(HFL)

The Collective Bargaining Agreement

1. Teams
a) There are 26 teams in our league.
b) Rosters will include 20 players: 12 forwards + 6 defencemen + 2 goaltenders

2. Salary Cap
a) Cap ceiling at $40 million
b) Cap floor at $33 million
c) Teams may not fall below or exceed cap by the time both the dispersal and buyout drafts are completed
d) In the event that a team has exceeded the cap or not met the floor, the offending team has 72 hours to obtain and/or release players such that his/her team meets the salary structure provided in 2 (a) and (b). If an offending team fails to meet the salary structure criteria within 72 hours, the "Trade Committee" (see 5. c) reserves the right to adjust that team's roster accordingly

3. Salaries
a) Players currently with contracts for next year will earn what their NHL contracts stipulate
b) UFAs will earn their 2003-04 salary
c) RFAs will earn their 2003-04 salary x 1.33
d) Players who remain after the draft will be made available at a buyout price of 2/3 of their 2003-04 salary (see 4. The Draft, e)). This draft will be known as the Buyout Draft
e) Players attain UFA status at age 29

* The source we will be using for the salaries is ready. Erfus put the numbers together using the above formulas (see first post of the Big Project: Draft Salaries (for comment) for updated list, courtesy of erfus) and typhoontim has put the same numbers in Excel. Please PM typhoontim or your's truly to receive the document via e-mail *

4. The Draft
a) We will be holding a league-wide dispersal draft
b) The draft order will be determined by 19bruins19 who will use random.org
c) Once your turn is up, you will have 72 hours to make your selection
d) The dispersal draft will last 20 rounds. Draft order reverses every round eg: 1st round 1-26; 2nd round 26-1; and so on
e) Once the dispersal draft is over, the players remaining for the Buyout Draft - mentioned in 3. d) - will be selected in the reversed draft order. In other words, the GM selecting #26 in the first round of the dispersal draft will get first overall pick in the Buyout Draft
f) The buyout draft will continue until each GM 'passes' on his/her pick for one full round. Any player chosen in the buyout draft is added to a team's roster immediately. To ensure a team has no more than 20 players, an existing player on the selecting team must be released to make room for the 'buyout draft' selection, unless that selecting team has less than 20 players
g) Players with fewer than 40 NHL games experience are not elligible for the dispersal draft. There will be a prospect draft for such players once this project is up and running

5. Trades
a) Trades will not be allowed during the dispersal draft but will be permitted during the buyout draft
b) GMs may only make a trade during their turn. The trade must be completed the GM makes his/her draft pick for that round. Keep in mind that the 72 hour rule still applies during the buyout draft.
c) Nine GMs, yet to be determined, will make up what will be known as the Trade Committee. The Trade Committee will have the task of approving trades during the Buyout Draft. For a trade to be accepted by the committee, it must be approved by six (6) or more of its nine (9) members

6. Seasons
a) The amount of seasons will be determined at a later time. However, please be prepared for a 3 to 5 year commitment. This, of course, assuming we find a way to simulate games. Keep in mind we'll be playing for more than a single season as you are drafting.
b) In order for the simulation process to be as accurate as possible, each GM will be able to present three (3) players for rating reviews upon the draft's completion. The deciding body will be named the Simulation Committee.

Here is the outline of the Simulation Committee:
Objective: To select and tweek the HFL simulation software and adjust player ratings.

Methodology: A 9-GM panel (as the Trade Committee) will be formed to adjust player ratings. The process will include:

a) Selection of Simulation Software. The Committee will conduct a simple majority rules vote to select the Simulation Software.

b) Nomination of suspect Player ratings. Any member of the committee may nominate a player with a suspect rating. Nominations must be seconded by one other committee member to be considered.

c) Adjustment of suspect Player ratings. Once nominated, the panel will submit proposed ratings for each of the simulator skill categories. The highest and lowest rating will be disregarded in each category. The remaining ratings will be averaged and applied to the player.

d) Schedule. The adjustment of player ratings will be completed in a one-and-done "batch" process, to be completed by the end of the player dispersal draft. The draft can, therefore, begin immediately. Future ratings adjustment may occur if the majority of the Committee (5 members) approves a nomination from one of its members.

e) Composition. The Committee founding members are to be appointed by the commissioner.