EHM The Blue Line

Reading all the stories and looking at records and stuff, it seems like most people sacrifice defense in order to stack up their top lines and win a lot of 5-4, 6-3 type games.

Has anyone ever tried the opposite? Building a team around solid defense and good goaltending?

I'm thinking about doing this, spending like $30 million on defense and goaltending, getting 1 true offensive star, and filling up the rest of the lines with cheap, hard checking, 2-way talent.

Any tips/ideas?

Mike Knuble! I just started playing a game as the Flyers and he's been a machine. He can put the puck in the net but he also blocks a whole lot of shots.

Defensive or two-way forwards I usually go after:

Ryan Hollweg
Jason Blake
Jed Ortmeyer
Brian Sutherby
Blair Betts
PJ Axelsson

Those are just some of the usual suspects. I'm sure there are plenty others that are slipping my mind.

I always went after Brian Rolston on EHM '05. But in this version, he's pretty impossible to pry away from the Wild. Great two-way player right there. And he can play on your top unit as well.

Every so often my Flames team seems to switch mindsets, even though the tactics remain the same. One year I'm tops in goalscoring, the next I'm middle of the pack but far-and-away the best defensive team. As long as you have versatile players, they can apparently switch back and forth whenever it suits them...

I never build offensive teams. I'm always all-out defense.

B. Stinson wrote:I never build offensive teams. I'm always all-out defense.

Can you give me (us) an example?

2 more good two way players are John Madden and Jeff Halpern.

They are quite a bit more expensive, though.

I just finished the preseason, but haven't played my first game yet. I'm satisfied (not happy) with my defense and goaltending;

Meszaros - Pronger
Redden - Aucoin
Phillips - Vaananen

Niittymaki
Emery

My only real concern is that my defense is too offensively minded. Meszaros, Aucoin, and Redden, to an extent, kind of sacrifice their defensive play for scoring, but I don't know who to trade for what .

I also managed to get Marc Staal out of New York for Schubert and Foligno, so my defense should be okay for a few years, and hopefully Niitty develops well.

My forward lines are in shambles though. I focussed so much on getting defense and the prospects I want, I have done little other than obtain Handzus. I'm gonna try to get Clark, Sutherby and maybe Clymer out of Washington. I considered Jason Blake, but I think I'd rather wait one season and grab him as a ufa.

Madden I love, but he is way too expensive. I'll try to get Scatchard instead, I view him kind of as a poor man's Madden.

Thanks for the help guys.

timmy_t wrote:

B. Stinson wrote:I never build offensive teams. I'm always all-out defense.

Can you give me (us) an example?

Not really... other than saying that I always put the most emphasis on goaltending, and then defense after that. Then I look for good two-way centers, with wingers getting whatever attention I have left over.

I don't really know how it happens, but when I've had a cup contender, my goalies were always at or very, very near the top of the league in GAA, I take home the +/- award and have 1-3 guys among the Selke nominees, but my top FWs seldom cracked top-5 in points.

I too rely on defensive minded players. I rate the checking line as the most important line (IRL as well) as IMO the difference in quality between elite and good checking line players is far greater than the difference in quality between elite and good scoring line players, especially as if you have 6 good scoring line players you have a good chance, but without all three checking line players being good you will ship goals. Also, the best checking line players tend to be had for 1-4 million per year as opposed to 4-7 million per year so it is good cap management this way.

Moreau/Hagman are often available cheap on the left, Madden at centre, and Pahlsson/Holmstrom on right is great, if Maltby, Peca, Betts, Rucchin etc are available they are good too. On a fantasy draft Lehtinen and Madden are available late on and are exceptional.

Defensive d-men are always cheap and good, Cairns is my no.1 signing every game, good enforcer, cheap, solid defensively. Regehr is available at reasonable price at day 1 and is very good, especially for his wage. The game seems to give good ratings (and therefore over time salary) to offensive d-men, leaving good defenders to get cheaper.

