Minstrel Hockey League 2011-12

[B. Stinson]

Alright everybody, thanks to a reminder from Manimal, 2011-12 fantasy hockey is officially open!

Homepage: Minstrel Hockey League

This will be our official thread for this year's Minstrel Hockey League discussion.

2011-12 Rules:
Regular Season:
. 6th October 2011 - 18th March 2012 (Week 22)

Roster:
. 4 LW, 4 C, 4 RW, 6 D, 2 G (max 3)
. 3 Bench
. 1 IR
. Roster size: 23
. Starters: 20

Scoring:
. Skaters: G, A, +/-, PIM, GWG, SOG, BLK, PPP, SHP (Total: 9)
. Goalies: W, SV, MIN (Total: 3)

Misc:
. ESPN Undroppable List: Yes
. Match-up Acquisition Limit: 7 (7-day match-ups)
. Waiver Period: 2 days
. Trade Review Period: 2 days (Only Commissioner vetoes)
. Match-up Tie-breaker: Goals (G)
. Playoff Seed Tie-breaker: Goals (G)

Qualification:
. Playoff teams: 8
. Relegation: Bottom 3 from Relegation League (Played during playoffs)

Notable Rule Changes:
. None

Topics of Debate:
. Lower the Match-up Acquisition Limit

2010 Teams:
Black Bears IHC - Getzlaf15
Cammalleri and Meatballs - CatchUp
Concussion Junction - eric1985
Corinthians Red Army - corinthian
Don't Toews Me Bro - Justintinov
HC Franzen - timmy_t
Sancouver Senitals - batdad
Surahammar Sloppy Slippers - VisualDarkness
Marsac's Newbies - Marsac
Minnesota Titans HC - macdman
Philadelphia FHC - B. Stinson
Prague Dead Parrots - McQwak
Wild Boars - Manimal
Västerås Vikings - Lidas

*Rookie

[B. Stinson]

I think last year CatchUp brought up the possibility of more keepers. We didn't want to do this mid-season, since GMs had already drafted and planned according to 6 keepers.

But now that it's a new year, what do you guys think of increasing the number for next year? If you're in favor, what would you like to see the number of keepers be?

If we up the number, it would apply to next year. This year we'll start with our normal 6 keepers, and then before next season we'll select keepers with the new number.

[Justintinov]

Not sure about number of keepers for now since I am a rookie. But I am really excited for the coming season and hope I can improve on the last team owners position.

[McQwak]

Cool
Brian, which league I am in? Last season I was relegated from MHL, wasn't I? If not, I should have had better summer And I recieved the invitations to both of the leagues.
Thanks for explanation.

[B. Stinson]

That was my bad

You were in fact relegated, but we had a GM resign for this year. So you were relegated, and then since you were the best-finishing of the relegated teams, you were invited back up to fill the new opening.

You can safely ignore the invitation for the OHL.

[McQwak]

That was close

[B. Stinson]

Also, is anyone interested in changing scoring systems? Not the categories, but the system?

So far we've been using "Head-to-Head - Most Categories". In this system, teams are awarded a single win or loss for a match-up.

Also available with "Head-to-Head" is "Each Category", where teams' wins, losses, and ties are determined by each category they win, lose, or tie. For example, instead of getting a single win for a match-up, you'd instead get wins for each category that you led in that match-up. I believe this is the standard fantasy hockey scoring system, and I think it's default on Yahoo.

Then there's "Head-to-head - Points". This is the popular scoring system in fantasy football, and it involves assigning arbitrary point values to each stat. For example, a goal could be worth 2 points, an assist worth 3 points, etc. The categories would then be won or lost based on these fantasy point totals. The match-up outcome would be a single win or loss like we have now.

Anyone interested in using one of these variations, or are we all OK with what we have now? Keep in mind that these are all still head-to-head, with teams playing match-ups each week. The only change is in how exactly totals are shown or calculated.

[B. Stinson]

I completely forgot about the trophies last year, so I have the Bill Masterton trophy voting up right now. Be sure to vote!

Also, I'll be posting the trophy winners in the coming days.

[Manimal]

I gave my vote to my old rival, Graham!

BTW, My team is set and I'm looking to trade up in the draft. I have Ryan Kesler,Nathan Horton, Jordan Eberle and Martin Brodeur available.

I also think that 7 FA pick-ups are too many. It dampens the trade talk. There wasn't many trades at all in the past two seasons, whereas there were a lot more the year before(Before we made this the MHL)

[McQwak]

Well "Head-to-head - Points" seems like extension of our "Head-to-Head - Most Categories". Maybe we can use it to tweak some stats that have bigger impact then we want. For example minutes played or shots. On the other side SH points should have higher value and so on.
Negative thing would be complicity of such system and we would keep in mind the points for each category and take it into account when selecting players from FA/trade.

[CatchUp]

Hey everyone!

I think the current keeper setup is 1C 1LW 1 RW 2D and 1G. I would like to see: 2C 2LW 2RW 3D 1G. So increase the overall number to 10 from 6.

[corinthian]

I don't like the goalie stats. I think min. played and saves shouldn't be used anymore instead I like GAA and SV% (I know that are issues with it but it's still the best) mostly to avoid picking and dropping goalies (It happened a lot last season) to win Saves and Min. played

I like Catchup ideia 10 from 6 keepers.
Head-to-Head each category seems good. I believe baseball uses it.
I also thinks 7FA pickups are too many maybe 3 or 4 FAs (less is more!)

