Hardest Rebuild in 22

[kinsmen7]

Trying to go deep with a franchise. Can't seem to stay immersed this year, as the teams that I'm trying to build just seem a bit simple.

It doesn't even necessarily have to be a rebuild. Someone who potentially has cap-issues, a non-existent prospect pool, a lack of picks and limited high end talent would be ideal. Obviously that's a lot of factors in play, but I'm just looking for something tough.

Anyway, short story long, I'm just looking for a challenge, and maybe some house rules to keep it realistic.

[Instant C1a55ic]

Re: Hardest Rebuild in 22

Trying to go deep with a franchise. Can't seem to stay immersed this year, as the teams that I'm trying to build just seem a bit simple.

It doesn't even necessarily have to be a rebuild. Someone who potentially has cap-issues, a non-existent prospect pool, a lack of picks and limited high end talent would be ideal. Obviously that's a lot of factors in play, but I'm just looking for something tough.

Anyway, short story long, I'm just looking for a challenge, and maybe some house rules to keep it realistic.

Arizona

I failed, BAD. Just getting the line chem was the hardest thing for me. The most wins i got in the 10 years was 40.

[kinsmen7]

Re: Hardest Rebuild in 22

Arizona

I failed, BAD. Just getting the line chem was the hardest thing for me. The most wins i got in the 10 years was 40.

Yeah, I've done a few test franchises with them (Including moving them to the Atlantic and relocating to Quebec), and it was fairly entertaining...I just couldn't get past the amount of 1st and 2nd round picks that they've got in the upcoming draft. Insane.

Also, the last one, I couldn't get myself to the floor. Waited too long in free agency trying to only sign players who would realistically sign, and still ended up $10 or so mil shy of the cap floor (The cap jump from $81.5-$87.5 is ridiculous...).

I'm kind of torn right now between Vancouver and Philly. Played a couple of games last night post-patch and the goaltending seems to have improved a bit, which is what I was waiting for.

[JoeRodgers1175]

Re: Hardest Rebuild in 22

I always make Arizona the Houston Aeros and that roster is a dumpster fire. The first year of my current franchise I tanked and traded any NHL player with value for picks and prospects. But with all the cap space and assets, if you hit on your picks and do well in free agency and are aggressive in the trade market, you can get good in three or four seasons.

For example, even though I was out of the race both times, I traded for Dylan Larkin and Ilya Sorokin at consecutive deadlines using spare picks and prospects and the oodles of cap space. They were on my first two Cup-winning teams.

But yeah, getting to the cap floor the first couple seasons is a haul. With no ability to trade for guys on LTIR, I had to give journeymen 1-year, $10 million deals.

It’s also tough to hire decent coaches at the start because they don’t want to deal with that roster.

In general, they’re a lot of fun because they’re a blank slate. It’s even more fun if you move them to Houston or wherever. It’s almost like an expansion team.

[mal reynolds]

Re: Hardest Rebuild in 22

Never done it but San Jose strikes me as one of the tougher rebuilds, especially if you do it somewhat realistically (ie all the big contracts on D likely being unmoveable without heavy retention)

Not exactly swimming in young talent either, though they have some

[Funkycorm]

Re: Hardest Rebuild in 22

The trick is to find a middle ground team that is on the cusp of the playoffs with a few good players and some bad contracts. You don't get top picks in the draft and are forced to decide if you tear down or sign some key pieces.

The middling teams are the hardest rebuilds. They present the more difficult choices. Bottom dwellers, though fun to rebuild, become to easy when you tank from the get go.

This middle ground approach really makes you nail your scouting the first few years and find those diamonds in the rough in the middle rounds who will be key cogs for you 4-5 years down the road.

Though I mostly just sim so it is easier to wait for those players to be NHL ready.

For me, teams like Minnesota and Columbus fit this well for me.

[Instant C1a55ic]

Re: Hardest Rebuild in 22

The trick is to find a middle ground team that is on the cusp of the playoffs with a few good players and some bad contracts. You don't get top picks in the draft and are forced to decide if you tear down or sign some key pieces.

The middling teams are the hardest rebuilds. They present the more difficult choices. Bottom dwellers, though fun to rebuild, become to easy when you tank from the get go.

This middle ground approach really makes you nail your scouting the first few years and find those diamonds in the rough in the middle rounds who will be key cogs for you 4-5 years down the road.

Though I mostly just sim so it is easier to wait for those players to be NHL ready.

For me, teams like Minnesota and Columbus fit this well for me.

