NHL 24 Franchise Mode Career

[JurassicPuck]

And We’re Back! Unlike the Minnesota Franchise I had, this one is a lot more rule heavy and I’ve got multiple different spreadsheets keeping track of a million different things. Hopefully it keeps this franchise mode more interesting.

Here’s a layout of the general rules to start:

Player Morale
If a Player’s Morale lowers his overall, he must be traded immediately. If he has a NTC, treat it like it is the last year of his contract

Signing Free Agents

• Can only change contract length by +1 or -1
• If length is changed, you must offer the asking price or lower
• One “Major” (aka 77+ OVR) signing allowed for each position (F,D,G). One Free slot allowed per year. Free Slot is not transferable to following year if not used

Scouting Staff
3 Amateur Scouts allowed (1 CHL, 1 USA, 1 Europe)
Allowed 1 Amateur Scout signing every offseason
Can hire more scouts if drafting goals are met:

(Apply only to picks outside the 1st round)
Select Med Top 6 F / Med Top 4 D - 1 Scout for League player played in
Select Med Elite Goalie - Hire Scout with best goalie attributes
Select Low Elite - Hire Scout with the highest “Prospect Discovery” Rating
Select Anything Better - 1 Scout for League player played in + 1 Free Scout Hiring

Can also lose Scouts for Poor Drafting:
(Apply to ALL picks)
No Players above Med Top 6 F / Med Top 4 D - Fire 1 Scout
Poor 1st Round Selection (Player within 5 picks after clearly better) - Fire Best Scout
No Players above 65 OVR - Fire 1 Scout
Poor Selection (Player within 5 picks after clearly better) - Fire 1 Scout

Trading

• Trade has to make sense for the AI, can't abuse broken values. Basically, if I wouldn't take that trade as the other GM, I can't do it.
• Can only trade away picks from next three years
• Cannot trade Free Agent Signings until last two years of contract
• Can only acquire one AI draft pick per trade, unless the AI offers the trade. (Exception for Superstar Trades)
• You are allowed THREE chances on trades. The first initial offer to see how interested they are, and then the second and third / final offer to get the deal done. If final offer is turned down, you can not try again with those players until next year

Drafting

• Can only trade up once, can only trade down once
• Must pick one of each forward position, two defenseman and a goalie
• When trading down in the draft, you can only use Trade Finder to accept offers. You cannot make a manual trade. (This simulates reality better since not every team will actually want to trade up into your spot)

Contract Negotiations
UFA’S
WANTS Extension
Can be signed during Re-Sign Phase.
Can only Modify contract length by +1 or -1

DOESN’T WANT Extension
Must let player go to Free Agency.
Can still be signed during Free Agency

RFA’S
WANTS Extension
Can be signed during Re-Sign Phase.
Can only Modify contract length by +2 or -2

DOESN’T WANT Extension
Can only sign for a 1 year Contract OR Qualifying Offer


GM Goals
Owner Mode will be kept on for this franchise. The sole purpose of this is to have the ability to use different teams throughout the Franchise. To give myself a challenge and have a chance of not being allowed to come back, I’ve given myself goals for every season. There will be On Ice Goals, Roster Goals, Salary Goals and Owner Goals. These goals can be adjusted as the years go by. I will need to achieve at least 10 points to have the opportunity to come back, should I so choose. Here is how the layout would look like:

ON ICE GOALS
Year 1
Win 35 Games (+2 Points)
Bonus - Make the Playoffs (+1 Point)

Year 2
Make the Playoffs (+2 Points)
Bonus - Advance to 2nd Round (+1 Point)

Year 3
Make the ECF (+2 Points)
Bonus - Make the Stanley Cup Finals (+1 Point)

Roster Goals
Year 1 - Trade one of the middle tier salaries by the end of the draft (+1 Point)
Year 2 - Acquire a 1st Round Pick in the upcoming Draft (+1 Point)
Year 3 - TBD (+1 Point)

Salary Goals
Can’t be within $5.000M of Cap Limit until you make it past Round 2 - (+1 Point)

Owner Goals
Main Owner Goal (+1 Point)

Player NTC’s and NMC’s:
A spreadsheet from reddit is used to give players NMC’s and NTC’s throughout the franchise. Adds some realism and makes it harder to trade players. Search up NHL Contract Mini game on Reddit and you should be able to find it. (Shoutout to the creator of the sheet btw!)

