Hut player stats mean anything?

Hi there, @masterkotimko17.

Superstar can for sure be challenging. It's supposed to be of course, but AI players aren't playing beyond their abilities. They do have much faster reaction times. That's part of the Superstar difficulty level. If you can get some video of the issues you're concerned with, I'll review them. 72 skaters shouldn't be beating faster skaters when at full energy and skating in a straight line. They could beat them under other circumstances though. There's a speed penalty when carrying the puck. This is negated when using hustle. You also lose speed when turning and deking. As far as hits go, video would be needed as well. There needs to be enough opposing force to knock them down or bump them off the puck. Player rates are going to play a factor in losing the puck as well as picking it up again. Can you go into more detail on the issue you're having with poke checks? Thanks!

Stats don't really mean anything once you start hitting 90ish since you're already so good it is hard to notice the difference. Synergies/fatigue/ and playstyle can make teams with lower OVR much better than they appear; speed is the name of the game and you can get plus 5's in all skating categories with minimal effort

When it comes to playing the cpu, they do seem to get unlimited hustle when they want but they also have zero input lag - while it may not make a gigantic difference in most cases, something that usually works against a human can seem impossible against a computer (trying to fake a skater out with sudden changes in movement for example)

Yes I would agree to a point. I understand the synergies, trying to make as many active as you can for an advantage and yes speed for sure. I use dekes, passing more than just trying to carry end to end and fake shots work as long as not on top of computer. My problem is I'm just getting into the Rivals so when I am playing the Squad Battles and Joe Schmoe OHL catches say McDavid in full stride. I want to yell BS and take that players head off lol.

Even faceoffs, poke checking and hitting are horrible. I'm not the guy who skates around with his stick out and gets 20 penalties a game. I love the big open ice hits but feel they are rare. Especially with the awesome take control of the guy near the puck gives me some one nowhere near it half the time.  I guess I just feel if I take the time to buy a high level player or the longer route of earning a 94+ player I don't want to have Mr. Schmoe making him look like a rookie learning to skate. Yes a game but as a hockey person I do expect some realistic abilities to the players. Otherwise leave those stats out of the game if they are so pointless when playing.

Hi there, @masterkotimko17 

We really need to see video of these issues. There have been many claims over the years, but very little video evidence to support it. If you get some, please post it so we can review for any issues. Thanks!

i see where the OP is coming from but it would seem if the stats meant nothing then you would get the same degree of difficulty from the A.I. Regardless of the opponent player stats so you would play the same difficulty regardless of the opponent’s “overall” number. So you’d go same difficulty against a 95 overall as you would a 66 overall. I have not found that to hold true my experience. What I would offer as a suggestion is try setting. lineup that you use just for A.I. / offline games and change your strategy to more of a trap / counter rush or slower / defensive type of play. You’ll notice the A.I. knows how to avoid aggressive defense and then make you pay. Having the right strategy seems to impact my game performance to almost the same degree as upgrading my team from a 89 to a 92. 

The A.I. really likes to skate directly backward deep into their own zone to draw you in then make you pay on the counter so a more measured conservative approach will take that away from them, I’ve also noticed they seem to come out very strong and be the first to score but late in the game I’ll have a much easier time defending and scoring but that could be due to balanced synergy and stamina although I hear stamina doesn’t have a long term affect on energy and resets every period which is unfortunate. 

That's some great advice. AI opponents are very mindful of open lanes. They're always looking for them. If you play too aggressively, it's going to open up more ice for them to take advantage of. Playing more conservatively and setting your strategies as @BillCarmody suggested would be good to experiment with.

Ok EA_Aljo. Sorry been offline for a bit so am just seeing the posts below. I understand everything you and the others are saying. Again also I have way above normal hockey knowledge. I also am and have been since Atari 2600 a huge gamer, including NHL from the begining with Sega. I am also older so my reaction time is not what it used to be for sure compaired to the computer some days. Yes superstar is challeging but I play it most times because scoring 15+ goals a game gets boring after awhile. Again I get you lose speed while carrying the puck, turning or while doing a deke. I am talking a straight up straight line to get past the defensman while he is skating backwards. They seem to be able to not only stay with you while skating backwards but to turn and still keep pace. This seems to be no matter his stats or if it's a fresh or tired line.

