Option 2

There are many cool things that you could bring in to the SHL from an RPG perspective, feats being one example of those. The ISFL has something like that where once you reach a certain threshold in particular attributes, you can spend TPE on something outside of attributes that also gives your player a boost, almost like an X-Factor in the EA NHL games. This may not work the same in the SHL since FHM probably doesn't have anything like that, but maybe something that would allow you to spend past 20 in certain attributes would work. The TPE cost would have to be balanced of course to not allow overpowered players to dominate the league, but something like becoming a specialized stat you can buy to boost your player, for example once you get to 20 offensive read and 20 passing you can buy the 'elite playmaker' feat to allow you to keep buying attribute increases up to 25 for these two. Players would probably have to be capped at one feat per player also.