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"Did no one explain the heightened value of playoff players to the new guy? 

The year looks like it's progressing well.  Pieces look like they're falling into place for some, others still look like they're running in circles, tripping over their own feet, or just plain digging their own graves.  At least they pay at the end of the year.  Nothing glaring really jumps out, except for transaction 76.  When historians look back in the annals (not what you think that is Chad) for 2012-13, they will remember who won the Cup, and that act of piracy.  A black mark on an otherwise shining year.  Those two should have went for 30 points, at least.  Especially at the deadline. 

I am surprised at Joel, he is a decent enough GM, and can build a competitive team without lowering himself to those levels, or surrendering to the "win at all costs" mentality.  That was an ugly rape, the worst deal I've seen in a good many years. 

Always remember...

- Scott is a communist, and will make sure you are overly informed, spoon-fed and tucked in at night. 

- Andrew is subtle and highly intelligent.

- Shawn works hard, loves to deal, and spends lots of money.

- Chad can drink a lot of beer, and has a heart of gold.

- and Ryan is in this pool.

Knowing these five points will greatly increase your chances of success in June.

Any questions...let me know.

Jr."

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Mere Good Public Relations?

GM Chad and Andrew speak of one another like twin brothers separated at birth, "Schwarzenegger and Schwarzenegger" said Muddy Capone.  After years of public fighting and bickering behind each others back the two have either made up or made up one hell of a great public relations campaign to have appeared to have 'made up'.  The two GM's have hooked up on three transactions this year with Andrew going as far as stating, "I give a little more in my deals with Chad out of the respect I have for the guy."  Chad has nothing left but high praise for Andrew recently telling the Yearbook, "Andrew is a legend in the NHLP and has accomplished everything a GM can and I am clearly honored to have learned from such a great individual."  If the love affairs continues, reinforce the couches, for we will certainly see the two very cuddly together at this years NHLP Trading Deadline.  "I enjoy sitting with Andrew, he is a wealth of knowledge" Chad told the Yearbook.  This should be a change for the league members who are use to seeing them across the room from one another, separated only by the odd glare, usually Chad curled up on a table with another legend, former NHLP GM Jr while Andrew takes up two-thirds a couch with one of the scrawny NHLP GM's squashed to the other side.  If this feud is truly over, it will be a little quieter here at the Yearbook while we await the next two GM's to engage in a future decade long war of words, or no words.  Chad, you ugly bully, interested in picking on someone else?  "Not really" Chad laughed, "But nothing caps the NHLP Trading Deadline like playing hold'em against GM Vinnie, seriously he has got to be the worse poker player I have ever seen in my entire life!"  (Editors note:  Have you seen GM Charlie play?)

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Points to Give

Heading into a typical NHLP Trading Deadline, still a month away, the teams in the playoffs usually have about 500 points to give.  So if you added up all teams above 5th place, as we always do, today there are 339 points that could be moved by NHLP teams.  "The standings always get tighter at the NHLP Trading Deadline, as teams buy with their points and teams out sell off assets" said Muddy Capone, "This concept has happened since the first year and never changed."  Each GM has his own threshold, some cutting things closer then others, but after the NHLP Trading Deadline, assuming April 13th which is the most popular date so far, each team plays about 6 games left.  As of today, there are only 10 Waivers and the Trading Deadline to set teams from outside sources, so those 339 points will start to play in trades within the league at some point.

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Count It Down

The Philadelphia Flyers now are the first NHL team to start down their final 20 games.  "Things start to really count down quickly" said Muddy Capone, "You start looking and saying, if they go 10 and 10 the team in front only needs to go 7-12-1 to stay in front."  In no time now some teams will just simply not have enough games to make up the ground needed and each game, each night, is a playoff game.

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Double Double and 30-30 Club
Exclusively GM Chad

Never before has one GM had two teams reach double digits in the same night.  Of course Pittsburgh's 13 and Colorado's 10 changed that, but that also was enough, barely, for each team to reach 30 points on the week, the 30-30.  Combined with the 23 Toronto had, that 83 is the largest week of any GM for three teams or 7 players.  "Even when we had four teams, that would be 4 teams averaging 20 in a week, likely didn't happen often if ever" said Muddy Capone.  Chad was on fire, eating up the NHLP this past week.  "I liked vacation" stated GM Chad, "But I have just decided to plan future vacations in the off-season."
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How To Reach 28 in a Night?

Normally you'd not expect a GM to be able to reach a record such as what Chad did without some of his best players playing on the night.  Chad was without Malkin and Tarasenko due to injuries, but although Fisher didn't play, 20 of Chad's 21 player's teams did play on the night, meaning 18 after the two injuries.  Of the 18 who did play, Stewart, Versteeg, Stastny and Perron were all held pointless, leaving 14 players who combined for the 28 points.  If Chad had Gagner twice the night he had 8 points last year in one game, it would have seemed an easy way to get 28, but with Chad tonight, many players had good nights but only Kunitz, who had 5, and Beachemin who had 3, had a night of more than 2 points.  Players with two on the night were Gagner, Dupuis, Hall, Hagelin, Bolland, Getzlaf, Plekanec and Hagelin a second time.  that meant four players had a single point night, Gaborik, Stepan, Higgins and Berglund.  So although it is history, we can easily see how this night could still be achieve by others and for Chad, could easily have been bigger.

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Historical Night By GM Chad
Biggest Points Per Team Night in League History

GM Chad had one for the ages.  Coming into GM Chad's 15th NHLP season he had never had a 12 point night, but of course that all changed with Colorado's 12 on January 31st of this season.  Well tonight, GM Chad went beyond 'one better'.  Chad's Pittsburgh franchise had their best night ever, scoring 13 points tonight.  Now that is not only Chad's best single night ever, becoming only the 12th team in league history to reach 13+ in a night, but Pittsburgh now also shared in a feat never accomplished by any GM ever.  Pittsburgh's 13, along with Colorado's 10 and Toronto's 5 equaled 28 points for three, 7 player teams, shattering the NHLP record of 25 in one night by GM Andrew who held the previous mark at 11-8-6 for his three teams on March 7th, 2012.  Andrew's night averaged 8.33 Points Per Team, second best ever to the night GM Scott had in 2006 when his four teams combined for a league record 34 points that night, or 8.5 points per team.  Chad set the new record night for points per teams tonight with a whopping 9.33 points per team, a best for 23 NHLP seasons.  "That is a lot of hockey we have seen over the past 23 years" stated Muddy Capone who went on to say that he has been around the NHLP for all those years and remembers every such amazing night and "Chad should be all smiles because in terms of regular season feats, this is as good as any we've been witness to in nearly a quarter century."  For a league with a rich history, one Chad has helped create, congratulations from all of us in the NHLP.

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Quirks of the NHL Schedule

For the first time in NHL history, two teams play three straight regular season games, and it happens twice!  Phoenix and Anaheim played Saturday, will play again Monday, both those in Phoenix before getting on the same bus and driving back to Anaheim to play Wednesday.  It also happens to the Ducks again to start off their April schedule at home to Dallas on the 1st before spending and playing both the 3rd and 5th in Dallas, another set of three straight games against one team.  If has never happened and it happens to the same team a month apart.  Just to be clear, I did make up the part about riding on the same bus back to Anaheim, but really, why not get the same flight and save a few dollars!

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Wave Goodbye

After Halifax (Shawn) picks today 18 Waivers will have been used and 18 remain, waving goodbye to the first half of the Waiver Season.  "If you haven't started building a playoff team yet" stated Muddy Capone, "Your options are deteriorating daily."  Teams will now have just 18 Waivers and the NHLP Trading Deadline to pick from the minors.

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Top Nine - All Different GM's

The CTR has the 20 game update, meaning 42% of the NHL season is over.  The top 9 rated teams are all owned by different GM's.  Are you in that group?  Well two teams, ranked 25th and 31st just last rating are now 2nd and 3rd overall.  So if you are not, there is hope for you.  It doesn't fall into your lap, well, unless you have Ryder twice and he gets traded to Montreal, but even that took some hard work in getting Ryder twice ahead of the trade.

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Just Two Points - 1st to 5th

Leo's Division just got a little closer with only 2 points separating 5 teams from 1st to 5th place.  The NHL Season ends in less than 60 days and most teams play about 30 games left, there seems no time for any separation this season.  "The standings are going to be close and NHLP teams are going to have to be creative" stated Muddy Capone, "With the standings so tight I can guarantee you a number of teams, more than ever, will penalty out this season."  GM's must have 6 man playoff teams, and all GM's have known this from before the draft, this is nothing new, so a few teams that are banking on a team, with just two players on that team, that finishes 9th place, won't be making the NHLP playoffs.  "If you are in 5th, you might be safe and in 6th, may only need to catch the team in front of you, so you are never out of it" says Capone.  It is one thing to have a player on a team around the 6th to 10th positions, but it is careless already to have players on the 14th and 15th place teams, they are penalties and you likely already know they will be.  "You simply cannot gain in the NHL standings, so with 10 games to go, going 7 and 3 might, MIGHT, gain you two points on someone, so over-coming 4 points means a team may have to go 8 and 2 or 9-1 or they will be out."

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Chad Sun Burnt!!!

GM Chad got home to check his answering machine messages:

(Message #1)  - Hey Chaddy, hope you are enjoying the trip.  Just a quick update on Versteeg was all.  He is still out another week or so.  Enjoy the sun buddy, things be fine here without you!

 - Hey Chadwick, Tarasenko got rocked.  Concussion.  Sorry for the bad news, I know you are on vacation but we will have to make this priority one when you get back.

- Chad.  It's Bolland.  I mean, Bolland's hurt.  Just a little string of bad luck is all.  Nothing to end your vacation over, but we are sending him into a specilist.

- I can't believe this.  Everyone is gunning for us Chad.  They suspended Hall.  Clean hard hit, but they are just gunning for us. 

- Hey Chad.  The Yearbook is now decided to not run the article "Lonely at the Top".  We've dropped out of first in two of the Divisions is all, nothing to serious.  Soak up the sun and don't worry about anything, what else could go wrong!

-- Chad...Ummm.  OK...well ahhh.  See, Malkin thinks he's in Metallurg.  GET THE FUCK HOME NOW!

