Dobbs...
I\'m the commish in my keeper league. I recently \"imposed\" (actually saw fangs at one point) a cap system where teams who finish better have to protect less guys than the bottom teams. Thus giving the bottom guys a chance to keep more prospects and the top teams are put in a pickle because they have to let go of some good names... prospect or otherwise.

Anway, I think that in a 5 year span, any team should be able to go from junk to competetive (top 3 in a 10 team league).

Think 5 years is reasonable?

We have four seasons under our belt and only 4 of 10 guys have won bling. I know it\'s not about the bling, but as commish I want more guys winning and more guys feeling competetive, more often.

Are there any pool \"specs\" on this subject you might think are \"optimal\"?

__________________
-------------------------------------
10 team keeper league, Skaters 1 for G&A and 0.5 for +/-, Goalies W=2, SO=3, OTL=0.5
12F, 6D and 2G active every week, 6 on bench, 9 in minors (35 total players)

Protect 20 players
-------------------------------------
my team:
F) B.Richards, D.Roy, Kesler, B.Ryan, Couture, M.Koivu, Kulemin, Tavares, Berglund, Ennis, Voracek, Gerbe
D) Doughty, McBain, Streit, OEL, Rundblad
G) Rinne, MAF, Bernier

Aug'11 "bubble" - B.Connolly, Gerbe, Blum, Callahan

In our pools, we use salary caps, this way the good teams have to choose every couple of years whom to protect. My only problem I see with what your proposing is your penalizing guys for being good and knowledgable and helping people perennially at the bottom. I think at some point people will quit the league if they are never winning and you should let them go and bring in some fresh blood.

__________________
Dynasty
C-Weiss,Lombardi,Plekanec
R-Erat,Dorsett,Dvorak,
L-Versteeg,Bailey,McLeod
D-Pietrangelo,Subban,Zidlicky,Michalek
G-Kiprusoff,Mason S.

I think that\'s fair, given the information and provided that the difference in the amount protected is fairly close. i.e. if the teams protect 12 each year, but the winner can only protect 10 and second and third protect 11...something like. That would be fair. I agree with Leafsfan that you are hurting guys for being knowledgeable...but in four years to only have four teams win money...that\'s no fun for the guys that are low.
Maybe they didn\'t fully understand how to run this type of pool...and now that they know how...they just find it difficult to get out of the hole. Perhaps just impose this \"cap\" rule for the next three years. Revisit it in two years and vote on whether you still need it or if it gave you enough parity.

Five years from worst to first is perfect though

__________________
DobberHockey Rules
14 Team Keeper, points only, best 12 skaters 2 dman 2 G count. Playoffs count.
F - Crosby, C.Smith, Wheeler, Parenteau, Hudler, Clowe, Grabovski, Atkinson, Frolik, S. Kostitsyn, Marchand, Peverley, Tavares, Read, Brouwer, Bickell, Gionta, Setoguchi
G - Anderson, Hiller, Markstrom, Brodeur
D - Letang, Del Zotto, I. White, Kronwall, Brodin, Nikitin

In our league we have a salary cap and each player has an annual contract value, which is initially determined by the round he was drafted in. There are no limits to how many players you can keep from year-to-year, but for every season you keep a player his contract value increases. Eventually even the best players become too expensive to keep and must be released back into the draft.

This creates great roster turnover and helps poor teams become competitive again sooner because their high draft picks can typically land star players, instead of just prospects. (In about ten years Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin will all be inevitably released from their teams in the prime of their careers) It also adds an extra element of strategy with cap management being critical to success.

Thanks guys. These are some great ideas.

Dobbs... I love the site. This is the best thing going for serious poolies. Can\'t wait for the guide on Aug1.

Oh baby!

Peace out.

the Grub.

__________________
-------------------------------------
10 team keeper league, Skaters 1 for G&A and 0.5 for +/-, Goalies W=2, SO=3, OTL=0.5
12F, 6D and 2G active every week, 6 on bench, 9 in minors (35 total players)

Protect 20 players
-------------------------------------
my team:
F) B.Richards, D.Roy, Kesler, B.Ryan, Couture, M.Koivu, Kulemin, Tavares, Berglund, Ennis, Voracek, Gerbe
D) Doughty, McBain, Streit, OEL, Rundblad
G) Rinne, MAF, Bernier

Aug'11 "bubble" - B.Connolly, Gerbe, Blum, Callahan