Not sure if Buffalo was on the cusp, but I am in year 4 with them and already got 1 Cup.

I managed to snag Nate Mackinnon in free agency during year 2, literally threw money at him. Traded Krebs for draft picks and 4th line grinders. Built a top flight D through the draft, and have decent line chem for offense and defense.

[kinsmen7]

Re: Hardest Rebuild in 22

The trick is to find a middle ground team that is on the cusp of the playoffs with a few good players and some bad contracts. You don't get top picks in the draft and are forced to decide if you tear down or sign some key pieces.

The middling teams are the hardest rebuilds. They present the more difficult choices. Bottom dwellers, though fun to rebuild, become to easy when you tank from the get go.

This middle ground approach really makes you nail your scouting the first few years and find those diamonds in the rough in the middle rounds who will be key cogs for you 4-5 years down the road.

Though I mostly just sim so it is easier to wait for those players to be NHL ready.

For me, teams like Minnesota and Columbus fit this well for me.

I ended up settling with Anaheim. Simmed to the deadline, did a bit of buying and selling (Hampus Lindholm/Rickard Rakell), so that I could set myself off for a fun offseason. I decided to set myself a budget that's within $6 mil of the floor (Jumps to $67.5 after year 1), and added a few house rules so that I don't take advantage of the CPU (ie. Can't sign top tier free agents age 26-33 in year one). They've already got a strong prospect pool, but a lot of the young guys are a couple of years away at minimum.

Minnesota would be a fun one because of those buyouts. But the cap raising to $87.5 mil is insanity...I wish it were like NBA 2k where you can adjust the cap inflation, though that would absolutely screw up the UFA pool leaving a ton of guys unsigned...

Messed around with Columbus for a bit...Patrik Laine is outstanding to play with. A ton of young guys that were NHL-ready kinda threw me off though...felt bad sending half a dozen down to the AHL.

[kinsmen7]

Re: Hardest Rebuild in 22

Not sure if Buffalo was on the cusp, but I am in year 4 with them and already got 1 Cup.

I managed to snag Nate Mackinnon in free agency during year 2, literally threw money at him. Traded Krebs for draft picks and 4th line grinders. Built a top flight D through the draft, and have decent line chem for offense and defense.

Nice! I did the World Juniors this past weekend, and Owen Power was a beast. Reminds me of a lefty version of Aaron Ekblad.

[BritishHockeyGuy]

Re: Hardest Rebuild in 22

Plenty of teams within the NHL who are in tricky spots to start a franchise with. Even the likes of Ottawa who if they don't get it right the next couple years, I can see being in some more bother. Obviously the Coyotes, Sabres, Kraken etc.

Ive just started my own franchise series with SJ Sharks, that I will be updating on reddit for now, due to not being able to post on here because of a new account. I will be posting links to my twitch where game highlights will be created to give some visual content along with the written content at the link below.

https://www.reddit.com/r/EANHLfranch...anchise_story/

[Travolterjohn]

Re: Hardest Rebuild in 22

My own Team named Alberta Capitals. Doing every year the same to create a 33st Team.

[ScottyKnowzzz]

Re: Hardest Rebuild in 22

Definitely Arizona. The true expansion team this year lol.

[webbjay82]

Re: Hardest Rebuild in 22

What do you guys think of doing Carolina Hurricanes franchise?

[poulka]

Re: Hardest Rebuild in 22

I currently am trying this with Ottawa and Arizona. May keep playing these side by side to see who has the better success. Will do monthly updates to track the progress.

[Instant C1a55ic]

Re: Hardest Rebuild in 22

I currently am trying this with Ottawa and Arizona. May keep playing these side by side to see who has the better success. Will do monthly updates to track the progress.

Good luck with Arizona. I spent 3 weeks, and 10 seasons trying to fix that dumpster fire.

After I gave up on Arizon, I did about 13 years with the Sabres. I only managed to get back to back cups in 2025-2026. No matter whom I picked up, no matter what I did to improve line chem, just couldn't manage to get more than those 2 cups. Made the Playoffs every year except my first.

I then moved on to Seattle about a week ago, and I got them a cup within 3 years. Really scrappy team with a lot of vets, and lower ovr players. Had Kane, Pacioretty, Kessel, all of whom were on the decline, but managed to sneak into the playoffs. I dont ever play a single game in the playoffs to make the team earns it, and they sure did. Every single round went 7 games.

Succeeded with the Kraken build, and just moved onto the Flyers. Gonna try and get them their first cup since 1975.