Everyone already knows the cons of BAGM - basically, freezing. Well, I would like to focus on its strengths and areas that could improve; I would like to increase a lot of efficiency and make the game more user-friendly. I have very little of "innovative" ideas that would make the game awesome.

First, I would like to address the Trade Menu:

For trade negotiations, I am currently able to view the CAP Space available. Well, I would like to be able to see the amount of players on the team, as well. I would be content with a simple 44/48 number--instead of seeing, "We would have too many players if this deal went through" after haggling with the computer for 5-10 minutes. This is a necessity in my mind. A plus would be if I were able to see the amount of Centers, Wingers, etc... If anything, allow me to see the specifics (# of C, RW, etc...) in the Trading Block. This raises another issue.

The trading block is kind of faulty. A lot of times, my adjustments--such as changing my Team Wants to All Draft Picks--will not save. A second issue: when I'm in the "Trade Players" Menu, I would like to be able to see that team's "Trading Block" without having to cycle back to my own trading block, search for that team's block, and then go back to the trade players menu, and then find the team that I was trading with--again. It is very inefficient and needlessly tedious.

Here's a slight innovative suggestion from me: Give the GM's of specific teams personalities. IE: The GM of the Penguins is a "Cup Contender" GM that is only focused on maintaining his stars, winning the cup, and he has more interests in veterans and mid-aged players than prospects. The Islanders' have a "Rebuilding" GM; this GM will trade for prospects and first round draft picks. He is cautious about trading away his first round pick, even at the start of the year (when it is essentially worthless in terms of "value").

Contracts:
RFA would be a blessing to this game; no more would we see Chicago losing Toews and Kane after the first season of BAGM. We won't find Crosby being a FA after the third season, etc...

RFA would also give trade value to individuals that are on their last year of their contracts, especially during the Draft when GM's just say, "We are unwilling to take on someone at the end of their contract."

Franchise players have been called for since NHL 2004...they still haven't appeared. How come I can obtain Ovechkin for 3 80-ish prospects? Superstars should only be traded if the team is financially full or the star is aged and/or approaching the end of his contract. Franchise players should rarely be traded. I don't want to make it impossible to procure amazing players, just make it a lot harder and realistic.

Renegotiating contracts in the middle/end of the year is also a necessity. This was available in NHL 2004. A lot of teams do this in the NHL (Franzen / Zetterberg for Detroit for example). It is also another way for the AI to retain their stars and franchise players.

Finally, or--as much as I can think of for now--GM Phone Trading at the Trade Deadline and Draft:

It's very annoying when the AI simply says, "This does not work for us" and the Menu cuts back to the phone and everything is reset. If the AI rejects me, sure...still "use up" one of my phones...but, allow my previous trade deal to be open when I open my other phone. IE: If I get rejected by the Islanders for asking for their 1st round pick while offering 3 players - the next phone I open should go back to that menu with the same team/players.

Or, better yet, have a third option to "Open Previous Trade Proposal."

Over all, I really like BAGM. The AI is a lot better--I can't sign an FA and immediately trade him without repercussions (other FA may not sign with me + I have a lower reputation)--and the "GM" idea is very well played. The game should definitely revisit NHL 2004's ideas slightly. I would like the AHL to have more meaning - winning the Calder Cup should be recognized somewhat. BAGM is a great game mode aside from all of the obvious glitching and freezing.

One more thing: The Stanley Cup celebration!

It has progressively become weaker with the NHL series. NHL 2004's (constant reference to this game, I know, sorry) was great: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0Cbccu7SvQ

I really like showing the stats of the team and individual players at the end of the celebration. I would like to also see a highlight accompanying that players, either a hit or a goal (some may be lame, but it's better than nothing).

Alright, that's it. I don't feel that I praised this game enough, but I really do love and enjoy BAGM. I hope more people will post feedback and criticism of this game (in a constructive way). I know I didn't even write down half of what I feel can be improved.

[EDIT] Updated 10-22

First of all...the Number 30 team in the league should not have a full-house every game! Have arena capacity filled based on your team's success. It's unrealistic to see a full-house every game.


Prospects Game and the Draft:
Does playing in the Prospects Game do anything? It doesn't seem so...

I think that playing in the Prospects Game should enable my Assistant Coach to make better judgments about scouted players. Perhaps, I could ask him to look for players that show a lot of potential, or ask him to look for players that have a high overall already. His accuracy would increase with Assistant Coach upgrades. Also, playing in the Prospects' Game would further increase the accuracy.

