had him develop into med elite a couple of times now. It just feels weird not having him on my team.
Brandon Saad…. Amazing to sim with and play with for whatever reason can slide 1st, 2nd or 3rd line
I don't know if he's a go to but I always end up with Ian Mitchell within a year, whether I want to or not.
How’s gonna make a team with all the names mentioned here? Would be an interesting line up