The following lists the different player attributes and their relative importance. Everyone will value these attributes differently based on their own preferred style of play, but I believe grouping these attributes into the categories \u201chigh\u201d, \u201cmedium”, and \u201clow” in terms of importance works. Also, you have to separate Forwards from Defensemen, as these players are used differently by both the AI and player, and hence different attributes matter or less between the two.<\/p>\n
Determines checking ability\/resistance (lighter is better) and player acceleration. IMPORTANCE<\/strong><\/span> Arguably the most important attribute in the entire game. \u00a0\u00a0Weight is the sole determinant of checking ability and resistance.\u00a0 The Sega Genesis version has a weight bug, which makes lighter guys super-valuable (see: weight bug section<\/a>). \u00a0A player can consistently body check someone who is 2 values lower. Weight also affects acceleration. \u00a0Lighter guys can accelerate faster than heavier guys, so this must be looked at in conjunction with the Speed attribute. It also affects agility.<\/p>\n There are 2 forwards with a 3 weight:<\/p>\n And 16 others with 4 weight.<\/p>\n There are 3 defenseman with 4 weight, and 7 others with 5 weight.<\/p>\n How quickly a player stops and turns, deking ability. Also affects acceleration<\/em><\/p>\n IMPORTANCE<\/strong><\/span> This is a generally underrated attribute, but it\u2019s extremely important. High agility, particularly relative to speed, makes deking easier, great for scoring deke goals. It’s been noted that a player with higher agility also accelerates faster once he’s moving.<\/p>\n Forwards with 6 agility:<\/p>\n Defensemen with 6 agility<\/p>\n How quickly a player achieves top speed (acceleration)<\/em><\/p>\n IMPORTANCE<\/span><\/strong> One of the key attributes that everyone looks at, speed is greatly valued for both forwards and defensemen. \u00a0This is commonly thought of as \u201ctop speed\u2019\u201d, but in reality every player has the same top speed. \u00a0This attribute determines how quickly a player achieves that top speed, more like acceleration. \u00a0\u00a0Weight also has an effect on acceleration, so a 5 speed heavy player may not accelerate as fast as a 4 speed lighter player.<\/p>\n Forwards with 6 speed<\/p>\n There are no defensemen with 6 speed, but two have 5 speed:<\/p>\n Self explanatory<\/em><\/p>\n IMPORTANCE<\/span><\/strong> Shot power is yet another key attribute. \u00a0A player with a 4 shot power has enough strength in his shot to consistently beat goalies on a slapshot from the top of the faceoff circle. \u00a0The drop from 4 to 3 is the most dramatic, as a 3 shot is relatively weak and not a threat to most goalies. \u00a0Still respectable with a one-timer, but just not as successful. \u00a0Most important stat for slapshots, which are not a high percentage play, and moreso for forwards, who will be doign 90% of your scoring.<\/p>\n Brett Hull is the only forward with 6 shot power!<\/p>\n Defensemen with the max howitzer:<\/p>\n Self explanatory<\/em><\/p>\n IMPORTANCE<\/span><\/strong> While shot accuracy is an important attribute, it’s just as important as some of the other attributes. \u00a0One-timers tend to become very accurate, and dekes from in close don’t need much accuracy to find the back of the net. \u00a0Where you may start seeing this come up more is in slapshots. \u00a0Low accuracy will result in your slappers flying wider more often.<\/p>\n Shot accuracy remains low for defensemen for two reasons. \u00a0One, very few defensemen have accuracy rated higher than 2 and second, you will not be relying on your defensemen for scoring as much as forwards.<\/p>\n One of the more undervalued attributes, stickhandling gives the ability to receive pass, hold onto puck when poked\/held, wobble\/toddle more when getting checked versus falling down.<\/em><\/p>\n IMPORTANCE<\/span><\/strong> There are times when a player gets checked and instead of falling down, he wobbles a bit and keeps going. \u00a0That is the result of high stickhandling and it can be the difference between a great scoring chance or the end of your rush.<\/p>\n It’s also how “sticky”* the puck becomes. \u00a0Higher stickhandling reduces the chances of the puck being poked away as well.<\/p>\n Determines how accurate a player passes the puck.<\/em><\/p>\n IMPORTANCE<\/span><\/strong> It’s really unclear just how much the passing rating affects players and it’s importance. \u00a0While it’s probably good to have higher passing, this attribute is not nearly as important as some of the other attributes.<\/p>\n Thought to give AI better positioning for one-timers. It’s thought that high awareness means players are more likely to stay outside of defensive zone, positioned for breakaways.<\/em><\/p>\n IMPORTANCE<\/span><\/strong> Believed to cause AI players close down to their own net, play closer in the defensive zone.<\/em><\/p>\n IMPORTANCE<\/span><\/strong> How often AI checks.\u00a0 The higher the check rating, the more frequently your AI person will attempt a check. IMPORTANCE<\/span><\/strong> A popular misconception is that the checking rating determines a player’s ability to check. \u00a0As mentioned earlier, weight<\/span> is the main factor that determines check success. \u00a0The check rating looks to influence the frequency of AI checks. \u00a0When the AI is using Messier, Stevens, Bourque (all have 5+ check rating), they are laying out hits much more often than others.<\/p>\n This is a leftover attribute from ’93. Determines how likely a player is to fight.\u00a0 Unsure if this does anything in ’94. IMPORTANCE<\/span><\/strong> Determines how quickly your player’s energy depletes when playing with line changes. Not important, even with line changes.<\/em><\/p>\n IMPORTANCE<\/span><\/strong> There is a hidden attribute in the code that is not displayed in the game.\u00a0 It’s believed to be passing bias for the AI — the higher the stat, the more passing the AI will attempt.\u00a0 NOSE calls this stat “Roughness”. IMPORTANCE<\/span><\/strong> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The following lists the different player attributes and their relative importance. Everyone will value these attributes differently based on their own preferred style of play, but I believe grouping these attributes into the categories \u201chigh\u201d, \u201cmedium”, and \u201clow” in terms of importance works. Also, you have to separate Forwards from Defensemen, as these players are … Continue reading Attributes for Forwards and Defensemen<\/span>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n
\nForwards – HIGH
\nDefensemen – HIGH<\/p>\n\n
\n
Agility<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
\nForwards – HIGH
\nDefensemen – HIGH<\/p>\n\n
\n
Speed<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
\nForwards – HIGH
\nDefense – HIGH<\/p>\n\n
\n
Shot Power<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
\nForwards – MED
\nDefense – MED\/LOW<\/p>\n\n
Shot Accuracy<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
\nForwards – MED
\nDefense – LOW<\/p>\nStickhandling<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
\nForwards – HIGH
\nDefense – MED<\/p>\nPass Accuracy<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
\nForwards – LOW
\nDefense – LOW<\/p>\nOff Awareness<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
\nForwards – LOW\/MED
\nDefense – LOW<\/p>\nDef Awareness<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
\nForwards – LOW
\nDefense – MED<\/p>\nChecking<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
\n<\/em><\/p>\n
\nForwards – LOW
\nDefense – LOW\/MED<\/p>\nAggressiveness<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
\n<\/em><\/p>\n
\nForwards – LOW
\nDefense – LOW<\/p>\nEndurance<\/strong> <\/span><\/h3>\n
\nForwards – LOW
\nDefense – LOW<\/p>\n(hidden stat)- Passing Bias\/Roughness (in NOSE)
\n<\/strong> <\/span><\/h3>\n
\n<\/em><\/p>\n
\nForwards – LOW
\nDefense – LOW<\/p>\n