So, I'm a huge proponent of moving away from STHS precisely because of its dearth of meaningful attributes. As an example, Defense is way too powerful as it is.

Looking at the screenshot in the OP, I think FHM does it waaaay better, with Positioning and Getting Open being Defensive and Offensive attributes respectively. It's actually similar to Football Manager series, where there's a difference between Positioning and Off the Ball.

Offensive Read and Defensive read are great additions that I take to stand in for awareness in either zone, which I like.

I think most of all I'm happy to see that any really effective build would pull from at least three attribute types.

If you're making a playmaker, you're concerned with Passing and Offensive Read (OFFENSIVE RATINGS), Team Player (MENTAL RATINGS), and Balance and Stamina (PHYSICAL RATINGS). That different archetypes require different investments in arrays of skills is a breath of fresh air coming from a sim engine where there is literally one catch all attribute called 'Scoring'.

If there's one thing I'd like to see from FHM, which I'm not sure is currently a thing, it's handedness/position importance. I want it so that there are Left and Right side defensemen. I want it so that there will be a small but meaningful loss in efficiency if you're playing a LW at right wing. It adds a level of depth when it comes to roster management. Hell, theoretically there could even be an attribute to take this into account: Adaptability, how well the player can maintain full efficiency when playing out of position.

In general, more (meaningful) attributes and archetypes will mean better build diversity, which is something the SHL needs. If we're making the switch away from STHS then I for one am excited. ■

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