Poke checking...lets say 8 out 10 times you poke check the puck goes right back to the computers stick without him losing stride. By right back to stick I mean bounces off the boards back to him, he over skates it but still turns and picks it up etc.Computer pokes you and this is being generous, 2 out of 10 your skater actually keeps the puck. I'm talking about players according to their stats should not have a problem keeping the puck. Plus my favorite dive/slide to block the pass in slot and computer who is not close to you turns and skates into your player to get a penalty. Not realistic at all.

Faceoffs are just as bad. Yes I've tried every way to do them and seems no matter my stats the computer always out does me. They are without a doubt in my mind a joke. Again stats seem to mean nothing here. 

Since I have posted this and read other posts I see I am not the only person thinks the hits blow in this game. Bouncing off players you hit with someone who is high in checking stats versus somone who is not. Oh look he hit me that's cute. I'll continue with the puck while he fell over, laughing all the way down the ice. 

Last I have tried other and all offensive and defensive setups for in zone and out. Yes I understand them and no what they should do. I do not feel they actually do what they promise or should.

I will gladly start making videos to send because there are other issues that never would actually happen in hockey. Changing lines that the coached called for while you are controling a player who is skating backwards by the bench turning a 2on 2 to a 2 on 1. Or calling for one at some extreme stupid times. Players out of position by a mile, computer not getting a delay of game while you, well they love you. Taking a slap shot while aiming up and it goes sideways instead, passes going to wrong players. The whole dumb computer holding you on the boards for a year constantly or seems to always block more shots with his skaters than his goalie. 900 shots that are blocked out of play over the glass a game. Hey I get it it does happen but not as much as I have seen per game. 

@masterkotimko17 

Thanks for all the feedback.

I too started gaming back in the 2600 days. It's crazy how far games have come.

That sounds good about the videos. They are crucial for breaking down what's going on as well as bringing issues to light.

I'll keep an eye out for the poke checking issue. I know it goes back to the carrier frequently, but I personally haven't seen it happen at an 80% rate. This depends on different variables. Positioning and ratings are the big one. Normally, when this happens, it's from the carrier being in a better position to pick up the puck. The defender is recovering from the poke where the carrier already has their stick down and isn't performing another function. You also can use DSS to sweep the puck away. How the puck is contacted and the force behind it are very important as well. If you're backskating with the carrier, your poke isn't going to have as much effect the farther away you are. You're not making as much contact with the puck.

I for sure get the frustration with hits. Most of the time that I see a downed player get the puck back it's due to them being on the boards and falling on top of the puck where it's difficult to retrieve. In open ice, this isn't so much an issue since you have more room to get around the downed player. Hopefully, we'll see improvements to hitting players along the boards in the future.

You only take a penalty for diving if it's very close to a defender. If you lay there long enough, they can still trip over you, but no penalty will be called. This move needs to be used at the right time and with discipline. Which is intended.

I agree the computers are harder to win faceoffs against. They're good about switching up how they win them whereas humans can be easy to predict. You frequently see people using the same grip in the same situations. This makes them a lot easier to counter. The computer obviously has excellent timing as well. That combined with the randomness of which grip they choose makes them a challenge to win on the higher difficulties.

Thanks again for all the feedback. It's most definitely appreciated!

Not trying to hijack this thread, but it there is a general feeling from most of the HUT players that when the AI wants to score, it will score, and stats make no difference at that point.

Case in point, I just hade a base 81 Danault with 80 accelleration and 80 speed outrun 92 Fantasy Couturier over two thirds of the ice while he was handling the puck and while I was holding sprint down on Couturier, and the gap was increasing, ending with a ridiculous dangle goal.

We can understand when the stats are close, and maybe one player is fresh and the other has been out there the entire time, but an 80 accell/speed  carrying the puck should not outpace an 87/88 accel/speed while sprinting.

Hello, @S4vant 

If you can get some video of that happening, let me know. We need to see slower players beating faster players, but haven't received any video showing this.

As far as the AI wanting to score, they will get very aggressive when they are down. I've had to make sure I'm not chasing them in this case. If I play a very conservative defense and cut off their passing/shooting lanes, they eventually take a bad shot or make a bad pass and turn it over, but I have also had those times when they are on a mission to score and it happens. However, they also catch me out of position when I'm aggressively trying to cause a turn over.