Trading during the Lockout
 

Hey guys,

How are your leagues fairing during the lockout? I made one trade with another gung-ho GM but everything else seems pretty much stalled. Some of the other GM's have flat-out stated that they will not make any transactions until the lockout is over. I think a lot are bored or just plain complacent with the NHL so much that they have lost interest in all things NHL.

I know I am bored and was looking to shake things up just by dealing but no one seems to be interested.

Thoughts?

I've found that I care less and less about the labor negotiations and after making a minor trade for a prospect goalie, am now at a point where I'm not planning on changing up my roster unless I'm approached with an interesting offer.

The way I see it, is that while no games are played, people's opinions on their players and others remain relatively constant which explains the lack of movement in leagues everywhere.

I have been a bit active, bit without knowing whether there will be a season, I don't want to make a lot of deals. Valuesof young and older players are quite dynamic right now. Trading young guy now could be regretful once NHL games finally get under way. With said, I would make a move if it was a good one.

Nothing is moving on the NHL front in terms of real games being played so everyone's value is basically treading water. It's a good time to shop around for trades because not everyone is paying attention and if a good player is on the block the waiting line is shorter. But you can't force the issue. Making trades because you're bored can lead to trouble.

In one league we had a couple dead months with just a couple of prospect adds and drops per week but recently had a blitz of trades for no apparent reason. I made a pair of minor trades myself.

I have to disagree with you a little here. Older guys on the border of retirement are definitely seeing a decrease in value. Whether it is deserved or not, perception is a funny thing.

As well, young guys can see an inflated value right now based on how they are [perceivably] developing. For example, Schultz's value is sky high right now. I'd say Schenn's value is somewhat higher right now as well based on his NHL play. If there was no lockout, both these guys would likely be playing at the NHL level and their production would not likely be what it is now.

My statement holds true for the majority of players. It can change for players at both extremes (retirement and rookies) but that is a minority of the overall group of players.

Agree 100%. The established NHL players that aren't of retirement age will have static value, barring injury of course.

Join the club. Our league has been a morgue lately and that's being polite. We need a new GM and perhaps two, and we haven't even begun our search. And no, we haven't even discussed a draft date yet. No movement tradewise either, nothing, nada, zilch!! The other day driving home, it came to me " oh yeah, i'm a GM in a fantasy hockey league...I have a team!" It's been sooooo long since anything has happened.

But my fiancee has kept me busy w/helping to decide which wedding invitations look the best .....ugh! :eek:

I'm still optimistic about a season beginning in late Dec early Jan.

I'd agree with this, but only when it comes to younger players/prospects. That's simply because GMs are more likely to pull the trigger on a young player when they struggle out of the gate or are raging hot off the get-go.

I hear the argument about AHL players - but I kinda wonder if it's only really Schultz we're talking about in that regard b/c he's a complete question mark when it comes to NHL play.

Schenn MAY be another guy whose value has increased, but we all know where he sits when it comes to the Flyers. Should seem more PT, but won't be the main guy by any stretch. He'll improve his numbers, but its unlikely he scorches from start to finish. Hence, not sure if a GM is gonna decide his play in the AHL suddenly makes him a guy they've gotta have.

Schultz's play might have GM's thinking that way.

When it comes to established vets, I think you can still get a deal done bc people still know what to expect from those guys.

I've had lengthy discussions on a couple blockbusters in our league. Nothing happened, but it wasn't because they weren't playing. Nothing happened because the other GMs took their time and decided they'd stick what what they have.

That all being said, in our 12-manager league I'd say 7 or 8 GMs simply aren't thinking about their pools one bit. Outta sight, outta mind right now.

yeah, i have 1 other GM who loves to trade, so we have talked a few times about it, but everyone else is gone.

Most of us took prospects in a 16 team 20 person keeper (out of 25) assuming there would be no season. Normally we see big time enforcers and checkers with some upside taken after the elite prosptects (at what point are you willing to keep a prospect in a format like this)