Despite my strong feelings about how to approach trades, there's no right or wrong answers here, what works for some may not work for others - depends on your type of personality too.

I thought you said it was a "horrible negotiating tactic".
If there's "no right or wrong"... how can my approach be "horrible"?

Sorry to say this... but you are being a bit of a douche.

Just because it's my opinion that it's a horrible tactic doesn't make it right or wrong. This isn't a factual kind of discussion.

I couldn't agree with this statement more. If someone wants my player, they had better bait the hook...or else I'll tell them to take a hike. By asking me to make him an offer for a player he wants...he's essentially asking me to show my cards in a hand of Hold'm before the flop.

Make a decent offer...maybe not your best...but close to it. You can always adjust by adding players in, rather than uping your offer 1 way.

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Team:
C - Tavares, Getzlaf, Ribeiro, (C/R)
L - Hall, Semin, Macdonald(C/L), Healtey(L/R),
R - Perry, Yakupov, Voracek, Voracek, Williams, Boyes
D - Streit, OEL, Edler, Karlsson, B. Smith, Beauchemin, Seidenberg
G - Rinne, Bryzgalov, Anderson, Bernier, Vokoun
10 Team Keeper league with Yahoo

Roster (14 Kept Players): C, C, LW, LW, RW, RW, D, D, D, D, Util, Util, G, G,

(Weighted Category Points: see below).

Skaters -
(Points: G a/o A) 6
(+/-) 3
(PIM) 1
(PPP) 5
(GWG) 5

Goaltenders
(W) 15
(GA) -10
(SV) 1
(SHO) 15

EXACTLY.
But which side of the coin are you looking at this from?

I suppose, at the end of the day, your tactic's success depends primarily on the person you're attempting to dance with and what their needs are at any given time.

So really...no tactic can be Horrible...if it gets you what you want!

I've seen both Pengwin's and Blayze's tactic work. It depends on your demeanor as well as the other GM's on how you can approach or set the tone. If you're inquiring you should have a loose proposal and a loose counter ready.

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League: Yahoo 20 Team Dynasty, H2H (4C, 8W, 6D, 1G)
Cats: +/-, FOW, A, G, GWG, PPP, SHP, SOG, S, SPct, W, GAA

C: Benn,Kopitar,J.Staal,Strome
W: Atkinson,Bennett,BrunnerConacher
Huberdeau,Kessel,Seguin,Selanne
D: Beaulieu,DeKeyser,Despres,D.Hamilton,Leopold,Salo
G: J.Howard
Bench: Braun,B.Flynn,B.Gordon - J.Bernier,O.Pavelec,V.Stalberg
Prospects: Andrighetto,V.Arvidsson,Filatov,G.Carey,K.Flanagan,Kabanov,Lehtera,Omark,Ritchie,
R.Schwartz,Shalunov,Stransky,
Clendening,Deslauriers,Gauthier-Leduc,J.Morrow,R.Murphy,Petrovic,Reilly, -- M.Hackett

I find it lazy when someone approaches me and says "I want Player X what would it take to get him?". You're the one who wants him, you tell me what you'd offer.

As of yet, I have no motivation to make a deal. Usually people approach you about your stud players.

I think it's much more sensible to approach someone and say "Hey, I'm thinking about making you an offer for Player X, and it would really help me out in pulling together something compelling for you if you'd give me an idea of where you'd like to improve your roster in terms of positions, categories, needs, whatever -- with a better understanding of what you're after I think I'll be able to make you a better offer."

That's reasonable to me. But "I want Malkin, what does it take" leaves me responding with "making my team better".

I make a lot of trades. I find most GMs focus on optimizing player value; that's not my approach. I'm a "set the strategy and move pieces accordingly" kind of guy. I'm happy to "lose" deals if it makes my team better, and it's possible to do that a lot more of the time than people realize.

__________________

I totally agree with this. If I want someone from another team, I make sure I spend some time on it and look at his situation and see what he needs. This is invaluable in trading and it makes you much more approachable for the next deal. They know you spend time on them and aren't just killing time. Nothing frustrates me more than overly shrewd negotiating and someone that always wants you to the spend the time to put a deal together for him. I don't typically deal with these guys Unless I have no choice.

Credibility with your trades is the most important thing you can do. If you go for the homerun on every deal, pretty soon nobody will trade with you.

Oh, and I firmly believe you HAVE to lose deals once in a while. Whether its in one of the methods above or just because you had to have someone due to injuries or due to an all in play to win the league.

__________________
"Add Your Voice" - mindcheck.ca
D.I.F.D. - www.difd.com/

[QUOTE=fantasyhockeygeek;1054755] "Hey, I'm thinking about making you an offer for Player X, and it would really help me out in pulling together something compelling for you if you'd give me an idea of where you'd like to improve your roster in terms of positions, categories, needs, whatever -- with a better understanding of what you're after I think I'll be able to make you a better offer."

That's reasonable to me. QUOTE]

I agree. In this case, you're tipping your hand to show your interest and instead of asking your opposing GM to make the deal for you...You're showing interest in what he needs/wants so that you can make an informed and significant offer. Well put!

__________________
Team:
C - Tavares, Getzlaf, Ribeiro, (C/R)
L - Hall, Semin, Macdonald(C/L), Healtey(L/R),
R - Perry, Yakupov, Voracek, Voracek, Williams, Boyes
D - Streit, OEL, Edler, Karlsson, B. Smith, Beauchemin, Seidenberg
G - Rinne, Bryzgalov, Anderson, Bernier, Vokoun
10 Team Keeper league with Yahoo

Roster (14 Kept Players): C, C, LW, LW, RW, RW, D, D, D, D, Util, Util, G, G,

(Weighted Category Points: see below).

Skaters -
(Points: G a/o A) 6
(+/-) 3
(PIM) 1
(PPP) 5
(GWG) 5

Goaltenders
(W) 15
(GA) -10
(SV) 1
(SHO) 15