I have Pavelski or Backstrom to trade for picks. also Elder or Pietrangelo...

[B. Stinson]

I've added a section to my first post for proposed rule changes. It's titled in red, and just above the teams section.

Check this list out, and if you have any thoughts on any of the issues, feel free to cast your vote. If a certain change proves popular, we can certainly implement it when appropriate.

[batdad]

GAA and save percentage are too subjective. They are not just based on the goalie, but on the team he plays for. This gives everyone who has a goalie that plays a chance in the category. GAA and Save % are abused. Once you get the shutout in a week...you never put him back in and win the two categories. So no to that. Must leave the concrete stats of minutes and saves.

*change the number of keepers...the more the merrier. I am for 3w,2c,3d,1g. I don't think we should go to having 2 goalies as keepers..that is 2/3 of your goalie roster. I think 3 Wingers of any side is good. 9 keepers is a good solid number. I suppose we could go to 10..and have it as 6 forwards, 3 dmen and a goalie. I think if we up keepers to 10, the forwards should be less position specific for being a keeper. They have to play their positions, but less specific positionally. Do keepers this year is fine by me.

*Scoring the way we do now is the way to do it. Each and every person gets a chance each and every week. I think this is the better way. Keeps people more involved. I know we will still lose some guys part way through (or week 1 if archi is playing again), but we should keep the GAMES the way they are now.

*acquisition limit: Yes...lower it to 3 or 4 from the current 7. It is an advantage to have it for those of us who are more active. Gives us more chance. But at the same time I love putting an idiot in my lineup once in awhile....so maybe leave it.

*Other scoring: I don't know. I like the shot blocks...it values the defenseman more. A 25 point dman who leads his team in blocks is now as valuable as a Lidstrom. For instance I am leaning to keeping that Calgary dufus ahead of Liddy.Hits in instead of something? again...so subjective depending on rink you are in. Guys with Minny Wild and Boston Bruins would win this hands down each time. (Oh and Dustin Brown--The kings give him a hit every time he pees on someone)

[batdad]

I gave my vote to my old rival, Graham!

BTW, My team is set and I'm looking to trade up in the draft. I have Ryan Kesler,Nathan Horton, Jordan Eberle and Martin Brodeur available.

I also think that 7 FA pick-ups are too many. It dampens the trade talk. There wasn't many trades at all in the past two seasons, whereas there were a lot more the year before(Before we made this the MHL)

Your old rival eh? Well I have now tied the award up. I voted for Marsac.

[batdad]

Okay...there is another problem. The morons have dropped the second positions again. Marleau, Carter, Ott...they have all lost their 2nd positions and are now just Centres.

This is the problem with POSITION specific keepers for forwards. It should be just forward keepers. Carter was actually both and changed to a RW, C after I got him. Now he is back just as C.

I think that we need to make it Forwards. Just to keep things right.

[B. Stinson]

I could probably do that one right now since it won't affect anything negatively.

In fact, the only reason it's position-based in the first place is simply to have it represent "a line"... pretty much just cosmetic.

Actually, I don't even need to change anything! I just need to tell you guys that you're allowed to keep any three forwards, two defensemen, and one goalie. So, have at it! Pick any three forwards as keepers

(of course, if we decide to increase keepers, this will go up... so stay tuned)

[Manimal]

I would also want to raise the keeper amount right away. 6F, 3D, 1G is good, I think. No positions, just fwds.

I'm with Batdad on keeping MINS and Saves for the same reason he posted.

[McQwak]

I vote for not increasing keepers since I almost have any right now My big hope is the draft and if there won't be players that you all keep then ...

[corinthian]

GAA & SV% works fine if it's used like in baseball: Pitches needs a certain number of innining to validate the category, if use here it would work just fine (number of minutes played). If your team have a shutout doesn't matter you need a minimun of minutes.

I think keeping positions (2c, 2lw, 2rw, 3d, 1g) is best and more difficult instead of 6forwards.

[B. Stinson]

With generally favorable support, keepers have been increased from six to ten, starting this year. Also, the restriction on forward positions is gone - we're free to select any six forwards you want, regardless of specific position.

On another note, lowering the match-up acquisition limit also seems to be a popular idea. Does anyone have any further thoughts or concerns on this?

[macdman]

only in crease the keepers by 1 and call it a rookie from the previous yr.

also i am not in favor of reducing match up acquisition limit because you will see less trades and will have less chances to pickup players once others get injured.

[Manimal]

also i am not in favor of reducing match up acquisition limit because you will see less trades and will have less chances to pickup players once others get injured.

What do you mean by less trades? If we can't pick up guys as FAs, then we'll have to trade more

[batdad]

Good on the increased keepers. Yes..lower the adds/drops per week. Makes us work harder to make a team good.


***we must make sure that people know they HAVE to have 10 keepers. 6F,3D,1G. OTherwise it will mess up the draft. Some will not take all 10 players...and then they will start drafting early, getting he best of what is left before those who use 10 keepers have a chance to select.

[timmy_t]

Silly Question: I won the Octavian Hockey League and got promoted this season and I'm confused by the keepers? Are these chosen from the players that are already on the team when I first took over? Or do we re-draft everyone and then make a list of players that we must keep all season?