WIM Fantasy Hockey League(s) Update

by Casey Richey on Sep 16, 2010 7:49 AM CDT

Hey everyone, just wanted to give a quick update on the fantasy hockey league(s) that we're going to be running. First things first, thanks to everyone for the quick and in-depth responses on the original posts. So here's the skinny on what we're going to be doing:

Running two Yahoo! sports leagues. There will be one league for veterans and one league for amateurs. Since there will be a first place prize in each league, please do not sign up for the amateur league if you have a lot of experience with fantasy hockey just so you can win the prize. That's low, man.
Prizes you say? There's a first place prize for each league which will probably be`a gift card to the NHL shop.
16 teams per league. Based on the responses, it seems like we'll be able to run two leagues with 16 teams each. If necessary, we can tweak the number though.
Head-to-head style. I figure that this is probably the best way to do the league with 16 teams in each, also that way we can go to a playoff system. This way, you're not out of the running for anything until the very end.
Live draft style. I know the time we choose may not work out for everyone but a live draft is usually a lot better than autodraft. I know I always ended up with the crappiest players in the league when I did autodraft. For the time, I'm thinking on a Sunday night, at about 7pm or 8pm ET, that way it doesn't cut into the NFL games for the most part. Vote in the poll for the best day for the draft
Any suggestions? Leave them in the comment section.

IMPORTANT! Keep this post bookmarked as I will update it by tomorrow with the sign-up information for the two leagues

[UPDATE 9/16/2010]: Hey everyone, here's the log in info for the leagues:

League name: WIM Veterans
ID# 44246
Password: Questfor12

League name: WIM Rookies
ID# 44250
Password: Questfor12
Don't take the name literally as in if you've played once before it doesn't mean you're not allowed to play in this one, it's more along the lines of if you've played once or twice but are still a novice.

If you can't get the above links to work, go here: http://hockey.fantasysports.yahoo.com/hockey/register/joinprivateleague_league_select?.scrumb=

Notes: only join ONE league and have ONE team and make sure you play to your skill level. By request, it will be a head-to-head league. The draft will be on SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 26 AT 7 P.M. ET. Once again, the live draft will be on SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 26 AT 7 P.M. ET. The point system is going to be tweaked still so please refrain from e-mails on that until I post a commissioner's note in the league that the points have been solidified. One last thing, enjoy!

If you have any problems joining the league, e-mail me at mrnorristrophy [at] gmail [dot] com and I'll take care of it ASAP.

Poll

Which Sunday works best for the live-draft? (Please only vote if you're participating in the league)

Sunday September 19 (at night)

26 votes

Sunday September 26 (at night)

32 votes

58 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 34 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Question ...

Is it too late to join in for this? I apparently missed the trolley on the original post.

by Timothy F on Sep 13, 2010 9:52 AM CDT reply actions

nope

not too late at all

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Sep 13, 2010 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Well it isn't too late for me either

is it? Sorry, I just got internet installed at my new apartment recently, so I must have missed as well. I’ve only done fantasy hockey once (two seasons ago), so amateur would fit me pretty well I think. Let me know, and I’ll vote later if able! =)

by plopperrawr on Sep 13, 2010 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions

sure thing you can still play

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Sep 13, 2010 6:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks, Casey

For getting this organized. I did my first fantasy league last year, ended the regular season in 5th place, but ended up winning the league championship through the playoffs. So, I can attest to the benefit of the head-to-head format. I’ve signed up for another Yahoo league this year and have already started putting together my player ranking so I’ll probably just use that one.

Again, thanks for setting things up, Casey. It should be fun.

by zfan16 on Sep 13, 2010 4:00 PM CDT reply actions

I like the head-to-head and live draft choices. Gives everyone a fighting chance and adds just a bit of randomness.

What’s everybody’s skill level like and how many completely new players? I’ve only played 2 seasons, both head-to-head, but did pretty well in each (4/14, 1/8)

I figure everyone that joins will at least know their hockey, even if they’ve never played fantasy before. I’m a bit unsure which league I belong in, so I guess I’ll aim high unless we’ve got a lot of decorated vets playing.

by Nate A on Sep 13, 2010 10:29 PM CDT reply actions

Did fantasy hockey two seasons ago

I was the only guy playing the league by January. No real experience, I suppose.