Team Status:
Before the start of every season I will need to choose a “Team Status” based off what I’m expecting from the team that season. Each one of the status options (Champion, Contender, Hopeful and Rebuilder) will have different rules and expectations for that particular status. Failing to achieve an expectation or breaking a Status rule will result in another event added, which we’ll get into later.

Superstar Trade Requests
A different spreadsheet I borrowed and made adjustments too was from the Basketball Dynasty section of OS. I’d highly recommend everyone to check out Marshdaddy’s “The Golden Era” Dynasty over there as it has some of the best work on this site. What this sheet does is determine if a player rated 90 Overall or better either wants to or is willing to leave his team. Similar to how the free agent sheet works, it will take multiple factors into consideration to determine a player's decision. This will be used every offseason (Starting in Year 3) for our teams Superstars or/and whenever I try and trade for a Superstar player

Free Agency Interest Mini Game:
I’ve created a spreadsheet where it takes into account a team's success over the past three seasons as well as teammate ability, team location and teammate nationality to determine a player's interest in a contract offer. There is also a possibility a player has a request for the contract, such as wanting to join a team that is a Contender. Being able to reward these requests will make the player more interested in wanting to sign. However, if you tell a player you will accept their request but don’t follow through, there will be an event added to the event wheel spin. Let’s get into that event system now…

Event System:
A list of over 180 different events/scenarios will be randomized every year and at least three will take place every season. More events can be added due to multiple different things such as Failing a GM Goal, Failing or Breaking a Team Status Rule or ,as you read earlier, not keeping a free agent request. These events can be bad or good (majority are bad). The Event wheel will be spun at the beginning of the regular season and will be woven into the story aspect of this series.


After all that I think we can begin to get into this franchise. We’ll see how it goes to start and potentially make tweaks along the way if needed. I’ve already started this so expect a rapid fire of posts up until the end of year one. I hope you guys enjoy!

To start this series we'll be running with the....

VANCOUVER CANUCKS!

[JurassicPuck]

2023-24 Season Review

By Russell Dawson / Vancouver Canucks
April 20, 2024

The Vancouver Canucks finished the 2023-24 season with a 48-24-10 record, finishing as the 3rd best team in the NHL. Here were some of the biggest storylines along the way

Thatcher Demko's Struggles, DeSmith's Success
While they were winning a good chunk of games, Thatcher Demko wasn’t the prime reason for it. With a subpar save percentage the Canucks looked instead to Casey DeSmith to try his luck in net. And he did not disappoint. DeSmith took over the starting role and ran with it as he finished with 43 games (Demko played 41) and had a 22-12-6 record with a .917 SV% and a 2.65 GAA. Compare that to Demko, 23-11-4 with a .895 SV% and a 3.27 GAA, and you see why DeSmith will be the starter for Game 1 come playoff time.

Arshdeep Bains Hot Start to NHL Career
Arshdeep Bains has bursted into the NHL like a bull in a China shop. At first being an injury replacement for Pius Suter, Bains was expected to play just a few games before returning to Abbotsford. But when he got a look on the top line alongside Petey and Boeser, the Vancouver native made the absolute most of it. He's held that 1st line LW spot since being called up and has made Pius Suter no longer a constant in the VAN lineup. Will he be able to rise to the occasion and continue his play with playoffs just around the corner?

Best 4th Line in the NHL
Together as a line since day one of the season, Di Giuseppe, Lafferty and Joshua have been the best 4th line in the entire league. All are above a +11 and all have 25 or more points. They've been killing it all season and will be huge for the team come playoffs. Something to be concerned about however is Lafferty and Joshua on expiring deals. With such big seasons, will Vancouver have the cap space to bring these guys back?

Boone Jenner and Chris Tanev heading to Vancouver
The Canucks make two big moves to solidify their lineup in a year where for the first time in what feels like forever, Vancouver has a chance to do something special. Chris Tanev returns after leaving as a free agent in 2020. Blue Jackets Captain Boone Jenner will leave the only NHL team he's ever known and be a trustworthy 3rd line center on faceoffs.