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Season's Biggest Injury?

Now that more news is coming out about Malkin, GM Chad may be looking at the NHLP's biggest injury so far to date.  "There have been a few, Spezza, Karlsson" stated Muddy Capone, "But the thing with those is they are a little more black and white type injuries with time frames upon expected returns."  With Malkin, there is no such thing and he may very well play next week or not again this entire season.  Toronto is only up 7 points on 5th in Leo's Division and Tarasenko is already out, joining Versteeg.  So it is not like Chad can just ride this injury out without falling in the standings and will likely be in 5th in a week or two with all the injuries.  This is a big injury and may severely change Chad's entire season in a hurry.

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What a Week Team

GM Matt sent an email to Muddy Capone and asked him to "Please keep the insults coming, it is really firing us up."  Cincinnati apparently could only take so much by the CTR and has stepped up their game, to a level of no other NHLP team.  The Rage had a 29 point week, simply incredible, and is leading the NHLP with 64 points for the month of February.  Ten of the NHLP's 36 teams finished the week with 10 points or less, about one-third of Matt's week, including Halifax (Shawn) who had a 3 point week.  The "Philly three" as Matt calls them, Voracek, Briere and Schenn had 23 points this week while the "Ranger Zero" as Capone referred to them, Del Zotto and Kreider had no points between them, proving it could have been even better.  "We look forward to the CTR" Matt stated, "We love it and can't wait for the next shot they take at us...for we'd love to hit 100 points in March."

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Wolverines Fined

Wasting no time this morning the NHLP Yearbook reported the New Orleans Wolverines (Shawn) had been fined double the cost of their Waiver drop according to league rules which states all incorrect Waivers cost double.  "Things have been this way for years" stated Muddy Capone, "Nothings changed."  The fine goes into the Championship Cake Fund, something some GM's seemingly pay into more often then others.  "I think GM Chad has paid this same fine each of the past 5 years" Capone added.  Reaction across the league was mixed "Who got fined" asked GM Scott and upon finding out it was GM Shawn replied, "Just a fine huh.  I'd of taken a draft pick as well."  GM Andrew on the other hand said, "Shawn is a very stand up individual and I understand how even the best GM's can have trouble with the numbers with things updating so quickly on almost all sites."  Shawn has received the only two NHLP fines so far this season.

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Furious Flyer

Philadelphia GM Scott was not happy with GM Shawn and said what goes around comes around.  The displeasure comes after the mornings transactions were released.  "We went back and forth in negotiations with New Orleans and they were adamant they were not taking Read without a draft pick" Scott said, "That was understandable."  Scott said Shawn "Played hard ball, good GM'ing on his part" and pressed for a high pick, finally settling on a 5th round pick, more than the Wolvernines actually paid to acquire the Waiver in the first place.  "Considering what he got and what he was demanding I think maybe the good GM'ing went both ways" Scott noted.  Then this morning GM Scott sees not only did GM Andrew get a better player from Shawn (Boyle over Jagr) but he didn't make GM Andrew's Chicago team pay a draft pick of any kind.  "I can play favorites too" said Scott, "It will be 50 spots in the 5th round for either of them next time" the GM fumed.  When it was pointed out that a round only has 36 spots Scott looked confused for a brief second, "Well 14 more in the 6th then too."

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Los Angeles & 99

Those two just seemingly go together.  Long past the days of the Great One wearing 99 in Los Angeles, GM Andrew thought it fitting to rest the night on 99 before becoming the first double digit scoring team on Friday.  Andrews 99 are almost double the 52 of the NHLP low-lights in Miami (Charlie) where even one of GM Charlie's better drafts in recent memory still has the Surf waiting for an unforeseeable swell.

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Just 3 Points

Well we thought it was noteworthy last week when less then 10 points separated Lee's Division.  After last night, that is down to 3 points from 1st to last.  It is a high scoring Division as the last place team would be in a playoff spot in the other 5 Divisions.  "Usually we don't see Divisions from top to bottom this tight, even after the Trading Deadline when most first place teams will come down to about 10 points of 5th" said Muddy Capone, "At the rate this Division is going, they might all come in the NHLP Deadline within 10 already."

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A New Team Has The Power

The NHL Seasons is officially at the one-third mark after games tonight and the NHLP Yearbook has came out with a CTR.  Some of the mighty teams have fallen with a change in the standings, namely the falls of Tampa Bay and San Jose.

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Chad Enjoying Vacation, "Big Macs"

GM Chad is having a great season and the time off may just be enough to inspire him to this third NHLP Championship.  The NHLP Yearbook caught up with Chad for a brief interview from Florida, "Just getting ready to take in the Toronto - Tampa Bay game Tuesday" stated Chad, "But I am not sure what is hotter, my three first place teams or the sun today."  Chad definitely is entitled to gloat, he does have three high scoring NHLP teams and as he points out, "I gave points in every deal I made so far this season."  How did this happen, the hot start?  "I drafted, maybe the best I ever have" Chad said, "I really prepared myself for this season after all the Big Mac comments last year, I finally had enough."  Drafting top players Malkin, Gaborik, Steen, Getzlaf and Kunitz there is a feeling this could be Chad's dream season, or maybe third dream season.  Chad just breeds confidence and just being close to him it seemingly rubs off.  Chad said he has a positive outlook no matter how poorly a deal he makes turns out, "Never cut yourself down, there are always plenty of people out there who will gladly do that for you."  If this season keeps up, Chad might replace the Big Mac comments with lobster but as he told us, "I do in fact love a good Big Mac."  Keep it up Chad, for whatever you are doing thus far, 11 other GM's wish it was them in your place.

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BLOCKBUSTER:  SEGUIN GONE

The Seattle Storm (Shawn) paid a big early price, 18 points, to acquire Seguin.  "We could not be more happy" said GM Shawn, "This is an impact player who we hope to build a championship around."  With Seguin the Storm also got Burrows, Weber, Stafford, Weber and a 2nd round pick while able to give the points and still hang onto a playoff position.  Boston kept the Waiver, adding Heatley, Moulson, Bourque and Bourque.  "Not many teams were willing to step up with such a huge package" said Ryan, I didn't want to trade him, "But I doubt I would have gotten more later."  Ryan became the final NHLP GM to make a transaction this season, making the most expensive one of the season to date with three Elite players involved in the trade.  Ryan is still open to further offers before making a pick tomorrow.

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Career Night Tied

GM Matt tied a career best 10 point night last night.  Cincinnati scored 10 thanks to Voracek and Briere combining for 7 between them.  Even with 10 points on the night the Rage are still 5 out of the last playoff spot in Leo's Division. 
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Glen's & Lee's - Tight

To classic GM's Divisions are as tied as you can get after one-third of the NHLP season gone.  Lee's Division has a 7 point spread from 1st to last while Glen's is at 12 from top to bottom, but only 4 points from 2nd to 6th with teams today sitting at 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66 points.  "Things are just incredibly close" stated Muddy Capone.  The Crosby lead Cleveland Fury (Tyson) has the biggest spread, already 32 points up on 5th place in Jr's Division.  "I'd like to give my points away" stated GM Tyson, "And I have been trying."  Have a Waiver?  Need Points?  Cleveland might be a good place to look first.

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NHLP Draft Picks Note

If you are wondering if the Draft picks have been updated, do this:

Go to the Transaction page and look on the right side to the Picks column.  You can see the last Transaction to have a YES beside it, that means the last Transaction to have had Draft Picks traded in the Transaction.   So grab that Transaction number, say #20.  Now go to the Draft Picks page and see where it has been updated to.  If it says #20 or higher, you know every Draft Pick and Waiver to have been traded should be reflected.  If NOT - that means an error so contact me.  Anyhow, that is a way to know the Draft Picks are updated when making trades.

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Oil Drop Nine Points

After the zero for Couturier, penalty on Whitney and two points in the drop, GM Scott went backwards, also giving up his top point per game producer in the process.  "It doesn't make me happy to head in the wrong direction" the GM Stated, "But I had two players in my sights, Kassian and Hamilton, and didn't care the numbers as long as I got them both."  Well the Oil did one better, adding them twice each in the 4 for 4 move.  Gone are Gagner, Whitney, Couturier and Schultz for Kassian, Kassian, Hamilton and Hamilton.  The GM raved about how Hamilton is slowly the backbone, of the Bruins Power Play while Kassian on a line with Kesler is "Going to start getting a few assists."  Scott noted all GM's do things differently, "I'd rather hang in 5th or 6th with a full team of playoff players, knowing I can always move up when the minors run dry" said the 23 year veteran GM, "But the thought of getting trapped in 3rd or 4th with those non playoff guys, you don't have points to trade and when the minors run dry, your options disappear.  That is when guys start eating players and these playoff teams become position grabbers and easy first round opponents for the eventual winners."
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Another Trade, Another Hab

Desharnais goes where all players like him end up - Alaska (Marcel) for Schultz.  Gm Marcel now has 7 Montreal Canadiens of his 21 total players

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Karlsson Traded to Pittsburgh

GM Chad acquired Karlsson and a draft pick tonight meaning he will be using the Waiver to unload the injured all-star.  Going to Quebec (Matt) is Bozak.

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We were asked this question, so lets clarify:

Question:  Can an obviously injured player (IE - Karlsson) be dropped in a waiver without a penalty?

Answer:  If Karlsson was dropped tonight, we only look at one thing. 

How many games in a row has he missed? 

Well, the answer is he played his last game, so he is not a penalty under the rules.  He'd be a Contract 4 player who played his last game.  So Ottawa does not play Thursday or Friday and plays Sunday.  So for Fridays Waiver, he still hasn't missed a game and for Saturday's waiver he still hasn't missed a game - no penalties.  Come Sunday, he will have missed Saturday's game, a Contract 4, missed 1 game, -7.  So clearly GM Matt would want to move him over the next three Waivers in this situation.

Injury Penalty Rule Logic

We all now know Karlsson will be out for a while.  Clearly in this case, we know.  The logic behind the rule is we can't have GREY, we must have black and white.  We can only go by, did he or did he not play last game.  Otherwise, we'd have someone getting clocked, clearly looks like a concussion and 90% of the GM's saying that player is long term, or injured, or won't play next game for sure.  But how do we know?  What if he did?  To take that guess work out, we go by the actual numbers.  If he played last game, even if he dies last night, it doesn't matter.  He played last game, so he is not considered an injured player even though now in the morgue.

