Allow me to set the scene: it's the tale end of season 81. You're a goalie for Great Falls, and despite having a personal best season record (which isn't saying much, given you've only been playing for two seasons), you're team is closing out at 16th in the league... out of 16 teams. Morale is low, times are tough, and you make your expected first round exit in the playoffs against Quebec.

Allow me to reset. You're three quarters of the way through season 82, and you're a goalie for Great Falls. You might not have the high save numbers you had last season, but that's because your team is currently 3rd out of 16 and shots simply aren't being made against you at the same rate. Morale is high. You have two games in hand against the number 2 team, and the future is bright.

It's amazing what changes a single season can make, and Great Falls isn't the only team experiencing an astounding change of fortunes, just the one I have experience with. Both Great Falls and St. Louis have experiences a change in fortunes to the tune of rising 13 places in one season, with Great Falls making the aforementioned jump from last to third, and with St. Louis going all the way from 14th to first as of the most recent games simmed (1/19/2049).

What led to this precipitous rise for the two teams? You expect some fluctuation in either direction as players come, improve, and move on to their SHL teams, but my brief search found that most teams were limited to jumps or falls of 5 or so spots, a more gradual change. When I made my season predictions, I placed both near the middle of the pack, rising but not surprising, at it were. Looking at both teams' stats for season 81 and 82 provides some insight.

Looking at the Scarecrows first, it seems like the biggest change for the team is the sharp increase in the number of maxed TPE second-season players for season 82. Six players are at the full 350, three above 300 if not quite at maximum, and with the three additional 425 players, St. Louis has a complement of 12 300-425 players out of the 17 active on the team. Season 81, by comparison, has St. Louis ending with 3 players near 425 and one additional above 300. The glut of experience from rising players has enabled St. Louis its astronomical rise, at least in part.

The Grizzlies have a similar story. Three players at 425, four additional above 300, and a last-place finish were what the bears reaped for season 81, but season 82 has changed their fortunes. From seven experienced players to eleven, Great Falls now boasts six players at 425 TPE, five at or near 350, and an active rookie class to boot. These numbers have done the once-struggling team nothing but good.

It seems, then, like the sudden upswing in the fortunes of both teams is owed to a large proportion of their players staying active and gaining experience via TPE. What will be interesting to see is whether or not the success can be maintained or if graduating players will hamstring their longevity near the top of the charts. Great Falls has two extant players from season 80 who are due to rise before next season, and St. Louis has four. Will either be able to maintain a top-five position for more than a season or two? Will they slide back down the charts, unable to maintain the same kind of success? Is the shift in simming software from FHM8 to FHM10 partly responsible for the extent of the shift? I don't know, but I'll be excited to find out.


WC 629
My apologies for any spelling errors or incoherency, I forgot the Group One Spotlight ended tonight and had to get back out of bed to finish and post lol, so much for the graphic

Matti Brynjarsson | #57 | G | GFG | TOR | WOR | JPN

Born: Akureyri, Iceland

Height: 6'1" | Weight: 187lbs.

Highest TPE: 647

SMJHL Regular Season Statistics

Career | GFG | 122 GP | 2.98 GAA | 5 SO | .901 SV% | 69 GR

S82 | GFG | 46 GP | 2.51 GAA | 2 SO | .902 SV% | 69 GR

S81 | GFG | 50 GP | 4.03 GAA | 2 SO | .904 SV% | 75 GR

S80 | GFG | 26 GP | 3.95 GAA | 1 SO | .893 SV% | 64 GR

SMJHL Playoffs Statistics

Career | GFG | 14 GP | 3.57 GAA | 1 SO | .909 SV% | 78 GR

S82 | GFG | 5 GP | 1.92 GAA | 1 SO | .908 SV% | 71 GR

S81 | GFG | 4 GP | 4.93 GAA | 0 SO | .901 SV% | 80 GR

S80 | GFG | 5 GP | 4.31 GAA | 0 SO | .916 SV% | 84 GR

WJC Statistics

S81 | World | 11 GP | 4.02 GAA | 0 SO | .906 SV% | 74 GR

S80 | World | 9 GP | 5.93 GAA | 0 SO | .848 SV% | 56 GR

Player History

S80: Drafted #37 by Great Falls Grizzlies

S81: Drafted #33 by Toronto North Stars

[pbl]

 

   

That's quite a turnaround for both teams! It's fascinating how player development and experience can dramatically shift a team's trajectory. I wonder if their newfound success will last or if they will face a Fnaf  jump scare in the playoffs next season. This reminds me of the strategic depth in games, where one key upgrade can change everything. What adjustments did these teams make to maximize their players' potential?

Great Media and Go Grizzlies