Yes sure, I'll try to help with what I know!
So first off, I need to thank someone I talked to via private message here. He's the one who opened my eyes about how simple the STHS is.
Here we go:
1) Salary Cap
If you feel you have a team that can win the chip, go all in or go home.
Load your salaries. Go to the upper limit. Don't leave a space.
If you are serious about winning, your cap should be just before the limit. That would mean that you have multiple star players.
Also, if you can have young star player with ELC, it's a really amazing advantage to have. I won with E.Pettersson at 925K with great stats.
2) Retain salary
When you trade with other teams, make them retain salary. Always stride for 50%. In my league, we had a maximum of 5M per year. The year I won, I was right on the limit.
It's a great tool to have.
3) Great players, make great teams
I think this one is easy to understand, but still, some GM would forget about it. The more players that are great, the more chance of winning for you.
I would suggest to a variety of players. Speedster, playmaker, goal scorer, checker, 2-way and shutdown. Same for defense. Off D, 2-way and shutdown.
4) Number one goalie
You can't win without a true number one goalie. Invest in one. You don't need the best goalie in your league, but at least one in the top 15. If your team is really strong, it'll be more easy for him. Strong goalie + strong team is a great combo.
Also, make him play the most game you can. In my league it's 70 games maximum. So that's what I did last year with mine. My backup was league minimum and not a legit number 2.
5) Season means testing
The season I won, I did some line change all 82 games. I was even doing it during the first half of the post season. You really need to find what works and what doesn't.
6) Home vs away
You control the line change when you play home. Take advantage of it. You can create a deadly top 6 to abuse the other team. When you play away, you don't get the line advantage. You should play 3 balanced line.
I'm still conflicted with this one, because I'm a 3 lines guy. But in the end, if you have 9 really good players, you won't stress about it, because you'll always have 3 really good line
. If you have 7 or 8 good players, you'll need to try stuff.
7) 4th line is useless
Your 4th line is worth nothing. Pay them the minimum salary in your league. Play them 5% each game. Don't use them anywhere else than on your 4th line.
8 ) Focus on your top 9 + top 4
You should have at least 7 players that can fit the role of a top 6. I would suggest 3x top 6 center, so you can spread them out on 3 different line. Then you'd have at least 4x top 6 winger. If the 2 other remaining winger can be middle 6, it's good, but if you can trade and retain salary for top 6, it's better. Be creative. ELC players here are useful.
For the defence, at least a legit top 4. I'd suggest spreading 3x top 4 def on 3 duos. Your best d-man on the 1st line with a top 6 d, the 2nd pair, 2x top 4, and the 3rd pair, 1x top 4 and 1x top 6. If you can get more top 4, the better. Remember, ELC or trade/retain.
9) Strat + % time
1st, 2nd and 3rd line always 30 %+. Remember, 5% on the 4th line. You don't need it.
On defence, I'd suggest, 35/35/30. The 4th pair put 2 top 4 with 0%.
PP should be 50-50 60-40 or 65-35. PK would be 50-50 or 60-40.
For the strat, I'd suggest always 0-1-4 and 0-2-3 for your top 9. You can also use 1-2-2, as a default strat, because sometimes they just work. I stop using PHY points in my strat, because the player will check anyway. The goal is to score goal. So with 3 or 4 in OFF, you'll achieve that. If you spend a point in PHY, you lose points for the OFF.
If your 3 forwards on one line have good DF stat, it might be a good idea to put 0-2-3. Same if your 3 forwards have great SK PH SC PA on one line, might be good to try 0-1-4.
If you have a good mix of everything, you can try 1-2-2.
For defence, I'd suggest 0-3-2. You want them to be active for your attack, but be responsible also. I feel 3-2 give me that.
On the PP, ALWAYS 0-0-5 or 0-1-4. Nothing else. You are on the attack with your best players. It's ALL IN.
I'd suggest the 0-0-5. For forward and defence.
On the PK I do use 1 PHY point. I'd suggest 1-4-0. For attack and defence.
You can create turnover for your team by checking them.
For the Team Wide Strategy, I'd suggest the same thing as for the forward strat.
0-2-3 and 0-1-4. Also 1-2-2 is an option. Test, test and test!!
10) The formula
To create trios and duos, always think of the STHS formula.
SK + PA + SC.
You always want a high PA as your center.
You always want a high SC as your winger.
You always want a high SK as your other winger.
Capice?
They will work together and share their skill. They will work within the formula to create goals.
ALSO!!
I'd suggest having AT LEAST one winger with a high CK. So you can have him check a lot and create turnover for your line. He should never be the center, because center get hits a lot.
For defence I try to match one off d-man with either a 2-way of shutdown.
I also try to match the SK. If my off d-man have a good SK, the other one can have a bad one. But the bad one, need at least a really good DF.
They need to complete each other. As much as your off lines.
On the PP, max out with your best players, but try to respect the formula. SK PA SC. Don't put 3 SC on the same line. Waste of time.
On the PK, SK, PA and DF are king.
Try to put your player with the best DF and SK. Forward and defence.
Ultimately, the SK is the most important stat for me. If you can skate, you can create something. It's also a primary stat. Then PH is also very important to generate offence. You should strive to acquire players with good SK and PH all the time. Then on offense you want your center with high PA. You want your winger with high SC, SK and CK.
On defence, you want them with high DF and CK.
You always want at least one d-man that has a high CK on a duo. Technically, one off d-man with the SK PH PA SC and one d-man with CK ST SK PA DF.
11) Scout
Watch what other team do in your league. Examine the winners but also the loosers. Always refer to the formula when analysing. Watch the GM that sims the game. Since he has access to the sim software, he might knows more stuff than us.
12) Draft picks
I didn't draft for three straight draft now. Not one single player. I went all in on my team, always trading for players. If you really believe you can win, sacrifice your picks for great player.
If it's time to rebuild, go all in and trade everything you can and accumulate as much pick as possible. Keep your young core.
It's either one or the other. There's no reset or in between. All in for the cup or all in for a rebuild.
13) Leadership and experience
Don't be affraid to acquire older player. LD and EX will help your team down the stretch. They are important for winning and morale. They will keep your team straight. More stability.
14) Recap
- At least 7x top 6 players spread throught 3 lines. (At least 3 top 6 centers)
- 4th line 5%
- At least 4x top 4 players spread throught 3 duos
- Legit number 1 goalie
- Max out your salary cap
- Trade for great players and make them retain salary
- Get good ELC players
- Always be testing during the season
- 0-2-3 and 0-1-4 works best to score goal and win for offence. 0-3-2 for defence
- You don't need the PHY point. Except on the PK
- Always build your team and then your lines with the formula (SK+PA+SC)
- Don't forget at least one CK player on each line and duo.
- Minimum salary for 4th liners, 13th forward, 7th def and 2nd goalie. You want to max out the top 9 + top 6 + number 1 goalie
- Acquire leadership and experience players
- Scout the other teams and their games
- All in for the chip or all in for the rebuild. No in between. Don't be affraid to trade your pick for great players.
- The more great players you can have in your team, stronger your team will be by default. You still need to manage that team thought. Formula.
15) Last word
That might not be the holy grail, but it's what I know and that's what I applied to win. Obviously, that's my point of view so I might be bias with that information. At the end of the day, you need great players, offensive strat and luck. I've won 3x game 7, including 2 OT. I joined my league in Dec 2014 and never missed the post season since 2016.
With that said, I wish you good luck and feel free to come back to this thread and discuss some more!