Off-Season Development

jbcraig1883 · 12-03-2012, 07:28 PM

Just posting this here after having some conversation via twitter with FHM. I was asking about off-season training and Sebastien's response was ""No effect, players are not with their teams so no training/game experience and no development in the offseason."

I am curious why this is the case. It is common, especially for younger players, to significantly prove over the course of the summer. Some guys realize how important conditioning is, some work on their shot, some skating, etc.

I know that every team has exit interviews with their players at the end of the year. The coaching staff and the GM reflect on the player's season and then tell them what their expectations of them are for the future. Sometimes, a player may be asked to improve his strength. Or a player may be asked to come into camp in shape. A young center might be asked to improve his faceoff ability. Point is, I hope that there is some level of development/progress, especially in younger players, over the course of the off-season.

Stat · 12-03-2012, 07:48 PM

I think, right now, their focus is to get FHM 13 out and ready.

But I think for future iterations, it would be kinda cool. Maybe, after the day you are eliminated, but before the draft, you can set focuses for each player. Depending on their leadership/commitment stats, how young they are, how good your trainers are, you can set what to work on. Maybe shot, playmaking, defense, or simply all around, and you would see an improvement.

It would be an interesting feature to allow you to shape your prospects development.

geckon · 12-03-2012, 08:01 PM

I agree. Inter-season training makes a big difference to (mainly) young players. If there is no between-season progress for them, when will their abilities improve? It may happen this way that there will be no point in getting young prospects since they will not show any progress.
Of course I can be mistaken.. for example they can improve only (and more) during the season. This way I would be kind of satisfied (considering it will be the first version of the game) even when it's not very realistic. In that case I would just hope to see this feature in future versions.

jbcraig1883 · 12-03-2012, 08:06 PM

I would be quite shocked if players don't improve during the off-season. Since player development is so crucial when building a team (always important but even moreso under a salary cap), it would be hard to get into a sim game when prospect development is not very realistic.

In other words, the exit interview process is something I could see down the line but to have no player progression over the summer? That would mean the guys stop doing anything after their last game and then do not skate until training camp. That does not reflect today's game or player development realistically.

geckon · 12-03-2012, 08:21 PM

About those exit interviews.. will they be in the game or not? I'm a bit confused

RchW · 12-03-2012, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcraig1883

I would be quite shocked if players don't improve during the off-season. Since player development is so crucial when building a team (always important but even moreso under a salary cap), it would be hard to get into a sim game when prospect development is not very realistic.

In other words, the exit interview process is something I could see down the line but to have no player progression over the summer? That would mean the guys stop doing anything after their last game and then do not skate until training camp. That does not reflect today's game or player development realistically.

On the bold I agree but that's only half the story. If you are looking for realism then some players will gain weight and lose condition during the off season. Some players may get a late start in their off-season program due to playing through injuries. Some may become parents (not saying that should be modeled

). Bottom line is that any off season that results in only player improvements would be completely unrealistic.

jbcraig1883 · 12-03-2012, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

On the bold I agree but that's only half the story. If you are looking for realism then some players will gain weight and lose condition during the off season. Some players may get a late start in their off-season program due to playing through injuries. Some may become parents (not saying that should be modeled

). Bottom line is that any off season that results in only player improvements would be completely unrealistic.

I agree. I think that that stat increase and decrease should happen. A particular prospect may have natural talent but no work ethic. He comes in overweight and cannot perform, causing him to have a rough season. On the other hand, a player comes into a new league for his first year, has a strong work ethic, goes and works on his strength and speed all off season comes in a much better prepared player, resulting in a better season.

geckon · 12-03-2012, 10:52 PM

Of course I agree with that as well. Maybe we should say "change" instead of "improve". Don't forget older players who may loose their form during summer (not only the older ones). Players can get injured during off-season preparations and so on.

12-03-2012, 07:28 PM	#1
jbcraig1883 Bat Boy Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 6	Off-Season Development Just posting this here after having some conversation via twitter with FHM. I was asking about off-season training and Sebastien's response was ""No effect, players are not with their teams so no training/game experience and no development in the offseason." I am curious why this is the case. It is common, especially for younger players, to significantly prove over the course of the summer. Some guys realize how important conditioning is, some work on their shot, some skating, etc. I know that every team has exit interviews with their players at the end of the year. The coaching staff and the GM reflect on the player's season and then tell them what their expectations of them are for the future. Sometimes, a player may be asked to improve his strength. Or a player may be asked to come into camp in shape. A young center might be asked to improve his faceoff ability. Point is, I hope that there is some level of development/progress, especially in younger players, over the course of the off-season.

12-03-2012, 08:06 PM	#4
jbcraig1883 Bat Boy Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 6	I would be quite shocked if players don't improve during the off-season. Since player development is so crucial when building a team (always important but even moreso under a salary cap), it would be hard to get into a sim game when prospect development is not very realistic. In other words, the exit interview process is something I could see down the line but to have no player progression over the summer? That would mean the guys stop doing anything after their last game and then do not skate until training camp. That does not reflect today's game or player development realistically. Last edited by jbcraig1883; 12-03-2012 at 08:08 PM.

12-03-2012, 07:48 PM	#2
Stat Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 39	I think, right now, their focus is to get FHM 13 out and ready. But I think for future iterations, it would be kinda cool. Maybe, after the day you are eliminated, but before the draft, you can set focuses for each player. Depending on their leadership/commitment stats, how young they are, how good your trainers are, you can set what to work on. Maybe shot, playmaking, defense, or simply all around, and you would see an improvement. It would be an interesting feature to allow you to shape your prospects development.

12-03-2012, 08:01 PM	#3
geckon Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 2,077	I agree. Inter-season training makes a big difference to (mainly) young players. If there is no between-season progress for them, when will their abilities improve? It may happen this way that there will be no point in getting young prospects since they will not show any progress. Of course I can be mistaken.. for example they can improve only (and more) during the season. This way I would be kind of satisfied (considering it will be the first version of the game) even when it's not very realistic. In that case I would just hope to see this feature in future versions.

12-03-2012, 08:21 PM	#5
geckon Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 2,077	About those exit interviews.. will they be in the game or not? I'm a bit confused

12-03-2012, 10:52 PM	#8
geckon Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 2,077	Of course I agree with that as well. Maybe we should say "change" instead of "improve". Don't forget older players who may loose their form during summer (not only the older ones). Players can get injured during off-season preparations and so on.