The Gauntlet is a one-shot roguelite. Draft a Top 6 from current NHL rosters, then run them through ten games of rising competition. Win all ten and you take your place in the Hall of Fame. Lose a single game and the run is over.
Survive ten straight games. There is no second chance — one loss ends your run on the spot. Ten wins with zero losses is a perfect run.
You fill six slots in order: center, left wing, right wing, left defense, right defense, goaltender. For each slot the board spins a random NHL franchise and offers its three best players at that position, rated by overall. Pick one to lock it into your lineup. Picks are permanent, so weigh every choice.
Jokers are limited and do not refill during a run. Spend them where they matter most.
Your squad rating is the average overall of your six players. Each game weighs that rating against the opponent's strength to decide the result. Opponents ramp the whole way: two easy, two medium, two hard, two elite, then two boss games to close it out. The stronger your squad, the better your odds — but nothing is guaranteed.
Every run is scored on wins and total goals for. Finish a flawless ten-win run to enter the Hall of Fame with a perfect-run trophy. The leaderboard ranks the best general managers by wins, then goals.
The daily seed hands every player the same draft and the same schedule each day — one run to climb that day's board. Free play runs are unlimited, with a fresh random draft every time.