Rule change vote #2 (Prospect extension discount reduction)

[SlackJack]

Not sure where to post this, but aside from Prospect Discounts and Blocked Shots the other major idea for consideration was increasing the FA pool. On that topic I think it's fair to say that the most direct way to increasing the FA pool is by ratcheting down the salary cap. Perhaps tinkering with our cap formula could be discussed as well?

[SlackJack]

Though it's not all about FA for some, to be fair.  It's about realism, since some of these prospects are making half as much here as they are in the NHL.

If folks want realism there is a laundry list of other changes that should be made. Like where are the sponsorship deals and when are we going to get paid to manage these teams!?! 

[jlapo11]

Yeah, it's a discussion topic for sure. Maybe not changing the percentage, but lowering it from 5 years to say 3 would be a happy medium.

Because, we get our prospects for what, 3 seasons is it if they play a full year the first year? (ie. Nico Hichier is in his 3rd year in the league, and contract expires after this year).

That would come out to 3 years on the min., plus 3 years at a highly discounted rate before going onto a full-fledged re-sign.

Even if the player hits prime fantasy output in their 3rd year, that gives you 4 total years of solid production at a reduced cost. Plenty of time/big enough window to build a championship team.

I am supporting this idea. Keep the actual prospect discount but lowering years to 3 years

[norrya66]

I am supporting this idea. Keep the actual prospect discount but lowering years to 3 years

I agree. I am on board with this

[jmtrops]

if you lower it to 3 years isnt that going away from what the NHL is doing?

[SlackJack]

There are other ways to reduce the impact of the discount (if that is even what we want).

Limit them to 'own drafted' player for one....or a reduction to 4 years rather than 3. Tweaking the definition of prospects is another. Certainly we could lower the prospect contract threshold for goalies. Say 25 games for goalies to get a contract instead of 40. What if prospect discounts were only available for players drafted with supplemental picks?

Without more conversation it is probably premature to latch onto a reduction to 3 years.

[Rob]

It looks like we're pretty split on this.  Although, it may have been premature to poll it.  Or maybe I asked the wrong question.

Flesh this out more or put it to bed for now?

[SlackJack]

It looks like we're pretty split on this.  Although, it may have been premature to poll it.  Or maybe I asked the wrong question.

Flesh this out more or put it to bed for now?

Either way is fine with me but if we are going to 'flesh it out' I want a clear understanding of the 'why'. More realism, more FA, or less support for rebuilding teams??? What is the objective?

[Rob]

Either way is fine with me but if we are going to 'flesh it out' I want a clear understanding of the 'why'. More realism, more FA, or less support for rebuilding teams??? What is the objective?

I think those for it would argue both realism (since these players are making way less here than they are in the NHL) and more FA.

On the latter my argument is that FA looks pretty damn healthy to me - but I'll let those FOR the change hash out that argument. 

[WestCoastExpress]

I honestly don't really care either way.

I guess 51% for a change and 49% not for change if we're being technical.

I would have voted for say 3 or 4 years on the discount extension price instead of the 5. The value discount is what it is, I don't see how we'd all come up with a number that satisfies everyone if we were to change the discount %.

Generally speaking FA is also what it is. If a guy is 26-30 he's probably being re-signed either way, regardless of price. Guys like Giroux and Giordano will always be in FA due to age, sometimes coupled with re-sign values - more so for centers.
In the NHL it's not like 5+ all-star players hit UFA every single year, most are re-signed, or are RFA's like this summer, which we don't have and I think it'd be super difficult to introduce that aspect into an existing league like this.

Also, change in a league that's been around and been as good and healthy as this one is tough to do. People have planned their rosters for the rules in place (ie. Slack, and now Boston), so messing with those rules drastically wouldn't be totally fair to them.