Hockey Thread! (NHL etc.)

[SkyPikachu]

I'll check with my friend. If we can't make the draft, is there an autodraft option?

As long as it doesn't take two or three players I have in mind (everyone should know who they are! ), then I fine with it.

Sedins?

Also currently the draft date/time is 7pm EST Saturday August 30th does that work for everyone or do I need to change it?

I won't be able to participate in a draft any time between 9 p.m. EDT Tuesday 26 August to something like 8 p.m. EDT Sunday 31 August.

All good we can do it during September then.

Changed it for now to Saturday September 6th 7pm EDT

[Kong Wen]

There's been a lot of buzz lately about expansion. This is being driven by a number of factors that have been stewing for the past several years, thanks in part to the financial troubles of the Arizona Coyotes: increased interest in planting a new NHL team in Seattle, Kansas City, and Las Vegas; the idea that the Toronto population could support another team in the region (it could); Quebec City's new world-class arena; etc.

Most of the discussion centres on resources, and rightly so for the most part: arena functionality or the financial backing to develop one, population, supporting local economic factors, etc. But there's one resource that no one seems to bring up: good hockey players.

One of the major problems with an expansion is that it dilutes the pool of talented hockey players. Good marquee players are spread more thinly between the teams, and roster spots get filled up with less talented goons and thugs. With the KHL still actively poaching NHL players with enormous contracts, and an ongoing concussion & injury semi-scandal, it doesn't seem like the NHL can afford to open the doors to a couple hundred more jobbers.

Retracting the league to 28 teams would be better for hockey, but expansion to 32 is better for the company.

[Kreegs]

You mention only expansion or contraction, why not just move the two elephants in the room to Quebec city and somewhere else.

[SkyPikachu]

You mention only expansion or contraction, why not just move the two elephants in the room to Quebec city and somewhere else.

Because it's easier to make the playoffs in the west. (Though the Central division is stacked. Chicago, St. Louis, Colorado, Dallas and Minnesota look like playoff teams)

[Kreegs]

Love that Minnesota!

[Kreegs]

Also, if they move Phoenix and Florida to Quebec City and somewhere else, they can either keep the number of East/West teams, or just move Detroit back to the West.

[SkyPikachu]

Also, if they move Phoenix and Florida to Quebec City and somewhere else, they can either keep the number of East/West teams, or just move Detroit back to the West.

Then 2 divisions will still have 8 teams instead of 7.

Detroit staying in the east is a smart move.

[kitroplious]

Also, if they move Phoenix and Florida to Quebec City and somewhere else, they can either keep the number of East/West teams, or just move Detroit back to the West.

Detroit was sub par last year (or good, but not that great) -- hence in recent years after the end of 2009 SCF. I think they should stay in the East.

[Kong Wen]

Just an update on the hockey pool: we're going to scrap the Yahoo! pool idea because of its proprietary interface and excessively hands-on micromanagement during the season. Instead, we're going to run it using a Google spreadsheet. Everyone will have access to update the document (using a combination of the honour system and the fact that you can't cheat because players' stats are publicly available).

I assume you reticent folks like Vic & Clay will be more down for something a little more laissez-faire like this?

We'll try to keep Saturday 6 September as the draft date. If we can all get on the chat at the same time, we can pick our players that way. If you'd like a little more time, we can always wait another week or two, since the season doesn't start until October.

I'll post some updated rules in a bit.

You mention only expansion or contraction, why not just move the two elephants in the room to Quebec city and somewhere else.

That would be a fine plan, too, but I'm not a huge fan of the uneven East & West conferences.

[Kong Wen]

Update: Here's the link to the hockey pool stat sheet template. We can add whatever stats we want, but I figured Goals, Assists, Points, and Games Played would be the most important ones for us and will keep manual updates to a minimum.

The template is set up for 10 active players and 5 reserve players, but I might tweak that depending on the final rules we settle on.

Slurm won't be available this Saturday for a draft, so let's push it by a week. I want to confirm interest from Vic & Clay before we draft anyway, obviously. Guys, if you have any questions, let me know. This will be a really laid-back pool with not much active involvement—just enough to make watching some games during the regular season a little bit more fun.