Every Franchise play can be different based on circumstances (draft, trades, development, regression) that arise during play.
1) Customizable NHL/AHL Coaching Staffs at time of Expansion Team creation.
a) Select the exact strategies you want your NHL team to play and have the game generate a Head Coach that matches.
b) Select the type of coaches to fill the staff.
Repeat for AHL team.
In addition,
c) choose whether the AHL Coaching staff will focus on Player Development or Winning or a combination of the two.
2) Flexible Player Positions
Each player begins with their positions on the default or custom Rosters loaded at the creation of the mode.
The player begins with grayed out positions for Even Strength (5 on 5) C LW RW LD RD, Power Play C LW RW LD RD, Short-Handed C W LD RD, and Special (4 on 4, 3 on 3) C W LD RD.
Each position has two scales. A Color-coded position letter and a color-coded ability meter over or under the letter.
a) Position Capable - The player has played the position. Based solely on playing time. Scale from Never to Often.
b) Playing Ability - How well the player plays the position. Based solely on stats. Scale from Poorly to Excellent.
A player's position can become Inactive if not played for a certain number of team games (82, 164, 246). Inactive positions lose ability progress.
Differentiate between an Inactive position and a Never Played position
Light Gray - Inactive
Dark Gray - Never Played
Scouting implications
-Who can play multiple positions well?
-Who can play all 3 forwards positions?
-Who plays the Power Play?
-What Forwards can play the point?
-Who plays Short-Handed?
-Who plays all game situations?
-Hidden Gem or Fool's Gold? A Rarely played position having Excellent ability.
Main Positions can change over time two ways
1) Based on playing time - When majority playing time becomes a different position.
2) Develop as... - Choose to have a player develop at a specific position. That position immediately becomes the Main Position.
a) After an injury replacement
b) Midseason acquisition - this will impact every franchise play. Acquire C Jack Eichel and move Nicholas Roy to RW or Chandler Stephenson to LW?
c) a yearlong trial between 2 positions
d) after the draft - Draft the Best Player Available and move an established player or the player you just drafted to a new position
e) during Free Agency
f) The Offseason Program
3) Flexible Player Types
Changes less often than player positions but can change. A player who plays with a passer and gets a lot of shots develops into a Sniper. A playmaker who plays a defensive role for too long becomes a checker and PKer.
Skilled prospects bust and become role players. Role players who get an opportunity become more competent offensively.
4) Flexible Strategies - Emphasizes the different relationships between coaches and players. Greatly affects drafting strategy of scheme fit or best player available.
a) Players Coach-ability - Affects whether a player can change their strategies and by how much. Scale from None to All.
b) Coaches Player-Friendly - Affects whether a coach can change their strategies and by how much to suit their roster. Scale from None to All.
5) Discuss Offseason Program with each player and fully customize a plan.
-Change main position?
-Work on specific skills? Skating, Puck Skills, Shot, Faceoffs
-Focus on fitness level? Add Weight, Shed Weight, Endurance, Strength
Focus on One area, Multiple areas, or Overall and what % of the offseason for each?
Gives advantage to a GM that plans well. Gets a head start at developing position specific attributes heading into Training Camp. Player morale changes if prepared for a new main position or on the fly during camp or in-season. Trade uncooperative players. Fire uncooperative coaches.
6) Power Play Positioning - The Center is not necessarily the Net Front Presence.
In the Roster Depth Chart, select who takes the Faceoff and select the Net Front Presence. During Gameplay the Center takes the faceoff and then exchanges position with the Net Front Presence.
7) Stats
- Blocked Shots, Extended Stats, and Fights listed with the main, and on the Player's Career Totals
- Season Stats for all players who appeared in at least 1 game during the year
8) Franchise Stat Book.
-Similar to all the stats sites of hockey and other sports. Year-by-Year, Record, Playoff Performance, Best Player, Head Coaches. Click on the year and get the stats of every player with at least 1 game played that year.
In addition to a year-by-year listing, have a total Franchise Stats listing for every player who appeared in at least 1 game during the Franchise's 25 year or less history.
9) Hall of Fame for League and Team
10) Retired Jerseys
11) Captain Combinations
C, A
C, A, A
C, A, A, A
A, A
A, A, A
Each letter broken down to either All Games, Home Games Only, or Away Games Only.
