Who do you play for ?

[Joe-Adirondack]

Mike Eruzione ..........Winston Mass ......the United states of America .............one of the greatest hockey minds and coaches of all time is rolling over in his grave .....Herb Brooks ....I think its fin bull shit teams are not setting there lines ....what fun or gamesmanship is that yes I tried it one game vs Moncton and was like really not ever would I set such lines..... listen ....I only won a cup but to me a true winner a true champ doesn’t let a fuckin computer set his lines and coach his team a true hockey GM & coach takes pride in doing just that ....gentleman hockey unlike other sports is played by warriors and men who respect the game men who will bleed and die to win a silver cup so I ask you .... win as a man or win because you let the computer set your lines ? It’s your choice ....I know I won because I’m what Herb Brooks preached ..... Joe Pizzo .... Staten Island NY .....United States of America !!!!!!!

[Scott-New York]

I agree with that whole heartedly, Joe, my point in bringing up what happened when no hockey logic was used in letting the system set lines for you missed it's mark. I did it for two games just to see how lines were generated by the system and found out that despite winning both games in a lop-sided fashion, that the lines used simply are not the best use of players.

[Chris-Suffolk]

Sorry Joe, I mean, I also 100% agree with you! But, I tried to figure out the best way to set my lines too. I'm just going to let the sim set my lines for a couple games, and of course I'll go back to setting my own. After all, being the decision maker is what makes this whole creation of Glenn's what it is!!!

If guys want to go on autopilot, be disengaged, be disrespecting and rude, well...then they're the ones not getting it. I tried being a voice here and to give honest opinions for the betterment of the league. It's been ruined a bit for me. Now, I just try to be friendly with a few guys and avoid giving my opinions on the finer details of the league, because....Well, I really don't care to waste a lot of time and breathe anymore. It just seems like its the same thing time and time again. One of the Allies presents an idea that he thinks is real important. Then for a few days, the allied contingent scuttles to voice their opinions, going back and forth with a million ideas. I just wait to hear what Glenn says, then I listen. Everyone else, is like watching the News on TV....Speculation and Forced fed BS and a Forecast of speculating wind gusts.

[Jedediah-Hartford]

I'd been wondering if there would be a thread dedicated to the prevalence of auto-piloting that is spreading around.

I'm not in favor of auto-piloting as I don't think it's in the spirit of this league. We are team owners I suppose, but in reality we are owners/GMs/coaches, or at least that is my interpretation of things. It's also been my impression that we as a league try to mimick the NHL as much as possible, although there are some areas where that is much easier said than done.

With that in mind I reference Section 2, Rule 5.1 of the current NHL rulebook below,

"Eligible Players
- A team shall be composed of 20 players (18
skaters and two goalkeepers) who shall be under contract to the Club
they represent. For the purposes of these playing rules, any
reference to “player” shall refer to both skaters and goalkeepers. Any
reference to “goalkeeper” shall mean that the section of the rule is
specific to goalkeepers.
At the beginning of each game, the Manager or Coach of each
team shall list the players who shall be eligible to play in the game.
Not more than eighteen (18) skaters and two (2) goalkeepers, shall be
permitted. One non-uniformed player shall be permitted on the
players’ bench in a coaching capacity. He must be indicated on the
Roster Sheet submitted by the Coach to the Referee or Official Scorer
prior to the start of the game.
A list of names and numbers of all eligible players must be handed
to the Official Scorer before the game, and no change shall be
permitted in the list or addition thereto shall be permitted after the
commencement of the game.
Prior to the game, if an official (on-ice or off-ice) notices that a
player is in uniform but has not been included on the Official Game
Report, the Referee shall bring this to the attention of the offending
team so that the necessary correction can be made to the Official
Game Report (and no penalty is assessed). "


It seems clear that a manager/coach is required to set a 20-man lineup prior to the game. Translating that from the NHL into our game, I believe the equivalent is to set a lineup on the site before 7 pm on game days. It's very possible that not everyone will share my interpretation of this rule, and I haven't seen anything in our rulebook that requires such an action. However I do believe this is a rule worth considering to promote active ownership in the league. Moreover, I would think it doesn't look good to potential new owners coming in if they see teams on the site with no lineups looking like they're phoning it in (even if those teams are doing it for the purpose of "changing things up") for the season.

[Joe-Adirondack]

Jed well said I like the NHL RULE find ....my point is this .....from an enjoyment aspect what fun is it letting a computer be your coach ....from a HOCKEY FAN aspect why would u let a computer be your coach when we as HOCKEY FANS all think we can do it ourselves .....from a aspect of UPHOLDING values and sportsmanship that hockey unlike any other sport has why would u let a computer coach your team Another words it’s BS that it’s taking place .....there’s an old saying ...let your conscience ,be your guide !!!!