Here were some of the biggest player movements around the league during the trade deadline:
Jeremy Swayman (BOS) -> BUF
Adam Larsson (SEA) -> TOR
Vladimir Tarasenko (OTT) -> CAR

Season Standings and Playoff Bracket

Canucks Player Stats

League Leaders

End of Season Lineup

[JurassicPuck]

2024 1st Round Playoff Preview and Predictions: Ranked by Least to Most Exciting Matchups

By Vincent Barlow 1h Ago
__________________________________________________

What could have been in this series between these two teams. Jeremy Swayman must be dying to see his Buffalo Sabres face the team that traded him back at the Trade Deadline. But instead of being out on the ice he'll be watching from the press box. In just his 6th game in a Sabres uniform the American netminder was hit while trying to make a desperation save. The collision would result in a bad MCL Sprain for the 25 year old and one that will keep him from competing in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs. Victor Olofsson meanwhile is looking to exact some payback against his own former squad. He's been on absolute fire since joining the B's, scoring 15 points in 17 games and finishing with 66 on the year, a career high. Will he be able to continue that in this series? Rasmus Dahlin could also miss possibly the first two games in Boston as he's still recovering from a pulled groin.

Prediction - Boston in 5 Games

This series and the Boston-Buffalo on are the two matchups where it's very, very hard to see one team not winning. The Colorado Avalanche possess a dominant trio of players in MacKinnon, Makar and Rantanen and have Cup winning pedigree spread throughout the lineup.

Anaheim meanwhile is a young team who has up and coming stars that will be getting their first taste of playoff hockey. It's a mismatch series for the Ducks and they'll be tested heavily with the Avalanche squad

The Ducks will need Trevor Zegras to work his magic and John Gibson to play the type of hockey he did years ago in the Getzlaf-Perry days of Anaheim. Is it possible? Yes. Is it going to be difficult for those things to go right? One hundred percent

Prediction - Colorado in 5 Games

Finishing the regular season with stellar records of 47-26-9 and 49-30-3, respectively, the Jets secured the 2nd spot in the Central, while the Wild claimed 3rd place.

The Jets' offensive powerhouse, led by breakout star Kyle Connor, enters the postseason with momentum. Connor's sensational 101-point season, the second-highest in the league, makes him a player to watch. On the other end, the Wild boast the league's best defensive record, allowing only 2.72 goals per game. Filip Gustavsson's stellar performance in net, boasting a remarkable 42-19-2 record, positions him as a Vezina Trophy frontrunner.

However, the Wild will face a significant challenge as their rising star, Matt Boldy, will be sidelined until May 9th due to a concussion, casting a shadow over Minnesota's offensive depth.

Will the Jets' offensive firepower break through the Wild's formidable defense, or can Minnesota's balanced approach shut down Winnipeg's high-flying attack?

Prediction - Winnipeg in 7 Games

All the way back on January 11th vs the LA Kings, Panthers fans were heartbroken to hear that their star Finnish center Aleksander Barkov would be out for the rest of the regular season due to a severe MCL Sprain. Without their franchise center, playoff hopes looked slim. Alas the Florida Panthers squeaked in by the hair of their chin, tying their rival Tampa Bay Lightning in points but coming ahead in the tiebreaker. But with that comes the matchup with the dominant Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes enter the postseason boasting an impressive regular-season record of 52-26-4 and wielding the NHL's most potent offense, averaging an outstanding 3.85 goals per game. This offensive prowess sets them apart, with the 2nd-best team trailing at 3.55 goals per game. Led by an ensemble cast of skillful forwards, Carolina is well-positioned to test the Panthers' defensive resilience. That’s not what you wanna hear when Barkov is still not expected to return for another 2-3 weeks. Sam Reinhart also went down with a sprained ankle in Game 79 of the season so he may not make an appearance in this series until Game 4. It will take practically a miracle for Florida to win this round one matchup... but they've done it before haven't they

Prediction - Carolina in 4 Games

The New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers are set to renew their playoff rivalry in the 2024 NHL Playoffs. The Devils, boasting an impressive season record of 50-27-5 and securing the 4th spot in the NHL standings, are entering the postseason with a lineup that oozes elite depth scoring. With three lines loaded with offensive firepower, the Devils are a force to be reckoned with, ready to capitalize on any defensive lapses.

