Figment League Hockey Rules

Figment League Hockey's main mission is to be fun. A lot of that depends on the GMs and commissioner working together. The rules below are designed to support that mission by providing a framework within which we can have fun without being overly restrictive.

The league currently uses the Simon T Hockey Simulator (STHS) as the simulation engine and to participate in the league all GMs will need to download the free GM Utility for STHS. The league plans on switching to Franchise Hockey Manager (FHM) at some point when that simulation's online league facilities are better developed.

GENERAL RULES

      • LEAGUE SCOPE: The Figment Hockey League will cover the top-level leagues (roughly analogous to the real-life NHL, WHA, PCHL, etc) as well as one minor league with affiliation to the pro league(s) and a separate junior league where developing young players will perform prior to being drafted into the main league.
      • GM PARTICIPATION: The commissioner would prefer not to be the “participation police” but reasonable expectations will need to be met. These are simply to submit exports on a fairly regular basis, paying attention to Slack and the forum, and replying to other GMs in trade discussions. The commissioner may replace any GM who becomes absentee or fails to treat others fairly.
      • SIM SCHEDULE: Games are simmed Monday thru Friday, with exports due by 7am Eastern time.
      • SIM PERIOD: Each sim period covers one week during the regular season. Postseason sims will be split to cover games in blocks of two with a deciding game (whether it be game 3, 5 or 7 depending on series length) having its own sim.
      • COLLECTIVE BARGAINING: Figment attempts to model the real-life framework and for the vast majority of seasons from the beginning of the league, the "Reserve Clause" will be in effect and there will be no free agency. There will also be no work stoppages.
      • FINANCES: Finances matter for things such as signing players and coaches and GMs are able to set ticket prices within the sim and generate revenue but money has a limited scope and effect in Figment due to no true "free agency" until the league makes it into the late 20th century.
      • TRADING: Trades are typically run at the end of a sim period. The only exception to this is the trade deadline sim. Trades must be posted on the league's trade channel in Slack and both GMs must post to confirm the deal. 
  • Free Agency will begin at a to-be-determined date, likely in the 1980s.
  • Specifics on how the first years of free agency will work will be posted as the league nears the TBD date of free agency.
     

JUNIOR LEAGUE AND AMATEUR DRAFT

There will be a junior league, run separately and with its own league file and web pages (GMs may elect to manage a junior club if they wish in addition to their pro clubs).

  • The draft will take place following the professional league championship series.
  • Draft order is based on the previous season’s results. In seasons with two or more pro leagues, mechanisms will be in place for players drafted in both leagues to determine where they end up (this will be fleshed out in more detail when we reach the right era).
  • The draft itself will be done within STHS using the in-game draft list mechanism. Specifics will be determined at a later time.
  • Drafted players must be assigned to either the farm club or pro club of the drafting organization.

 

TRADING

Trading is permitted anytime between the end of the championship series and January 31st of the following season. Trades may be for any or all (in combination) of the following: players, cash and/or draft picks with the following restrictions:

  • Both GMs must post on Slack in the Figment Hockey Trade Talk channel confirming the deal. Details on the players must be listed and must include the players full name, position and level. For example LW John Doe (Farm) is good. J.Doe is not.
  • Salaries must fit within each team's budget. If the trade would result in someone going over budget, the deal must be reworked with the other team providing cash or retaining some of the player's salary to fit both teams within their budgets.
  • Draft picks can only be traded for the current or upcoming draft. Future year's picks are not able to be traded.
  • Teams are also prohibited from trading consecutive first round picks. If you trade your first round pick in Season 1, you can not trade your Season 2 first round pick. You can however trade the player drafted with that pick as soon as Season 2's draft is completed.