Fantasy Hockey '09-'10

[Mandrel]

I've figured out the problem with trades in this kind of league.

Not enough roster spots.

This, or too few teams, so there are few "mid- tier" players on teams.  I considered a couple of your offers for Crosby, but to accept them, I'd have to drop a player I wanted to hang on to.

[Azaroth]

Exactly. In the end, because of not having enough spots/too few teams, trades that aren't 1 for 1 have to be lopsided somehow. Trades that ARE 1 for 1 are nearly impossible. Trading just doesn't work - and not for a lack of trying. I've been trying to make trades happen (I assume just about everyone has like five offers or more from me), but it's not going to work out.

A pool with about twice the roster space would be much more entertaining.

[Azaroth]

Okay, so:

Taking a break from UO data entry, I set up a secondary league for us hockey fellas.

The Rules Are As Such:

- Each team is a full team. That means four lines, seven defense, and two goaltenders. Four bench spots and two IR spots. Full team.

- Goals are five points and assists are three points. Just like before.

- Plus/Minus is now worth TWO POINTS. That's twice as much. That means good +/- guys matter, and bad ones can hurt you a bit.

- Penalty Minutes are one point. That's up from 0.1. Fighters and shit disturbers are actually valuable players now. A fight is worth as much as a goal. Instigating, fighting, and a game misconduct? It's the new Hat Trick, baby!

- Powerplay points add one extra point (nerfed, since we're going with bigger rosters and more roleplayers).

- Shorthanded points were worth +3 before. Now goals are worth +5, and assists +3. I felt this should be bumped to make penalty killing players more valuable. Again, gogo defensive-type players and roleplayers!

- GWG is changed from 1 point to 2. Gogo clutch players!

- Faceoffs, goaltender points and the rest I feel were just fine.


Draft Day is the 20th. Only draft available is autodraft (no move Live Draft) -- so set up your rankings if you're interested.

League ID#:  341853
League Name: batcountryxtra
Password:    nohomers
Custom League URL: http://hockey.fantasysports.yahoo.com/league/batcountryxtra




(Obviously if people generally roll their eyes at the thought of more hockey, I'll take votes on doing next year's pool something like this)

[WayAbvPar]

Sounds interesting. In.

[trotski]

Is this just a response to my total domination?

Sounds awesome, I'm in.

[Azaroth]

Yes.

[Fordel]

61 Shots on net, Sixty-One!


They lose 4-3 in OT.



 



I need a awesome for real emoticon with a Blue Maple on it's face.

[Azaroth]

I think my Penguin-love got me bamboozled on that trade.

Crosby is absolutely fucking awful this year.

[Fordel]

Clearly he should sign with Toronto then.

[Azaroth]

Well, if Kessel is worth two top 5/lottery picks and a second round pick... I might actually take a trade for Crosby. What's he get, eight top fives? Ten?

Sounds like a deal.

[Fordel]

I feel bad for Kessel, he's a pretty darn good player really, but he isn't the Magic Bullet his price tag would suggest and it's going to ruin him once the fans turn.

[Azaroth]

Well, I'm surprised how we'll he's doing so far. Problem is that he's their only actual player outside of Kaberle. Even if Kaberle and Kessel were Ovechkin and Malkin they wouldn't be able to carry that team.

I just can't fathom how painful it'll be for Leafs Nation if these picks end up being a couple of #1 overalls.

Oops, *that* close. Almost had a bright future for once.

[Special J]

Well, if Kessel is worth two top 5/lottery picks and a second round pick... I might actually take a trade for Crosby. What's he get, eight top fives? Ten?

Sounds like a deal.

Sure, but their first round picks are spoken for until 2021.

[Fordel]

Well, I'm surprised how we'll he's doing so far. Problem is that he's their only actual player outside of Kaberle. Even if Kaberle and Kessel were Ovechkin and Malkin they wouldn't be able to carry that team.

I just can't fathom how painful it'll be for Leafs Nation if these picks end up being a couple of #1 overalls.

Oops, *that* close. Almost had a bright future for once.

Yea, easily the biggest "Problem" with Kessel, is you see him play and you go "oh hey, this guys is a legitimate 1st liner" and then you see the stark and terrible contrast between him and say, every other forward on the Leafs.

Here's hoping those top draft picks turn out to be lemons 

[Azaroth]

I'm surprised there isn't more Brian Burke hate.

When did the guy become an infallible genius, exactly?

He didn't even fucking build that Anaheim team. He made a few moves and the team that was largely already in place won a cup. It's like saying Shero is a genius because Pittsburgh won a cup when they already had all of their major pieces in place and were just waiting for them to hit their stride.

[Fordel]

I'm surprised there isn't more Brian Burke hate.

When did the guy become an infallible genius, exactly?

He didn't even fucking build that Anaheim team. He made a few moves and the team that was largely already in place won a cup. It's like saying Shero is a genius because Pittsburgh won a cup when they already had all of their major pieces in place and were just waiting for them to hit their stride.

I don't know when the Burke worship exactly started, but the lack of hate is coming from people not really comprehending the situation I think. On the radio shows, I hear a lot of people call in with comments like "don't worry, this team is a work in progress, you need a few years to build something", which seems to really just gloss over the fact we will be missing those key rebuilding tools, like draft picks. 

It's also still early'ish in the season, so those Leafs are going to kick it into gear any day now and win the next 60 straight, you'll see!

