NHL23: How to make Franchise Mode accurate due to LTIR

by Data782, NHL23 Expert. Check out YouTube Channel

If you enjoy being an Armchair GM, chances are you enjoy Franchise Mode on NHL-series games. Previously known as Dynasty Mode and Be A GM Mode, Franchise Mode allows you to make trades, sign contracts, scout prospects, and ultimately build a lineup of players that you hope will become a dynasty. Since LTIR still isn’t taken into account in these games, however, Franchise Mode can be a bit frustrating. On Vegas, for example, the $14M+ of LTIR that is being used does not get accounted for in-game. Therefore, just about every player on the team has their salary cut by ~$300k for multiple years – thus making it easier for that team to manoeuvre the salary cap.

To combat this problem, below is my cheat sheet for what salaries you should alter BEFORE you start up your Franchise Mode to keep the AI from changing up the league. The realism will never be perfect, but I would prefer to change the salaries of some players for one season as opposed to an entire team being altered for years to come. By making these changes, we can get a real challenge as the GM of these teams, OR see how the AI GM deals with those contracts down the road.

If you’re playing on PS4, you can download this roster from “Roster Sharing” instead of having to make these changes yourself! Just search for the roster named “Data Cap Compliant Three” from Data782. For more on this, check out my video that explains all of these changes check out my video that explains all of these changes:

Note: Some players who are retired/not coming back to the NHL but still cost against the salary such as Brent Seabrook are listed as 70 OVR. Therefore, different options will be presented for you depending on how you want to play your Franchise Mode. Whether you want them reduced in overall/salary, dropped to free agency (where they will not be signed at this overall) or out of the game completely (by transferring to an international team in “player movement”) will be up to you.

AS OF EA ROSTER DATED March 6, 2023:

ANAHEIM DUCKS: No changes necessary. Optional: drop RYAN KESLER to free agency/transfer to any international team to remove completely.

ARIZONA COYOTES: Under the salary cap. Add ~$7M to any expiring contract (ex. CHRISTIAN FISCHER $1.330M >> $8.5M). Optional: drop ANDREW LADD, SHEA WEBER, & BRYAN LITTLE to free agency/transfer to any international team to remove completely.

BOSTON BRUINS: No changes necessary.

BUFFALO SABRES: Under the salary cap. Add ~$3M to any expiring contract (ex. ZEMGUS GIRGENSONS $2.2M >> $5M). Optional: drop BEN BISHOP to free agency/transfer to any international team to remove completely.

CALGARY FLAMES: Over the cap both this season and in future seasons due to extensions. Reduce MILAN LUCIC $5.25M >> $750k, NIKITA ZADOROV $3.75M >> $2.25M, & DILLON DUBÉ $2.3M >> $750k.

CAROLINA HURRICANES: Reduce JORDAN STAAL $6M >> $750k & SHAYNE GOSTISBEHERE $4.5M >> 3.5M.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS: No changes necessary.

COLORADO AVALANCHE: No changes necessary.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS: No changes necessary.

DALLAS STARS: No changes necessary.

DETROIT RED WINGS: No changes necessary.

EDMONTON OILERS: Reduce MATTIAS JANMARK & DEREK RYAN $1.25M >> $750k. Optional: drop OSCAR KLEFBOM & MIKE SMITH to free agency/transfer to any international team to remove completely.

FLORIDA PANTHERS: Reduce PATRIC HORNQVIST $5.3M >> $1M.

LOS ANGELES KINGS: No changes necessary.

MINNESOTA WILD: Reduce MATT DUMBA $6M >> $2M

MONTREAL CANADIENS: No changes necessary. Optional: drop CAREY PRICE to free agency/transfer to any international team to remove completely.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS: No changes necessary.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS: No changes necessary.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS: No changes necessary.

NEW YORK RANGERS: Reduce VLADIMIR TARASENKO $3.75M >> $750k.

OTTAWA SENATORS: No changes necessary.

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: No changes necessary.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS: No changes necessary.

SAN JOSE SHARKS: No changes necessary.

SEATTLE KRAKEN: No changes necessary.

ST. LOUIS BLUES: No changes necessary.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING: No changes necessary. Optional: drop BRENT SEABROOK to free agency/transfer to any international team to remove completely.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS: No changes necessary.

VANCOUVER CANUCKS: Over the cap both this season and in future seasons due to extensions. Reduce ETHAN BEAR $1.8M >> $750k, TRAVIS DERMOTT $1.5M >> $750k, & TANNER PEARSON $3.25M >> $750k. Optional: drop MICHAEL FERLAND to free agency/transfer to any international team to remove completely.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS: Reduce ADIN HILL $2.175M >> $750k & TEDDY BLUEGER $2.2M >> $750k, PHIL KESSEL $1.5M >> $750k, NOLAN PATRICK $1.2M >> $750k, BRETT HOWDEN $1.5M >> $750k, & IVAN BARBASHEV $2.25M >> $1M.­­

WASHINGTON CAPITALS: Reduce CONNOR BROWN $3.6M >> $750k & CONOR SHEARY $1.5M >> $750k.

WINNIPEG JETS: No changes necessary.

When starting up your franchise mode after making these changes, the game will give you a “SALARY CAP WARNING” that asks if you want to keep the salary cap on because the system will fix team that are not compliant. Ignore this and keep the salary cap on.

There you have it! Remember that, if you are on PS4, you may download these rosters right away! If you want more guides to NHL 23 Franchise Mode that include scouting, line chemistry, and everything in-between throughout my Franchise Mode series, be sure to check out my YouTube channel which can be found here! www.youtube.com/data782

If you have any other Franchise Mode questions or would like a place to discuss hockey in general, feel free to reach out to me or the hundreds of other members in our Discord server: https://discord.gg/rRDYpTx

Data782