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...the original Draft.
...Team Rosters.
...Game Rosters.
...Scoring.
...Trades.
...Draft '97.
...Conference Exchange
...League Expansion.
...Favourite Players
...the unthinkable: Kommissioner Error.

 THE DRAFT

 1. Players will draft their teams in three phases. They will submit an initial Draft list of 60 players. There is no limit to the type (Forwards,Defensemen,Goalies) of players drafted.

2. The Draft will proceed in rounds, the first manager's first pick will go to him and be crossed off all lists. The Draft then proceeds to the second player, then the third, etc.

3. Initial draft order is random, but will proceed in a back-and-forth order thereafter. Round one will be Manager 1 - Manager 2 - Manager 3, etc. as will other odd-numbered rounds. The even numbered rounds will go in reverse, Manager 6 - Manager 5 - Manager 4, etc.

 4. When the 60th round has been completed, managers will adjust their roster to 30 men. They will submit a second draft list to fill up to 30, or will list a number of players to drop from their roster if they have more than 30.

5. If there are still Managers with rosters under 30 men, they will draft again.

THE DRAFT - '98

1. Managers will get 5 picks each, in rounds 1-5.

2. For each player dropped, prior to the draft, up to a maximum of 5, that team gets another pick.

3. For each player on their roster who retires prior to the draft, a team gets another First Round pick.

THE ROSTERS

1. Rosters will have 30 players, with no restriction on types of players.

2. Managers can adjust their roster, adding players not on other teams, by sending the Commissioner the names of the players to be picked up and dropped. The deadline for such changes will be Midnight, the Wednesday before the Friday os games of record. If two or more managers want the same player the player goes to the manager whose team is lowest in the standings.

3. Players may be put on Injured Reserve, whereby they remain on the roster, but do not count against the 30-man limit.

 GAME ROSTERS

1. Game rosters will be due by the earliest Game-time Face Off each Friday during the season. If a roster has not been changed by that time, then the previous one will be used.

2. Game rosters will be made up of 20 players: 2 goalies, 6 defensemen and 12 forwards.

3. The goalies will be designated "starter" and "backup". The defensemen will split into 3 pairs, and the forwards into four lines of three men each.

4. Previous to the season, a list will be submitted by each Manager, of their entire roster. In the case of an injury/benching in the NHL, the next player on the list that is not in the starting lineup of the proper position will be used. This will allow Managers to field a full roster without having to keep an eye on the NHL injury news, or having to micromanage if such is their wish.

5. The player list can be changed up until the deadline for that week. Managers who wish to supply detailed roster instructions are encouraged to do so. i.e. "If Roenick sits out, move Modano into his spot and fill Modano's old spot with the next available Dallas Star on my list. If none are available, use the next available player."

SCORING

1. Actual goals, assists and Save % in the NHL will be the basis of the HHL scoring.

2. The first game a player's NHL team takes part in, beginning with the Friday on which games begin, will determine his HHL performance. If he sits out, a sub is used.

3. An HHL player will score a goal if he scored one in the NHL and can find enough assists from teammates.

4. If one or more of his linemates are on the same NHL team, a player may need fewer assists to score his goal. This is to encourage the use of 'real life' lines in the HHL.

5. Assists are 'used' in the following order: same line and NHL teammate; same line; defenseman on same NHL team; different line & same NHL team; different line; defenseman.

6. The following table shows the number of assists needed:

7. Home Ice Advantage: All home rolls are at +1.

8. Goalies' Save % are compared to alter the number of goals scored by the opposition. If your goalie saves 5 goals, and your opponent's saves 3, then your total goals are not reduced, but his are reduced by 2.

9. Goalies save at the following rates:

11. Defensive Bonus: For each defenseman used on a game roster 1) from the same NHL team as the goalie, and 2) above or below the basic 2 defensemen, the Save % of the goalie is modified thus:

11. If the starting goalie plays in the game of record for at least 20:00, his save % is used. If not, and his backup played for at least 20:00, the backup's save % is used. If neither played, the actual goalie of NHL record's save % is used.

Note: If another Manager uses the NHL goalie of record referred to in 11, then the 'borrowing' manager uses that save % at -10%. So be sure to get a mainstay goalie!

TRADES

 1. Managers may trade players by notifying the Commissioner they wish to do so. Individual notification from both parties is required.

2. When a player is traded in the NHL, his team affiliation does carry over to the HHL. So, the NHL Linemate scoring bonus can be lost.

3. The Commissioner will try to notify the managers when this happens to them.

RULES FOR HHL DRAFT '97

1. Managers will draw up a list of 5 players that will be protected in the draft and cannot be picked by other managers. These 5 will be referred to as the "CORE".

2. Managers may protect more than the Core 5 by waiving draft picks in the draft. For each player above the Core 5 a Manager protects the Manager forfeits a draft pick.

Example: Manager X has draft picks in rounds 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,10-30. He elects to protect 10 players. This is 5 over the Core 5, so Manager X loses 5 more draft picks.

3. Managers may protect a full 30-man roster. In this case they would pick in only rounds 26-30.

4. SKULDUGGERY, CHICANERY AND SMART-ASSES!
Any attempt to circumvent the spirit of these rules will result in some, none or all of the following: loss of draft pick(s); loss of assets traded with no recompense; "scorn and slight regard"; ridicule and forced change of franchise name to something silly.

5. The draft will be 30 rounds, and will go in reverse order of record, based on final standings as posted in the season-ending chart after week 14. Draft will not 'switch-back'. Managers will pick in same order each round.

6. In any step above where the manager does not or cannot take part, the Kommissionner will take the appropriate action.

CONFERENCE EXCHANGE

1.  The last place teams in each conference will switch conferences with one another at the conclusion of any season.

FAVOURITE PLAYERS

1. Managers may indicate 3 players on their roster that they call their 'favourite players'.

2. These players are given preference on scoring over others whenever random chance would normally intrude.

3.  Ex: Akron has Lindros and Oates who could score using an assist from Bondra.  If Lindros is a favoured player and Oates is not, then Lindros will score, rather than a random selection of the two.

HHL EXPANSION RULES

 1. The HHL is willing to add one more franchise. In the event that another Manager can be found he will draw up a team by the following method.

2. All Expansion Rules take precedence over the above Draft rules.

3. Managers may protect any 10 (ten) players from their roster.

4. The Expansion Franchise Manager then picks 10 (ten) players from the Unprotected Rosters of the other Franchises. He must pick at least one from each Roster, but no more than two.

5. When the HHL DRAFT '97 begins, the Expansion Manager will pick first, as if his record was 0-12 in HHL '96.

6. COMPENSATION. Any Manager who lost 2 men to expansion in part 4. of EXPANSION RULES will gain a pick. This will be the highest pick he can add and still have only one pick per round.

7. In any step above where the manager does not or cannot take part, the Kommissionner will take the appropriate action.

8. The Draft Order for '97, once Expansion has taken place, will be as follows:

 1. Expansion Franchise
2. Clementon Calamari
3. Dalmations of Doom
4. Watervliet Ice Weasels
5. Upper Darby UnderDogs
6. Akron Argonauts
7. Collingswood Cougars
8. Castle Downs Ice Bandits

SCREWUPS

 1. Managers are encouraged to alert the Kommissioner of any errors. No retroactive changes will be made, but future errors will be cut down.

2. The Kommissioner...ME!, has final say in all things.