OFF-SEASON LM Meeting synopsis

[Flames GM (Beamer)]

Placeholder for a "high-level" summary of the League Mod. Discussions for League Rules amendments/changes from early April/2018.   This thread will be updated to a total of 9 different topics.

See below for the 9 Topics discussed (some at great length/debate)

Derek or Mike can correct me if they see that I missed anything....

[Flames GM (Beamer)]

Topic #1 - Draft Lottery
All 3 LMs were in agreement on this. It mimics real life NHL, makes some teams think twice about how they tank, etc...At the end of the day we loved it (and even without the suggestion from SCD GMs, LM wold have discussed this form of Draft Lottery).

Not wanting to change the gameplan from what was laid out at the beginning of our season and to be fair to all SCD GMs, we institute this Draft Lottery idea effective NEXT SEASON (19/20)

[Flames GM (Beamer)]

Topic #2 - Rule Ambiguity re: In-season Team Cap/Floor & off-season over-Cap allowable

LMs were in agreement to raise the cap and agreed to match in real life cap and floor totals. It was also decided to allow it to fluctuate year over year just like the real NHL. Due to accepting in real life contract extensions, etc...it was agreed to allow up to $5.00M OVBR the cap only during OFF-Season. This includes GM's signing free agents.

EG. If cap is at $80.00M for the coming year, a GM can go over that cap limit by $5.00M in the off-season only and spend up to $85.00M. By week one of the team's cap must be back to $80.00M.

No floor minimum during the off-season but teams must be at the salary floor by week one matchups.

[Flames GM (Beamer)]

Topic #3 - Scale players counting against the cap

Kept as is - SCD $0.80M for any forward who has played 30 NHL games in one season. His 2nd and 3rd season, they'd have to play 15 games per season in order to gain a year of NHL experience. Should a GM choose to keep an NHL plyer in the minors who has played 30 IRL games in the NHL, that player will still "gain" a year of NHL experience. This prevents teams from hoarding players. Keeping players with Year 2 and Year 3 SCD contract will continue to be applied to the cap. Should a GM wish to drop a SCD level contract player, no cap penalty is applied for the drop.

For goalies, this holds the same except Year 1 min. games played are 15 game played, followed by 15 games in Year 2 and Year 3.

The rule of 6 add/drops to any matchup still applies. (i.e. you can't continually add/drop players through out a match up)...a max of 6 Adds and 6 drops are allowed per match-up

[Flames GM (Beamer)]

Topic #4 - Trade Deadline Time change

Agreed on by all 3 LMs. Keep the day but move the time from afternoon deadline to evening deadline.
Changing the time to later in the day on Trade Dealine Day made huge sense so people could still swings deals when they get home from work.

[Flames GM (Beamer)]

Topic #5 - Retaining Cap in Trade

By far the hardest issue to tackle and will be reviewed at year's end again.
The previous cap max allowable of 10% for a max. of 2 years stifled a few GMs from making trades. The amount needed to change but by how much. Term of 2 years was agreed on but not the % of cap allowed for a trading GM to retain.

Background. The 10% allowable was originally brought for 17/18 season due to some teams (and all former GMs now) colluding to stack a couple of franchises with little to limit of retaining salary. It made for an unbalanced system, and more of less wreaked teams from being competitive for multiple years. After SCD was able to re-balance/re-form for the start of 17/18, trading cap was minimal.

After going back and forth, 25% cap retainment was agreed on with the condition that 2 years max. for retainment was still being used and that the trading team could over retain up to $2.00M with that trading partner. This should deter any "stacking" of teams.

EG.
Flames Cam Fowler to Boston and Flames agree to retain the max. allowable for term and contract. Salary is $6.50. Flames retain 25% for 2 years (i.e. $1.63M is retained). Should Boston and Calgary do another deal for retained salary, the most the Flames could retain would be $0.37M).

As is with any trade, ALL GMs are encouraged to vote on the passing/vetoing of deals. If you as a GM feel that a deal is unfair in ANY WAY, chime in and VETO it. Vetos obviously show disagreement with something and a disenting GM is more tha encouraged to stay why they feel a deal is not passable.

[Flames GM (Beamer)]

Topic #6 - Over 51 prospect retainment fee

Agreement from all 3 LMs that this $0.60M amount per player needed to be upped (cough cough Carolina cough cough). Topic was actually raised by Carolina BTW.

This current retainment fee was upped to $0.80M from $0.60M. A bit more finincial rammifications for teams who have over 51 prospects...this will make GMs cut deadweight/not stockpile as many prospects without paying for it.

[Flames GM (Beamer)]

Topic #7 - Standings in the Forum

Apreed upon - previous seasons we did posting the standings, but was a bit of pain to update the way it was laid out. A thread has been created and the week by week standings will be back and visable in the Proboards for 2018/19 season

[Flames GM (Beamer)]

Topic #8 - Playoff Tie-Breakers

Big issue for the 1st round this year..unforeseen by anyone. We figured it out as there was really no tie-breaker was in place for PLAYOFF ties (e.g. two teams finished 7-7-0).

Going forward as written in League Rules, only playoff stats will be used to help break the tie.

1. MOST playoff goals
2. LOWEST Goals Against Averahe (GAA)
3. BEST +/-
4. MOST Penalty Minutes

[Flames GM (Beamer)]

Topic #9 - Rulebook clean-up

Revision of rulebook to include changes/clarity of the above 8 topics, addition of the Player Amnesty memo used from prior seasons, adding info on GroupMe, passing a few bucks onto Derek for covering the cost to keep all 31 teams in ONE league, and so on.

All GMs are encouraged to be familiarized with rules and to contact any or all LMs with errors/misunderstandings that they may see or have. We coordinate this league for all 31 GMs to enjoy and get their hockey-geek on. We strive to make this the best possible experience for all. Suggestions are always welcome ad of course fair play for all.