[Phil-Cornwall]

The flip side o' this, is that enough teams are generating a meaningful sample of 'what sim selected teams do' and Glennsa can gain some valuable insight that would otherwise never be available.

[Jedediah-Hartford]

Jan 16, 2018 12:03:37 GMT -5 Phil-Cornwall said:

The flip side o' this, is that enough teams are generating a meaningful sample of 'what sim selected teams do' and Glennsa can gain some valuable insight that would otherwise never be available.

I like the idea of using the autopilot as an experiment if it was during some sort of exhibition, rather than any games that matter in the standings.  In my opinion, games that count are not the place to test the sim's behavior patterns in that manner.

But if we did want to test the system out, here's a thought.  When the postseason rolls around, would it be possible to toss in a few exhibition series involving non-playoff teams to try this out?  That way it doesn't alter final standings, and therefore avoids situations where teams either miss/make playoffs, or end up with different lottery odds simply because someone went autopilot.  I'm also thinking perhaps it would be easier to learn more about the sim using non-playoff teams.  They likely have a greater disparity of talent from 1st line to 4th line, which might make patterns easier to discern as opposed to top teams whose lines might be stacked.

[Jon-Seattle]

I think I'm more in line with Phil on this one, which isn't often but I do think it is an important part of the sim by allowing you to see a different perspective on your own team. I'm personally not about to trust the sim to place my lines and chance a bunch of 10% penalties to individual players but it is an entirely different school of thought. A lot of us look at overall offense or offensive skills when slotting in our top lines but one thing the sim seems to be taking more into account is overall defense (or rather the combination of both scores). By doing this you may win more defensive "Pulses" using a winger of say Evan Rodriques talents (59-52) then Richard Paniks (81-35) despite there being a dramatic difference in their offensive overalls the computer would be more willing to substitute them if Rodrigues has the better "overall" card. This isn't the perfect example since Panik still has the edge overall but something that may end up playing a large factor if guys are seeing dramatic difference in play based on how the computer is picking the lineup.

[Joe-Adirondack]

Phil and Jon I’m not calling u both out just responding since you guys where nice enough to give your opinions .....years ago Billy Martin he was a NY Yankees manager ....picked names out of a hat to make his lineup that day he did it to shake things up he would never do it everyday because it’s asinine !!!!..... he gets paid to manage not by picking names out of a hat but by going with matchups and gut feeling on what your players can do .... using the computer to help u makeup a lineup I feel goes against the sportsmanship of the game remember hockey is the only sport that they kick the shit out of each other and yet after a playoff series shack hands and hug after it’s over ...that’s sportsmanship that’s passion for the game that’s what the sport is all’s out ....so letting a computer pick your lines really it’s come to that ......i wish Glenn would do away with teans doing this !!!!!

[Chris-Alaska]

Jan 17, 2018 9:37:16 GMT -5 Joe-Adirondack said:

Phil and Jon I’m not calling u both out just responding since you guys where nice enough to give your opinions .....years ago Billy Martin he was a NY Yankees manager ....picked names out of a hat to make his lineup that day he did it to shake things up he would never do it everyday because it’s asinine !!!!..... he gets paid to manage not by picking names out of a hat but by going with matchups and gut feeling on what your players can do .... using the computer to help u makeup a lineup I feel goes against the sportsmanship of the game remember hockey is the only sport that they kick the shit out of each other and yet after a playoff series shack hands and hug after it’s over ...that’s sportsmanship that’s passion for the game that’s what the sport is all’s out ....so letting a computer pick your lines really it’s come to that ......i wish Glenn would do away with teans doing this !!!!!

Think your onto something...how about making those lineups random rather than slotting in best players and giving 10% penalty. Takes this test theory out if equation.

[Joe-Adirondack]

I feel like I’m shoveling shit against the tide .... there should be no test set your lineup or we find owners who want too it’s that simple why is this even a conversation ?

[Jon-Seattle]

I’m more in agreement with you Joe and it’s why I don’t plan on letting the computer set my lineup. That said hockey is the one sport where guys are consistently being tried on different lines and can move up and down the lineup without missing much game time or be pulled quite often. Letting the computer assign the lineup let’s you try a slightly different line combo. It’s not anything ridiculous as it’s just overall grade whereas, and don’t take this the wrong way, but an owner like Owen may try and arrange his lines so that passing and scoring opportunities are of higher importance to him then overall, or someone may choose to play a defensive guy more in Linz with his fortitude than actual defensive overall. It’s just a change up in the lineup. When it comes down to it I think guys will see it’s better to set their own lines but let them try it out, ain’t no harm coming from it.