Small Changes for S63

[Will 4,604]

Hello all, 

 

I have a few changes to announce that will come into effect this off-season. The first two are small changes and part of our ongoing effort to simplify things and clean up outdated rules and systems. The third is a change to address issues we have noticed with GM 2nd players over the past several seasons. 

 

Removing VHL Waivers

VHL Waivers is very rarely used. There was a time when it was used, mostly due to a loophole that allowed teams to release players at any point without retaining any salary, however since that was patched up it has been mostly stagnant. As well, if you actually read the Waiver rules carefully, they make little sense when you consider the VHLM TPE restrictions in place. 

 

The new rules for send-downs/call-ups/releases are as follows:

• A two-way contract is implied for entry-level VHL players who are eligible to play in the VHLM as per the VHLM's TPE/TPA limits, allowing these players to be freely sent down and called up.
• Non-entry level players are not eligible to be sent down to the VHLM.
• Players who are not eligible to play in the VHLM can be released by their VHL team: the releasing team will retain half of the player's annual salary for the duration of the contract and the player will go to active or inactive Free Agency.

No major implications here, this is more or less just a much simpler way of handling what Waivers sets out to do.

 

Removing the RFA Rules

I've been here since S37 and not once can I recall the RFA rules being used. In practice, virtually all new draftees sign 3 year deals and the ones who don't want to sign with their drafting team are traded. For that reason, we're eliminating the RFA system and replacing it with something simpler and something that happens 99.9% of the time anyways:

• Entry level contracts for new draftees must be 3 seasons in duration.
• Players retain the option of holding out or calling for salary arbitration prior to signing, however, the player will not become a free agent and cannot sign with another team in the meantime.

Again, no major implications, with the option of holdout/arbitration remaining, draftees retain virtually the same amount of power they have now.

 

GM 2nd Players

Over the past several seasons, we've seen GM 2nd players finding their way to the GM's team far too often. This system was not intended to give GMs two GM players - it was intended give GM's the ability to maintain a 'regular player' while being a General Manager. As such, we are making a small change and strengthening drafting rules around GM 2nd players to further discourage GM players from being drafted by their own teams.

• GM's may only create a 2nd player when that 2nd player will be, at minimum, 3 draft classes later than their GM player. (i.e. if they have an S62 GM player, they cannot create until the S65 draft class opens).
• A new GM player being created is not subject to the above limitation. However, a new GM Player must be created in between each 2nd player.
• 2nd players will be closely monitored when it comes to VHL Drafts. If a GM makes statements, publicly or privately, expressing doubt about the future of their player, subtly hints at refusing to play for other teams, or if we come to learn of any evidence whatsoever of a GM attempting to manipulate the draft in effort to draft their own player, the Commissioner's Office maintains the discretion to respond with appropriate punishments that may include, but are not limited to:
  • Auto-Retirement of 2nd player
  • Draft pick fines
  • Suspension of 2nd player privileges
  • Termination 

The hope here is that, by forcing a 3 season separation between GM and non-GM players, we push the 2nd player away from the GM's sort of 'prime drafting period' where they are likely to have a lot of draft picks during a rebuild. We encourage GMs to embrace the system in its actual purpose - to provide them the opportunity to have a regular player whilst they GM. The system is very much a privilege, not a right, and any abuse going forward will be met with a forceful response. 

 

Existing 2nd players are grandfathered under the old creation rules - but anyone with an existing 2nd player will have to create a new GM player before they may create another 2nd player.

[Tyler 881]

• •  Auto-Retirement of 2nd player
  • Draft pick fines
  • Suspension of 2nd player privileges
  • Termination

does this after Calgary has a super team

[Bushito 1,945]

Gay, have to wait four seasons after Stopko retires to make my next player 2