What simulating style do you all use?

[skunt3m]

I want to play in a responsive NHL sandbox too. If I set Ovechkin to max backchecking and tell him to be a shadow I want that reflected in his output. My favourite thing to do in these types of games is create weird players or assemble broken teams and set them loose.

Over the past 10 years, only 1 player has scored over 60 goals in the NHL. Auston Matthews was on pace for around 60 last season.

Over that same span only 5 players have seasons of over 50 goals (Ovechkin is the only player to do it more than once). If we include players on pace for over 50 over the past 2 seasons, we only add 2 names to the list (Auston Matthews, who might have done it twice, and David Pastrnak). 10 years, different coaches, different linemates, etc.

Meanwhile, three of us in this thread are reporting 70 goal seasons - and I assume we are all playing using the default setting for leaguewide scoring (5.94 goals/game). 70 goals in today's scoring environment would be the first or second best goalscoring season in history. Shouldn't that be rarer? For me, it (along with the problems with shots and assists) seems implausible and spoils some of the fun. I want to START within the bounds of reality (however close you can get in a fantasy hockey game) and then diverge from there.

[AdequateRandomGaming]

Originally Posted by skunt3m

I want to play in a responsive NHL sandbox too. If I set Ovechkin to max backchecking and tell him to be a shadow I want that reflected in his output. My favourite thing to do in these types of games is create weird players or assemble broken teams and set them loose.

Over the past 10 years, only 1 player has scored over 60 goals in the NHL. Auston Matthews was on pace for around 60 last season.

Over that same span only 5 players have seasons of over 50 goals (Ovechkin is the only player to do it more than once). If we include players on pace for over 50 over the past 2 seasons, we only add 2 names to the list (Auston Matthews, who might have done it twice, and David Pastrnak). 10 years, different coaches, different linemates, etc.

Meanwhile, three of us in this thread are reporting 70 goal seasons - and I assume we are all playing using the default setting for leaguewide scoring (5.94 goals/game). 70 goals in today's scoring environment would be the first or second best goalscoring season in history. Shouldn't that be rarer? For me, it (along with the problems with shots and assists) seems implausible and spoils some of the fun. I want to START within the bounds of reality (however close you can get in a fantasy hockey game) and then diverge from there.

I think you touched on the subject already and answered your own questions. The problem is not with league totals, but how the stats are distributed. It's very top heavy.

[#4BobbyOrr]

I have reverted back to using classic for all games. Using 2D with McDavid on my team and he broke Gretzkys regular season goal record and hit 90+ goals twice, always scoring at about a 10 goal to 7 assist ratio.

[renojedi]

Skunt3m, if you get a chance, I'd love to hear your thoughts on how well the new update addressed the things you mentioned in this post. Jeff said in his test game that the league leading scorer tallied 60 goals in his test game. Not perfect but much better than 70, 80, or even 90 some saw.

[skunt3m]

Originally Posted by renojedi

Skunt3m, if you get a chance, I'd love to hear your thoughts on how well the new update addressed the things you mentioned in this post. Jeff said in his test game that the league leading scorer tallied 60 goals in his test game. Not perfect but much better than 70, 80, or even 90 some saw.

Hey reno,

I let a brand new test game run through 23-24 with the latest patch yesterday. G/G is set slightly higher in this version - 6.1 vs 5.94. The usual culprits are still scoring a lot. I didn't do as detailed an analysis but from a bird's eye view things seem similar.

[renojedi]

Thanks for doing this! It looks like the numbers actual increased post patch across the top categories which is unfortunate. Maybe I'll set it to 2D for my team and classic for everyone else. I don't have one of the big names on my team so maybe season numbers will look at least a little better than with the 2D simulator. I'd do classic for my team too but I play out every game (key events only except for the playoffs) so I don't want to give that up especially with line changes being added.

[skunt3m]

Originally Posted by renojedi

Thanks for doing this! It looks like the numbers actual increased post patch across the top categories which is unfortunate. Maybe I'll set it to 2D for my team and classic for everyone else. I don't have one of the big names on my team so maybe season numbers will look at least a little better than with the 2D simulator. I'd do classic for my team too but I play out every game (key events only except for the playoffs) so I don't want to give that up especially with line changes being added.

I feel you, it is tough to give up on 2D. Your compromise will definitely quash the goal a game seasons but it would be nice to have the whole league on the same playing field (2D has fewer PIMs/PPGs, for example), especially once you get some elite guys on your team.

If a developer is reading, any thoughts on the discussion in this thread? There was a range of opinion re: high goal numbers. Are adjustments on the horizon or is the team satisfied with the state of the sim?