Evolution of Player Attributes: Two Approaches
WebSim Hockey offers a realistic and dynamic simulation experience thanks to the evolution of its players' attributes. These attributes, based on players' actual performances over the last two seasons, are at the heart of the game's strategy from the launch of a new league.
Real Player Evolution
In this approach, player attributes are adjusted once per year at the end of the season and are based solely on their real NHL performance. During the After-Season stage, the attributes are updated according to each player’s real statistics from the past two seasons. The weight given to each season can vary depending on the league, ranging from a 50/50 split to using 100% of the most recent season. This mode requires all leagues to wait for the new attribute set to become available before starting a new season. Because this evolution method is unpredictable and rooted in real-life performance, it introduces an element of surprise and challenge. It rewards GMs who have a strong understanding of a player’s actual on-ice value.
Retro Real Player Progression
Experience a journey through time with Websim Hockey using the immersive retro real progression mode. This option lets you pick a historical starting season, like the iconic 1972–73 campaign or the 1979–80 expansion year, and replay hockey history one season at a time all the way to the modern era.
In this mode, the attributes of every player, coach, and goalie match the values they had in that specific season. It’s a rare chance to rewrite history. Can you build a legendary team that rises above every era?
This mode blends predictability with just enough uncertainty to keep every season fresh. It delivers a unique and varied experience that appeals both to longtime fans who want to relive the golden eras of the NHL and to newer generations discovering the stars who shaped hockey history.
Step into this retro adventure and build your own legend in Websim Hockey!
Virtual Player Evolution
In this mode, player attributes are recalculated twice per year: once after the December 21 simulation (the 82nd day of the regular calendar) and again at the end of the season during the transition to the after-season stage. This recalculation takes into account several factors that are specific to each attribute. Real or simulated player performance is not considered in this evolution method. This approach gives General Managers more control over how their team develops, thanks to the predictable progression of player attributes.
How Virtual Evolution Works
The attributes of both pro players and farm club players are recalculated twice per year: at mid-season, after the December 21 simulation (the 82nd day of the regular calendar), and again at the end of the season when transitioning to the after-season stage.
Player Development Investment Strategy
Each season, when planning your financial strategies, you can invest anywhere from 0 to 10 points in the Player Development category. The more you invest, the better your chances of seeing optimal attribute progression across your roster.
The table below shows the expected yearly change in average attributes based on investment levels of 0, 5, and 10 development points.
| Age | 0 points | 5 points | 10 points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | +1.5 | +1.9 | +2.2 |
| 25-29 | +0.6 | +0.9 | +1.2 |
| 30-34 | -1.6 | -1.2 | -0.9 |
| 35-39 | -2.8 | -2.5 | -2.2 |
| 40+ | -4.0 | -3.6 | -3.3 |
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- The table below shows the expected yearly change in average attributes based on investment levels of 0, 5, and 10 development points.
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- *The expected value shown applies to centers. For other positions, the expected progression is slightly higher because the investment impact influences fewer attributes than it does for centers.
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- **The attributes Leadership and Experience are not affected by investments in player development.
The table below shows the probability of a -1, -2, or -3 drop for each attribute based on your level of investment in player development.
| Investment | -1 | -2 | -3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 10% | 10% | 1.0% |
| 1 | 9% | 9% | 0.8% |
| 2 | 8% | 8% | 0.6% |
| 3 | 7% | 7% | 0.5% |
| 4 | 6% | 6% | 0.4% |
| 5 | 5% | 5% | 0.3% |
| 6 | 4% | 4% | 0.2% |
| 7 | 3% | 3% | 0.1% |
| 8 | 2% | 2% | 0% |
| 9 | 1% | 1% | 0% |
| 10 | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Durability Evolution
Mid-Season and End-of-Season Progression:
| AGE | MIN | MAX | EXPECTED |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 (FROM < 75) | +1 | +5 | +3 |
| 18-24 (DU >= 75) | -2 | +2 | +1 |
| 25-29 (FROM < 75) | +1 | +4 | +2.5 |
| 25-29 (DU >= 75) | -2 | +2 | +0.5 |
| 30-34 | -4 | -1 | -2.5 |
| 35+ | -5 | -1 | -3 |
End-of-Season Progression (in addition to the progression above):
In addition to the standard progression shown in the table above, an exceptional durability increase may occur at the end of the season.
