@WreckingCrew Thanks! - I'm trying to introduce some other tweaks and modifications to the NHLX series to keep it fresh and as a different experience. I think your comment about opt-outs are more relevant to the Pivot and TBL rosters - NHLX is a different animal and so I'm not really paying attention to much to any temporary changes IRL. I do think
@xECK29x said he was ignoring them as it just isn't worth updating for this shortened, weird season.
- With the introduction of a "Canadian" division in real-life and some talk of keeping that around (which - I still doubt but you never know)...I'm thinking that will be the setup in NHLX. It works perfect because in NHLX I am relocating Arizona to Quebec City to bring back the Nordiques. So that evens out all the divisions at 8.
- NHLX will feature the new NHL2 league as the main feeder league to the NHL. 16 teams in some of the biggest non-NHL markets and top AHL markets that will each be fed by two NHL clubs. It's an NHL-dependent league so it's only players with NHL contracts. They will be the primary farm clubs and the age limit is lowered to 18 so top notch draft picks who maybe are too good for juniors but not yet NHL-ready do end up playing here. You can think of it almost as an expanded "taxi squad" for each team except it's an actual competitive league. I've tried managing it some and it's kinda fun - you are at the mercy of the parent NHL clubs to some degree but with 2 NHL clubs supplying each NHL2 team and no bad, riff-raff AHL contract players in sight, the level of competition is high and it is fully-fledged with an All-Star game, playoffs and awards.
- AHL and ECHL are merged and then divided into two minor leagues - one based in the Eastern US, one based in the West. This will cut down travel expenses for these clubs. The AHL-East and AHL-West will remain the top independent leagues in North America outside the NHL and each NHL franchise will still have an AHL-based secondary farm club to store their lesser prospects and depth players who can't cut it at the NHL2 level yet.
- The Coyotes are in the game still - but demoted to the NHL2. I'm bringing back their fun kachina-style 90's logos and colors though.
- Charlotte are one the NHL2 clubs...while I have re-attached the Hurricanes as one of their feeder clubs, I can definitely switch their identity back to their more independent ECHL days.
- Will probably also tweak a few NHL club "looks" based on some of their retro or retro-reverse gear. I'm definitely switching the Wild logos and colors to the version used in this season's Retro Reverse look - with the old North Stars colors. Might be a few others as well.