Asking AI to suggest the most effective Olimpija lineup...

Having used it for work, I thought it might be interesting to see what kind of advice Chat GPT would offer on selecting the optimal Olimpija lineup. See below for the chaos! (Info gathered from last week)

1ST TRY

To suggest optimal forward lines and defensive pairings for Olimpija Ljubljana in the 2024 ICE Hockey League season, it's helpful to examine both player performance and positions.

Forward Lines:

1. First Line:

   • Ziga Pance (LW): A veteran with a strong presence on the wing, currently with 2 points in 4 games.
   • Alexandre Lavoie (C): A playmaker with good vision, contributing 2 assists so far.
   • Kale Kerbashian (RW): A versatile forward with offensive potential, adding 3 points already.

2. Second Line:

   • Blaz Tomazevic (LW): A reliable scorer, with 2 goals in 4 games.
   • Nik Simsic (C): Offers consistent two-way play, adding 2 goals.
   • Robert Sabolic (RW): A seasoned player who brings leadership, still finding his rhythm.

3. Third Line:

• Miha Bericic (LW): Young and promising, with 1 goal in 4 games.
• Marcel Mahkovec (C): A solid center, focusing on defensive play with 1 assist so far.
• Tian Hebar (RW): A young forward with potential, contributing 1 assist in 2 games.

COMMENTS: Well, they fancy Hebar as a forward now! The Mehle / Sodja / Kumanović disrespect is real! Pance is an absolute luxury on the 4th line, we know that, but Chat GPT thinks he should be on the top line! Talking of that, it doesn't even give us a 4th line. Apparently, we don't need one!

Centre and wing has some crossover, clearly, but it seems to be quite flamboyant with putting Kerbashian, Beričič and Tomaževič, three starting centres (when healthy), on the wings. Obviously, Simšič has played centre extensively for us, but I don't see Lavoie or Mahkovec offering much there (although Lavoie has been taking offensive zone faceoffs, I've noticed).

Defensive Pairings:

1. First Pairing:

   • Ziga Pavlin: A veteran presence, combining defense with offensive contributions (3 points in 4 games).
   • Arvin Atwal: An aggressive, physical defenseman with 3 assists and significant penalty minutes, balancing offense and defense.

2. Second Pairing:

   • Wyatt Ege: Strong defensively, with a goal already this season.
   • Jan Cosic: An emerging talent, showing offensive upside with 4 points in 3 games.

3. Third Pairing:

   • Blaz Gregorc: A solid stay-at-home defenseman, providing experience and stability.
   • Rozle Bohinc: A young defender still developing his game.

This lineup balances experience, youth, and offensive and defensive strengths, positioning Olimpija to remain competitive in the ICE league​.

COMMENTS: It's put two right handers on the first pair and two lefties on the 3rd pair. Whoops! Where is Mašič?! You know my preference for Crnović, but even I am not going to be refusing Mašič his rightful place on the top pair with Atwal.

2ND TRY

Firstly, I told it that Hebar is a defender and asked for 4 lines...

You are correct that Tian Hebar plays as a defenseman for Olimpija Ljubljana. To accommodate that, here's an updated suggestion for Olimpija's lineup with a fourth forward line included:

Forward Lines:

1. First Line:

   • Ziga Pance (LW): Veteran with leadership and offensive skills.
   • Alexandre Lavoie (C): A playmaker with great vision.
   • Kale Kerbashian (RW): Contributes both scoring and playmaking.

2. Second Line:

   • Blaz Tomazevic (LW): Reliable winger with goal-scoring ability.
   • Nik Simsic (C): Strong two-way center.
   • Robert Sabolic (RW): Experienced forward with leadership.

3. Third Line:

   • Miha Bericic (LW): A promising young forward.
   • Marcel Mahkovec (C): A solid center with defensive focus.
   • Miha Zajc (RW): A depth scorer, reliable on both ends.

4. Fourth Line:

• Ziga Mehle (LW): Young player showing growth potential.
• Gregor Zajc (C): Brings energy and solid defensive play.
• Urban Podrekar (RW): A developing player, contributing to depth.

COMMENTS: Who is Gregor Zajc?! Miha's Dad?? I had to look up Podrekar, who is currently playing in the Canadian OHL. He did play for OLL, but a couple of years ago! Be careful trusting Chat GPT, people! With Beričič at centre, that 3rd line could be an interesting combination, so it's not a total failure.

Defensive Pairings:

1. First Pairing:

   • Ziga Pavlin: Experienced and capable of contributing offensively.
   • Arvin Atwal: A physical defenseman who adds toughness and offensive assists.

2. Second Pairing:

   • Wyatt Ege: Steady defender with a scoring touch.
   • Jan Cosic: Young but contributing solid points so far.

3. Third Pairing:

• Blaz Gregorc: Provides stability and experience.
• Tian Hebar: A promising young defender, part of Slovenia’s national setup​(
  
  

This setup balances experience, youth development, and defensive reliability while maximizing offensive potential across all lines.

COMMENTS: So, now it accepts Hebar as a defender, it's bye-bye Bohinc!  It's still going RD-RD and LD-LD on the first and third pairs, respectively. Ah well, at least Ćosić and Ege could be worth trying.

For Olimpija Ljubljana, the preferred goalie should be Lukas Horak, who has had a strong start to the 2024 season.

Goaltender:

• Lukas Horak (G): With a stellar 1.72 GAA and a .944 save percentage across 4 games, he has been a reliable backbone for the team, securing wins early in the season​(
  
  

This selection rounds out the team's lineup, balancing offensive threats, solid defense, and a dependable goaltender.

FINAL COMMENTS:  I don't think the coaches should be too worried about their job security to the might of the machine just yet. I hope you enjoyed this silly exercise - let's hope the real lineup plays to their full potential at home to Bolzano this Friday. See you there!