Just thought I would type this up after playing the night of HUT. This is some things that I think might help others, as I am doing fairly well right now. May not work for everyone but it is working for me.
Build Defence
I got this by mistake because I found myself needed defencemen since all of mine were out of contract. So I went and bought some cheap dmen in the trading box. I had 2500 pucks won, and I basically set my limit to 2000, went and found an auction close to closing and bought Saure and Sarich for about 1700 total. I then got lucky and got Pothier in 600 card pack, so that rounds out my NHL defence. So my defence right now is rated 82-83,
82-78, 71-72. This helped so much because it gave me a solid back end with good defence awareness, unlike these 60-70 guys who suck and can't stop. Cross crease doesn't happen against me much.
Hitters Rule
The other huge thing for me is, all my defence can hit and hit hard. This helps because, well just think of it. Whose going to win in a hitting fight. An 83 NHLer or an 67 OHLer? I have found I am out hitting people 3-4 times more then they hit me. This is great with defence as they can hardly get anything going.
Find Your Diamonds in the Rough/Can the Scrubs
When you get your team, find the people you know you can play with. I have a bunch of NHLers on my team, but my top scorer is a 60 rated kid from Windsor named Johnson. Kid has 8G 3A in 10games. He is someone to keep as I can produce with him. Remember this is all about who YOU can play with, not who they think. Which leads me into the next two points. The rest of your team is filler until you get people you want in those positions. Once their contract is done, remove them, cut them, trade them, whatever. Do not offer them a contract. I have given one player a contract and that was my goalie who is 75 and playing like a stud. Everyone else just gets replaced. Why? Well because a 65 is a 65. A 74 is a 74. You'll have a few guys that go nuts, but most are just filler. If you need more, buy a 600 card pack to fill the voids.
Upgrading is a waste
Seriously, it is. I have not spent a dime on upgrading or even put anything into any players. Why waste it on scrubs. Save them for when you get good NHLers who could use a nice boost. Not on a 73 rated OHLer who will be cut anyway. In the same token, also let other people do the upgrades. Just buy better players from the trade room.
Chemistry means nothing
This is just stupid. Who cares if my guys don't jive together. I'M THE ONE PLAYING THE GAME. If this was a sim, then ok. But it isn't. I am doing everything, so what do I care right now if one of my people doesn't work well. I make them work well, and that is that.
All of this is without spending a dime. I have beat teams with loaded rosters with my shit apples. Once I start getting more people, I'll be killing these kids. I also right now have a 4th line of an NHL/AHLer so that is the start of my line up. Next I am going to start looking into getting some first line forwards, and a new goalie.
Secret to winning trades. Always go after the ones on page one first. Why? Because they are ending the fastest. I snuck in and took Sarich with 10 seconds left and spent 50 more points to get him.