Hidden Gems

[thisis_markus]

Apropos a post I made in the "How is your GM mode going" thread I was wondering what previously overlooked FA steals and lower round draft snags you guys have picked up ? We all know about Julius Honka et al but is there anyone who you think no one else has found ?

I'll start with:

A young Swede called Wikstrand who starts as 54 OVR TWD and can be found in FA from the start, played on the 3rd line of my AHL team and he rose up to a 77, showing no signs of stopping there either.

Mathieu Carle - 70 OVR OFD starts in FA and despite the 3 yellow star and advancing years (he is 25, getting on for a "prospect") rose to an 80 OVR after his first season, I signed him for 1 year then got him to sign a 750k p/year deal for 6 years, a top 6 defenseman/very good depth or backup for that money is a steal imo.

Chad Ruhwedel - Got him in a trade with Buffalo 69 OVR OFD with 3 (possibly a half) yellow star potential, is now rated at 80 ovr, I suspect he will get to 82/83 or so.

Lucas Wallmark - First year draft in round 3, he is already pushing 70 OVR in his first year in the AHL.

[sportsfreak96]

Re: Hidden Gems

Thomas Narmo - 2014 draft 14th pick by buffalo went to free agency (5 green star) and was a UFA and I got him on a 2-way contract for 2 years (95 OVR in 2016)

[Yundtder]

Re: Hidden Gems

Just got one in the 2015 draft, Daniel Sprong, developed really slow but at 26 years old, he was a top 6 sniper with amazing stats.

Not from a draft, but 9/10 BEAGM's ive done, Ive grabbed Matt Nieto from the Sharks, and hes been one of the most clutch players Ive ever had in this game. Tops out at a 3rd liner, signs cheap, great stats, and always good for a big goal!
I strongly consider him a huge hidden gem in this game.

[bwiggy33]

Re: Hidden Gems

Just got one in the 2015 draft, Daniel Sprong, developed really slow but at 26 years old, he was a top 6 sniper with amazing stats.

Not from a draft, but 9/10 BEAGM's ive done, Ive grabbed Matt Nieto from the Sharks, and hes been one of the most clutch players Ive ever had in this game. Tops out at a 3rd liner, signs cheap, great stats, and always good for a big goal!
I strongly consider him a huge hidden gem in this game.

Nieto should be a dandy. He's been playing with Pav and Thornton recently in real life.

[Deekeyd]

Re: Hidden Gems

I find prospect RW Erik Karlsson in free agency turns out pretty well. 3.5 yellow star potential, 18 years old, 56 overall though but he turns into a beast, up to an 83 overall. Perfect third liner!

In drafting, I picked up D Marco Porter in the 3rd round of the 2017 draft. Turned out to be a 3 green star potential, already 68 overall at 20 years old. After one year in the AHL, he turned into an 81 overall!


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[D-MAC©®]

Re: Hidden Gems

Apropos a post I made in the "How is your GM mode going" thread I was wondering what previously overlooked FA steals and lower round draft snags you guys have picked up ? We all know about Julius Honka et al but is there anyone who you think no one else has found ?

I'll start with:

A young Swede called Wikstrand who starts as 54 OVR TWD and can be found in FA from the start, played on the 3rd line of my AHL team and he rose up to a 77, showing no signs of stopping there either.

Mathieu Carle - 70 OVR OFD starts in FA and despite the 3 yellow star and advancing years (he is 25, getting on for a "prospect") rose to an 80 OVR after his first season, I signed him for 1 year then got him to sign a 750k p/year deal for 6 years, a top 6 defenseman/very good depth or backup for that money is a steal imo.

Chad Ruhwedel - Got him in a trade with Buffalo 69 OVR OFD with 3 (possibly a half) yellow star potential, is now rated at 80 ovr, I suspect he will get to 82/83 or so.

Lucas Wallmark - First year draft in round 3, he is already pushing 70 OVR in his first year in the AHL.

He's 1 of the top Swede prospects in real life, had a great junior tournament.

I luv finding hidden gems too.
Great finds everyone, I'll be on the look out for some of these guys.

[pickle2002]

Re: Hidden Gems

Daniel Sprong 4 1/2 red star. 2015 draft, low trade value if you didn't draft him. Traded a 3 1/2 start prospect for him. Sprong turned out to be 87 overall with 99 in every shot category!

[Yundtder]

Re: Hidden Gems

Daniel Sprong 4 1/2 red star. 2015 draft, low trade value if you didn't draft him. Traded a 3 1/2 start prospect for him. Sprong turned out to be 87 overall with 99 in every shot category!

I grabbed him in the second round, now a pivot in my top 3.

Nieto is terrific! I discovered him before his call up in real life, got him in a trade as a throw in from the Sharks, I couldnt for the life of me tell you how or what trade, but a few years later he developed and was the best player on the 2nd and 3rd line I have ever used, speed, shot, clutch goals, signs cheap and long term! The perfect depth guy.

[thisis_markus]

Re: Hidden Gems

Some grand suggestions here, can't wait to try some of them out.

Another one I would like to add is Chris Summers (DFD) at Phoenix, very low trade value at the start and with one seasons worth of top line AHL time can get up to 82 - 84 and sign on very favourable terms before the end of free agency in the first year. Becomes a permanent top 4 or 6 fixture for around 2 million a year for 6 years.

[Syce]

Re: Hidden Gems

just remember folks, progression is all random.

[thisis_markus]

Re: Hidden Gems

just remember folks, progression is all random.

Whilst that may be true in some cases. There are a few mentioned here that have progressed exactly as mentioned multiple times. I can only speak for my own players though. I do feel it has something to do with the "GM Skill level" selection at the start of the game.

The only truly "random" progression I have seen is with regards to "Statistical Growth". "Natural Growth" seems to be pretty dialled in.

[Hayman19]

Re: Hidden Gems

Im not sure how the progression works, I think there is a fair bit of random. I had Kerby Rychel in 2 seperate Be a GM modes and his first 2 NHL seasons were pretty similar stats wise. In one he became a 87 OVR and the other he couldn't make it past 81 OVR.