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Chadwick's Desire

GM Chad has a fire that we haven't seen in a few years, seemingly a desire to win another NHLP Championship.  Chad's second Championship came 6 years after his first and this season is 6 years since that last one, so this is shaping up to be the year Chad hoists that third Cup.  "That would be a crazy number, three wins in 13 seasons" said Muddy Capone, "Winning once every 12 seasons keeps you average, so Chad's already better than that."  With Thursdays waiver and a solid playoff team, indications are Chad will trade tonight's Waiver and the flurry of NHLP Transactions will continue in the early going of this shortened season.

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NHLP Champions and Names on the Cup

We did a little updating.

NHLP Champions
Names on the NHLP Cup

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So God Made a NHLP GM

God looked down on the NHLP hockey pool he created and said, “I need someone to run the teams”; and so,

God Made a NHLP GM

God Said, “I need someone able to prepare a draft list, able to predict the future, seeing what NHL teams will be great, and which ones won’t.  Be able to anticipate what players are ready to break out with career years, and which ones careers are finally winding down.  To go over this draft list, not just once, but as many times as it takes to have it absolutely perfect and never except less than perfection”;

So God Made a NHLP GM

“I need someone with broad shoulders, who won’t base their season on the CTR, pay much attention to the Yearbook and who will stand up for what his beliefs are, even when the other GM’s are mocking him for his choices.  I need someone strong enough to know when to cut ties, strong enough to not be overly attached to any one player or NHL team and smart enough to know when to be.  I need someone willing to mortgage the future when the time is right, but smart enough to know when it is best to be building for the future”; 

So God Made a NHLP GM

God Said, “I need someone who can socially interact with other GM’s, competing against their strengths and capitalizing on their weaknesses.  I need someone able to anticipate a GM’s next move before he does, being there when needed, and being quicker when required.  I need a sales person when time to sell and someone who can barter when to time buy, someone who can maximize the profits of the sale but minimize the cost of the purchase.  I need someone who can make a decision, in a moment, and on a moment’s notice.  I need someone willing to work all night or all season on one deal if needed, never foolish without thought, or ever gun shy when the right move is presented, and never to give up when it isn’t,”;

So God Made a NHLP GM

“I need someone who won’t fold when their team’s best player is now out for the season, able to act, react and then act again, making that injury pick when it should be made, but hanging onto the injured player, when that is the right thing to do.  Someone who can work a trade, make a waiver pick, and won’t cave, under the pressure of the clock, when working the minors at the meetings.  Someone who does respond, even though just to say no, to another GM, by text, email or chats, but leave the GM knowing you are always open to further discussions, and someone who knows when it is finally time to pick up the phone and talk in person”

So God Made a NHLP GM

God Said, “I need someone willing to invest hundreds of hours, understanding all may be for not and nothing may be left to show for their efforts.  I need someone willing to bend, without bending over, and someone willing to break, but who will never be broken.  I will need someone who believes…that when finally, all HELL really has broken loose…still believes there is a Heaven, and that persistency will ultimately prevail and that there is a next season, a new season, another chance, always another opportunity, for a new draft list to be worked and reworked again”;

So God Made a NHLP GM

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Important Note - Check Everything of YOURS

Prior there was someone intentionally double checking each others work.  This year there is not that back up support to catch the very simple errors that can occur.

Things to watch for:

Office Pools - Is your team right?  It can be a simple mistake of entering the wrong player or totally missing someone or a transaction.

Player Tracking - Unfortunately it is what it is and if an error is made, like the classic, "I never knew he was available."  It bothers me as much as it does you, but it is easier for you to check the day after you make a trade to ensure I have deleted the guys you got rid of and added the guys you picked up.  If I make a mistake, how will I know?

Draft Picks - Same thing as Player Tracking.  Use the Master first, with everyone's picks and THEN you can look to the individual years (which should match when the transaction numbers match).  Just check your own when you acquire something. 

Waivers - Especially if you move one, but also the dates.  It is easier for you to correct me if I screw it up, for you have three or less.  I am doing everyone's.

Injuries - if your player misses about 5 games - give me a heads up and I will add him to the chart for you.  It is up to you to know what days (from the chart) you can pick.  If I get busy one day, I may forget to remind you of your pick that day. 

Things are going good and I am getting a handle and routine - but I have no "double - checking" support anymore, so I need you to do your own small parts.

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Sabres Use Waiver

GM Joel admitted there was a plan, "But it all changed with Subban's two points."  That left the Sabres reeling with things ending up with Hall, Byfuglien and Laich being dropped for Subban twice and Tlusty.  "Things change in a hurry in this league and you have to react" stated the GM who unloaded his Blues starting the day and seemingly is now on the bandwagon of the Habs.

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Buffalo Looking to Move Waiver After Deal

GM Joel did what he said he'd do and he did it quickly.  Tarasenko and Stewart were not on the block long as GM Chad jumped all over the two Blues players adding them in Toronto for Hall and Moulson.  Buffalo gained 7 in the deal and would like to move the Waiver either tonight or Wednesday morning, hopefully for a Waiver and draft pick.

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Buffalo Trades and Acquires Waiver

GM Joel has the Waiver Tuesday after trading Callahan and Stephan for Byfuglien and Laich.  Buffalo (Joel) says he is entertaining offers for the Waiver or players Tarasenko and or Stewart.  Winnipeg (Mark) also received Buffalo's Waiver later this week in the deal.

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GM Mark's First Waiver

GM Mark had said the right things prior to being granted the rights of an NHLP GM.  "I was always frustrated in other pools where guys would not answer emails and there wasn't much action" Mark had previously stated.  We wonder if he was prepared for the NHLP's, daily non-stop action?  "You get left behind in a hurry" Muddy Capone said with a smile, "I have trouble keeping up myself sometimes."  Mark most certainly has never been in a pool with a 15 page rule book and 23 historical seasons of records and accomplishments.  Today is a big day as he makes his first Waiver with seemingly a million factors in play as always in the NHLP.  GM's are always thinking of playoff players, points, teams positions, NHL Standings, future waivers, injuries, meetings, offers, options and more.  No matter what Mark does today, he does have at worst case the NHLP Trading Deadline to unload players he picks up.  Do you do a points grab, hoping to trade those points for playoff players later?  A playoff player grab, hoping you have enough scoring to stay in or can trade those when the supply and demand phase starts and GM's are offering points for playoff players?  These are things that have intimated numerous new GM's over the years as they come to realize that maybe those pick'em and do nothing pools weren't all to bad after-all.  Well Mark, you are on the clock.  No pressure.

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Injury Pick by 6 PM for Hartnell?

Halifax (Shawn) has until 6 PM today to pick for Hartnell, up to 5 points, or fall to the back of the injury pick lineup.  Halifax is tied for 4th place in Glen's Division.
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Conacher Gone Twice

It seemed that Conacher was the one GM's were after, with Los Angeles (Andrew) grabbing him with the Waiver Monday.  Conacher is now gone twice from the minors, at the same time Tampa Bay has gone into a bit of a funk.  Andrew's 3 for 3 included also taking Hudler and Tlusty who had a 4 point night.  Gone are Fleischmann, Ennis and Legwand for the first place Kings who have had a busy week.
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Los Angeles - Vegas Exchange Waivers

GM Andrew is open for business in LA tonight after acquiring the Waiver from Las Vegas (Vinnie) for a 4th round draft pick, 15 spots.  Andrew is weighing all options but is thinking of moving Fleischmann, Legwand or Ennis.  These players can still be acquired for Andrew will be leaving his pick as late as possible Tuesday in hopes of making a deal within the league prior to the pick

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Henrique Traded Once

Soon after grabbing Henrique twice, GM Shawn traded him once tonight for Lucic.  "Always nice when you can get an undrafted player for an Elite player" stated Muddy Capone.  Both players had 6 points on the season and both players teams are playing exceptionally round.  Henrique was traded by Halifax to Indianapolis (Matt) 
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BLOCKBUSTER - Vanek Crowned

In a surprise early season Blockbuster, GM's Andrew and Chad swapped a lot of points and 6 players.  In an 18 point deal, Vanek, the NHL's leading point producer is now in Los Angeles along with Fleischmann and Ennis, three current non playoff players.  Heading to Colorado are Steen, Perron and Hagelin.  "Not many teams have this kind of points to trade" stated GM Chad, "I think I worked Vanek to our advantage."

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San Fran Makes 4 for 4

Dropping Fleischmann, Wheeler, Kane and Baertschi, San Fran made a 26-26 point drop with the Waiver Sunday.  Added were Koivu, Koivu, Visnovsky and Visnovsky in what GM Scott said was one of his worst moves ever as a GM, "No just fucking with you" said Scott, "I've made many worse than this."  Truly GM Scott said he loved the move stating, "Koivu has the best plus minus in the NHL, a better shooting percentage then Crosby, Stamkos and Malkin combined, more goals then Malkin, St Louis, and Thornton just to name a few and Anaheim is West Coast and I love late night hockey."  The GM went on to say Visnovsky will back end the Power Play on the Islander, showcasing his talents before being dealt at the NHL Trading Deadline, "To likely Anaheim, Detroit or the Rangers, I believe."  Time will tell just how screwed up this Waiver will turn out, but in the mean time at least San Fran accomplished one thing, "Siv is gone" said Scott, "So clearly I've made worst moves than this one."

