Hey everyone,
Lately I've been thinking about the state of trading in our league. Over the past couple years trades have taken a little while longer to process than they used to. Factoring in the time it can take to negotiate a trade and the time a trade sits on the board for processing, it can be a few weeks or even a month. This means our rosters sit in limbo a for a large amount of time and this can hinder other moves.
The other day, Tony asked if he could vote on a trade that was sitting on the board despite not being on the Trade Committee. Tony is a multi-year Backyard Champion with tremendous hockey knowledge, so it's probably a good idea for him to be able to vote on trades. But further than that, all our GMs have great fantasy/hockey backgrounds and valuable perspectives. I think it is a good idea to open of trade feedback to all GMs in Backyard.
On a trial basis, I am suspending the Trade Committee. Every GM is encouraged to review trades that are happening in the league and voice their opinion. We will still only require 3 approvals or 3 vetoes to approve or reject a trade, whichever comes first. Please remember to keep comments on trades related to the merits of the trade (the players and draft picks involved) and not comment on the GMs involved. Also, the economies of the league can shift over time based on how the GMs are valuing players/positions. A few years ago, a starting Goalie in Backyard demanded a king's ransom, but I think the goalie cap being lowered to 3 goalies and new GMs with different philosophies/prioritiies have changed that dynamic. We shouldn't evaluate current trades solely on memories of trades from past seasons.
Please keep the following in mind when making trade comments:
- Deciding who won/who lost
- The fairness of the trade
- Whether the trade would be a detriment to that franchise or the league
I think this change will improve trading in our league and make Backyard better in general. As I said, we will do this on a trail basis for now. With it being in the midst of the draft, free agency, and the being of training camps, I want us to process trades as quickly as possible. Please review any posted trades on the board. Also, if you are posting a trade, please remember to mark it with a Trade icon. If anyone has any questions, let me know!
Ian
Detroit Red Wings
