ESPN Hockey League #634
i. league policies
ii. playoffs
iii. tiebreakers

I. LEAGUE POLICIES
a. Basics:
ESPN's Rules of Fair Play will be observed in this league. It is the responsibility of all managers to read and understand all rules and settings and to be able to access the league site with equipment capable of utilizing the features ESPN incorporates in their fantasy games. All managers are required to provide a current e-mail address and will be expected to review all trades, vote in polls, and stay up-to-date on all league business.

b. Inactive teams:
It can be expected, to some degree and especially later in the season, for teams to become less involved if they fall out of contention. Please do your best to remain actively competitive.

c. Unruly teams:
Rarely is this a problem and I certainly do not foresee a problem in this league, but in the event that a manager begins to act in an unsportsmanlike manner for any reason, he will be issued a warning. A continuation of unsportsmanlike behavior will result in termination from the league. I am pretty liberal about what will be tolerated, but the bottom line is that this is my league and I won't allow cheating, insults or threats which I deem to be of a serious or personal nature, or actions that may compromise the integrity of the league. Basically, the rules ESPN has outlined will be observed and upheld.

d. Dropped Players:
ESPN's standard can't cut list is used. Because this league is deeper than a standard league, there will be a small number of players who fall just off the list, but really have the same undroppable value as the players on the list. If a drop is called into question by the LM or any manager, it will be reviewed. If it is determined that the drop was made without merits, it may be reversed. Late in the season, there may be times that teams are compelled to drop players of significant value in an all-out attempt to win a matchup in order to stay alive for the post season. In that example, only ESPN's can't cut list will apply, as the manager is simply exhausting every means he has to win. Dropping good players isn't something that is likely to be a problem, but it is a means of possible collusion so I am mentioning it here.

e. Accidentally Dropped Players:
If a manager drops a player by mistake, in the process of intending to drop another player to add a player from the FA, he must immediately announce that it was an accident by posting on the league board without delay of his error. The player will be returned to the team who dropped him at the earliest opportunity. If a manager takes advantage of this situation by streaming other players, or benefits from this action in any wrongful way, the dropped player may not be returned to his team.

f. Trades:
Four (4) votes against a trade in the 48 hour review period will result in the trade being vetoed. Remember that this is a money league and because of that there will likely be closer review of trades by some managers resulting in a greater degree of difficulty trading than you would typically have in a casual/free league.

g. Bad Trades:
In a league as active and knowledgeable as this one hopefully is, I doubt we have any really bad trades get through. In the event that this were to happen, that a terribly bad trade slipped through, the trade will be voided and the players returned to their teams. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the LM to protect the competitive balance of the league and any trade which undermines or compromises the fairness of play or integrity of the league will be voided.

h. Requested Veto:
If it occurs that one of the teams involved in a trade requests that it be vetoed, for whatever reason, injury, demotion, etc, the league will consider this and vote appropriately. In this situation, the manager must depend on the league to veto the trade, because the LM will not overturn it. It is therefore important to retract dated trade offers and not to agree to trades without closely reviewing them. In a situation where one manager clearly has unknowingly agreed to a trade for damaged goods, requested a veto from the league, yet failed to receive it, the commissioner may with extreme discretion elect to turn back the trade.

i. Trading Deadline:
The trading deadline will be as near the NHL deadline as can be set, but not before. NOTE: Trades accepted before the trade deadline but are scheduled to process after the deadline, will still process normally.

j. Moves limit:
The FSX Hockey league will use a weekly limit of 7 transactions per match-up. For a complete explanation of how this system works, please refer to ESPN's rules at their Hockey front page.

k. Draft order:
The draft order will be randomly generated by ESPN.

l. Scoring:
All scoring provided by ESPN will be used as the official scoring in this fantasy league. This is an obvious policy, but I am just stating it for the record that no one can challenge the scoring- whatever ESPN says is what we go by. Occasionally, ESPN will issue a scoring correction on a stat that had already been posted when the official scoring is corrected- for example, an assist or block could be credited to a player by the official scorer after the game- therefore, ESPN will change the stats to recognize the update. This is noted in their rules from above, and changes could be made up until the Saturday following the end of the match-up week. Please be aware that a correction to scoring by ESPN could result in changes to the standings, outcomes of games, and changes to the playoff bracket.

m. Tanking:
Tanking, for anyone unfamiliar with the term, occurs when a team does not try to win for the current season. Tanking is not allowed. All teams must attempt to maintain competitive rosters throughout the entire season.

II. PLAYOFFS
a. Playoffs
Eight teams will make the playoffs:
The top 8 teams based on winning % will qualify.

b. Playoff seeding:
Seeding will be in order of winning %. There are no round 1 byes.

III. TIEBREAKERS
a. In the event that two teams end up tied for a playoff spot:
The league tiebreaker to determine playoff seeding is set to H2H.
ESPN will determine who advances if further tiebreakers are needed. No LM editing of the playoff bracket will occur. Whichever team ESPN has advancing from a tie may not be challenged.

b. In the event a playoff game (including consolation ladder games or the cg) ends in a tie: ESPN will determine the winner. I think high seed is the determiner, but again, whatever ESPN decides is what we will go by and the decision cannot be challenged.