The Virtual GM Game

[elocomotive]

I was thinking about this last year and this might be something fun to do this summer (when it usually is a little more dead around here).

I was thinking it would be fun to have one person be the GM for each team. Over the course of the summer, teams make trades, make offers to other teams RFAs, and make offers to UFAs.

We would need 30 posters to serve as a GM for each team, possibly a commish (here's your chance to step into the shoes of a living legend!!), and 6 "agents" to serve as the persons to accept or deny contract offers for UFAs. We'd have to establish some rules (and I have some in mind), but I'm curious to see what teams we would have for 2014 and what "blockbuster" trades would ensue with us all at the helm.

Would people be interested? Think it's a good idea? What rules would you put in place for the game?

I'll get some reactions and post a basic rule set I was thinking of.

 

[Trudem]

I think it would be awesome. I would love to be involved although im sure someone with a little more cap sense would prefer to take the helm of the Wings. Does the commish just approve or deny deals?

 

[esls79]

If I'm commish, all trades must be done via fax.

 

[elocomotive]

If I'm commish, all trades must be done via fax.

Lol.

Here was my basic idea for the rules.

1. Each team has one GM that signs UFAs, puts out offers on RFAs, and makes trades.
2. The GM for each team cannot be a fan of that team. (might make trades more plentiful, interesting)
3. There are 6 "agents" in the game. Each agent is responsible for all the UFAs within one division (the current ones, not the future ones) and says yay or nay to deals based on their best estimation of what the player would want and be valued at.
4. If a UFA is made an offer by another team, the GM of the current team of that player must be notified. They don't have to match or give up picks obviously, but presumably most players keep their old team involved in the offers they receive and teams could compete with offers. Agents can accept offers, reject offers, or let offers linger to have GMs compete for their players.
5. RFA rules follow the same rules as they do in the NHL. The process is public with a post of all RFA offers in the thread allowing the team to match or others to jump in.
6. To keep it simple, all contract offers are the same pay per year (i.e. - a $36 million for 6 years deal is a straight $6 million per year cap hit and salary).
7. GMs can use their amnesty buyout if they want at any time in the offseason.
8. Commissioner finalizes all trades (only disapproving "absurd" trades) and provides advice or second opinions to agents as needed.

Reasonable outline?

 

[forty_three]

Lol.

Here was my basic idea for the rules.

1. Each team has one GM that signs UFAs, puts out offers on RFAs, and makes trades.
2. The GM for each team cannot be a fan of that team. (might make trades more plentiful, interesting)
3. There are 6 "agents" in the game. Each agent is responsible for all the UFAs within one division (the current ones, not the future ones) and says yay or nay to deals based on their best estimation of what the player would want and be valued at.
4. If a UFA is made an offer by another team, the GM of the current team of that player must be notified. They don't have to match or give up picks obviously, but presumably most players keep their old team involved in the offers they receive and teams could compete with offers. Agents can accept offers, reject offers, or let offers linger to have GMs compete for their players.
5. RFA rules follow the same rules as they do in the NHL. The process is public with a post of all RFA offers in the thread allowing the team to match or others to jump in.
6. To keep it simple, all contract offers are the same pay per year (i.e. - a $36 million for 6 years deal is a straight $6 million per year cap hit and salary).
7. GMs can use their amnesty buyout if they want at any time in the offseason.
8. Commissioner finalizes all trades (only disapproving "absurd" trades) and provides advice or second opinions to agents as needed.

Reasonable outline?

So I can play as Doug MacLean?

 

[awaz]

consider me intrigued.

i wonder if there is a way to measure a 'winner'.. you could either do a vote at the end of the offseason or some kind of improvement scale with player stats next year?

 

[elocomotive]

consider me intrigued.

i wonder if there is a way to measure a 'winner'.. you could either do a vote at the end of the offseason or some kind of improvement scale with player stats next year?

My initial thought was you have two winners...

GMs - All GMs vote for who they thought did they best (not being allowed to vote for themselves obviously).

Agents - Highest average salary per year of all UFAs within your division wins (might favor someone with high profile UFAs), but should average out about right, and will discourage one agent from being a big softie while another drives a hard bargain (though this might be realistic).

 

[flyersfan4706]

I like the sound of this.

Will we hold our own 2013 draft as well?

 

[elocomotive]

I like the sound of this.

Will we hold our own 2013 draft as well?

Hadn't thought about that...

I'd say my inclination would be no because:
(1) This would already be a big project without draft prep/knowledge.
(2) That would require all 30 people to be online/drafting at the same time (tough to pull that off).
(3) None of the players drafted this year would really impact your lineup for the upcoming season (the final measure of how you've done your job), but we would look at draft picks accumulated as part of that for the future.

