Commissioner Question - Trades and Injury Announcements

[LawMan]

Had a bit of a tricky situation come up in one of my leagues where I am the commissioner, need some insight on the ruling. It’s a trade involving McDavid.

Keep in mind: This is a (mostly) 1-year league, you get 2 keepers but McDavid cannot be kept beyond the season.

I have a strong opinion on what should occur but will try and write this summary as neutral as possible…

Timeline:

1. Saturday - McDavid plays Saturday vs. Predators, gets hurt but finishes the game.
2. Saturday post-game– McDavid tells media it’s a Charlie horse and the injury is reported as no big deal.
3. Monday – McDavid practices but leaves early.
4. Monday afternoon - McDavid is listed as Questionable for Tuesday. McDavid again tells media he has a Charlie-horse and most media report McDavid will play Tuesday, or might miss one game.
https://www.traderumours.com/index.p...g=12630&s=1000
5. Monday midnight - Owner who is looking to make a push sends a trade offer involving McDavid.
6. Tuesday 10:15 am – GM Holland tells media McDavid is out “2-3 weeks”
7. Tuesday 10:45 am – GM with McDavid accepts trade, without giving any notice to owner receiving McDavid.

Owner who got McDavid says he would not have made the trade after the announcement was made and asks if the trade can be reversed….

The question is simple: Should the trade be reversed or does it stand?

[Moses]

The trade should stand.

It was 'common knowledge' when the offer was made that McDavid was dealing with a new injury and there was no concrete information about timeline to return. The offer was made by the GM looking to acquire McDavid knowing that McDavid was not at 100% - this GM was gambling that the McDavid news might spook the McDavid GM. Less than 12 hours later (after the trade offer was made) the outlook for McDavid's timeline changed from 'Questionable' to 'Out for next 7-10 games'. The McDavid GM then accepted the deal to move him.

This was the 'risk' the GM took trying to get McDavid and this outcome is the 'reward'. Gambling! That is what we are all doing here.

[als_revenge]

Trade should stand. The team trading McDavid might not have known about the announcement either. You can't prove bad faith. If you reverse this trade, then you might as well reverse any trade involving buyer's remorse.

[Stencil]

The GM who did not check enough before to push the accept button should live with the consequence of his lack of due diligence. Everybody has internet (I suppose...) and the sources of information are the same for everybody.

[Skippy]

Good trade.

[anthonybeaty]

Good trade - bad luck.

[anthonybeaty]

It was 'common knowledge' when the offer was made that McDavid was dealing with a new injury and there was no concrete information about timeline to return.

If the McDavid owner knew of the 2-3 week timeline before accepting the trade, but it wasn't "common knowledge", does that change your opinion?

[Referee3083]

If the McDavid owner knew of the 2-3 week timeline before accepting the trade, but it wasn't "common knowledge", does that change your opinion?

Unless the fantasy GM worked for the team or was McDavid’s best friend, then if he knew, it was already common knowledge. The trade should stand. Every had the same information available to them. Whether or not they were paying attention and found the info is another story. But that’s part of being a GM and being diligent about your moves.

[stevegamer]

Trade should stand.

Guy makes offer hoping injury news allows him to get McDavid cheap, and then after the duration is made public the other guy accepts. If you don't want to take the risk, don't make the offer.

[butch]

why cant mcdavid be kept beyond this season if theres 2 keepers ?

what player did the other team receive ?

[Dennis]

Trade should stand.

[Swels Stewart]

This.

Trade should stand.

Guy makes offer hoping injury news allows him to get McDavid cheap, and then after the duration is made public the other guy accepts. If you don't want to take the risk, don't make the offer.

[Blues_fan1000]

Echo what everyone else says. Trade should stand

[LawMan]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I have to say I was surprised it was unanimous in favor of letting the trade stand.

I am of the opposite opinion; I believe the trade should be reversed.

My reasoning is as follows:

Yes, the GM receiving McDavid knew McDavid was questionable and took a risk offering the trade, he took a gamble on an unknown outcome. Had the other GM accepted before the Questionable became 2-3 weeks then everyone made a trade with the same information and it should clearly stand.

However, the GM sending McDavid got to wait for new information before accepting. The sending GM did not have to gamble because he knew the outcome. Now the sending GM was still gambling on whether it was 2 or 3 weeks (or even less or more) but he clearly had more and better information available to him.

The offering GM advised the league that had he seen the updated 2-3 week timeline, the one the sending GM got to see, he would have cancelled the trade before it processed. To be clear this was 1 hours after the trade was accepted when he first saw the news. Thus, we had a race to log-on with the receiving GM wanting to cancel the trade and the sending GM wanting to accept it, ultimately the sending GM logged on first and got his desired result. This is in my opinion unfair.

The reason trades are left open for days in fantasy hockey is a practical one, people have lives to run and it allows a receiving GM to review and respond. However, where this is a major change in the information available, which I consider this to be, and the receiving GM gets to use that information while the sending GM cannot that unfair. The analogy I use is one from poker. The sending GM was betting on the flop (some information) but the receiving GM was calling after seeing the final 2 cards (more information but not complete information).

A follow-up question: If it was announced McDavid was out for the season and then the trade processed would anyone want to reverse in that situation? If so what is the difference between that and the actual circumstances?

[Pit Bulls]

The trade should stand regardless of the scenario.

Every GM in fantasy hockey has an obligation to conduct his due diligence and the receiving GM should have explored every site available to assist in his decision as he knew McDavid was injured. Maybe not the extent of the injury but knowing McDavid suffered an injury should have been a red flag for him to complete his due diligence.