Ability and Potential

brizzle · 12-01-2018, 05:08 AM

When I look at the Edit screen of the player profile, I can see the current ability and potential of a player, presumably measured on a 0-800 scale.

Sometimes, a current player's ability is already higher than his potential. I saw this on a draft-eligible player just yesterday. What conclusion can I draw from this?

Okay, he's already passed his potential. Some players do that in real life. But when I see a player like this in-game, does that mean he will continue to improve? Will his potential be regenerated and later changed by the game to reflect this new ability?

When I see an 18-year old winger with 578 offensive potential and 616 offensive ability, what can I conclude about his skill change over the next few seasons?

Also, am I right in thinking that some players are early bloomers and some are late bloomers? Does the game have a sort of training bloom where the player improves dramatically over a shorter period of time?

It's a great game, but it's not well documented right now.

Savoie45 · 12-01-2018, 12:28 PM

I wouldn't even try to figure the ratings system, Jeff has stated it's not so black and white.

JeffR · 12-03-2018, 06:38 AM

Potential is on a 1000-point scale, actually, but in practice you won't see any higher than the 800's, since that'd mean ratings that were perfect or close to them in every category, and that's effectively impossible.

Player abilities can exceed their potential, but it's difficult to begin with and gets even more difficult the farther past they go. If you're seeing a junior-age guy like that, he's probably not going to get that much better in the skill ratings, although a guy at that age will likely still see physical and mental improvements, particularly if those categories are still lagging behind the offensive/defensive ones.

There are definitely early and late bloomers; the Aging hidden attribute has a big influence on this, but there's a random element as well. With 616/578 at 18, that guy's developed very quickly, and if that's his best category, I'd be skeptical that he'd ever get to an NHL-caliber level.

brizzle · 12-17-2018, 09:34 AM

Great answer. Thanks!

12-01-2018, 05:08 AM	#1
brizzle Bat Boy Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 3	Ability and Potential When I look at the Edit screen of the player profile, I can see the current ability and potential of a player, presumably measured on a 0-800 scale. Sometimes, a current player's ability is already higher than his potential. I saw this on a draft-eligible player just yesterday. What conclusion can I draw from this? Okay, he's already passed his potential. Some players do that in real life. But when I see a player like this in-game, does that mean he will continue to improve? Will his potential be regenerated and later changed by the game to reflect this new ability? When I see an 18-year old winger with 578 offensive potential and 616 offensive ability, what can I conclude about his skill change over the next few seasons? Also, am I right in thinking that some players are early bloomers and some are late bloomers? Does the game have a sort of training bloom where the player improves dramatically over a shorter period of time? It's a great game, but it's not well documented right now.

12-01-2018, 12:28 PM	#2
Savoie45 All Star Reserve Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Oregon Posts: 794	I wouldn't even try to figure the ratings system, Jeff has stated it's not so black and white.

12-03-2018, 06:38 AM	#3
JeffR FHM Producer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Kelowna, BC Posts: 17,425	Potential is on a 1000-point scale, actually, but in practice you won't see any higher than the 800's, since that'd mean ratings that were perfect or close to them in every category, and that's effectively impossible. Player abilities can exceed their potential, but it's difficult to begin with and gets even more difficult the farther past they go. If you're seeing a junior-age guy like that, he's probably not going to get that much better in the skill ratings, although a guy at that age will likely still see physical and mental improvements, particularly if those categories are still lagging behind the offensive/defensive ones. There are definitely early and late bloomers; the Aging hidden attribute has a big influence on this, but there's a random element as well. With 616/578 at 18, that guy's developed very quickly, and if that's his best category, I'd be skeptical that he'd ever get to an NHL-caliber level.

12-17-2018, 09:34 AM	#4
brizzle Bat Boy Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 3	Great answer. Thanks!