EHM The Blue Line

Do you think it is worth sacrificing one of the big-guns for a decent rookie (such as Crosbie or Svatos)? Modano has got 13 goals in 34 games, -1 and has a rating of 7.5. Zubov has 16 assists and four goals and a rating of 7.2. But we are languishing in lower mid-table. Should I be brave and take risks, or just focus on changing tactics around etc?

I'd almost bet that you couldn't pry Crosby away with Modano no matter how you tried. If you can do that though it's more than worth it. Just compare the wages of the players, the ages of the players, and the skills of the players. For significantly less money you'll get atleast as good player as Modano is, who will in time get better (and perhaps more expensive of course), wont be retiring in the next few years or so, and on top of that, you'll get that money to spend on other positions.

That said, the only real loss in that trade would be in leadership.

Early on no (almost) price is too high for Crosby .

Yeah, you're right. Modano is my top scorer with a measly 13 goals. That is not good enough for any team.

THis is getting hard to take now. I seem not to be able to do anything tactically when the game begins to go wrong for me. Of the elevn games that we have been trailing after the first period, we have lost nine. WE have lost thirteen out of fifteen games when we have been trailing after two. Needless to sya, comebacks are not our especiallity. What do you do when it all goes wrong on the ice? Change up the lines, fiddle with tactics? Do you play to your ooponents weaknesses or to your strengths?

just simmed my way to a miserable 4-1 defeat at the Coyotes. I think i'll resign

I prefer studying my teams strenghts and weaknesses and building the tactics according to that. If some player seems out of place, I strive to replace him with someone better suited for my plans as soon as possible. Once I've set those up, I start building up line chemistry by testing what works and what doesn't. The only rule of thumb I keep in that is that I try to keep 2 of my best players in the 1st line, the third isn't that important and it's not bad idea to divide the talent between lines anyway.

That said, I never tweak the tactics at all once I've set them right. I do however change the lines according to performance, condition, chemistry...the usual. And I never play a goalie after a performance below 6. 6 is still somewhat acceptable, anything below that isn't. I try to do the same with players who have very low morale. Sometimes that's not possible to do, especially when the injuries kick in and you're already using backups and the ones you have left are scrubs who aren't ready to even watch the games from the stands yet.

Oh and I also coach the games myself nowadays. Late in the periods some guys could get tired and it's good to move them back in the lineup atleast temporarily as it does you no good if your best guys are exhausted, better to use slightly worse players who are in good condition.

If I'm on an incredible loseing streak then I usually just let my coach choose tactics lines, rosters etc for a few games. If he does an esspecially good job, I let him stay on till it stops working.

I let the head coach take over for a while. After a dodgy start we clawed our way back a bit, and have just recorded a shock away win at division topping LA, 4-1. I meanwhile am busy getting some new players in. The board have indicated that my neck is on the line...

Is this trade negotiation worth it-I'm putting it to you guys!
I would get-Marian Hossa (58 games, 24 goals, 19 assists, 7.47 rating)

I would give the Thrashers-Zubov, the rights to James Neal (54, 19, 29, 7.33) and 2006 4th rd pick, 3rd round pick and 7th round pick

That depends entirely on the depth of your defense right now. There's absolutely no point in creating a huge hole in defense just to fill up one in offense. As for otherwise, Zubov is aging and wont have that many seasons left in him before retirement, whereas Hossa is still relatively young. As for otherwise, are you sure you can afford one guy taking that much in salary? I mean Modano isn't exactly cheap either, nor is Lehtinen or Turco...

Yeah, I know. I kinda want to build up a new team with more youthful players. The problem is it takes a season of redevelopment to do this and i know the board won't accept that. The Wild have rebuilt in the same game I'm talking about and are languishing at the bottom of the Conference.
I will post some screenshots up if imageshack will let me.

Personally I say rebuild... usually asking the Board for more time can buy you the room you need to get things turned around. While they might get with you about it usually their bark is far worse than their bite. Unless things really go in the tank and you win like 12 games you can most likely avoid getting the axe before things come around...

As for screenshots, see the sticky thread in the TBL Announcements and Feedback Forum regarding use of the new Gallery system for more details. As a TBL user you have your own Gallery, no need to mess with Imageshack

Missed out on the play-offs and got fired. Gutted, as I had done a lot of work scouting for the draft that has now gone to waste. Will start again aome time.