Fist/Agit/Intim

[Brian-Cleveland]

I have a question about how these numbers are devised. I'm sure it's been posted elsewhere but I'm too lazy to search.

I thought fisticuffs dealt with how good a player is at fighting, but seeing Zac Rinaldo and Luke Schenn with 2's and Ryan Reaves with only a 1 I'm assuming it just has to deal with the amount of fighting majors they received.

How is agitation figured? I agree with the list of guys that have a rating (maybe give Crosby and Malkin 1's because they're little shit stirrers), but where does that come from? 

The same question goes with intimidation. I'll be honest, I don't know much about McCleod, Baddock, or Gabriel, but are they more intimidating than Ryan Reaves? I think the big question is...who thinks Luke Schenn is intimidating? 

Nothing Earth shattering in this post. I've never worried about these categories in the past and I still don't really. Just bored before Game 5 tomorrow.

[Glenn-Philadelphia]

Fisticuffs deals with propensity of fights and is derived from a players fighting majors the prior year.

Agitation is a 100% soft statistic where guys that people deem to be agitators when rating them or my personal knowledge of them. These carry forward from one season to another with small adjustments possible. That is probably the least scientifically derived metric we have but it plays such a small part in the engine that IMHO, that is OK.

Intimidation is a measure of the players penalty minutes, fighting majors and hitting values.

[Owen-Moncton]

I have a thought...

It comes with a question: "what's the real-life purpose of intimidation in the NHL"? Answer, in two parts:
1. to demoralize the opponent
2. to rally your own troops, without hurting your team by making it play short-handed

I think it would be an interesting wrinkle if the game's engine could factor the impacts of a spirited dust-up into morale on both benches. Would there be any support for an idea like this?

[Glenn-Philadelphia]

The sim has a framework for tracking team vs team animosity based on game events and team history, This feature as of yet, is not fully fleshed out but the thought is exactly what you are suggesting. Big hits, injury causing hits, cheap shots, scraps all would add to this during a game and between games as well.

[Owen-Moncton]

That sounds amazing. Itll make the live game viewing experience more engaging. Cant wait for the rollout