Personally I probably would have shared the data just in the OP, and probably done like a half regression or not regress S54 until next season, and just start them at the 2nd tier. Maybe something like 5% this season and then still get the 12% next season. Just to ensure they get their 1 season as "best" ahead of S55.

People seem to be caught up in the "2200 to 2000 isn't much of a difference", but those are pretty good differences compared to the classes not in regression. The lower the absolute peak, the closer rookies are to that peak and they can hopefully have more impact. If you can't have any impact unless you're 1200 TPE, that's a problem. If the peak is 1900 or 2000 instead, well maybe rookies can make an impact now at 1000 TPE instead.

In the STHS era I was called up kinda late at 800 TPE for the start of the season. Now you have plenty of players with over 800 TPE still playing in the SMJHL this season. If you're worried about career stats, the problem is in not accumulating stats until your career is halfway to regression, not the part in regression.