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Feb 9th Will Cause Frenzy

With the Waivers now about 9 days away (don't use your GM pages, they are not updated), the NHLP is in its positional stage.  Teams getting early points and battling for position in preparation for stage two - the team building stage.  Things get harry in a hurry and the emails start flying.  As a reminder, picks must be into the league by noon the day after your waiver - or it will cost double.  "Once noon hits, with possible injury picks that day, games starting early, another Waiver pick that night, we must know what happened" states Muddy Capone, "So to be fair to everyone, a Waiver is lost if a pick isn't made by the first NHL game after 12 noon or 5 PM, whatever comes first."  There is really no need for a late waiver.  GM's that hold on and hold on, can't make up their minds and trade it too late, run the risk of losing it.  If you accept it in a trade, demand it early or it is now your problem and you can lose it.  "I think trading the Waiver is something that you owe a common courtesy to all GM's, to be clear on when it is being moved, so the GM acquiring the pick has a fair time to act" said GM Scott, who has always liked setting time-deadlines, whereas many other GM's do not.  The league does not have time related rules stating when a waiver must be traded by, but the later it is moved, now confusion can take place.  So your time-lines have been listed here, so no complaining.  If you get fucked, blame yourself and not the guys at the head office who are only waiting around to inform the rest of the league about what happened with your waiver, as informing everyone is our job and guys have the right to know what happened with the waiver as our league moves at a fast pace when we get started.  It is your responsibility to have the waiver pick in by noon or something bad can happen, even by accident.  "We don't have time this season with back to back waivers to be trying to figure out what the hell happened in a controversy over who thought they did or didn't have the waiver" says a BOG member, "Get it in or run the risk you may lose it."

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BLOCKBUSTER - Vanek Crowned

In a surprise early season Blockbuster, GM's Andrew and Chad swapped a lot of points and 6 players.  In an 18 point deal, Vanek, the NHL's leading point producer is now in Los Angeles along with Fleischmann and Ennis, three current non playoff players.  Heading to Colorado are Steen, Perron and Hagelin.  "Not many teams have this kind of points to trade" stated GM Chad, "I think I worked Vanek to our advantage."

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Vegas In

It isn't like GM Vinnie went all in, but he is in, officially making his first transaction of the season, adding Michalek in a deal for Havlat.  "I need the extra scoring power there" stated Vinnie, getting two points in the deal but also a high point per game producer in the early going.  "I think we both do ok with this one" said GM Andrew, "I can afford to carry Havlet and am happy to get a Shark."

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San Fran Makes 4 for 4

Dropping Fleischmann, Wheeler, Kane and Baertschi, San Fran made a 26-26 point drop with the Waiver Sunday.  Added were Koivu, Koivu, Visnovsky and Visnovsky in what GM Scott said was one of his worst moves ever as a GM, "No just fucking with you" said Scott, "I've made many worse than this."  Truly GM Scott said he loved the move stating, "Koivu has the best plus minus in the NHL, a better shooting percentage then Crosby, Stamkos and Malkin combined, more goals then Malkin, St Louis, and Thornton just to name a few and Anaheim is West Coast and I love late night hockey."  The GM went on to say Visnovsky will back end the Power Play on the Islander, showcasing his talents before being dealt at the NHL Trading Deadline, "To likely Anaheim, Detroit or the Rangers, I believe."  Time will tell just how screwed up this Waiver will turn out, but in the mean time at least San Fran accomplished one thing, "Siv is gone" said Scott, "So clearly I've made worst moves than this one."
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Siv Be Gone

GM Scott said he paid through the teeth tonight acquiring the Waiver from Toronto (Chad) in San Fran for what amounted to 16 spots in the 4th round and 29 more in the 6th.  "Chad did good" said GM Scott, "Moving up essentially an entire round in the sixth round."  The Titan GM went on to say that poor scouting was the culprit in this deal, drafting Baertschi who has killed San Fran with no points on the season.  "I don't see us making like bandits, but getting rid of Siv will make the sleeps less restless."

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Halifax Adds Henrique Twice

After winning GM Tyson the NHLP Championship months earlier, Henrique sat in the minors twice Saturday.  GM Tyson, passed!  "I have to make the best move" said Tyson, "Letting your emotions take over are something I never do."  GM Shawn was able to acquire the Waiver in Halifax and make a very veteran move, dropping some slow starting non playoff players and adding a nice bundle of top seeded high scoring players, totally changing the season in Halifax.  Added were Conacher, Henrique, Henrique and Bieska, fresh off a two point night.  "I paid" said Shawn, "But a Waiver and a First round pick seems nothing when you go from nothing to a chance to win a Championship."  Well, no doubt that just happened.
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Twice Is Nice

The New York Islanders (Ryan) went 23 seasons without hitting a 12 point night, now have done it twice in three weeks.  Thanks for Ryan and Selanne each have 4 point nights, GM Ryan easily hit 12 tonight but with St Louis' game cancelled, and nothing from Weiss and Kostitsyn, it could have easily been a career high for GM Ryan, which is currently 13 in 2008-2009 in Green Bay.  Rounding out the 12 tonight was a 3 point night from Schenn and Kennedy actually added a single, giving him 2 points in 12 games this season.

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Laich'd More

GM Scott made the NHLP's first injury pick of the young season, adding a favorite of his, Bolland for Laich acquired Saturday.  "Bolland never does anything during the season, so you have to have enough to get you to the playoffs" said Scott, "But once the playoffs start, you can never have enough Bolland's on your team."  Scott who won his last Cup with Toews and Bolland is hoping the magic can be rekindled in Philadelphia this time with Kane and Bolland.
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Philly Likes Laich

Philadelphia (Scott) was quick to jump on Laich after he was found to be available tonight.  The Flyer sent Couturier to Halifax (Shawn), giving Halifax 5 points.  "I only wish I'd of drafted Laich twice instead of Couturier, but least half of that problem is corrected now" said GM Scott.

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Halifax Acquires Tanguay

Things move quickly this time of year.  No sooner then announcing he had tonight's waiver, GM Shawn added Tanguay and Laich from Cincinnati (Matt) for Del Zotto and Kreider.  The move gives Shawn a point with Laich a 5 point injury pick Sunday. 

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Halifax Acquires Saturday Waiver

Halifax (Shawn) now with tonight's Waiver in a Waiver swap for March 2nd and 7 spots in the first round.

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CTR
You Number One?

You may not like the CTR, but it tells some truth.  If you are at the top, based on the NHLP/NHL Standings today, your players, your points, you are doing well.  In the middle of the pack, you can be a threat and can move up.  If you are near the bottom, clearly you have work to do.  Don't believe us?  Well, leave your bottom team's alone and see what happens come the end of the season.  It would be foolish, because although not perfect, the CTR tells enough truth.  You can improve your team's ranking and the NHL standings and happenings can do the same.  Winners are the GM's who put the two together.  This year, is that you?

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GM Matt's Night BIG

Three teams with 7 players does have an NHLP record for points by a GM in one night.  GM Andrew holds that record for 25 points.  GM Matt flirted with that record last night, hitting 22 points on the night with a 9-7-6 on his three teams.  It was an incredible night and a big move night in the standings with 27 of the 36 other NHLP teams getting 3 points or less.  "GM Ryan had 3 points last night" stated Muddy Capone, "So 22 point nights move you upwards in a hurry."  GM Matt was the only GM coming into the season's start to not have at least 11 in one night.  We guess he just likes spreading the love.

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Old Score Settled

Portland (GM Vinnie) hasn't settled in and is still paying for the poorly ran franchise that was once the Calgary Flames (Jr).  "We knew the beginning of the end wasn't far off when the teams marketing campaign was announced last season" stated Muddy Capone about the now doomed franchise.  As if years of last place finishes and never accomplishing anything at all as a franchise wasn't enough  GM Jr came out with a slogan of "You'll Probably Beat Us".  As it turned out, it was the only thing he did get right in his final season as the pathetic Flames lost 27-8 in the NHLP's first round of the playoffs, Jr only having a three man team.  The league imposed stricter rules on playoff teams and now even compensation after this latest fiasco.  Calgary promised "10 to 15" spots in the 5th round to Halifax but never paid up the draft picks, causing an issue in the Head Office last season when Calgary used a pick that should have been Halifax's to outbid Halifax on a Waiver.  "It should have never happened that way" said a BOG member, "It left a real bad taste and we are here to say will no longer ever happen."  A new NHLP rule is league imposed compensation, awarded the first moment a team can pay.  Under this new set of rules, if a GM owes picks, say 10 spots in the 5th round, once it is deemed payable the league will notify the GM's and complete the transaction.  The GM's have a say, but cannot refuse to pay what they reasonable owe.  "The best thing to do is work it out quickly when you owe it" said Capone, "Otherwise we have to step in and find something that works."  Portland paid 9 spots in the 6th round to end that transaction from 2010, the final compensation owing from any prior deal coming into this season.  The league is caught up, so what is yours as far as picks, are truly yours.


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Buffalo Parting With Waiver

Seemingly not yet willing to part with one of his four Rangers or three Blues, GM Joel has made it clear he will move his Feb 17th Waiver in Buffalo.  "If you want to move up while the minors are loaded it will take a Waiver and Draft Picks in return" stated the GM in a league wide email, "But if the pick is good enough, we may be able to forgo the waiver exchange."   The minors are always rich early and many GM's love to have early waivers, so the 8th one overall is available, so start the bidding!

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Slight WAIVER ERROR

GM Vinnie pointed out that the dates of the Waivers didn't match the days of the week the first week of the waivers.  It was investigated.

This how it was presented to the league:

February Waivers (16 Waivers)

Saturday Feb 9^th (12)

Monday Feb 10^th (6)

Tuesday Feb 11^th (6)

Wednesday Feb 12^th (10)

Thursday Feb 14^th (6)

Friday Feb 15^th (8)

Saturday Feb 16^th (7)

Sunday Feb 17^th (7)

Monday Feb 18^th (7)

Tuesday Feb 19^th (8)

Thursday Feb 21^st (10)

Saturday Feb 23^rd (12)

Sunday Feb 24^th (8)

Monday Feb 25^th (5)

Tuesday Feb 26^th (9)

Thursday Feb 28^th (11)

Should have read:

February Waivers (16 Waivers)

Saturday Feb 9^th (12)

Sunday Feb 10^th (6)

Monday Feb 11^th (6)

Tuesday Feb 12^th (10)

Thursday Feb 14^th (6)

Friday Feb 15^th (8)

Saturday Feb 16^th (7)

Sunday Feb 17^th (7)

Monday Feb 18^th (7)

Tuesday Feb 19^th (8)

Thursday Feb 21^st (10)

Saturday Feb 23^rd (12)

Sunday Feb 24^th (8)

Monday Feb 25^th (5)

Tuesday Feb 26^th (9)

Thursday Feb 28^th (11)

I double checked the NHL Schedule - I had the right Dates - wrong days of the week on those three nights.