For the draft, why are there so many defensemen every year? Every year, at least 10/15 of the top players are defensemen, and that ratio carries even further into the draft. This is basically backwards of what the actual draft is. Less top-end defensemen and more forwards. Also, I hope Franchise Players can be Goalies, as I have yet to see one (if they can be, this rarity is OK, because Franchise Goalies should indeed be rare).

More Trade Suggestions:
As BaldBear pointed out--the Trading Block should appear during the Trade Deadline and the Draft Trade; essentially, the AI can see ours (if not, why does the AI have us upgrade our trade block?), but we do not have the same advantage. If there are teams willing to trade away their second round draft pick during the Draft Trade--I want to know.

Clarkez suggested counter proposals by the CPU as being more interactive instead of waiting one day. I definitely agree; at the very least, a counter proposal should be offered one day later, not the current three-five days. Also, the counter proposals are generally very weak, and they often do not even contain the player(s) we were trying to procure.

Resigning / Free Agents:
Another thing BaldBear pointed out was the flaw with resigning your prospects. You play them on the third line the previous year--and they grow by 5 ratings (let's say). So, they went from a 79 to an 84. Well, when you go to sign them, they'll complain about not getting enough ice time and demand more money...

The way he judges his ice-time based on his OVR skill, should be valued from the previous year, when he was a 79. Yet, there are some complications with this, obviously. You could then sign your 84 guy to a 6 year deal at only 2 million or so...That's a huge signing, especially if he has high potential. Perhaps, have these prospects lean more towards short-term deals, or make the measured value of OVR skill an in-between value (79-84 is a 81.5).

Something to look into is Clarkez's suggestion of interactive counter proposals for free agents and trading. The new feature of waiting a few days is great...but, if a player really wants to play on your team and you just barely missed giving him an adequate contract--instead of having the player respond with, "You simply did not..." and shutting down negotiations--have him open up a limited bargaining window that is interactive. Show us his price/year range and let us try to haggle.

Miscellaneous Non-Essentials (AKA, NHL 2004...):

Hot streaks anyone? Get a boost to a few attributes over a couple of days/games if your player gets on a roll. See NHL 2004.

Morale, ice-time satisfaction? This should be an additional tool to help even out the ice-time more for players we are looking to resign.

More Staff Upgrades purchasable. After my third year in BAGM (having started on Hard)--I have everything but Pro Scout fully upgraded; it will be fully upgraded after my fourth, for sure. Well, if I'm playing a 20-25 year Dynasty--and I plan to remain with one club--what am I to do with all of these extra points? Nothing. One incentive to remain with my club just went down the drain - I can no longer improve their staff quality.

Go back and borrow some more from NHL 2004; allow me to upgrade my arena, training facility, road transportation, public relations (increase fan moral?--IE: see the first idea, fan capacity). It would be nice to upgrade my lawyer and get bonus reductions to my players' contracts...

These staff upgrades would also allow you to maintain a focus on "Cup Contender," "Rebuilding," etc... franchises.

Tickets, t.v. contracts, income??? If you want to play without a salary cap, but still want some use for salary--this would be a great option. Your expenditures (player contracts) couldn't exceed your revenue...obviously.

Hopefully I can get some more feedback from other people. I know I'm not the only one with any decent ideas.

I think we all agree. You pretty much nailed it right on. I'd like to see the player's overall too in the trade menu.

Agreed on all points, especially the Cup celebrations.

I completely agree. What I'd like to see those is you know when you offer a trade and the CPU says "we might be able to work something out if you adjust your offer". How about the CPU actually offers you a Counter-Offer. Then you could haggle back and forth over the details of bigger trades. It'd be so much more fun to complete a trade if you were haggling back and forth. Not to mention that it could tie into Free Agent signings really nicely if you allowed the same setup with Contract Negotiations.

Very good - it's refreshing to see constructive criticism in its truest form. I've tagged this thread, points in this thread will be brought to dev's attention... I'll see to it.

Completely agree with you! I have always thought Dynasty mode and now BAGM is the best part of the NHL series, if they add your suggestions the game would be near perfect in my opinion.

Oh and just to take some stuff from NHL2004 that I like I would love to see the commentators mention stuff like when a player gets close to 50 goals in a season, if he breaks it, if he breaks Gretzkys record, when a rookie score his first goal and of course a little video would be there to when they get it/break the record etc.

Also, since this is a GM mode, how about giving us our office back that we can customize?

NHL Eastside Hockey Manager, all that needs to be in BE A GM is there.

Great thread.

I would like to add being able to see the Trading Block on Draft Day and Trade Deadline. Stats that go back further than 4 years (for awards as well). And how about changing how the awards are presented. I ALWAYS have a goalie win the Hart, and then a seperate goalie wins the Vezina. It seems it is all based on save percentage, when it should be combo of a lot of stats. Same with the Norris. It seems the defenseman with the highest +/- is always the winner.

