IPOTG Team Review: The Young Guns

I put together a IPOTG team last night and have spent enough time playing with them to share my thoughts on them. Note that I am an average player and played all 11 games in Div 4&3 with them.

Here is my IPOTG Team https://hutdb.net/17/builder/98383

Kucherov is there to complete some synergies and Bob is in net because I refuse to rely on a low end goalie and the goalie isn't going to change how I play.

Here is the team I was using (and still also have) so they are what I compare this team to. https://hutdb.net/17/builder/103913

General team stats through 11 games: Record 8-2-1

Top 4 points producers: Strome 11 Zborovski 10 Grundström 8 Chabot 8

Bottom 4 points producers: Barzal 1 Asplund 1 Chlapik 2 Juolevi 2

Offense

Offensively this team is amazing, they can burn past D and make scoring opportunities. Some times they are almost too fast and they do take some time to get used to. Their shots are amazing, even though their accuracy is average it is good enough to fire their rocket shots past goalies and defenders. Their passing is great with the syns I have, overall their syns make up for many of their shortcomings. They are not as easy to knock off the puck as you may think but they are by no means amazing, however that doesn't matter if the other team can't catch you. The best way to play these guys offensively is to cycle the puck into space and turn on the jets. In the O Zone move the puck around and try to take shots from the point, their shot power will literally will their way through goalies. I like to aim low with them and look for a tip.

Defense

Defensively these guys are different and took some getting used to. They will not lay any huge hits but they can knock a guy back off the puck long enough to gain possession. Their biggest weakness is puck battles in the corner. Their speed is their best defensive attribute as it is near impossible for someone to turn the corner on them and that have back checked like crazy to prevent breakaway goals on me. Best way to play them on D is to switch to the closest D, angle off the attacker and try to poke the puck away from them. Don't go looking for huge shutdown hits.

Overall Assessment:

These guys are absolutely insane to play with, it is like having a hack, honestly. I have never had so much fun playing this game before now they are speedy and fit my play style well. I have faced teams far superior on paper made up of the new Xmas Cards as well as heroes, legends, and 90+ players and absolutely stomped them. This is an extremely viable team build to play in the higher Divs. You probably will not like them the first time you play with them, they take getting used to, but give them 5 games and you will be singing their praises. For the time being I think this will become my main team, I tried going back to my old build and it just wasn't the same.

New player reviews, in this section I will give a brief review of the new 87 IPOTG, nothing formal:

Nylander: Amazing, he can burn guys like no other and has an amazing shot. His is decent on the puck and can hold his own on d, I have even gotten some good hits out of him. Strongly recommend, he is worth every coin.

Barzal: Fast and a great shot, but don't play him at center as he will disappoint you, I switched him with Gauthier his face offs were so bad. He makes for a great sniper on the wing however. Silly mits on the kid also. A bit weak on the puck but once he has some space he will burn any defender. Recommend but not as a C. He hasn't produced much for me points wise but he help create many of my scoring opportunities.

Cirelli: His stats speak for themselves, he floats on the ice like a hermes the Greek god. He will win any faceoff you need and then go on to score. He lacks in defensive ability so pair him on a line with someone a bit stronger to even out the line. Can't be touched!

Trenin: This Russian Bear is like the others, except he feels a bit stronger on the puck. I really enjoy using him. His shot is where he really shines as he has a good amount of accuracy to add to his perfect shot strength.

Grundström:

He is arguably the most well rounded of the new players, he's doesn't have insane boated stats like some of the others but he plays like a low 90 ovr player. I think he is undervalued and recommend picking him up. I would never remove him from this squad as he is their core.

Eriksson EK: Very similar to Grundström but but less special, well rounded player and his synergies help boost his stats. Solid pick up if you can get him for cheap. For this squad he is a must, as a call up for one of your "superior" teams I would avoid him.

Clauge: This sexy Canadian can do it all, his synergies lotion up his stone hands and turn them into nice smooth ones that I want to touch me all over. His shot is where he shines. I have him as a RW solely because I wanted a RD with Jones to set up some sexy 1Ts and didn't want to relegate him to the nether realm "3rd D Pairing".

Zborovski: Severely underpriced when I bought him, he isn't a big name but boy can he score from the point. His synergies help him out the same as Clauge so don't get worried about that base 82 passing stat. Go buy him now, seriously.

Chabot: He is like a young Burns but full of cum and anger. Once you activate his syns he can throw the body just fine and set up some beauty 1Ts for his Russian friend while sniping a few himself. His name will inflate his price a bit but that is partly why I love him on my team. If it was possible I would play him for as many minutes as he played in the Gold medal game where Canada beat.... nevermind😕

Jones: Plays the much like his 86 card offensively. However his PP and DR synergies boost him up even more. If you need the extra TW go for his 86, if you are already set pick this guy up. He can actually throw the body like none other and he is the only on on my team that consistently makes huge shutdown hits most shifts. He is going for pretty cheap for how good he is so I recommend picking him up. He is one of my favorite guys on the team, he even Sniper me a GWG with 0.4 seconds left from the neutral zone beating the goalie glove side low.

Recommendations: If you want a special unicorn to throw into your team for any of these guys except Grundström and Eriksson EK. These two are both great cars and Grundström plays like a 91 but they just don't have the flash and bang of the other guys.

My top 4 must buys in order:

1. Cirelli
2. Nylander
3. Chabot
4. Jones

I hope you guys found this helpful, I know it sounds like I am just talking these guys up but they really are great, especially on a team together. If you have anything to add please contribute in the comments. This was only a quick review so I may have missed some finer points. If you think I am wrong don't be afraid to say so, this is an open discussion to help people who are thinking about buying them before they are taken out of packs.

Cheers🏒🏒