Obviously this paper on judicial indepedence isn't going anywhere, so I thought I'd take this snowy Monday afternoon to examine my team's season, and how the future's looking.

My team finished with an abysmal 11-66-3 record, good for dead last and probably the worst season in AHL history. I definately didn't have a lot of luck go my way throughout the season, especially compared to a team like Smokin T-Birds, whose much weaker roster scored about as many goals as I did but managed to pull out 9 more wins. I was dead last in the league in defense scoring, second last in forward scoring, and also had the worst goalies (as a set) in the league.

Overall I have a nice balance of high risk / high reward players and consistent players. Gleason, Komisarek, Volchenkov are three great d-men that will be in the league for a long time who will put up a few points consistently. I don't expect a lot from them (maybe Gleason), but I'll never have to worry about them getting scratched or not seeing ice time. Cumiskey/Greene/Regehr all have a fair bit of offensive upside and are at least seeing time, and then on the farm I have a few offensive long-shot dynamos.

My forward core is built around Weiss, Zajac and Morrow, with Pavelski, Filppula and Saprykin in tow. I took a gamble on Tim Connolly, but if he stays healthy he'll likely be my best player, along with Backstrom, who I'm hoping can be called up from the farm next year, to give me a fairly strong but nice and deep/even lineup up front, with some weaker but consistent backing on defense.

Next year I project to finish around 15th (tops) to 17th, ahead of teams like Ravag, Smokin T-Birds, Dirty Trix, and my goal is to finish around 60-70 points next year.

What Went Wrong This Season

1. Not doing my homework and paying attention early on. Missed lineups cost me money and games, and my poor understanding of league rules led to some big mistakes.

2. Trading Loui Eriksson for Blake Comeau + 2nd. Bad Bad Bad trade. I thought Comeau was a defenseman. He does look fairly promising as a scoring 2nd line winger though, so maybe it won't turn out all that bad, plus I get the pick.

3. Giving up Clowe. Didn't realize how well he was going to come on, and it might end up being a mistake to have traded him away, but he went as part of a package for Morrow, so it might end up a bad trade, but not a horrible one.

What Went Terribly This Season

1. Getting stuck with Philly goaltending. I didn't do my homework, and didn't realize I'd be stuck with that salary. That hurts a lot, especially seeing as I have no free cash for the next little while.

What Went Well This Season

1. Some good trades, including Zajac for $0.50, and unloading players like Salei, Gelinas, Smolinski etc. who won't help me win a championship over the next few years, and who got me some good prospects and lots of draft picks.

2. The amount of draft picks I've stockpiled. I've lost my first overall this upcoming year (traded for two other firsts - which were traded for backstrom - and Aaron Johnson), but I still have 6 picks this year, 12 next year, 11 the year after, and 8 the year after that. That's a hell of a lot of picks. I don't plan on using them all myself, and trades like Connolly for a 1st is a good example of why they're so valuable.

3. Free agent pick-ups. Joe Pavelski, Ryan Clowe, Andy Greene, Kyle Cumiskey and Richie Regehr were all good pickups with varying potential, or who I managed to trade. I also picked up Gary Roberts, who I believe I will be able to trade for a couple of low draft picks in this year's draft or next.

What Went Amazing

This team is built for the longhaul, with no veterans and a lot of young talen that is, very importantly, inexpensive. The core of my team; Connolly, Weiss, Backstrom, Pavelski, Filppula, Zajac, Saprykin, Johnson, Kalinin, Volchenkov, Gleason, Komisarek, Elder, and Cumiskey (14 players) totals only $14.25 this year, which will only rise to around $18 or so next year, and I'll be able to sign a few of them to 4/5 year contracts.

The part that made me laugh hysterically, actually uncontrolably was the comment about you getting 60-70 pts..this is just insane...

Its just like the Chicago Black Hawks winning the next 12 Stanley Cups
Its like Vernon Wells shooting 45 three pointers in a row with two seven pointers in front of him
Its like Barry Bonds scoring a shootout goal in the NHL
its like...you get the point

if I can trade for one more quality player, like the Connolly trade or the Weiss trade, and I can get a decent set of goaltenders, 60 points is possible. That's ideal, but you're right it probably won't happen.

It looks like you have a pretty good core group of young players and I agree with you that your team is built for the longhaul and could be a force in the not so distant future. I have visited the AHL website several times now and read over the rules and regulations section and was wondering if this is the same resource AHL team owners use or if a more detailed document exists?

that is all, yuppers

All the rules are there....

I thought this was the AHL website? What is the address of the other one?

http://alternativehockeyleague.com

Can you elaborate? (ie: were you thinking that you didn't have to sign them next year and/or that you could by out the contract).. at least there's hope Biron ends up staying.

I think he thought he only had to pay them this year...he can always buy out the contract but it will cost him half of the remaining contract....

yeah, I thought I could just dump them and re-sign them at market value ($0.25)

if you want we can talk trade...I could trade you Andy Delmore and Martin Skoula for Philly goalies

Thanks. In regards to the Farm system, if you call a player up can he be sent back down and if so are there any restrictions (for example games played)? I am just wondering because I am in the early stages of creating the rules for a keeper/dynasty league and am curious of the rules other leagues have and So far I have found the AHL to be the Gold Standard of keeper leagues.

and $6.00 I'd probably do it.

you are on Crack kid...

Judicial independence is the doctrine that decisions of the judiciary should be impartial and not subject to influence from the other branches of government or from private or political interests. In most cases, judicial independence is secured by giving judges long, and sometimes lifetime, tenure and making them not easily removable.

I will take Philly goalies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For what?

Once a player is called up he cannot be send back down. The ONLY exception to this is after the roster freeze when players can be called up as spring callups for a late season/playoff drive and are then returned to the farm at season's end.