onE (un)popular commissionEr

[leandrofg 1,162]

That's what I would bE.

 

I can't say these thoughts haven't crossed my mind. What could I accomplish as the commissioner? What would be our goals? And how would we go on about achieving them?

 

From the first phrase, you already know this will be somewhat controversial. There's the Elephant in the room and with this particular one... everyone always chips in.

 

The VHLE was created before my time in the VHL. Its inception came from the influx of members during the pandemic, but looking at the league now... why is there no room for it in some people's minds?

 

One of the main points, if not the only one, these people have are the Inactive players who have the purpose of filling out the rosters in the VHLE. This question, though, doesn't hurt the user experience in the VHLE unless there's a bad General Manager behind the team... which could happen in any of the three leagues.

 

In any case, the league would undergo a few changes to better integrate the E. The VHLE and the participants involved and embraced in its development would be empowered as it seamlessly integrates into the VHL ecosystem.

 

Let's start by correcting a seemingly overlooked problem, the recreates. We all know the advantage that an older, more experienced user has over the new users who find their way into the league and start in the VHLM. Finding a way to motivate and reward the recreates who step up to the VHLE should be looked into.

 

The solution could be as simple as tempering with the 'Practice Facility' on these players. In this instance, a player in the VHLM for the first season would claim 2 weekly TPE from it, but the seasons after? Only 1. 

 

But on the other hand, if they choose to move up to the VHLE in the season previous to their VHL Draft, they'd be able to claim 3 or 4 weekly TPE from Practice Facility. Lowering, of course, to the usual 1 weekly TPE after their draft.

 

Salaries. We all know how the cap works and how the usual bonus is processed by each team to their prospects that don't make the VHL in that first season. This means the players who now enter the VHL as they're drafted are already at a disadvantage. Why not use the VHLE to correct this? The entry-level contract for the VHLM is 1.5 Million Dollars and remains the same in the VHLE.

 

Let's rework the salary cap structure, starting with standardizing the bonus structure around the league for any player drafted in the VHL. Either elect to give it out and not count against the team's cap or remove its possibility. Increase, fully integrate VHLE salaries, and create a salary cap for the league. Yes, this would require the hiring of a new Financier. Not only to run this league's finances, which would allow the creation of this new mechanism, but could help the current Financier's workload and the optimization of the salary cap structure, which has been on maintenance multiple times over the last few seasons.

 

This would allow players to make more money on their VHLE trip than by staying down in the VHLM and turn the league into a better sandbox for General Managers who strive to be in the VHL. With a max contract of 3 or 4 Million Dollars for Free Agents moving up to the E, it would be very enticing to do so.

 

At this moment, these two particular changes could very much define a career for a player and create differences for those who decide to create a better environment in the VHLE instead of robbing a new user's spot in the VHLM. 

 

Let's take Player 1 and Player 2 as two examples of recreates who max-earn capped TPE. Players 1 and 2 re-create at TDL S0 and will be in the S2 Draft Class. In S0, they make 1.5 Million Dollars and get about 8-12 TPE from the Practice Facility. In S1, Player 1 decides to stay in the VHLM, earning 1.5 Million Dollars and ~10 TPE, but Player 2 takes the leap, enters Free Agency in the VHLE, and can choose where to play.

 

At this point, let's discuss VHLE's new salaries. For drafted players, during the 3-season period, there's a scale to follow. 200-249 TPE, 2 Million Dollars. 250-299 TPE, 2.5 Million Dollars. 300-349 TPE, 3 Million Dollars. 350-400 TPE, 3.5 Million Dollars. On the other hand, Free Agents can accept a contract for any amount between 2 and 4 Million Dollars.

 

Player 2 is a max-earner and will be a significant asset for whatever team they play for, which is why VHLE teams are eager to offer them a max contract. At 4 Million Dollars and 3/4 TPE from Practice Facility, Player 2 has created a massive gap. Let's call this experience... playing in a better league... doesn't matter, but it does make sense. Player 2 would finish the season with more 2.5 Million Dollars than Player 1 and between 20 to 30 TPE more.

 

With a league where everyone has such strong opinions, why not turn to the more experienced users to help turn things around? Why not try to use these max-earners, very good earners, or just consistent earners to help the users who are in limbo and sometimes lose their footing after spending more time with less activity than usual? Let's populate this league with our best users, and maybe we can become even more competitive up top.

 

Because the thing is... some of the users who now stand for the league to fold have had a great time there. So the real question shouldn't be whether or not the VHLE should be folded, but how can he help the league grow?

 

Yes, this would create a need to restructure the salary cap and the 'Player Store,' but maybe we could see this as an opportunity to create a new era in the VHL.

 

Also... let's throw in the hypothetical, the VHL teams have the best hockey coaches in the world, and 'Practice Facility' decreases to 1? Not anymore! 2 TPE 'Practice Facility' in the VHL!

 

Spoiler

1000+ words. Claimed for Theme Week Doubles July 9th.

 

1st claim for the week of July 23rd.

2nd will be July 30th.

 

Edited July 17, 2023 by leandrofg
Claim count;

[leandrofg 1,162]

2nd claim.