If you check out the "Standard Signings: Players To Target" thread I have a lot about players that are good for checking lines as I live and die by mine; my teams always roll four equal lines with two offensive lines and two defensive line matching lines. My players don't challenge Gretzky's records since even my superstars play only like 18 minutes a game. However, I win and have done so with all of my Challenge teams. Check out any of the Challenge chat threads for the recaps of my teams I've done for lots and lots more about how I put my team together and why

I'll also have even more details when I launch my upcoming project officially but more on that later

Sucker Punch wrote:I just finished the preseason, but haven't played my first game yet. I'm satisfied (not happy) with my defense and goaltending;

Meszaros - Pronger
Redden - Aucoin
Phillips - Vaananen

Niittymaki
Emery

My only real concern is that my defense is too offensively minded. Meszaros, Aucoin, and Redden, to an extent, kind of sacrifice their defensive play for scoring, but I don't know who to trade for what .

I suggest you trading Aucoin... He is too slow and too expansive for the new NHL... Väänänen should fill in the 2nd pair spot, so you should try to trade Aucoin for a talented young RD to fill your 3rd line spot... Or get some solid veteran for your 2nd pair.

By the way, i won't worry that much on the defense, but more on the goaltending...

Shadd666 wrote:
By the way, i won't worry that much on the defense, but more on the goaltending...

I know, I'm not sure what to do there. I looked high and low for a good goaltender that could be gotten reasonably, Niitty is the best I could do. I think I'll make do with him for now until I get a good drafted goaliie/grab someone as a ufa.

Are there any good goalies available at the beginning of the game?

I usually go for Toskala from San Jose, though my backup plan for my CMB Challenge team was Bryzgalov from Anaheim and he ended up winning the Vezina... going into 2007-08 he was ranked as the #6 'tender in the league in the preseason ranks. Both are also in the 1-1.5 range like Niitty. Also see if anyone has signed Ouellet... he starts as a free agent.

Niitty/Caron seems to end up as my tandem or Hasek if it is a fantasy draft. Although I have never had Niitty perform as well as his stats suggest he should. Ouellet is my other choice for a back-up, or Robert Muller (Caps prospect)

I usually go after Niitty because he doesn't take much to pry away from the Flyers. The funny thing is, in the Flyers game I started, I haven't been able to use him much. He was out for a bit during training camp, then I got about 25 or so regular season games out of him before I lost him for 4 months with a UCL tear. I've been using Esche most of the season.

bruins72 wrote:I've been using Esche most of the season.

Oh. I'm so sorry for you.

Having a strong defensive team doesnt mean you have to have a poor offensive.
You dont have to spend 30 mill on goaltending/defensemen to get a strong 2way defensive core, there are plenty of bargins out there. Just because they arent named Pronger/Lidstrom etc doesnt mean they cant be every bit as effective.
I dont understand the concept of going defense at the expense of offense, when you easily can have both in this game.

As long as every player on your team is solid in positioning/determation/work rate etc, you are all set imo.
Personally I use the 6 dman 9 forwards system and it works very well, actually it is waaaay too good but thats a different story all together. Set the forwards and defense to equal playing time and roll 3 well balanced 2 way lines and you can be very succesful in both ends of the ice.
Targeting the elite offensive players with solid defensive ratings is the easist way to go imo, that means no Semin/kessel etc on my teams, but more like Jeff Carter/Horton types. This way most players end up playing around 20 minutes per game, around 12 for those without any special teams assigments, but they dont tire out actually even with 2 intensive skills in training.
Ill use my leaf game as an exsemple, did a fantasy draft where I picked canadien players only and have followed that rule all the way in the game and still do. Won the cup and president throphy the first 6 seasons in a row and just finished the 7th regular season winning yet another preds. But the key part is my teams leads league in both goals for and against using the tactics I described.
Goals for 449 (5.47 per game), against 230 (2.8), which despite seems like a high goals against for the best team in the league, it was still the lowest in the league. Fleury isnt all that hot for me in the regular season granted, so better keeper would shave some it off, but he is money in the playoffs so doesnt matter.
Used the same 15 skaters all season and all played at leasy 68 games with lowest rating was 7.12 and highest 9.03.
Points ranged from 30 to 131 with 14 players with 44 or more points, balance is the key to this game imo, not all out attack or defense.

Hey guys,

Do any of you guys concerntrate of Defense as the main aspect of your tactics??

If so what are the best tactics to use? What players do you go for? How does it go? What offensive success do you have?

Matt

I think there already a topic long lost about defensive-minded team. I've read it a loooooong time ago. Like.. last year.

Try this thread, pal

I merged the topics.

"The best defense is the offense"

Simple as that

but the best offense is a good defense

Except when you manage the Chicago Blackhawks in EHM. Then the best defense ... is whatever the heck I have done!