Thanks Vin!!!!

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Master Draft Picks Page

Don't use your GM pages for your draft picks right now while I figure out how I will handle everything.  The 2015-16 Draft is done and added, but I am also thinking (hoping it works) of doing a Master Draft Picks page.  So clicking Drafts from the menu above you can see what I started.  This way you only ever have to go to one page for all GM's picks for every year.  The good thing about this, is it is very easy to maintain and update, instead of opening and updating many pages.  For now everything is slowly being updated but NOT the GM pages at this point.

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Seasons First Deal

New Orleans (Shawn) has acquired the Pittsburgh (Chad) waiver on the 23rd.  New Orleans also acquired 3 spots in the 3rd round in exchange for the Feb 14th waiver.  GM Shawn, ever the romantic said "Now I can spend the night with my Valentine."

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Edmonton Steals First Overall On Safety

The 2015-16 Draft was decided Sunday and GM Scott's Edmonton Oil stole the first overall pick thanks to a safety at the end of the Super Bowl.  If they elect to punt the ball surely St Louis (Tyson) would have had the first pick, but it didn't turn out to badly for Tyson as he got the second overall pick anyhow.  If they kicked it, Edmonton would have drafted 6th overall if that was the final score, 34-29.  This is the second time in league history Edmonton has drafted first overall, the first time in 1991-92 when they took Mario Lemieux and won the Cup that season while GM Scott has had the first overall pick 2 times (this will be the third), the other time making Wayne Gretzky the first ever player drafted into the NHLP.  Scott was happy to get the pick but said, "I'll likely never see that pick as I fully expect to have traded it by then."  Rounding out the first 12 picks (all picks updated below in the chart) after Scott and Tyson are Joel (3), Vinnie (4), Ryan (5), Charlie (6), Chad (7), Mark (8), Shawn (9), Marcel (10), Matt (11) and Andrew (12).  The very much loved 36th overall pick belongs to GM Vinnie in Portland.  Draft pages will be updated before the Waivers start this weekend.

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Defending Champs Hit Man

The Hamilton Hitmen (Tyson), first place in Lee's Division have lost Simmons with a concussion, that the Flyers say they plan to take their time with.  This injury also affects GM Shawn in Seattle, currently third in Ray's Division.  Simmons has sizzled with 5 early points for the GM's and the loss will be felt if it is long term.  There is no time-table at this point and Simmons is one very tough player, but with the Flyers already experiencing Pronger's concussion won't likely rush any player, no matter how tough, back to quick from this injury.  Erskine received three games for the elbow, another player never to see NHLP time. 

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Terrible Start

GM Vinnie could not have got off to a worse start in his return to the NHLP after three full seasons away, "Everything came back to me very quickly" stated the GM, "Including the sleepless nights."  Within a week Vinnie has lost two elite players, first Hartnell and now Whitney, both gone between 1 and 2 months.  Las Vegas was already in 5th thanks to a slow start by Ovechkin, now must have Ovie pick up what Whitney won't be getting in the coming weeks.  If there is any comfort, and there is little, several other NHLP teams are dealing with injuries, even if not hit as hard as Vin.

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Chicago First to 50

Phoenix (Charlie) could not do it first and GM Andrew's high flying Hawks are now the first NHLP team to 50 points, now with 52 after Friday.  The Black Hawks are a whopping 25 points up on 5th with Thornton and Lecavalier, two of the very hottest NHLP players with 25 points between them.  The NHLP's lowest scoring team is also in Jr's Division, the Boston Bruins (Ryan) who has 17 points and who's top two players have scored a combined 7 points and are now, already, 13 points out of 4th.

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2500 Hockey Nights Later - It Happened!!!

Chadwick has hit the dozen mark!  In his 15th seasons as an NHLP GM, Chad has accomplished the most important things a GM can do, winning two NHLP Championships.  One thing that, until last night, had always eluded the GM was 12 points in a single night of action.  "We are going to see the 12+ point nights this year, as it isn't a normal year" said Muddy Capone, "But each time I think of how long it is for some GM's, or since a GM last done it and I always realize that it is a true night to remember."  In Chad's career as a GM 2500 hockey nights in the NHLP is a lot of time, about 15 full NHL seasons of hockey, so a first is always worth talking about.  How did last night happen?  Well Vanek's five point night clearly helped set the stage.  Fleischmann was then able to chip in 3 while Stastny and Ennis had 2 each.  While 12 don't come easy, 17 seems achievable some times and with Glencross not getting a point and Getzlaf and Plekanecs not playing, what was remarkable could have been record breaking.  Coming into this season we had only had 24, 12+ point nights as a league in 22 seasons, but in two weeks, that mark has been hit twice this season.  In the last shortened NHL season, 1994-95, we had our first ever 12 point night, some 18 years ago when GM Ian accomplished the feat the first time ever in Boston where his three Russian players at the time, each had 4 point nights.  It was the only time 12 was hit in that 48 game season, but many factors were different, including only 26 NHL teams.  The NHLP teams only had 5 player teams, not 7 as we do now and all players were only drafted once each.  What was the first thing Chad did when he hit the 12, "I booked a vacation to Florida" the GM said, "I just hope my next vacation comes in the next decade."

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Phoenix First to 50?

Only 8 points away from being the first team to 50 points, GM Charlie's Coyotes send out the entire squad tonight to be the first team to the half century mark in the NHLP this season.  "It is a wick pace this team is setting" Muddy Capone stated, "Marleau and Pavelski's 25 are out scoring 16 NHLP teams."  From past experience it will take in 336 man games about 228 points to make the NHLP playoffs, likely less after trading and at least in the couple high scoring divisions.  Phoenix is on an early pace to reach 336 points, but Capone feels that will slow down shortly.  "The Yotes have two players with 25 points and 2 players with a combined 2 points, where the top two can't likely keep that pace and the bottom two likely will pick up it."  Even with this wicked pace GM Charlie has a lot of work to do this season, sitting in the highest scoring NHLP Division and only 11 points up on 5th, with what is only a 2 player playoff team based on today's standings.  Capone says the teams in Ray's Division had better get use to a really tough season, "History has shown teams will trade down to 5th, so unless someone in that Division has the balls to slow the points, what is most likely is the 5th and 6th teams will be trading up to 4th, meaning this season this Divisions is going to have a race for points to grab a spot without luxury of trading points and making to solid playoff team and still staying in."  Phoenix might need those 336 to make a competitive team this season.

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Cincinnati - Seeing Red!s

The Cincinnati Rage (Matt) are quickly becoming that go-to team when the NHLP Yearbook needs to show you how not to run a team.  How bad is it this season in Cincinnati?  Their 14 points is a league low and after just 12 days they are already 11 points out of the playoffs.  The top two scorers, are the teams 6th and 7th round picks, Tanguay and van Riemsdyk, while the two Elite players, Briere and Brown have 1 point between them.  Laich is injured and still day to day.  By today's standings they don't have a playoff player in the lineup and already are the only NHLP team lacking a waiver this season.  It GETS WORSE!!!  The team is ran by GM Matt!  "Matt has put himself in a bad spot" said Muddy Capone, "So this is the season to prove himself and make this team a winner."  It clearly is easier said then done and GM Matt has already said he will get a waiver, but without one given in return will have to mortgage the teams future that already has one of the worst drafting spots, starting at 30th pick overall, for the next two seasons.  There is likely no doubt Matt will have to be aggressive without being hazardous or this team will be written off before the NHLP Trading Deadline.  If nothing else, Cincinnati should have an awesome Baseball season, starting in just 60 days!!!  Go REDS!

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Feb 9th Will Cause Frenzy

With the Waivers now about 9 days away (don't use your GM pages, they are not updated), the NHLP is in its positional stage.  Teams getting early points and battling for position in preparation for stage two - the team building stage.  Things get harry in a hurry and the emails start flying.  As a reminder, picks must be into the league by noon the day after your waiver - or it will cost double.  "Once noon hits, with possible injury picks that day, games starting early, another Waiver pick that night, we must know what happened" states Muddy Capone, "So to be fair to everyone, a Waiver is lost if a pick isn't made by the first NHL game after 12 noon or 5 PM, whatever comes first."  There is really no need for a late waiver.  GM's that hold on and hold on, can't make up their minds and trade it too late, run the risk of losing it.  If you accept it in a trade, demand it early or it is now your problem and you can lose it.  "I think trading the Waiver is something that you owe a common courtesy to all GM's, to be clear on when it is being moved, so the GM acquiring the pick has a fair time to act" said GM Scott, who has always liked setting time-deadlines, whereas many other GM's do not.  The league does not have time related rules stating when a waiver must be traded by, but the later it is moved, now confusion can take place.  So your time-lines have been listed here, so no complaining.  If you get fucked, blame yourself and not the guys at the head office who are only waiting around to inform the rest of the league about what happened with your waiver, as informing everyone is our job and guys have the right to know what happened with the waiver as our league moves at a fast pace when we get started.  It is your responsibility to have the waiver pick in by noon or something bad can happen, even by accident.  "We don't have time this season with back to back waivers to be trying to figure out what the hell happened in a controversy over who thought they did or didn't have the waiver" says a BOG member, "Get it in or run the risk you may lose it."

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Playoff Games Every Night

Wow, what a fun season.  The standings are so tight that every game is starting to feel like a must win, a playoff game.  "The injury rule is going to impact the NHLP in a huge way this season" stated Muddy Capone, "As it should."  With such tight standings GM's are going to have to make that decision on players of what team to bank on.  As an example, Pittsburgh could be in 8th spot at our Deadline, which in the past meant Penalty free and to load up on the Pens.  So a GM in first place and having three Pens on his team, would be in the NHLP playoffs (if he held his position) even if the NHL Pen's missed the playoffs.  He'd have a weak 4 man team at best.  Not this season.  If the Penguins were to fall out and miss, this team will likely penalty out, as they should, giving that 5th place team incentive to build a strong playoff team regardless.  It will be interesting, especially if the races in the NHL are close, as to how this season unfolds.

