Question with the prospect generator...does it help with goalies down the line? One of the biggest downfalls of me getting more than 10 years out is that the game currently generates virtually no good goalies (even if their attributes are good they suck in reality). I also notice after about 5-6 years (pre-generated players) even the #1 overall is rarely NHL ready for at least 2-3 years. One of the reasons I'm really not sure about starting a new game until 1.5 eventually comes out because player development seems slow/poor as you go on in years (again I've never made it past about 10-12 years). It's weird to see guys with meh attributes and a PA of like 130 racking up points and 7+ ratings in the NHL while a 170 PA player with decent attributes never develops, or doesn't play as well as his attributes would suggest and becomes an NHL tweener at best.
From my experience using it I can say it does a fantastic job. Like I said earlier, it basically made scouting and drafting mean something whereas before I though the draft was one of the weakest parts of ehm. After using it I can't play without it now. I tried last week but lost my interest pretty quick when the draft was spitting out garbage players in the first round year after year. When using a roster with the generator included or as a separate add-on it's quite obvious and impressive.
As far as NHL ready prospects, they come along but most prospects will need a year or 2 of development before being NHL ready. I mean, let's be real, it takes a pretty freakish player to be NHL ready after the draft... but they definitely come along. That is the beauty of the generator. You actually want to establish a scouting network and pay attention to the prospect system. Scouting and drafting is almost like a game in and of itself.