Twitter

by john.kmiecik on Sep 14, 2010 2:04 AM CDT up reply actions

I don’t often post, but I always read this blog. I’m in.

by Snowblind on Sep 14, 2010 8:38 AM CDT reply actions

One request

Since we are using Yahoo, I would like to make one request: limit the # of transactions please. Last time I played in a pick-up league and one of the guys was just cycling thru free agents on a daily basis, so that he had a full team on the ice every night and won the regular season just by virtue of having more man-games played every week than anyone else. He ended the season with roughly 400 transactions and everyone in the league thought it was a really cheap way to play. So, if we could limit the number of transactions to, like 100 or something, that would prevent any of those shenanigans, without impeding anyone from doing a fair amount of trading/waiving/free agent signing.

by Red, White and a Mile high on Sep 14, 2010 9:44 AM CDT reply actions

yup

already took that into consideration but thanks for commenting with that.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Sep 14, 2010 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Im in...

looking forward to it.

by bond021 on Sep 14, 2010 10:48 AM CDT reply actions

Actually,

there is (or at least was in my league last year) a weekly limit of four player moves (from the free agent list). You could rotate players from the bench to active as their games were played but you could only drop/add players from the waiver list four times a week.

by zfan16 on Sep 14, 2010 12:36 PM CDT reply actions

Not all leagues are set up this way. I am requesting that some sort of limit (whether it be based on weekly moves or total over the season) be set to avoid the above situation that I encountered in a Yahoo league (which kinda ruined the entire league for me). I would hope the people on these boards would be cool enough not to try to exploit a setting in that way, but it’s best not to tempt fate.

by Red, White and a Mile high on Sep 14, 2010 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions

league suggestion

rather than do 16 teams in 2 leagues, we should combine the leagues and make 2 divisions. a 32 team league would be killer. It would still work out, as i believe you can set it so that players can repeat across divisions. So you could have a zetterberg in each division, and then set it to little to no division play. Then the 2 leagues can play in the finals against eachother.

by OriginalRecipeIzzy on Sep 14, 2010 12:44 PM CDT reply actions

hmmm…this is an interesting thought. I think we might stick with the two separate leagues though because of the idea of having a beginners and veterans league. But, if we need 3 or more leagues then that might be a possibility.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Sep 14, 2010 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions

I'd definitely be interested in joining

…if it’s not still too late. Perhaps you could create a special email account just for the league, so that people could email that account to sign up? That way you don’t have to monitor all of the comments and things to figure out who wants to join, etc. Then we could also email you with questions.

by Ian Merrifield on Sep 14, 2010 3:47 PM CDT reply actions

I commented on the last thread like a month ago...

I still want to join, should be awesome.

by ZWC11 on Sep 14, 2010 4:32 PM CDT reply actions

are the leagues created yet

have the leagues been created, if so how do i join?

by Behmer06 on Sep 14, 2010 4:52 PM CDT reply actions

I'm in...assuming it's not too late

I’m definitely an Amateur…only one Fantasy Hockey season under my belt….get me the skinny on how to get in. Thanks for doing this Casey – sounds awesome.

Smitty

by Kendal on Sep 15, 2010 10:59 AM CDT reply actions

league i created

hey all i created a league on espn. Anyone can join if you wish. the league name is: Winging it in motown. The password is: Wings

by Behmer06 on Sep 15, 2010 11:42 AM CDT reply actions

I'm in

I don’t comment much here but I check this place out all the time. Hope it isn’t a problem-joined the vets league.

-Norm

"Just because I'm sorry doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it at the time."
http://twitter.com/TheNorm41

by RWCaptain19 on Sep 16, 2010 9:26 AM CDT reply actions

Bah!

Of all the Sundays in all the worlds, the draft is on the only one that I can’t attend.

by Rat A Tat on Sep 16, 2010 11:47 AM CDT reply actions

Woo I’m pumped =)

by plopperrawr on Sep 16, 2010 11:57 AM CDT reply actions

I'm in!

Thanks, Casey. Hope this doesn’t cut into your studies too much. But I appreciate all you do for WIM and us fans. Since this is only the second season I’ve done fantasy, I joined the rookies league and am known as Zata (no surprise, I’m sure).

Looking forward to the live draft. Now, on to a mock draft to tweak my strategy.

by zfan16 on Sep 16, 2010 12:42 PM CDT reply actions

anytime!

Thank you all for reading! Otherwise Id just be talking to myself :P

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Sep 16, 2010 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, I’ve lurked here for quite awhile now, reading and not posting. I guess the prospect of some good fantasy hockey is what it took to bring me out of the woodwork. So I’m in the veteran’s league, and I’ll try and start posting a bit:)

by senordangles on Sep 16, 2010 4:31 PM CDT reply actions