Instructions for 2006 HFNHL Entry Draft
As a follow-up to Matt's e-mail, here is an expanded list of instructions regarding how the entry draft will run - please take the time to review and ask any questions in advance, as there may not be time during the draft itself. This applies to new AND old GMs, as there are some changes this year.
Thank you!
2006 HFNHL Entry Draft – Instructions
1. Draft Dates
Rounds 1-3 of the 2006 HFNHL Entry Draft will be held LIVE on
Saturday, June 17th at 10:00 AM EST (GMT -5:00). The results of the live rounds of the draft will be posted (as an Excel file in the Yahoo "Files" section) shortly after the conclusion of Saturday's activities. Rounds 4-7 are not held live – GMs are required to submit a draft list for those rounds to the Commissioner (
[email protected]) by
11:59 PM EST on Thursday, June 22nd. While it is acceptable for a list to simply state "Choose the highest NA player available from the CSB rankings", a more detailed list is ALWAYS preferred.
2. Live Draft Location
Subject to further notice, the draft will be held in the HFNHL's MSN chatroom, to which there is a link on the league homepage. The chatroom will also be open prior to the draft for teams wishing to discuss trades (in fact, in past years there has been significant chat activity in the days leading up to the draft). We advise that all GMs take the opportunity to check into the chat room at some point in the days prior to the draft to ensure you can connect.
3. Trade Freeze & Draft Order
Beginning on Wednesday, June 14th at 4 PM (EST), a trade freeze will go into effect until the start of the draft (so as to finalize the draft order). The final draft order will be posted shortly thereafter. The Director of Player Personnel or his designate will indicate how he wishes to administer trades, which will resume with the commencement of the draft.
4. Responsibility of GMs
IF YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND, you must submit a list detailing your preferred selections to the commissioner (
[email protected]) no later than
11:59 PM (EST) on Thursday, June 15th. You may give another GM written permission to draft for you, in the form of an e-mail to the commissioner. However, it is still suggested that you provide a draft list, as you will be held responsible should the designated GM fail to attend and draft for you. (Frankly, it’s recommended that all GMs submit a list or instructions – even if they plan to attend - as a precaution in the event of unforeseen complications, such as connection issues, car accident, a giant asteroid hitting the earth, etc.). Please note that Assistant GMs must also receive permission to make selections for their team, via advance notification to the Commissioner. In the event that the Commissioner is himself unable to attend the draft, another league member will be appointed to handle draft instructions, etc.
5. Failure to Fulfill GM Responsibilities
Short of regularly submitting lines, there's nothing more vital to a GM's duties than participating in the entry draft. Should you fail to have your team represented at the live draft, either in person or through clear instructions provided on time, you will face termination from your GM position. The same is true of failure to submit instructions regarding rounds 4-7 of the draft (even if you decide to forgo your remaining picks, you must do so through active instruction, not default). Unlike previous years, no picks by absent teams will be forfeited, as that unduly punishes the incoming GM (we’re serious about stripping teams from absent GMs, you see…). Picks for absent teams will be made based upon the CSB rankings (NA player will be chosen in the event of a tie with a Euro player in the rankings).
6. Draft Eligibility – General
Prospects eligible to be drafted include those on the CSB final
rankings. More generally, all North American players born between
January 1, 1986 and September 15, 1988 and all non-North American
players 18 years of age or older as of September 15, 2006 are
eligible. (North American players with birthdates in 1985 or prior are Unrestricted Free Agents, assuming of course that their rights are not already held by another HFNHL team, and will be available to be signed during the Free Agency period that takes place later in the summer).
7. North American vs. Non-North American
For the 2006 HFNHL Entry Draft, non-North American players of any age must be drafted before they can sign with an HFNHL team (examples from previous years include Roman Cechmanek and Lubomir Visnovsky). North American players include any player who played in an organized league in North America during the 2005-06 season. (For example, a Russian-born player who toured Canada with the Russian national team would still be considered non-North American; if the same player lived in North America during the season and played in the USHL, they would be considered North American for the purposes of this rule).
8. Draft Eligibility – NHL vs. HFNHL
Be aware that there are several players that are still available to be drafted in the NHL (or are shown as eligible on the 2006 CSB Draft list) that have already been drafted in the HFNHL. The reverse is also true: players drafted in the NHL may not have been drafted in the HFNHL. A review of the final CSB list may be provided to indicate those listed players that have already been drafted, but it is ultimately up to the individual GM to determine whether the player they wish to draft is in fact available.
9. Draft Eligibility – Opt-outs
Prospects are no longer able to opt-out of the entry draft – any player with a birth-date in the window is eligible. For unranked players, it is up to the GM to provide evidence that the player’s birth-date makes them eligible.