No, dude, the trading in Franchise mode *is* that bad. That's why I turn off trades; I'd rather have an unrealistic amount of trades - 0 - than an unrealistic amount of trades that are terrible.
As I've said before, we need the ability to veto CPU-CPU trades. Minimum, let us make a protected list for every CPU team, with 2 tiers - untouchable players that they'll do everything they can to keep (including re-signing them, not just trades), and a 2nd tier of guys who they ought to keep to complement their core players (like for the Caps - my team - I'd have Ovie and Backstrom as untouchable... and honestly, I'd probably have Oshie on the 2nd tier - although with that contract, maybe not - and probably Vrana, and Wilson, and Orlov... because I could absolutely see them trading Kuznetsov or Carlson given how expensive they are and what the return could be. But those other guys are really important complementary pieces who are affordable around the core superstars.)
Like... the way *we* want to play the game isn't going to be how the programmers want to play the game; the way I want to play the game isn't the way other players want to play the game.
It's baffling that they don't allow us more control to play the game in a way we find, you know... fun.
I've said it before: I get why programming certain things are so hard. Defense in gameplay is pretty weak, but I get the difficulties of making the character poke how I want him to (for the puck, or to take away a passing lane, or to put it in the shooting lane not to try to poke the puck but to prevent a strong shot when I'm trailing on a semi-break... how could the game know which one I want?) But, like... giving us the ability to make CPU-CPU trades, or change positions (or roles, or names, or even ratings or potential) of drafted players in Be A GM mode, or, you know... a Franchise level young talent coming into the league being able to sign with any team in the league, because he's good enough to help a contender and young enough to help a rebuilding team.
I saw Landeskog leave the Avs in the offseason, and I was surprised because I know that's an expensive team, but I didn't realize they were *that* cash-strapped... they weren't. They just didn't re-sign their elite captain. Which... if they were thinking ahead, knowing they had to let one guy walk, even a 1st liner, in order to keep 4-5 guys, like 2 2nd liners and 2 3rd liners and a top-4 defender, then okay. I may disagree with this specific choice, letting *that* player walk, but okay. But nah. The game still doesn't ever plan for that. You still see teams sign 10 NHL level defenders for between $1.5M-$3M a season for multiple seasons, then have to let a player worth $8M walk because that money is tied up in their 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th defenders.
Not to change the subject here, just wanted to say nice idea from @SchulzEricT
I've made the suggestion before of giving us a 3 tiered trade block (untouchable, willing, shopping) to try and limit the amount of bad offers I get for players I don't want to trade. I never thought about being able to set up the CPU teams using something similar as I can't stand the moves they make during franchise either, so nice job.
There's no thought/development process behind the AI it's just trade anyone for any amount at any time. However, good luck trying to trade an 81 ranked player for someone's #1 future draft pick. You can't do that but the computer/AI can. The same goes with in coming trade offers. It's just a random algorithm that offers you anything hence why you get multiple trade offers for the same player even though you declined the first time. It's total garbage and makes the game so unrealistic. The same with BAP, after season one the entire NHL was thrown into a bag, shuffled and handed out. Pastrnak with the Devils, McDavid with San Jose, Zibanejad with Calgary, Barkov with Columbus, Ovechkin with Dallas on and on and on. I could possibly handle this stupid reshuffle if it stayed as is after year one, but every single year you see huge superstars move onto other teams. It's like everyone in the NHL has the same 2 year deal you have. Any team can go from dead last one year, to winning the cup the following year. The only reasoning behind wanting to be traded or go to a specific team is for the jersey only. Because the team has been put through a meat grinder several times and all the core players have been dealt elsewhere.
The saddest part is that these issues we have are for offline play options so you know EA doesn't care whatsoever.
I fixed that, as best I can, by cheating on editing contracts. I just guess at about what a contract ought to be/will be, and then sign some of the key pieces on each team to 7 (or so) year deals.
It's pretty stupid, it also makes things harder on myself as I always take over a rebuilding team, and there ought to be at least a few of those guys going to free agency that I can add, but the game always has it be 50%+ of those guys, rather than something around 5-10% of them.
So, as with having trades "off"... I'd rather my unrealistic not-enough-movement than the game's staggeringly, unbelievably unrealistic way-too-much movement every year, all the time.
@SkylerJames13It's all about the drops/loot boxes. They got our $60 already so we're just peasants to them. Typical "complainers" that b**** and moan however, if it wasn't for us single/offline players, the game would have never got off the ground. I remember owning this on the original Sega Genesis and it was simply the best game ever made. I lost touch for a few years and picked it back up when NHL 15 came out. I really wish 2K would handle this moving forward. I know hockey is EAs least selling sports game but there are thousands of hockey fans around the world that want a good solid game and good experience again. Every single year it's the same thing over and over just with more bugs and more glitches. Sorry for the rant, it's just frustrating falling into EAs trap every year dishing out $60 for garbage.
Community Manager
