Post by bjernagris (PHI) on Jul 10, 2019 12:31:04 GMT -5
Introduction
Hello all GMs,
Since we have a full league and the 2020/21 season is well underway, it is high time to start preparing for league expansion! The plan is to expand the league by one team for next season (2021/22), to a total of 32 teams. It was great fun last time the league expanded (in FHM2), however this is a slightly complicated process so it is important that we do this right.
Conditions and final decision
The expansion is conditioned on one thing; being able to fill all 32 teams with GMs. We currently have a full league, and two GMs on the waiting list.
The final decision on league expansion was contingent on the above condition being met, and was made by the 2021 Trade Deadline when expansion was confirmed.
Team locations and names
The expansion team location will be Seattle. The divisions will be realigned so that Seattle will take Arizona’s place in the Pacific division, and Arizona will move to the Central division. The Seattle team will be named Sockeyes unless/until another name is confirmed for the rNHL Seattle franchise.
Appointment of expansion team GMs
drunkenteddy (WPG) has been appointed the Seattle Sockeyes GM.
Entry draft
Due to technical limitations of FHM5, the expansion team is NOT automatically entered into the 2021 iNHL Entry Draft. However, they will still be allowed to draft using a manual workaround; (1) we will need someone to be present on Draft Day to help keeping track of which draftees Seattle has selected, and (2) we will not be able to use the autopick function in the draft. Instead of autopicking, for each team that opts to autopick we will sort the remaining undrafted players by potential, exclude the ones already drafted by expansion teams and draft the top ranked player as seen by the scouts of that team.
As for entry draft positions, Seattle’s first round pick will be entered into the draft lottery with the same odds as the third worst placed team. The 2021 draft lottery was held on July 9th, results HERE. From the 2nd round onwards, they will select 3rd in every round. This means they will own draft picks 35, 67, 99, 131, 163 and 195. For simplicity, Seattle will not be allowed to trade away their own 2021 picks. Any 2021 picks acquired by Seattle will be made in-game by the team trading away the pick (although decided and announced by the expansion team GM). The selected player’s rights will then be moved to the expansion team after the draft.
Expansion draft
The expansion draft will be held before the 2021 Entry Draft, for specific dates and schedule please see below. In preparing for the Expansion draft, the Commissioners have created a google sheet (found HERE) containing all teams’ contracted players and whether they are auto-protected or will need protection. GMs will be asked to use this document to submit their protection lists in advance of the expansion draft. The list will be regularly updated to reflect trades and free agent signings.
The expansion draft will be held outside the game environment, using the protected lists as basis. The in-game draft will then be handled by the commissioners. The proposed expansion draft rules can be found HERE.
Trades involving the expansion team
The expansion team GM will be allowed to start negotiating and agreeing deals as soon as they are appointed. Any negotiated deals should be agreed with the understanding that they are conditioned on expansion actually happening. As usual, trades can be posted as soon as all involved teams have finished their season.
There will be a total trade freeze upon the expansion protection list deadline in order to give the expansion team GM some time to prepare for the expansion draft without risk of seeing players being traded to other teams and subsequently protected. Players belonging to the Vegas Golden Knights at the time of the trade freeze are not eligible in the Expansion Draft. The trade freeze will be lifted immediately after round 30 of the expansion draft has been concluded.
Timeline summary
(please note: dates are preliminary and could be changed)
Any comments or questions, please reach out!
Cheers
The Exec Board
Hello all GMs,
Since we have a full league and the 2020/21 season is well underway, it is high time to start preparing for league expansion! The plan is to expand the league by one team for next season (2021/22), to a total of 32 teams. It was great fun last time the league expanded (in FHM2), however this is a slightly complicated process so it is important that we do this right.
Conditions and final decision
The expansion is conditioned on one thing; being able to fill all 32 teams with GMs. We currently have a full league, and two GMs on the waiting list.
The final decision on league expansion was contingent on the above condition being met, and was made by the 2021 Trade Deadline when expansion was confirmed.
Team locations and names
The expansion team location will be Seattle. The divisions will be realigned so that Seattle will take Arizona’s place in the Pacific division, and Arizona will move to the Central division. The Seattle team will be named Sockeyes unless/until another name is confirmed for the rNHL Seattle franchise.
Appointment of expansion team GMs
drunkenteddy (WPG) has been appointed the Seattle Sockeyes GM.
Entry draft
Due to technical limitations of FHM5, the expansion team is NOT automatically entered into the 2021 iNHL Entry Draft. However, they will still be allowed to draft using a manual workaround; (1) we will need someone to be present on Draft Day to help keeping track of which draftees Seattle has selected, and (2) we will not be able to use the autopick function in the draft. Instead of autopicking, for each team that opts to autopick we will sort the remaining undrafted players by potential, exclude the ones already drafted by expansion teams and draft the top ranked player as seen by the scouts of that team.
As for entry draft positions, Seattle’s first round pick will be entered into the draft lottery with the same odds as the third worst placed team. The 2021 draft lottery was held on July 9th, results HERE. From the 2nd round onwards, they will select 3rd in every round. This means they will own draft picks 35, 67, 99, 131, 163 and 195. For simplicity, Seattle will not be allowed to trade away their own 2021 picks. Any 2021 picks acquired by Seattle will be made in-game by the team trading away the pick (although decided and announced by the expansion team GM). The selected player’s rights will then be moved to the expansion team after the draft.
Expansion draft
The expansion draft will be held before the 2021 Entry Draft, for specific dates and schedule please see below. In preparing for the Expansion draft, the Commissioners have created a google sheet (found HERE) containing all teams’ contracted players and whether they are auto-protected or will need protection. GMs will be asked to use this document to submit their protection lists in advance of the expansion draft. The list will be regularly updated to reflect trades and free agent signings.
The expansion draft will be held outside the game environment, using the protected lists as basis. The in-game draft will then be handled by the commissioners. The proposed expansion draft rules can be found HERE.
Trades involving the expansion team
The expansion team GM will be allowed to start negotiating and agreeing deals as soon as they are appointed. Any negotiated deals should be agreed with the understanding that they are conditioned on expansion actually happening. As usual, trades can be posted as soon as all involved teams have finished their season.
There will be a total trade freeze upon the expansion protection list deadline in order to give the expansion team GM some time to prepare for the expansion draft without risk of seeing players being traded to other teams and subsequently protected. Players belonging to the Vegas Golden Knights at the time of the trade freeze are not eligible in the Expansion Draft. The trade freeze will be lifted immediately after round 30 of the expansion draft has been concluded.
Timeline summary
(please note: dates are preliminary and could be changed)
Date | Event |
Sat, July 20 | Cup Finals |
Mon, Jul 22 | Expansion protection list deadline (2.00pm Eastern) Trade freeze imposed |
Mon/Tue, Jul 22-23 | Expansion draft Trade freeze lifted |
Tue, Jul 23 | Draft round 1 |
Wed, Jul 24 | Draft rounds 2-3 |
Thu, Jul 25 | Draft rounds 4-5 |
Fri, Jul 26 | Draft rounds 6-7 |
Sun, Jul 28 | Final chance for extensions Creation of the expansion team in-game |
Tue, Jul 30 | First Free Agency sim |
Any comments or questions, please reach out!
Cheers
The Exec Board