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Hornqvist Gone 3 to 4

It is official, Hornqvist is lost to the NHLP's Province of Quebec teams, both Montreal (Marcel) and Quebec (Matt) for 3 to 4 weeks.  "It is never fun to go through this many injuries" stated GM Marcel in an email, "I'd tell you what I really think but no one at the head office speaks French anymore."  The only thing saving Montreal at this point is the teams behind are really beat up.  Halifax (Shawn) also has 3 players injured.  With the play of Gaborik we'd expect Pittsburgh (Chad) to blow by Montreal and the only other healthy team in the Division is the second worst team in the NHLP as far as points, Carolina (Joel) with only 14 points.  The nice thing about the NHLP this season, every second day there seems to be 8 to 10 games on the schedule so teams that are down, can come back in a hurry.

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Rangers Lose Roy

The New York Rangers (Charlie) lost Elite player Roy for a period of time with an injured groin.  The injury has landed Roy on the injury reserve list with no time tabled return.  Charlie is in 5th in Lee's Division but the Division is very tight with the Rangers only 6 points out of first. 
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Landhiselbow Concussed?

The injured continue to clog the medical rooms and this one may be a serious concussion.  Landeskog took a elbow to the head along the lines of a Horton or McDonald and is gone for now, just indefinitely.  Boston (Ryan) and Miami (Charlie) of Jr's Division are the affected teams.  "Brad Stuart is just a goon hitter" stated GM Charlie who is sour about the hit, "Guys who have never been in the NHLP, ever, clearly don't have a hell of a lot of talent to begin with."  Easy Chuck said Muddy Capone, "Sure he can't score but we love the way he checks.  His hip checks are awesome."  The injures are really piling up and in this shortened season, a simple 4 week injury is one-third the season.  We will wait for a time-table on this one but first thought is likely at least 4 weeks if he does have a concussion.

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Vancouver's 10 Points Causes Re-Evaluation

What is normally quite a great night seems to be something we will see a lot of this year, causing the NHLP Yearbook a lot of writing.  GM Joel was only one off a career high with his 10 points in Vancouver tonight, causing the NHLP to say to get officially recognized this season, from here on out it will take 12 points.
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Habs Running Low on Players

Montreal (Marcel) knew that when he drafted Kesler, he'd have to stay healthy with such a short season.  Things have got interesting, or scary depending on your view, in a real hurry this week.  First Pacioretty is gone for at least 3 weeks and now joining Kesler and Pacioretty in the medical room is Hornqvist.  It is not known for certain what is wrong with Hornqvist but it does appear it will be a couple weeks at this point.  Marcel has stayed in 2nd so far, but certainly will be dropping a few spots even though teams behind in the East's Glen's Division also have injury trouble of their own.

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Marleau and Pavelski Unstoppable

GM Charlie is known as a good drafting GM.  His Elite two picks in Phoenix, Marleau and Pavelski combined for 19 points this week alone, more points than 8 NHLP teams even have.  "You see the big weeks this week and you think things will be easy this year and point records from the past will fall" said Muddy Capone in reference to two NHLP teams reaching 30 points this week and 5 hitting at least 25 or more, unheard of numbers.  "Then you think Marleau and Pavelski had 19 between them in one week and the Coyotes barely cracked 30."  Duchene, Grabovski and Grabovski each had 4 points while Stastny only had one and Phaneuf not a point for what we are assuming is Charlie's best week ever.  The 32 fell only five points shy of the NHLP record held by GM Shawn in Halifax.  When Shawn hit 37 his top two players that week had 17, H. Sedin 9 and D. Sedin 8, while Tanguay also had 8.  Pavelski was also on that team that week and had a team low week of just 3 points for Shawn.

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Thornton's 11 Helps Andrew Hit 31

GM Charlie and Marleau weren't the only team breaking the 30 point barrier this week, as Chicago (Andrew) hit 31, thanks mainly to Thornton's 11 point week.  A more balanced 31 then Phoenix with Lecavalier, Michalek and Read adding 4 each while Parenteau, Malone and Bozak had numbers of 3-3-2.

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Pulling Away

Chicago (Andrew) enters today 20 points up on 5th spot in Jr's Division in the Central and with 5 players playing is only 3 points from a 30 point week.  Led by Thornton and Lecavalier things are shaping up to be a lot of fun this season for the NHLP's 4 time Champion.  "We are only eight days into the schedule and Chicago already has 20 points to give" explained Muddy Capone, "At this rate that is 50 points by the time the first Waiver comes around."  It is always fun to have points and with a short season we anticipated things bunched up.  All except Chicago of course.

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Double Whammy

For the third time in days a GM was hit with a double injury, this time to GM Marcel in both Montreal and Alaska to Pacioretty who has now been lost for about a month.  "Last season you take Pacioretty or Lupul twice, you are a genius" said Muddy Capone, "This season, not so much."  GM Shawn also heard the news Kreider was out, joining Hartnell on the shelf in Halifax.  Kreider for the most part is day to day with a bone chip, but he missed Saturday and is questionable Tuesday and suddenly, one man game which is actually two, turns into 4 which is 8.  "These are crucial to the NHLP standings, always are" explained Capone, "But are a little more magnified in a shortened season."

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Injury Rules - Refresh Yourself Here

Injuries have played a key role in the NHLP for years.  The rules are meant as small penalties, but never enough to ever wipe a teams season out completely.  So although you cannot replace your star players points per game or playoff quality, you do get to replace him with something.  As a reminder, as it seems to happen every other year, you cannot drop a player via injury or waiver and pick him up (on another team or EVEN the same team that dropped him), unless someone picks a waiver in-between the time you dropped him and picked him up.  We do have teams with back to back waivers this season, so just remember that.  Meetings are different where you may drop a player from one team and go after him on another, however, certain NHLP rules on stacking and integrity still supersede everything we all do.  If you ever think something doesn't feel right, you have the right to declare a VETO.  I don't recall the last officially veto'd deal even though we have had 10 of them over the years, but they seem a thing of the past.  If half the GM's, with the GM's involved not being able to vote, declare a deal VETO'd, the deal does not occur.  I will continue to place these on the site as we have new GM's, but it is always a good thing to remind us all on little things that don't happen every day.

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Lots of Games - Scoring Records to Fall?

Outside a strike year the NHL will never schedule this many games nightly, weekly, monthly, it won't happen.  However, this season is different.  Trying to fit a months worth of games every three weeks means the NHLP scoring should be up.  Phoenix (Charlie) and Chicago (Andrew are shooting for 30 point weeks, just needing 8 between games Saturday and Sunday.  The 30+ week is very elusive, happens less then once a season and has not happened since 2008-2009.  Although Shawn's all-time record of 37 in one week doesn't appear in danger, it does appear 30 will be a number that is hit a few times this season

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Benn Waiting

GM Mark didn't have to wait long to get his star player Benn back into his New Jersey lineup.  The Devils were able to hold onto 4th place without Benn who signed a 5 year deal with his NHL Stars and will be back in the lineup likely next game.  Benn was New Jersey's second round pick and is an Elite player for the first year GM.

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Yotes Flirt With a Dozen

GM Charlie was only a point shy of a 12 point night Thursday when his Phoenix Coyotes hit 11.  Marleau, Duchene and Pavelski each had 3 while Grabovski and Grabovski added singles.  The Coyotes shot to the front of the NHLP to 27 points, the first team to hit 25 and now are 15 points up on 5th in the West Conferences Ray's Division.  In 13 NHLP seasons Phoenix has only had more than 11 in one night one time, a whopping 14, which was also GM Charlie's best night ever in 2009-10.  Charlie has hit the dozen point plateau twice as a GM, the other time in Anaheim.  Five current GM's, including GM Chad, has never hit a dozen in one night with Chad being in his 15th season as a GM.

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A Bit Closer

While GM Scott admitted it was no where near the worst injury he has dealt with as a GM, he did say it is as expensive of any prior.  "Dropping Lupul to the minors twice will be costly" said the GM, "But we will raise ticket prices and stick it to the fans as we always do to cover that cost."  When asked if that was kind of harsh GM Scott didn't hold back, "Are you a fucking idiot Capone?  This is a fantasy hockey pool, we don't have fans who buy tickets.  I will have to cover the cost of the injuries somehow, likely playing Vinnie poker or worse case, lose one of the 5 PVR boxes in the house.  I don't think we need the one in the bathroom anyhow."  Well Lupul does have a broken forearm and GM Scott does have him once in Edmonton and once in Philly, so regardless of how it is actually paid for, GM Scott appears destine to be dropping Lupul via injury in three weeks.

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Long Way From The Hart

GM Shawn wasn't happy to hear Hartnell will be gone for an indefinite amount of time after taking a slap shot to the foot.  Hartnell's injury makes him the first Elite player to suffer what could be a longer injury, even though there is no time-table as of yet.  Although only two points out of first in Glen's Division Halifax is only a point up on 5th, so will want Hartnell to get healthy sooner then later.

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Report:  Canucks Closer to Luongo Deal?

Does anyone else cringe at this thought?  Oh sure it will be great to not have this "Goalie issue", but in this day and age isn't there something to be said to having two good starting goalies?  Right now there is comfort, something not many teams have.  If a goalie pulls a groin, runs a bad streak or gets run over and is gone long term, in steps as good a goalie in his place.  It is called comfort.  Once this deal goes down, that is gone.  It will be "Uncomfortable" around the Canucks because now they are in, all or nothing.  The media will now switch from goalie issue to lack there of goalie issue.  Why make this deal, to just appease the media?  I like to breathe naturally, it is very comforting.  Holding your breath is uncomfortable.  Well, after this week, the Canucks will be holding their breath the rest of the season and playoffs, joining about 20 other NHL teams that currently do the same thing, knowing how their changes diminish greatly when they have to go to their backup long term.

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Sweet Sugar Cane

GM Joel had one hell of a draft stated Muddy Capone, "But no one expected Kopitar back this soon."  Kopitar dropped all the way to 30th on draft day before Joel scooped in and grabbed him which could now be the steal of the first round.  Kopitar was suppose to miss the first 6 to 9 games and ended up missing only one of his teams first 48.  "Kopitar would have gone top 10 had he been healthy, maybe top 5" Capone stated.  Carolina did get off to the expected slow start, having only 6 points but are only 5 points out of a playoff spot in Glen's Division and now have a healthy Kopitar back.  Capone explains this was a major boost for what he expects will be a great year for Joel, "He already had the best draft according to some early analysis and now he finds himself with one of the potential most desirable players back in his lineup weeks early."  Pretty sweet!