On the other side of the ice, the Philadelphia Flyers have defied expectations with a season record of 44-30-8, clinching the 3rd spot in the highly competitive Atlantic Division. The Flyers weren't initially pegged as contenders this season, but their resilience and tenacity have propelled them into the postseason spotlight. The matchup against the Devils promises to be a clash of contrasting narratives, with the Flyers looking to prove that they belong among the league's elite.

These two teams last met in the playoffs during the 2012 Conference Finals, a hard-fought series that saw the Devils emerge victorious in five games. Memories of that intense battle still linger, adding an extra layer of anticipation to this latest postseason showdown.

Prediction - New Jersey in 6 Games

In a clash of contrasting stories, the Vancouver Canucks and the Dallas Stars are poised to go head-to-head in what promises to be a captivating first-round matchup. The Canucks, having clinched the top spot in the Pacific Division with a season record of 48-24-10, have reinvigorated their fan base after a string of disappointing seasons. The question on everyone's mind – can the Canucks turn regular-season success into playoff triumph?

On the other side of the ice, the Dallas Stars, with a formidable season record of 46-29-7, are looking to build upon last year's Conference Final loss. With memories of their 2020 Cup Finals appearance still fresh, the Stars have their sights set on another deep playoff run. The hunger for redemption and the taste of championship glory drives the Stars as they aim to make amends for falling short in recent years.

What sets this series apart from others is the absence of a bitter history between the Canucks and Stars. Unlike some heated playoff rivalries, these two teams don't carry a lot of bad blood. This lack of animosity, however, adds a layer of excitement to the matchup, as it provides the potential for the birth of a new, intense rivalry on the playoff stage.

As the puck drops and the Vancouver Canucks and Dallas Stars embark on this first-round journey, fans can expect a series filled with uncertainty, potential breakout performances, and the possibility of a new chapter in playoff history being written

Prediction - Vancouver in 7 Games

In a highly anticipated first-round showdown, the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights are set to reignite their playoff rivalry. The Oilers, boasting a season record of 46-30-6 and securing the 2nd spot in the Pacific Division, are hungry for redemption after falling short in last year's postseason.

The Vegas Golden Knights, with a season record of 44-30-8, finished just two points behind the Oilers in the Pacific Division standings. Adding an extra layer of intrigue to this clash is the much-anticipated sequel of the Jack Eichel versus Connor McDavid saga. In the previous playoffs, Vegas emerged victorious in six games against the Oilers, propelling them to the Conference Finals and eventually the Stanley Cup. The stage is now set for round two, with both Eichel and McDavid leading their respective teams into a battle of skill, speed, and determination.

Memories of the contentious clash between these teams last playoffs, particularly the slash by Alex Pietrangelo on Oilers' star Leon Draisaitl in Game 4, still linger. The Oilers and their fans won't easily forget, setting the stage for a series with an undercurrent of bad blood. As the Oilers look to avenge last year's defeat, the Golden Knights aim to prove that they have the formula to continue their success against their Pacific Division rivals.

Prediction - Edmonton in 7 Games

The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens find themselves pitted against each other once again in the first round of the 2024 NHL Playoffs. Memories of their last postseason clash in 2021, where the Canadiens pulled off a dramatic upset in a seven-game series, loom large as both teams gear up for another intense battle.

