Lineup
Table of Contents
The lineup is where you assign which players will play in a given game (or season), who is scratched (i.e. on your active roster but not playing), and which units they’ll be part of (power play, penalty kill). The game also shows chemistry ratings for lines to help you see how well players work together.
You have limits on how many players per position (forwards, defensemen, goalies) can be in your active lineup.
Key Concepts to Understand #
Here are some important mechanics to know before you build a lineup:
- Offensive Chemistry: Each forward line gets a colored chemistry indicator: blue = elite, green = high, yellow = medium, red = low, dark red = poor. It reflects how well players combine offensively.
- Player Types / Roles: Forwards can be Sniper (SNP), Playmaker (PLM), Two‑Way Forward (TWF), Power Forward (PWF), Enforcer (ENF). Defensemen can be Offensive (OFD), Two‑Way (TWD), Defensive (DFD). Matching players in complementary roles helps your lines’ performance.
- Locking Players: You can lock a player into a slot so that when the “Best Lines” auto‑arrangement is applied, they stay in your chosen position. If the player gets injured or moves to another league, the lock is removed.
- Scratched Players: Even though your roster may contain more players, only a subset plays. You’ll have scratches (players on roster but not in the active lineup).
- Roster Limits: The typical lineup constraints are: 14 forwards, 7 defensemen, and 2 goalies.
- Auto Lineup / Best Lines Feature: The game can auto‑set what it considers “best” lineup, but you can override or adjust manually. Many players use best lines as a starting point and then tweak.
- Auto Reset / Auto Rearrangement: After trades or roster moves, the lineup may auto‑reset unless you turn off auto lineup or lock players.
Step‑by‑Step: How to Make Your Lineup #
Here’s a simple workflow you can follow when setting your lineup.
| Step | What to Do | Why / Tips |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Go to the Lineup Page | Navigate to the “Lineup & Chemistry” or equivalent screen in your team menu. | This is where you see all your rostered players and can assign them to lines, specials, or scratches. |
| 2. Use “Best Lines” (optional) | You can press the “Best Lines” button to auto‑fill a recommended lineup. | Use this to get a baseline, especially when you’re new. Then you can adjust from there. Many players lock certain players after running best lines. |
| 3. Lock Key Players | For your core stars, use the lock option so they stay in your desired slot. | Prevents the auto‑lineup feature from moving them. |
| 4. Arrange Forward Lines | Assign forwards by position (Left Wing, Center, Right Wing) into 4 lines. Try to mix roles (snipers, playmakers, two‑ways). | A good balance helps lines perform better. Also watch chemistry colors. |
| 5. Arrange Defense Pairs | Assign defensemen into 3 pairs. Try not to put two defensive D in the same pair (offensive chemistry suffers). | Chemistry between defense pairs matters too. |
| 6. Choose Goalies | Set a starter and a backup (or rotate depending on schedule). | You can’t have all your goalies active, only 2 in the lineup. |
| 7. Set Special Units (Power Play / Penalty Kill) | Assign which forwards/defense will take part in your power play and penalty kill squads. | You want high offensive guys (snipers, playmakers) on PP, and defensively strong or two‑ways on PK. |
| 8. Scratch Excess Players | Move surplus forwards, defensemen, or extra goalies to the scratched list so your lineup fits the slot constraints. | If you don’t, you’ll get errors about “invalid lines” when simulating. |
| 9. Preview Chemistry / Adjust | Look at each line’s chemistry indicator. If a line is red, try switching a player (e.g. change a forward’s role or partner) to boost chemistry. | Chemistry is a guide, not everything must be blue, but avoid very poor chemistry if possible. |
Common Tips & Mistakes for Beginners #
- Don’t overthink the bottom lines early on. Focus on the top 1–2 forward lines and your top defense pair and goalie. Many players suggest going “top heavy” (strong top, weaker bottom).
- Watch chemistry, but don’t obsess. Blue chemistry is ideal, green is good. Sometimes you can’t get perfect chemistry on every line.
- Turn off auto lineup or use locks. If your lineup keeps changing after trades, that’s likely because auto lineup is active.
- Mind your roster counts. If you have too many goalies, or too many players at a position, you won’t be able to simulate because the lineup is “invalid.”
- Use dual‑position players smartly. Some players can play more than one position; that flexibility can help your chemistry or fill gaps.
- Think role synergy. Having three forwards who are all “snipers” might give high offense but weak defense/defensive responsibility. Mixing roles often yields better balance.
- Use best lines + tweaks. It is recommend to use “Best Lines” as a starting point, then locking or adjusting to suit your strategy.
