Ethical dilemma in league, curious what your opinions are

[insertnamehere]

In a one year league where top 8 make playoffs and there is no punishment for coming in last, would you allow a contender to trade with someone who has no hope in hell of making playoffs? Our league is divided on this one, with me saying it opens up the door to collusion.

While this trade was fine (Malkin and Bobby Ryan for Point and Reaves), the last place guy also happens to be the one who traded Barzal for McDonagh a couple months ago. If that trade went through in these circumstances I'd freak out.

[hockeyrobot]

Put a rule in place where you can't trade if you are eliminated from playoffs. Hopefully you can get that input this year....although a mid year rule change should require 100% of the league being in favor of it.

[insertnamehere]

This is the league's seventh year and this has never come up before, I honestly thought it was understood. We don't have a rulebook, just kind of an understanding...

[hockeyrobot]

This is the league's seventh year and this has never come up before, I honestly thought it was understood. We don't have a rulebook, just kind of an understanding...

Make a rulebook haha. Well not actually but I would iron out some of these "understandings"....

Honestly it seems juvenile but it will prevent issues when something like this comes up. I don't even mean an actual rule book. What I do is post our rules each season. During the year if people have a problem or a new idea, they make a post. Then before the next season we vote on the idea. Keeps things from getting stagnant.

[als_revenge]

If you are in year 7, and you don't have a rule book, then there is nothing wrong with teams trading (in my opinion, anyways).

Is the last place team just supposed to quit and not even try?

[insertnamehere]

If you are in year 7, and you don't have a rule book, then there is nothing wrong with teams trading (in my opinion, anyways).

Is the last place team just supposed to quit and not even try?

They can still try, just not through trades. This manager is notorious for giving up gold for trash, and I don't want to open up a precedent where we can't evaluate any trades at any time or else collusion is too easy and can't be challenged.

[hockeyrobot]

I assume this guy has been in the league for multiple years or is a close friend?

[insertnamehere]

I assume this guy has been in the league for multiple years or is a close friend?

Correct. But he's freaked out and dumped his whole team into free agency before so I don't know what he would do

[hockeyrobot]

Correct. But he's freaked out and dumped his whole team into free agency before so I don't know what he would do

Lol well that's lame and immature. I wouldn't want him in the league regardless of friendship status.

[stevegamer]

Get a real set of rules, and the ethical dilemmas will diminish greatly.

[RizzeeDizzee]

Simple rule going forward - if a team has fewer than X wins by Y date they are barred from making trades. As for this season, you might have no choice but to allow it since there was nothing on the books.

[horrorfan]

Is there a consolation playoff?

[LuigiC173]

I have made my league operate on a democratic vote, seems to work and curb ridiculous trade proposals.

[ericdaoust]

I understand the issue here. I'm in a family league with several casual members who wouldn't have enough exposure to fantasy leagues to know the damage done by things like collusion. It's not a big deal to me because the league is not a high priority to me. It's a decent way to keep in touch with relatives. I don't take it personally but I'm very aware of cheating and if someone goes there I won't shy from calling it what it is.

Back to this league, it seems like the stakes are a bit higher. You just have to decide what you want the league to be. If it's serious enough where this type of trade could do damage, then you have to come up with some well-defined rules. If this league is purely casual then there's nothing wrong with continuing with "handshake" agreements about what is considered fair play. But understand that this will happen from time to time. Everyone is different and no two people will have the same beliefs on what is unsportsmanlike in a fantasy league.

[hoolew]

Once a team has been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, such team may no longer: (1) Add; (2) Drop; or (3) Trade.

Period.

And "playoff contention" does not include the consolation bracket. Congrats on making the loser's bracket, but don't interfere with actual playoff teams' abilities to add.

Note: To the extent your league is different, for example it awards prizes to the winner(s) of the consolation bracket, then perhaps you'll want a different approach. Once size doesn't fit all.