 

[elocomotive]

What do people think of the GM of another team rule?

Better to let people GM the teams/players they know best? Or will that discourage trades as people favor the guys they see all the time over somewhat unknowns? Or will they be anxious to rid themselves of guys they don't like?

I guess I'm leaning towards that being a dumb rule I invented.

 

[dash]

I think Jay Feaster is already a virtual GM as in virtually every move he makes I tend to dislike...

 

[flyersfan4706]

Hadn't thought about that...

I'd say my inclination would be no because:
(1) This would already be a big project without draft prep/knowledge.
(2) That would require all 30 people to be online/drafting at the same time (tough to pull that off).
(3) None of the players drafted this year would really impact your lineup for the upcoming season (the final measure of how you've done your job), but we would look at draft picks accumulated as part of that for the future.

Veru true, hadnt thought about those factors. Even so I think you've got a great idea here.

I wouldnt want to be the Flyers anyway, so I'm fine with the "Not your team" rule.

 

[elocomotive]

I think Jay Feaster is already a virtual GM as in virtually every move he makes I tend to dislike...

Well I doubt you could do any better, Dash.


(pssst... i'm using reverse psychology to encourage participation)

 

[dash]

Well I doubt you could do any better, Dash.


(pssst... i'm using reverse psychology to encourage participation)

It sounds like it could be fun - Can I be the Oilers GM, I'm not afraid to move some of the young "stars" in order to patch some holes in goal/defense?

 

[elocomotive]

It sounds like it could be fun - Can I be the Oilers GM, I'm not afraid to move some of the young "stars" in order to patch some holes in goal/defense?

Sure. It's funny. I was just thinking they would be in the top 3 for fun teams to be a GM of.

Okay, to gauge interest, let's let people start signing up for their position.

We have 30 GM openings, 6 agent openings, and 2 media members.

GMs - Manage all UFA and RFA signings for your team and make trades
Agents - Handle accepting or denying all UFA offers on behalf of players in a division.
Media members - GMs and Agents can use these people to leak rumours about trades, interest, etc.

If you are going to participate, you need to check in with the site/PMs at least once or twice a week to not miss players being signed. I guess I'll volunteer to be commish (unless someone else wants to, I think being an agent would be fun) because it will probably be a pain the ass. haha. Plus, I'm bald, so I'll look like bettman (though I'm 6'1" and devastatingly handsome by comparison). And let's say YES, you can pick your favorite team to be GM of b/c I think people would be more invested then.

So if you have a role and a team/division you want to do, shout it out and let's see if we fill it up.

I think this could be very, very cool or a huge flop. It's the hockey equivalent of Model U.N.

I got Dash on for Oilers' GM if he wants it.

 

[pixburgher66]

Sure. It's funny. I was just thinking they would be in the top 3 for fun teams to be a GM of.

Okay, to gauge interest, let's let people start signing up for their position.

We have 30 GM openings, 6 agent openings, and 2 media members.

GMs - Manage all UFA and RFA signings for your team and make trades
Agents - Handle accepting or denying all UFA offers on behalf of players in a division.
Media members - GMs and Agents can use these people to leak rumours about trades, interest, etc.

If you are going to participate, you need to check in with the site/PMs at least once or twice a week to not miss players being signed. I guess I'll volunteer to be commish (unless someone else wants to, I think being an agent would be fun) because it will probably be a pain the ass. haha. Plus, I'm bald, so I'll look like bettman (though I'm 6'1" and devastatingly handsome by comparison). And let's say YES, you can pick your favorite team to be GM of b/c I think people would be more invested then.

So if you have a role and a team/division you want to do, shout it out and let's see if we fill it up.

I think this could be very, very cool or a huge flop. It's the hockey equivalent of Model U.N.

I got Dash on for Oilers' GM if he wants it.

Oooooohhhh...I'll be a media member.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

From what you're saying I couldn't be the GM of the Islanders, but I could be the GM of the Rangers? I don't think Rangers fans would like that very much.:

 

[flyersfan4706]

4706 for GM of the Blues, please?

 

[elocomotive]

From what you're saying I couldn't be the GM of the Islanders, but I could be the GM of the Rangers? I don't think Rangers fans would like that very much.:

No, you can do your favorite team. We changed it. So, if I have this right so far we have...

Oilers - Dash
Blues - 4706
DaBolts - Islanders

Media members - Pix
Agents - (none)

 

[esls79]

I would either like to be commish or the yotes GM