And please change how a rookie in his contract year after playing on the third line (because that is where he fit as a rookie) will reject a contract renewal because they "Are unhappy with the amount of minutes they played last season". I have just started to build for the next year, and a drafted building block walks away unless I over-pay and drop my rep.

CC_SUB.stephanovich wrote:Oh and just to take some stuff from NHL2004 that I like I would love to see the commentators mention stuff like when a player gets close to 50 goals in a season, if he breaks it, if he breaks Gretzkys record, when a rookie score his first goal and of course a little video would be there to when they get it/break the record etc.

Also, since this is a GM mode, how about giving us our office back that we can customize?

Indeed, the commentators and their 50 goal comments + Gretzky's record is something I somewhat miss. Mind you, it's all aesthetic, but it made the game more "real."

The idea about a GM Office was kind of fun to play around with. It's not necessary, but it would be cool to view the trophies won by your players, the Calder Cup, and the Stanley Cup (at least, for the year you have it). All in all, this is just a fun collectible part of the game. Maybe maxing out your office would give you some sort of last-upgrade for something, eh?

cem_ea_id.BaldBeard wrote:
I would like to add being able to see the Trading Block on Draft Day and Trade Deadline. Stats that go back further than 4 years (for awards as well). And how about changing how the awards are presented. I ALWAYS have a goalie win the Hart, and then a seperate goalie wins the Vezina. It seems it is all based on save percentage, when it should be combo of a lot of stats. Same with the Norris. It seems the defenseman with the highest +/- is always the winner.

And please change how a rookie in his contract year after playing on the third line (because that is where he fit as a rookie) will reject a contract renewal because they "Are unhappy with the amount of minutes they played last season". I have just started to build for the next year, and a drafted building block walks away unless I over-pay and drop my rep.

Being able to see the Trading Block on Draft Day and the Trade Deadline was another point I forgot to mention. It is definitely needed - apparently, the AI can see our Trading Block, but we cannot view theirs.

In terms of trophies, I haven't had too many problems. I don't deny they exist, however. The Selke Trophy always goes to a third line player, it seems.

==

I would like to address the Prospects' Game. Does anyone know if there is any point in playing it? I have my Assistant Coach upgraded to max, and the players he recommends are never any good--in terms of potential and overall stats.

I think that playing in the Prospects' Game should enable my Assistant Coach to make better judgments about scouted players. Perhaps, I could ask him to look for players that show a lot of potential, or ask him to look for players that have a high overall already. His accuracy would increase with Assistant Coach upgrades. Also, playing in the Prospects' Game would further increase the accuracy.

Also, is it *Prospect's*, *Prospects*, or *Prospects'*?

I don't think playing the prospect game matters at all, I played it the first year the second year I watched it. Watching it got boring so next year I probably play it again or simulate it. I should play it though, since I have the first pick

Traded Toskala for Dallas first and they came last And Dallas asked me if I was sure I wanted to do the trade! They even sent Toskala down to Texas lol!

I added some updated info to the first post. Basically, it's just things I've read from other people + throwing out ideas that were present in NHL 2004.

ps3.VINCENTUPPERCUT wrote:

CC_SUB.stephanovich wrote:Oh and just to take some stuff from NHL2004 that I like I would love to see the commentators mention stuff like when a player gets close to 50 goals in a season, if he breaks it, if he breaks Gretzkys record, when a rookie score his first goal and of course a little video would be there to when they get it/break the record etc.

Also, since this is a GM mode, how about giving us our office back that we can customize?

Indeed, the commentators and their 50 goal comments + Gretzky's record is something I somewhat miss. Mind you, it's all aesthetic, but it made the game more "real."

The idea about a GM Office was kind of fun to play around with. It's not necessary, but it would be cool to view the trophies won by your players, the Calder Cup, and the Stanley Cup (at least, for the year you have it). All in all, this is just a fun collectible part of the game. Maybe maxing out your office would give you some sort of last-upgrade for something, eh?

Yes pure aesthetics, but it does make the game feel more polished in some ways and you have a little something to play for with a certain player........it just makes the overall game a little more enjoyable even though it isn't much.

And about the NHL 2004 upgrades......Idefinately want that back. It's the best system that has been used imo and it took a long time to get all the upgrades which made you think about what upgrades you needed when you got a point.

I think we should be able to see the players (predicted) potential before we draft them. Also have the ability to search for a player when looking to trade instead of having to go through all the teams. <--To improve on that, have the ability to search for players like Sniper/Center/83 Overall/B- Potential.