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Errors Found - Thanks

So far one error of a player on the wrong team had been found in Player Tracking while GM Joel pointed out a mistake in Office Pools with his Vancouver Canucks.  "That one wasn't really a mistake" stated Muddy Capone, "We just felt Zajac was a better first round pick then Parise and were trying to help Joel out.  His loss now."  Those correction, or as Copone apparently sees it "Changes" have been made.

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Panthers and Surf Hit the Beaches

Well the way the two Florida based teams have started out of the gate you'd think they are skating on beach sand.  Miami (Charlie) and Florida (Marcel) have a combined one point and rank 35th and 36th in the NHLP.  GM Charlie didn't see it that way telling the NHLP Yearbook "That is like saying the Gretzky brothers have 2861 Career points between them" But they do?  "No, Wayne has 2857 and Brent 4, so don't be writing bull shit articles that Marcel and I have a combined one point.  That is my point and Marcel doesn't have a point."  Seeing it in a different light was GM Marcel who took it in stride, "Ya, slow start sucks but least we are only 2 points out of a playoff spot.  That will be enough to blow by Miami."

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Player Tracking Updated

Please check your own teams - easier to find the mistakes.  Player tracking shows 6 Elite Pens, while not one Bluejacket got drafted.  If you see errors, lets get them now before something happens during the waivers.  You have 7 guys per team - 21 players to double check.

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GM Mark Joins the NHLP

After days of rumors it is official, the NHLP is back to 12.  GM Mark will officially be introduced by email but joins the NHLP, taking over teams in Ottawa, Winnipeg and New Jersey.  "We thought the process may take longer be we are extremely excited" stated GM Tyson who was an instrumental part of getting GM Mark into the NHLP.  "I had just become so frustrated with other pools, no action, and guys not answering emails" said the new GM, "I thought I'd give what I hear is the best pool in the world a try."  Well Mark, you heard right!

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COMPLETED!!!!

The NHLP Draft is officially completed.  "It was the longest draft in league history" Muddy Capone said laughing, "The media didn't sleep much for three days.  From Crosby to Baertschi the entire draft took almost 52 hours. 

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Waivers To Follow Draft Order

Released today was the Waiver order, which will follow the Draft this year, starting with Cleveland (Tyson) on February 9th and ending in San Fran (Scott) on March 30th.  Green Bay (Ryan) is the only team with two waivers, having previously acquired Cincinnati's (Matt) waiver last season.

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 No-Man's Land - 3 in 4?

GM Tyson drafts tonight, starting with the first overall pick, in his run for his third NHLP Cup, in just his fourth NHLP season as a GM.  "This is history in the making" states Muddy Capone, "No GM has accomplished a third cup that quickly and only two GM's even have that third Championship."  GM Andrew holds that record for the fastest to three cups, which he won in his first 7 seasons, the same length of time since his last Cup, his fourth which came in year 9.  Scott, also a four Cup winner achieved his third in his 16th season and fourth in his 21st year as GM.  GM Tyson winning a Cup over the next three seasons will make him the fastest GM in league history to that third win.  "This is an awesome league and I am excited about that possibility" Tyson said, "But I know how close I came, just minutes, from not having last years Championship and I realize any Championship could be your last."  To his credit GM Tyson has made it look easy in his first three seasons and the NHLP season will officially be kicked off tonight when he declares his first overall pick, a name he hopes will be eventually be on Cleveland's Second Cup.

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Charlie, Ryan and Shawn Take Fourth

Although other GM's showed interest, the fourth team went to the first three GM's who were offered it.  Again, if we use this in the future out of necessity, those GM's will go to the end of the list.  Also if before our NHLP Trading Deadline we find a 12th GM, they will take control of those three teams, but not after that point.

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Central's Star Power

It is anticipated that the NHLP's Central Conference will be loaded with NHL stars this season with 7 of the first 10 NHLP draft picks all in the Central.  "These guys are the best of the Elite picks" stated Muddy Capone, "So a powerful Conference full of star power will certainly be the story."  Three of the first 5 and 4 of the top 8 players drafted will be in Leo's Division while Cincinnati (Matt), also lacking a waiver this season doesn't draft until 28th, 15 spots behind every team in the Division.  Jr's Division in the Central has three of the first 10 picks.  The final Division to draft is Norm's in the West where GM Ryan picks at 16th overall, still the top pick of the Division.
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Rage in Cincinnati

GM Matt has got off to the wrong start in Cincinnati where Daniel Briere has been diagnosed with a hairline fracture which will keep him out of the first games of the season.  "I want to win the NHLP Championship this year" stated Matt, "But this isn't the start to a short season that will make things easier in Cincinnati."  The injury page will have a calendar this season and it is each GM's responsibility to ensure that they monitor their own players.  "We will add any player to the calendar for any GM, just ask, stated Muddy Capone, "But the onus this season will be on the GM."  You know when your player has missed 5 in a row, so at that time if it is a player you may drop, advise the league and we'll gladly add them to that list.

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Official NHLP Conferences and Teams

The NHLP Released the Conferences and Divisions for the coming season.  "It reminded me of our Conferences and Divisions when the NHLP first started" stated Muddy Capone, "With such names as the Campbell's and Wales Conference and Divisions such as the Smythe and Patrick Division."  The NHLP Divisions are each named after the arguably most historical GM's no longer in the NHLP.  Original GM's Glen and Ray, two time Cup winners Leo and Norm, while legends Lee and Jr round out the Division names.  The NHLP matched up the GM's with the Division they are most remembered for impacting during their tenures in the NHLP.
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Waiver Dates

Here are the Waiver Dates for 2013:  Teams to be filled in next by GM Tyson – That email is coming.

Season Starts January 19^th

Three full weeks after season starts to First Waiver on Feb 9^th

Next 36 most filled hockey nights are waiver until March 31^st

Leaving Waivers ending 6 to 13 days before our Trading Deadline and about 4 weeks before seasons end

*Note:  It worked out that all nights with 4 or less games were stroked off.  This left 37 Dates – so the last 5 game night, March 31^st, was stroked off.  Leaving these 36 Waiver Nights and (Games) that night:

February Waivers (16 Waivers)

Saturday Feb 9^th (12)

Monday Feb 10^th (6)

Tuesday Feb 11^th (6)

Wednesday Feb 12^th (10)

Thursday Feb 14^th (6)

Friday Feb 15^th (8)

Saturday Feb 16^th (7)

Sunday Feb 17^th (7)

Monday Feb 18^th (7)

Tuesday Feb 19^th (8)

Thursday Feb 21^st (10)

Saturday Feb 23^rd (12)

Sunday Feb 24^th (8)

Monday Feb 25^th (5)

Tuesday Feb 26^th (9)

Thursday Feb 28^th (11)

March Waivers (20 Waivers)

Saturday March 2^nd (9)

Sunday March 3^rd (9)

Tuesday March 5^th (11)

Thursday March 7^th (11)

Friday March 8^th (5)

Saturday March 9^th (10)

Sunday March 10^th (10)

Tuesday March 12^th (11)

Thursday March 14^th (11)

Saturday March 16^th (13)

Monday March 18^th (7)

Tuesday March 19^th (9)

Wednesday March 20^th (5)

Thursday March 21^st (9)

Saturday March 23^rd (7)

Sunday March 24^th (7)

Monday March 25^th (7)

Tuesday March 26^th (9)

Thursday March 28^th (10)

Saturday March 29^th (11)

Our Trading Deadline likely April 6^th (Early Date) or April 13^th (latest Date).

April Season Ends 27th

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You guys filled these up - (Shawn and Andrew) had the starting skeleton and your teams numbers you selected filled up the Official Divisions for this season as follows:

I just added a comment as to why the Division has the name it does (as the Teams came first and I added the official names to match after)

Central Conference

1)      Leo’s Division (Won Two Cups with Las Vegas)

Buffalo (Joel)

Cincinnati (Matt)

New Orleans (Shawn)

Toronto (Chad)

Las Vegas (Vinny)

Ottawa (Charlie)

2)      Jr’s Division (Won Two Cups in Dallas – Central Team, even though Dallas isn’t in NHLP this season)

San Fran (Scott)

Chicago (Andrew)

Cleveland (Tyson)

Miami (Charlie)

Boston (Ryan)

Florida (Marcel)

West Conference

1)      Norm’s Division (Won Two Cups in St Louis)

Edmonton (Scott)

St Louis (Tyson)

Green Bay (Ryan)

Indianapolis (Matt)

Alaska (Marcel)

Colorado (Chad)

2)      Ray’s Division (First NHLP Cup in Vancouver)

Los Angeles (Andrew)

Phoenix (Charlie)

Vancouver (Joel)

Portland (Vinnie)

Seattle (Shawn)

Winnipeg (Ryan)

East Conference

1)      Lee’s Division (Only Cup was NY Rangers)

Philadelphia (Scott)

Hamilton (Tyson)

NY Rangers (Charlie)

NY Islanders (Ryan)

Atlantic City (Vinnie)

New Jersey (Shawn)

2)      Glen’s Division (Gets this East Division who fittingly would have been nice to have Atlantic City – but Oh well)

Hartford (Andrew)

Carolina (Joel)

Quebec (Matt)

Montreal (Marcel)

Pittsburgh (Chad)

Halifax (Shawn)

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VinDog Trump?

The NHLP Announced today GM Vinnie's NHLP Teams and it is clear Vin went "All In".  Joining the NHLP once again are the Las Vegas Strip, two-time NHLP Champions under GM Leo in 1995 and 1998.  Vinnie also took control over the Atlantic City Gamblers, a team GM Glen did all he could to bury year after year, giving "The Dog" control over the gaming meca's in the USA.  Given a choice of all team names in the NHLP that were no longer in use, Vinnie also is bringing back the Portland Winter Hawks, the 2007 NHLP Champions under GM Chad.  "I really thought Vin would go for the Minnesota Gulls " said Muddy Capone, "But Portland does have a nice banner hanging on their homepage and that stretching Gull noise the home team would make was something only GM Scott would love."  The question now is did GM Vinnie learn enough in his first six years as a GM to make one of those banners his own?

