Simhl: A Hockey Fans' Dream

Simhl.com is a game that any hockey fan can enjoy. As a General Manager, you are given the tasks of trading, drafting, and managing a team on a day to day basis. Simhl.com has the NHLPA rights as well, so real players with real logos are used.

So what do I do?

You are a General Manager of a fantasy pro hockey team in a simulated hockey league. You make call-ups, set pro and farm lines, negotiate with real GM's from around the world, sign and cut players, draft rookies, and negotiate contracts. You are in complete control. The most fun part of all the responsibilities of a GM is trading. There is a live chat feature in which you can talk and interact with GM's of other teams. It takes time to get good at wheeling and dealing, but it is what makes a good GM.

What goes on?

Lots of things! New games are simulated daily. The complex game simulator gives you a result at 9 AM EST every day, excluding a rest between the end of the regular season and playoffs. Many different things go into this simulator. Some of these things are:

· How your team matches up with your opponent.

· How tired your players are.

· How good your players are.

· How well your team is playing.

There is an 82-game schedule and playoffs if you have one of the top-8 teams in the conference. After four rounds of grueling post-season play, a rookie draft is held during a short off-season that lasts about a week. A few times a year, player's attributes change based on age and productivity. This process is commonly known as rerating.

How do I build a winner?

Trades and drafting are how you build a great team. The key is to not make an excessive amount of deals. Here is an example: get rid of players with low strength, because they will not be as productive as you would like. They will tire out more easily. You also have to find chemistry between your players. Three great scorers won't work well together on a line. It's good to have a playmaker, a scorer, and a role-player on a line. When you first pick up a team, try and play with the lines to see who works well together.

How do I get started?

Go to www.simhl.com and create a free account. When you first join, you will be given a free farm team. As a farm manager, you can edit the lines of a minor league team. But when you upgrade to a pro team, you get all the responsibilities and rewards of a real GM. Now it does cost a few bucks to play. Now don't leave this page just because of that last sentence. It costs anywhere from $0-100 dollars per season depending on the team you take. The first $35 million of a team's salary is free. Every million dollar in salary after that costs one additional dollar. Three seasons are played each year, so if you have a team with a salary of $40 million, it costs you $15 for an entire year! There are rewards for winning as well. When you win a Stanley Cup, you receive a free t-shirt and free credits for future seasons.

I have used this site for over a year and been very happy. It is extremely fun and gives me something to do in my down time. The money isn't really an issue, because I only spend $45 a year on two different teams in two different leagues. There are 10 different leagues to choose from. It is well worth the little money and it is a great chance to prove you can do a better job than your favorite team's GM!