The rule is the same for all players, and the expected change is 0.
| Variation | Percentage |
|---|---|
| -10 | 1% |
| -5 | 9% |
| 0 | 80% |
| +5 | 9% |
| +10 | 1% |
Stamina Evolution
Mid-Season and End-of-Season Evolutions:
| AGE | MIN | MAX | EXPECTED |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | -2 | +2 | +1 |
| 25-29 | -2 | +2 | +0.5 |
| 30-34 | -3 | +2 | -0.6 |
| 35-39 | -3 | +2 | -1.2 |
| 40+ | -4 | +1 | -2.2 |
End-of-Season Evolution (in addition to the evolution above):
Players aged 18 to 24 with a Stamina rating below 75 can improve this attribute more quickly, depending on their potential (above or below 80).
| AGE | MIN | MAX | EXPECTED |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 (STA < 75 & PO < 80) | +1 | +5 | +3 |
| 18-24 (STA = 80) | +2 | +6 | +4 |
Discipline Evolution
Mid-Season and End-of-Season Evolution:
| AGE | MIN | MAX | EXPECTED |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | -5 | +5 | 0 |
Strength Evolution
Mid-Season and End-of-Season Evolution:
| AGE | MIN | MAX | EXPECTED |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | -1 | +2 | +0.5 |
| 25-29 | -1 | +1 | +0 |
| 30-34 | -2 | +1 | -0.5 |
| 35+ | -3 | 0 | -1.5 |
Evolution for Intensity, Hockey Sense, Faceoffs (centers only), Passing, Shooting, Defensive
Mid-Season and End-of-Season Evolution:
| AGE | MIN | MAX | EXPECTED |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | -2 | +2 | +1 |
| 25-29 | -2 | +2 | +0.5 |
| 30-34 | -3 | +2 | -0.6 |
| 35-39 | -3 | +2 | -1.2 |
| 40+ | -4 | +1 | -2.2 |
Speed and Finesse Evolution
Mid-Season and End-of-Season Evolution:
| AGE | MIN | MAX | EXPECTED |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | -2 | +2 | +1 |
| 25-29 | -2 | +2 | +0.5 |
| 30-34 | -3 | +2 | -0.6 |
| 35+ | -3 | +2 | -1.5 |
Leadership Evolution
The Leadership (LD) attribute evolves based on two components: a variable factor and a fixed factor. The sum of these two elements determines the result for each progression update.
Mid-season and end-of-season changes for players under 80 de Meneur (ME):
| AGE | VARIABLE EVOLUTION | FIXED EVOLUTION |
|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 0, +1, +2, +3, +4 (equiprobable) | GP (Captain) * 4 / 82+GP (Assistant) * 2 / 82+GP (no C no A) * -1 / 82 |
| 25-29 | 0, +1, +2, +3 (equiprobable) | |
| 30-34 | 0, +1, +2 (equiprobable) | |
| 35-39 | 0, +1 (equiprobable) | |
| 40+ | 0 |
Mid-season and end-of-season evolution for players with a Leadership (ME) rating above 80:
| AGE | VARIABLE EVOLUTION | FIXED EVOLUTION |
|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 0 | GP (Captain) * 4 / 82+GP (Assistant) * 2 / 82+GP (no C no A) * -1 / 82 |
| 25-29 | 0, -1 (equiprobable) | GP (Captain) * 4 / 82+GP (Assistant) * 2 / 82+GP (no C no A) * -1 / 82 |
| 30-34 | 0, -1, -2 (equiprobable) | GP (Captain) * 4 / 82+GP (Assistant) * 2 / 82+GP (no C no A) * -1 / 82 |
| 35-39 | 0, -1, -2, -3 (equiprobable) | GP (Captain) * 4 / 82+GP (Assistant) * 2 / 82+GP (no C no A) * -1 / 82 |
| 40+ | 0, -1, -2, -3, -4 (equiprobable) | GP (Captain) * 4 / 82+GP (Assistant) * 2 / 82+GP (no C no A) * -1 / 82 |
Experience Evolution
Mid-season Evolution
| Age | Players | Goalies |
|---|---|---|
| All | 0.04 x Games Played | 0.06 x Games Played |
End of season Evolution
| Age | Players | Goalies |
|---|---|---|
| All | 0.02 x GP +0.5 x Playoffs Round* | .03 x GP +0.5 x Playoffs Round* |
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- The number of playoff games (GP) must be higher than the number of rounds the team advanced through in order to receive the 0.5-point bonus.
