Week 1: What Might Have Been

With AHL games mostly crammed into the weekends, it's easy for an IceHL GM/AGM to get a little bored during the week. And with no games on the docket tonight, I decided to take a look at where our teams might've been if we were counting stats earned during the AHL's opening weekend — while we were all busy drafting.

Think of it as the preseason. Perhaps a hint as to where each team is headed? Or maybe not at all. Over Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 12, 13 and 14), most AHL clubs had played at least a game or two, so that's what our "preseason" stats reflect. 

• IceHL EAST Preseason Stats
• IceHL WEST Preseason Stats

So what do these stats tell us?

East Preseason Analysis (AHL)

The Olympiques would've absolutely dominated the weekend with 63 points, due primarily to Cory Conacher's 2 goals and 3 assists. That accounted for 23 fantasy points after just two games! Conacher is definitely the AHLer to have on your roster this season. (But it won't be long before he joins the ranks of the Lightning!)

The Armada are facing the Olympiques this week and, to be fair, they seemed to be holding their own over that first weekend with 42 points. Sven Baertschi (another great get) notched 2 goals, 2 assists and 2 penalty minutes in his first two games — good for a total of 16 fantasy points under our system.

Ironically, the team that would've showed the least life in the first weekend of AHL action was the team that could hardly be beaten last season — the Nighthawks, whose 14 points was a league-low. Also notable from the weekend would've been the 51 points from the Sentinels, who picked up 21 of them from Travis Hamonic on 3 assists and 12 penalty minutes. And I'm happy to say my Barracudas led the league with 5 goals over the weekend.

West Preseason Analysis (AHL)

Out West, it was the Kodiaks showing their teeth with three different players in double-digits and 61 total points. Every skater on the team contributed at least a goal over the weekend, making it easy for the points to pile up fast. Baertschi, Nino Niederreiter and Tyson Barrie picked up two goals each.

Elsewhere, the Winterhawks would've led the league with an incredible 67 points with four players contributing goals! (These teams are making my three goal scorers look a lot less impressive.) Marcus Foligno tallied a pair along with an assist and 6 penalty minutes — good for 17 fantasy points. But not to be outdone, goalie Eddie Lack picked up a pair of victories and a shutout for 16 fantasy points.

Sadly, the team that would've faired the worst over opening weekend was the team that finished in last place last season. The Lumberjacks mustered just 14 total points, and were one of three teams without a goal. Also worth mentioning are the Aviators (who also would've seen three different players top double-digits) because their top scorer led the team without a single goal or assist all weekend. Instead, Cameron Gaunce racked up his points via 16 penalty minutes in three games. Busy guy.

I also liked how Narwhals (and Olympiques) goalie Carter Hutton grabbed a shutout without the win that usually accompanies it. The Rockford IceHogs and Chicago Wolves went scoreless through regulation and overtime. It took a shootout to determine a 1-0 winner, but both goalies were credited with shutouts.

What other noteworthy stats did you pick up on from the weekend that might have been?

Remember, these numbers are just for fun. The "preseason" points don't actually count toward Week 1 or the season in any official way.

Week 1 IceHL Digest

Here are the match-ups for Week 1 of the IceHL's 2012-13 season, including the final rosters.

To the right are the roster changes that were made in both leagues following the draft. The deadline for changes was today at 3 PM ET.

The biggest difference between our new temporary setup here and what we have at ESPN — aside from the fact that we're using AHL players — is that you won't be able to track stats live or even day-to-day unless you take on the task yourself.

The stats will be updated after the final AHL game on Sunday is complete. But the IceHL scoreboard may not be updated until some time Monday. Typically, the AHL doesn't schedule games on Mondays, so it should work out all right for everyone.

As always, if you have any questions, please ask. GMs and AGMs should be in touch by email throughout the week.

IceHL Supplemental Draft Recaps

Over the weekend, the IceHL's Supplemental Drafts were conducted, wherein GMs and AGMs selected AHL players to use until the NHL can get its act together. The rules for this season were detailed in the previous post on this page which solicited applications for prospective AGMs (assistant general managers).

If you want to see how the draft played out, below are the Draft Boards I used to manage each draft. The IceHL EAST draft took place on Saturday night at 8 PM ET.

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The IceHL WEST draft took place on Sunday night at 8 PM ET.

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Please note that these rosters are not final. The deadline for teams to submit roster changes is Tues., Oct. 16 at 3 PM ET. Final rosters for Week 1 will be posted Tuesday after the deadline along with this week's line-up of match-ups.

And yes, this NHL lockout now has me neck-deep in spreadsheet hell. But I figure it's all worth it if we can keep the IceHL alive this season.

IceHL Adding 7 AGMs This Week

It seems the inability of grown men to compromise and work together will foil yet another season of NHL hockey. We're all very disappointed in the league and its players for their unwillingness to make a deal. But as commissioner of the world's only crowd-sourced fantasy hockey league, I refuse to allow their buffoonery to spoil the IceHL's 2012-13 season — which was scheduled to begin tomorrow.

Instead, it will begin Monday with a smaller crew of replacement players. (Scabs, if you must.) Since there won't be any NHL stats to track at this time, we're moving on to the next best thing — the AHL. That's not what our 32 IceHL GMs signed up for, and while most of them have agreed to stick it out and wade through an unfamiliar league (with some familiar players), some GMs will be asking for help in the form of Assistant GMs, or AGMs.

