Nhl 22

The anti-fun crowd here is going to skip over the fact that it's a video game...

Without really worrying about those trades, question: Who do you think the toughest team to build in 22 is, while trying to keep it as reasonably realistic as possible?

I've been trying to settle on a mid-tier team that has cap issues, a bad prospect pool, and a lack of draft capital. I'm almost settled on Vancouver, or even Philly, but I can't decide. Willing to listen to other suggestions as well

god that pitt trade is garbage
nhl 22 is always a sight to behold with its trades

Philly and Van are easy as they have easy assets to move for picks id say the sharks and you cant trade Burns, karlson, MEV, etc makes them the hardest cause you can move them for 1st but its not realistic so i dont do it

The likelihood of Marino getting moved AFTER the season is very low, not impossible, but very low. There's unfortunately a higher chance than people thought that Letang may leave, so if he does, moving Marino would absolutely destroy our defense.

In a bubble, a video game trade world, where the Pens were able to keep Letang and have a way to properly replace Marino? Sure and I know that was your intent with moving Bortuzzo, but he's obviously a major step down from Marino you'd be keeping Bortuzzo. But that said, if the Pens wanted to make a move like this because they had a replacement in place? I think this is a fair deal.

Yeah, my thoughts on Vancouver, just from a potential "realism" (as in house rules...EA's trade engine is obviously garbage) is mainly from a "We're not looking to rebuild, but at the same time we sort of are" if that makes sense. From that perspective, JT Miller would be the one true trade chip (Some minor ones here and there), but guys like Pettersson/Hughes/Demko/Boeser (To a lesser degree) wouldn't be moved, because obviously you could just tear it apart which is pretty easy in a video game.

Then, from a D-perspective, you're stuck with Myers/OEL/Poolman, which means that you're looking at around $15 mil in the offseason (Did a test last night) to re-sign Boeser and fill any holes. Basically, the top tiered UFA's would f*ck you capwise.

I like the idea of SJ, but I'm a Ducks fan so it might hurt my soul