To be fair, there ARE a fair number of people who call in and are like "Burke didn't Build that Anaheim team, he just put some frosting on the finished cake" or "what did we get ourselves into this time?". There are also a fair number of people wondering where all those players we saw in the pre-season went, or trying to figure out what the hell are we paying all these glorified 3rd liners. The people who would usually be all for the Leafs sucking so they could get picks have already committed suicide I think.

[Azaroth]

I should have watched more Canucks games before trading Henrik, I think.

[Azaroth]

So Tortellini is a dick. Eight goals and he's hanging his backup goalie out to dry. Still in the net.

[Fordel]

The Leafs are going to run out of Goalies at this rate.

[Bunk]

My pool at work, since the start:

Sedin - IR
Setiguchi - IR
Gionta - IR
Corvo - IR
Kreicji - IR
Weber - IR

Oh, and I spent an early pick on Cam Ward, did I mention that?

[Ashamanchill]

The Leafs are going to run out of Goalies at this rate.

They could have a lifesized cardboard Terry Sawchuck in net and it wouldn't leave them that much worse off.


Or they could pick one from the crowd!

[Azaroth]

Aren't the Leafs (while still in 14th) like 2 or 3 points out of 8th or something now?

I understand that this type of parity is a product of the loser point, but credit where credit is due... they've turned it around lately, at least temporarily.

[Azaroth]

Interesting article on loser points:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=lebrun_pierre&id=4706309


Currently, my biggest problem with loser points isn't REALLY that 8-14 in the East is separated by 2 points. That's fine ultimately, because everyone gets the hope of their team being in the playoffs. My problem is when you have SERIOUSLY out of whack situations like Dallas and Vancouver at the moment wherein Vancouver is in 10th and Dallas in 9th, both tied with 38 points.

Problem? Dallas is 14-8-10, and Vancouver is 19-14-0. Really, Dallas is 14-18 and Dallas is 19-14, yet they're tied and if Detroit had one less point and the playoffs started today, Dallas would be in and Vancouver out. That's complete fucking bullshit, period.

[Fordel]

Aren't the Leafs (while still in 14th) like 2 or 3 points out of 8th or something now?

I understand that this type of parity is a product of the loser point, but credit where credit is due... they've turned it around lately, at least temporarily.

Everyone but the Hurricanes(who are beyond terrible  ) are 2 points out of the 8th spot in the East. The East is fucking weird and shitty like that. 


Montreal currently has 8th, with 33pts

Florida is 9th, also with 33pts (I assume some kind of tie breaking is going on)

Philly, Tampa, NYR, NYI and Toronto all have 31pts, so yea it's still wide open and any of these basement dwellers still has a very legitimate chance of making the playoffs at this rate.


Yea, Toronto has actually picked up their game, still a long way to go, but you can actually see some daylight these days! A loooong way from their terrible start.

[Azaroth]

I realize that they're still 12-21 or whatever (fuck loser points), but that's a far cry from 1-15 or whatever the flying shit they were a while ago.

Also the log jam in the standings is purely by design. That's the point of the overtime loss column. Bad teams are still bad, the parity is artificial.

[Bunk]

Interesting article on loser points:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=lebrun_pierre&id=4706309


Currently, my biggest problem with loser points isn't REALLY that 8-14 in the East is separated by 2 points. That's fine ultimately, because everyone gets the hope of their team being in the playoffs. My problem is when you have SERIOUSLY out of whack situations like Dallas and Vancouver at the moment wherein Vancouver is in 10th and Dallas in 9th, both tied with 38 points.

Problem? Dallas is 14-8-10, and Vancouver is 19-14-0. Really, Dallas is 14-18 and Dallas is 19-14, yet they're tied and if Detroit had one less point and the playoffs started today, Dallas would be in and Vancouver out. That's complete fucking bullshit, period.

As of last night, Vancouver would go from 10th to 7th if they went to a 3 point system.

[Azaroth]

Now just imagine there were no more games left to play this season.

I'm a Penguins fan and I'd be pissed off for them. I can't imagine Canucks fans.

Of course I like the Canucks as a team. If it was a team like the Flyers or... hell, just the Flyers... I'd be all "Tehee, them's the breaks... l2rules".

[Fordel]

I have no stats to back this up, but I want to say the West basically farms the East for points as well, whenever they have cross-conference games.

[Strazos]

I've noticed that for the past...I dunno, 10 years?

It's the time difference, I tell ya. Starting a game at 10pm is a lot tougher than starting at 4pm.

[Azaroth]

I'm also pretty certain it hasn't been the case for the last couple years.

[WayAbvPar]

I've noticed that for the past...I dunno, 10 years?

It's the time difference, I tell ya. Starting a game at 10pm is a lot tougher than starting at 4pm.

Strange, since the exact opposite holds true in the NFL. West Coast teams get abused in early East Coast games.

[Ashamanchill]

You know what the funny thing about Toronto being so close, but yet so far away from the playoffs is? You don't hear about them anymore. Back when they were 1-8 or whatever, the whole city was abuzz talking about them. Sure they were getting ready to lynch mob them, but buzz is buzz.

[Fordel]

Oh give it another week, if they win a few more games "THIS IS OUR YEAR" will start up again! 

[Ashamanchill]

If it does they'll sink right to the bottom again. I give credit to their recent (kinda) surge to the fact that they're not being constanly hounded.

[Azaroth]

Just letting everyone know that I'm very proud of myself for getting into first place.