The echoes of the 2021 playoffs still resonate in the minds of Leafs and Canadiens fans alike. Montreal, the underdogs, emerged victorious, stunning the hockey world and dashing Toronto's Cup aspirations. Heading into this playoff matchup, both teams are grappling with crucial injuries to key players. Toronto's star defenseman Morgan Reilly, a linchpin in their blue line, will be sidelined until May 6th, which could have significant implications for the Leafs' defensive structure, especially in the early games of the series. On the Canadiens' side, the absence of David Savard on defense and Jake Allen between the pipes until May 2nd and May 17th, respectively, raises questions about Montreal's ability to weather the storm against Toronto's high-powered offense. On paper, the Toronto Maple Leafs appear to be heavy favorites. Boasting a potent offensive lineup led by Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares. Yet, as the old adage goes, the playoffs are a different beast. The Montreal Canadiens, seemingly playing the underdog role once again. In a recent interview, Leafs' captain John Tavares acknowledged the significance of facing the Canadiens again: "The past is the past, but we can't ignore the motivation that comes from what happened in 2021. We're a different team now, and we've learned from those experiences. We're focused on taking it one game at a time and not underestimating our opponent." The storyline of redemption for the Leafs and the possibility of another Canadiens upset adds a layer of intrigue to this matchup. The absence of key players on both sides only intensifies the drama, setting the stage for a series that will undoubtedly be watched with bated breath by fans across the league

Prediction - Toronto in 5 Games

[JurassicPuck]

Canucks Pull out a Win in Overtime in Game 1

By Russell Dawson / Vancouver Canucks
April 21, 2024

DeSmith would, as most people expected, got the start over Thatcher Demko in the awaited Game 1.

Down 2-0 heading into the third, J.T. Miller scores halfway through the period to cut the lead to one. It would take until the 2:23 mark of the 3rd period before Rookie sensation Arshdeep Bains would bury the tying goal past Oettinger. This game was headed to sudden-death overtime in the very first game

Just 45 seconds into OT Jason Robertson was accessed a Slashing penalty against Brock Boeser in the offensive zone. With such a giant opportunity, the Canucks would convert on the PP with a mid-air bat in goal from Elias Pettersson off of a Quinn Hughes point shot that rebounded off of Oettinger.

A great start for the Canucks as they will play Game 2 in a couple days to try and make it a 2-0 series lead.

Scores Around the League

Game Recaps | April 20, 2024
	4 - 2 Final CAR leads series 1-0
Carolina Hurricanes (1-0)		Florida Panthers (0-1)
Game Notes Carolina takes Game 1 with a 4-2 win. Frederik Andersen made 31 saves while both Svechnikov and Teravainen had a goal and an assist

	4 - 3 Final COL leads series 1-0
Colorado Avalanche (1-0)		Anaheim Ducks (0-1)
Game Notes Radko Gudas was hurt in this game, suffering a neck injury. He'll be out until April 27th, projecting him to come back for Game 4

	5 - 9 Final MTL leads series 1-0
Toronto Maple Leafs (0-1)		Montreal Canadiens (1-0)
Game Notes Montreal puts up 9 goals against the Leafs in a wild Game 1. Nick Suzuki had a 4 point night with a goal and 3 assists

[canuxrok]

Looking sharp so far. Let's go Canucks!

[JurassicPuck]

Scores Around the League

Game Recaps | April 21, 2024
	4 - 3 Final - OT NJ leads series 1-0
New Jersey Devils (1-0)		Philadelphia Flyers (0-1)
Game Notes Tyler Toffoli had the OT game winning goal on the Powerplay

	5 - 1 Final BOS leads series 1-0
Boston Bruins (1-0)		Buffalo Sabres (0-1)
Game Notes Victor Oloffson helps his Bruins win 5-1 vs his former team, adding a goal in the effort

	2 - 3 Final MIN leads series 1-0
Winnipeg Jets (0-1)		Minnesota Wild (1-0)
Game Notes Kirill Kaprizov's goal and assist helped the Wild to a Game 1 win. Gabe Vilardi scored both of Winnipeg's goals in the loss

	5 - 3 Final EDM leads series 1-0
Edmonton Oilers (1-0)		Vegas Golden Knights (0-1)
Game Notes McDavid (1 Goal, 2 Assists) and Draisaitl (2 Goals) will the Oilers to a game one win versus the defending Cup Champions

[JurassicPuck]

Vancouver Scores 6 on the Stars, Head to Dallas with a 2-0 Series Lead

By Russell Dawson / Vancouver Canucks
April 23, 2024

Just before the end of a quiet first period, Arshdeep Bains scores with 19 seconds left above the glove of the outstretched Oettinger.

This momentum would lead into the second period as Hoglander would pot one before Bains scored his 3rd goal of the playoffs in just 5 periods. After two periods Dallas would reman without a goal thanks to Casey DeSmith.