That's why I'm writing today. The league needs a handful of AGMs and we need them fast. The AGMs will be responsible for managing their team's AHL roster — it's the next best thing to being an IceHL GM. It shouldn't be a difficult job, but it will require commitment and some knowledge of the American Hockey League.

Before you apply to fill one of our open AGM positions, it's only fair you know what you're getting yourself into. The IceHL will be a very different beast until the NHL season gets underway (if it does). Here are all the details you'll need to know as an IceHL AGM.

ROSTERS

Each team will select 6 players (3 forwards, 2 defensemen and a goalie) in a supplemental draft to take place this weekend — October 13-14. (If you're not available, you can submit a ranking and leave your teams fate to the Autopick.)

• Depending on how things go in the first week or two, I may add a seventh "utility" roster position (F or D). 
• Keep in mind I'll probably have to update stats manually every week, so I need to streamline the process. But you will get at least 6 players.
• IceHL EAST and IceHL WEST will still be separated, meaning teams in each league could still potentially utilize the same players just as with the ESPN leagues.

STATISTICS

Stats will be modified from what we have set up through ESPN for the NHL.

• For Skaters (F/D), we will use these stat categories: GOAL (4), ASSIST (3), PIM (1)
• For Goaltenders, we will use these stat categories: WIN (6), SHUTOUT (4)
• I will be relying on stats posted to the AHL's official website, so we are limited in what we can track. 

TRANSACTIONS

Each team will be allowed one player transaction per week (if made mid-week, effective the following Monday).

• Teams would be permitted to change no more than two players per transaction (be it trade or free agency).
• This means you could trade 2 players from your team for 2 players from another team.
• It also means you could drop 2 players and add 2 players as long as it's part of the same transaction. 

LEAGUE SCOREBOARD/UPDATES

Stats will be posted on the IceHL Fantasy Blog at icethetics.info every week.

• Unless I find an automated system, I can't promise anymore than this. We have 32 teams and that's a lot of spreadsheet updating.
• I will do my best to try to update the stats late in the week, but I can't make any promises.
• If you want more up to date stats, you'll have to track them on your own. 

GAME SCHEDULE

We will stick to the previously released ESPN game schedule.

• The biggest reason for using AHL players is to keep our schedule intact. I spent a lot of time on it this summer and I'd hate to have to blow it up.
• Final scores from each weekly match-up will be entered manually into the ESPN system, which should be able to continue to track team standings.
• Week 1 will take place October 15–21. The rest of the schedule will be normal.
• NOTE: AGMs will not be added as ESPN managers, however they will still be able to track the schedule, scores, standings since the IceHL is a public league.

SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT

The supplemental drafts will take place after the start of the AHL season.

• The AHL season begins this Friday (October 12). So you will get a chance to see some teams in action before you choose your players.
• The drafts will be conducted online this weekend via Skype Chat. (Skype accounts are free and you won't need a microphone or video camera to participate.)
• Any GM or AGM not able to attend, will have players auto-picked, not unlike how ESPN's draft system works.
• I hope to have a player ranking list prepared before the drafts (by Friday, if possible). This will be the basis for auto-picks.
• KEEPERS: Just as with the primary draft, Keepers will be in effect. If players on your team's NHL roster are playing in the AHL during the lockout, you will be able to keep them. They will be your initial picks in the supplemental draft.
• For auto-picked teams, priority will be given to Keeper players before going to the overall ranking list.
• GMs or AGMs unable to attend the draft may submit their own rankings to me (commissioner) beforehand as well. Since the league will only utilize 96 players, if your list is at least that long, you'll be assured that all 6 of your picks will come from your list.

THE GM-AGM RELATIONSHIP

• As an AGM, you need to understand you WILL NOT be taking full control of the IceHL team you are assigned to. The GM will remain in charge as far as that goes.
• Think of your GM as an advisor. Their participation with you will be at their discretion, but try to work with them where possible. That said, as AGM, you do have final say on AHL roster moves.
• If/when the NHL season begins, your AHL services will no longer be required. However, successful AGMs will immediately move to the top of the list if a new GM is needed either at midseason or next season.

COMMUNICATIONS

• During the NHL lockout, the league will communicate primarily by email. I also hope to set up a message board here on Icethetics for the GMs and AGMs to stay in contact with each other. Full details will be given to AGMs once they are selected.

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask in the comments.

Otherwise, if you're still interested in becoming an IceHL AGM, sign up here!

IceHL Podcast: Episode 2

This podcast is no longer available from SoundCloud.
Please click here to download the MP3 version (54 MB).

Sharpshooters GM and IceHL Podcast host Tony Pomposelli engages fellow IceHL WEST GMs Jon Wold (Wave) and Robert Brown (Beasts) along with league commissioner Chris Smith in a conversation about the IceHL WEST Live Draft, which took place on Sept. 23. The guys discuss which teams came out on top and which teams have an uphill battle to fight. Plus, who do they think will go the distance this season?

Recorded 9/29/12

Enjoy the second installment of the IceHL Podcast! And feel free to share your thoughts on the topics of the show in the comments.

Music from OverClocked Remix. Chuck Dietz, "A Flea and His Giant" from Mega Man X: Maverick Rising. Sixto Sounds, "Go Balls Deep" from Super Dodge Ball: Around the World.