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Charlie, Ryan and Shawn Take Fourth

Although other GM's showed interest, the fourth team went to the first three GM's who were offered it.  Again, if we use this in the future out of necessity, those GM's will go to the end of the list.  Also if before our NHLP Trading Deadline we find a 12th GM, they will take control of those three teams, but not after that point.

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Wednesday Draft Date Set

Now 11 GM's are set to Draft Wednesday at 7 PM.  GM Vinnie is drafting in GM Jr's positions.  The league is still awaiting email responses from GM Chad before releasing the conferences for the new season, which cannot be released until he answers his emails.  Should we not hear from Chad by noon Sunday, we will have to make the selections for him.

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Veteran GM VinDog Returns

The NHLP welcomed back GM Vinnie for what will be his 7th NHLP season.  Vinnie first became a GM in 2002-03 and went to the NHLP Finals in his first year, barely losing the Championship in the very final game.  By the time Vin stepped aside after the 2008-09 season he went to the NHLP finals two times with no rings to show for his years of service.  Desperately wanting back into the NHLP Vin bided his time the past two seasons waiting for a position to open.  "I have more time now than I did before" said a very happy Vinnie, "I have wanted back into the best pool in the world almost since the day I left and I plan to make the most of this opportunity to complete what I missed out on prior."  The NHLP is happy to have him back and as one GM put it, "The guy has deep pockets and I enjoy emptying them year after year."  Poker anyone?

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Competiveness x 10

GM Jr's legacy in the NHLP won't be something easily figured out.  He was a pioneer, a work horse and as fierce a competitor as the league has ever seen.  He did it all and impacted every aspect of the league over his 17 years of service.  Behind the scenes Jr was always leading the way for the betterment of the league while the way he ran his teams was something that was very much respected and feared.  "I was often in disbelief" stated Muddy Capone, "As to how exactly GM Jr would arrive at his final team.  If I knew it didn't happen that way, I'd of thought he just added those players to Officepools without our knowledge."  Jr had an ability to make teams that were unfairly strong and he did it ever single year.  "Jr will in time tell his own side of things" stated GM Scott, "After all, he was the king of the Press Release, but I think he is partially worn down from just being one of the best year in and year out only to have many disappointing outcomes."   It would not be a stretch or exaggeration to say his cup total should be double and that frustration undoubtedly played a part in stepping away from the league.  "Why shouldn't he have double the cups" said Scott, "He had 10 times the competiveness."

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Ray & Mike Step Aside - Leaving One Opening

Co-GM's Ray and Mike have decided to not return to the NHLP, leaving the league with 11 GM's and an open spot.  "We have a backup plan in place" said a BOG member, and have officially offered GM Glen the position as he has shown an interest in a possible return.  If Glen does not take the spot, we will be looking for another GM, so if you have someone to sponsor, let us know.  It is looking like we could draft online Wednesday, so this is a time sensitive issue.

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Format and Season Details Available Shortly

The Board of Governors are laying out the coming season.  "If you are looking at a draft, look about 150 to 170 players to be safe" stated a BOG member, "That seems where we are at year after year, so we will try and make that number work for 2013." 
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League Sends Out Draft Dates

Keep an eye on the Schedules page.  A couple more dates have asked to be added.

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GM Jr Steps Aside

Although the news was not a surprise, with GM Jr making his intentions known for months, it still has the same sting throughout the NHLP.  GM Jr has officially stepped aside, for at least a season.  "This is as big of loss as the NHLP has ever suffered" said GM Scott, "You just don't replace guys like Jr."  Jr entered the NHLP in 1994-95 and spent 17 straight seasons not only running his teams, but running the NHLP.  Winning cups in his 7th & 14th seasons in Dallas, Jr remains still only one of four NHLP teams to ever hoist multiple championships.  Jr left his mark on absolutely every part of the league and his dedication and work effort simply won't be replaced, because it can't be.  Meetings, organization, rules, and the history of the league are just some areas that will forever take a hit without Jr in the league.  The league thanks GM Jr for his years of service, wishes him the utmost best, and already have their collective fingers crossed his time away is brief.

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#1 Has Number One & Number One

GM Tyson is living the good life.  Fresh off winning the NHLP Championship, Tyson is already preparing for the 2012/13 season's number one pick.  "Tyson drafts first overall all after winning the Championship" said Muddy Capone, "And then he drafts first overall the following season as well."  Back to back to back!!!

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Expansion?

Well, there is serious talk.  Former GM's Vinnie and Glen have expressed interest in rejoining the NHLP and talks are heating up as to whether GM's Mike and Ray will each GM their own teams in 2012/13.  "We'd love to see them take their own paths" said Muddy Capone, "Maybe make them both more hungry for the Championship if they competed against one another."  Many GM's want expansion, GM Scott being one, "I think it is time we move beyond 12, with 14 or 15 being nice numbers" said Scott, "Let's do it and see what happens."  The NHLP will have a lot to think about in the coming months and expansion may top that list.

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Playoff Structure Among Rules BOG Will Look At

GM Chad has made it clear he'd like to see the penalty rule abolished in 2012, "You either have them or you don't" is Chad's motto, which has grown a lot of support from GM's who have listened to him.  "I think he is bang on" said GM Joel, "We need to think serious about this for 2012."  Chad has offered up a rule change that would see playoff teams not based on potential, but actual playoff players on your NHLP team, come the final day of the NHLP season.  "If you can't field a playoff team of 6 players, sayonara" said the GM, "That is the way it goes, and you deserve to fall to the back of the pack."  GM's who have heard what Chad has to say have supported his new approach and the league will get to hear it in detail heading into the new season.

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Divisional Divide?

Well if the NHLP doesn't alter the number of players on each team and the teams per GM, GM Jr is leading the way to alter the NHLP Conferences.  "There is no where to dump points under the current format, so I'd like to see the Conferences, divided into two Divisions."  Jr is proposing each GM have a team in each Conference, but the Conferences each have two separate Divisions, "If you don't have a team in a Division, you are likely to move your points there more easily" said the GM.  There seems to be a lot for support for this implementation as many GM's have agreed with the alignment.  If the league does make this move, do the Divisions stay matched up in the first and second rounds of the playoffs, or are they seeded for the first round based on the Conference points?  "These are the things the NHLP will have to think about" said the NHLP's top analyst, 23 year Yearbook reporter Muddy Capone, "But as always, if a GM doesn't weigh in, then clearly they can't complain when they haven't a say in new ideas within the NHLP."  

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2012 NHLP Champions
Hamilton Hitmen
GM Tyson

Adam Henrique
Radim Vrbata
Tyler Kennedy
Pascal Dupuis
Jannik Hansen
Kyle Turris
Stephan Weiss

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Final, June 11th

NHLP Championship At a Glance...(Click for Playoff Page)
Score	Team	Seed
Central Conference Representative
0	Florida Panthers (Marcel) #4	1
West Conference Representative
0	Los Angeles Kings (Andrew) #14	5
East Conference Representative
2	Hamilton Hitmen (Tyson) #13	3

*The color would show the NHLP Champion (This Team)
Underscored

* - Officially has won the Tie-Breaker
Blue Numbers = Done Scoring/Can't gain in Round


After Games Friday, May 25th - Final Conference Finals

Conference Finals At a Glance...(Click for Playoff Page)
Seed	Team	Score	Score	Team	Seed
Central Conference
3	Dallas Stars (Jr) #1	0	5*	Florida Panthers (Marcel) #4	1
East Conference
8	Philadelphia Flyer (Scott) #9	1	5*	Hamilton Hitmen (Tyson) #13	3
West Conference
8	Edmonton Oil (Scott) #3	5*	6	Los Angeles Kings (Andrew) #14	5

*The colors would show the three teams in the Finals.  (This seed vs. this seed vs. this seed)
Underscored

Second Round At a Glance...(Click for Playoff Page)
Seed	Team	Score	Score	Team	Seed
Central Conference
7	Ottawa Senators (Mike & Ray) #22	6	10*	Florida Panthers (Marcel) #4	1
4	Cleveland Fury (Tyson) #6	2*	4	Dallas Stars (Jr) #1	3
East Conference
8	Philadelphia Flyer (Scott) #9	5*	5	Hartford Whalers (Andrew) #5	2
4	Memphis Machine (Jr) #23	5*	7	Hamilton Hitmen (Tyson) #13	3
West Conference
8	Edmonton Oil (Scott) #3	19	7*	St Louis Blues (Tyson) #10	2
6	Vancouver Canucks (Joel) #15	4*	15	Los Angeles Kings (Andrew) #14	5

First Round At a Glance...(Click for Playoff Page)
Seed	Team	Score	Score	Team	Seed
Central Conference
8	Toronto Maple Leafs (Chad)  #17	25	31*	Florida Panthers (Marcel) #4	1
7	Ottawa Senators (Mike & Ray) #22	20*	16	Boston Bruins (Ryan) #11	2
6	San Fran Titan (Scott) #12	15	20*	Dallas Stars (Jr) #1	3
5	Chicago Blackhawks (Andrew) #20	17*	24	Cleveland Fury (Tyson) #6	4
East Conference
8	Philadelphia Flyer (Scott) #9	13*	11	Montreal Canadiens (Marcel) #19	1
7	Carolina Hurricanes (Joel) #21	17	29*	Hartford Whalers (Andrew) #5	2
6	New York Rangers (Charlie)  #2	21*	25	Hamilton Hitmen (Tyson) #13	3
5	Halifax Destroyers (Shawn) #18	13*	18	Memphis Machine (Jr) #23	4
West Conference
8	Edmonton Oil (Scott) #3	23	21*	Alaska Attack (Marcel) #7	1
7	Calgary Flames (Jr)  #24	8	27*	St Louis Blues (Tyson) #10	2
6	Vancouver Canucks (Joel) #15	22	16*	Green Bay Knights (Ryan) #16	3
5	Los Angeles Kings (Andrew) #14	17*	13	Winnipeg Jets (Mike & Ray) #8	4

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2011/12 Playoff Highlights

2011/12 Season Highlights

Season 2011/12

Playoffs 2010/11

Season 2010/11

Playoffs 2009/10

Season 2009/10

Season 2008/09