In the third, once again the Canucks came out hot, scoring two goals (Hoglander and Joshua) within 3 minutes into the period. After that it was pretty much game over with Faksa and Seguin breaking DeSmith's shutout attempt before Pettersson potted one more to put the game to rest.

Vancouver heads to Dallas with a 2-0 series lead. Gavin Beyreuther (DAL) would suffer and undisclosed injury in this game to make matters worse for the Stars

Scores Around the League

Game Recaps | April 22, 2024
	3 - 0 Final CAR leads series 2-0
Carolina Hurricanes (2-0)		Florida Panthers (0-2)
Game Notes Vladimir Tarasenko returned from his sprained ankle and recorded an assist in the 3-0 win

	2 - 1 Final COL leads series 2-0
Colorado Avalanche (2-0)		Anaheim Ducks (0-2)
Game Notes Artturi Lehkonen returned in this game (Pulled Groin) and Jack Johnson made his playoff debut in the Avs win.

	6 - 7 Final - OT MTL leads series 2-0
Toronto Maple Leafs (0-2)		Montreal Canadiens (2-0)
Game Notes In an absolute barn burner of a game, the Montreal Canadiens pot 7 against Woll and the Leafs with 22 year old defenseman Justin Barron scoring his first ever NHL Playoff Goal in Overtime. The goal came just a minute into the second overtime frame

[JurassicPuck]

Scores Around the League

Game Recaps | April 23, 2024
	4 - 3 Final NJ leads series 2-0
New Jersey Devils (2-0)		Philadelphia Flyers (0-2)
Game Notes As if scoring the OT Winner last game wasn't enough, Tyler Toffoli gets a touch on every Devils goal and finishes the game with 4 points. Alexandre Carrier was injured in this game

	6 - 5 Final - OT BOS leads series 2-0
Boston Bruins (2-0)		Buffalo Sabres (0-2)
Game Notes Huge news for Buffalo as Rasmus Dahlin will return to the lineup for Game 2. However Pastrnak, McAvoy and the Bruins steal his thunder as they take Game 2 in Overtime. Pasta would turn into a playmaker for this one, dishing out 4 assists. Charlie McAvoy would score the OT Winner just 3 minutes into Sudden Death Overtime. Dahlin had a big return game with 3 assists and almost 35 minutes of ice time but it wasn't enough to beat Boston. Owen Power would be injured in this game. A huge blow for the team and it's rumored to be a lower body injury that could keep him out of the rest of the series

	4 - 3 Final - OT Series Tied 1-1
Winnipeg Jets (1-1)		Minnesota Wild (1-1)
Game Notes Kyle Connor scored the Overtime Winner on the Power Play

	1 - 4 Final Series Tied 1-1
Edmonton Oilers (1-1)		Vegas Golden Knights (1-1)
Game Notes Barbashev's two goals helped the Golden Knights to defeat the Oilers and tie the series

Playoff Storylines to Watch

Arshdeep Bains on FIRE
There was reports of lava being spotted in Vancouver but it was really just Arshdeep Bains... This guy is not from this planet. After two games against the Stars and two wins, Bains has 3 goals and 1 assist to lead the team in points. He's scored on every shot he's got to the net so far and is playing the third most minutes among Canucks forwards. It looks like the sky is the limit for this kid

Maple Leafs Goaltending Struggles
Allowing a combined 16 goals against after two games in a series is mind boggling. Both Joseph Woll and Ilya Samsonov have completely let down the team playing in front of them. The Maple Leafs themselves have scored 11 goals through two games which nine times out of ten should result in two wins. Instead, their down 2-0 in the series and the Maple Leafs will have to head to the Bell Centre to try and wrangle themselves back into this series. Calling it a tall task would be a major understatement

Scrappy Ducks giving the Avalanche a fight
Probably the biggest underdogs in the entire NHL Playoffs, the Anaheim Ducks have lost both games of their series against the Avs by one goal. With such a young and inexperienced team to be taking a team like Colorado to the brink through two games, it has been impressive to watch. We'll have to see if the Ducks will finally be able to pull out a win against MacKinnon and his squad