Contraction Implications [1/2]

[STZ 5,360]

How Contraction Will Affect The League

 

 

The hot topic this off-season is league changes. While it seems as though our Commish team is very active in taking suggestions, it looks like they are not being shy in implementing high-impact league changes. Not only have we eliminated the Second Player Program, but we are also adjusting the make-up of the league. We have contracted two teams in order to bring the total team count to 8, as it was before the Season 40 expansion, that saw Quebec City and Cologne arrive to the league.

Prior to the S58 season we will see one of those expansion teams, the Cologne Express no longer be a part of the league. In joining the Express in contraction is the Stockholm Vikings, a team which was relocated from Vasteras, and never could quite leave their mark on the league via Continental Cup.

 

So what does this mean?

 

Well, immediately we have seen the conference structure collapse into one giant conference. We will see five playoff spots be awarded, with the first round being a wild card match between the 4th and 5th seed. So that should make for a more interesting season and playoff hunt. I don’t think we will see the last of “tanking” however, we won’t see the imbalanced conferences of last season. I actually love this solution a lot more than cross-over.

 

Contraction Draft; where will the players go?

 

The league held a lotto where every team had an equal shot at 1st, and as well as the rest of the order. While it was completely random, one of the teams closer to the end of their rebuild, the New York Americans were handed the first pick. Obviously this puts them in a position to draft one of the top young superstars in the league. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t thrilled to win this, although it’s been kind of funny to see people getting sour over our “luck” The Americans have made a lot of smart moves to put themselves in a great position for the future, yet it has been reduced to luck and privilege of starting rosters. While they will add via Contraction Draft, they also have 3 picks in the first round of the upcoming draft, 2 of which are inside the top 3.

 

The Contraction Draft will be seen as a very memorable and historic moment in VHL History. Seattle has also gained a superstar with the 2nd overall pick, and should put them in a great spot for next season as well as the following three or four. 

 

As VHL GM I have been able to watch the Contraction Draft. While the top two assets are seemingly obvious, there are a few other key pieces being moved around to the remaining teams. Shawn Broduer has been acquired by a team, who then scapped their goalie plans all together, that saw a VHL trade, and player retirement. Other teams positioned the draft as an opportunity to gain depth via trading Contraction picks, as well as adding very solid depth players. On top of that, all the players that were set to go to Free Agency on the contracting teams were exempt from the draft, and were able to look at all their options around the league - GM’s were even allowed to speak with those players a few days before the regular Free Agent class.

 

There are many impacts the league will see due to this league contraction, but it has really changed the landscape of the league, and should make for a very exciting season next season!

 

FOR ARKANDER

[TheLastOlympian07 2,388]

Review

Very well written but I see one typo that stands out. You said prior to Season 40 saw us add Cologne and Quebec but it was Season 30 when those two teams were added in. Well Season 31 to be exact. I have enjoyed life in Seattle so far but Davos has been just a struggle mostly because I suck. I think we are well poised to make some moves this upcoming season though.