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***Ace*** · 04-30-2024, 04:17 PM

511 Words

Rebuilding, a term currently under intense scrutiny in the Simulation Hockey League, is undergoing a significant strategic shift. In the past, teams opting for a rebuild would embrace the tank, leading to some notably weak teams. General Managers would intentionally field the weakest team possible to increase their chances of securing the coveted 1st Overall Pick in the SHL Entry Draft. However, the SHL Head Office has recently announced changes to the lottery system, aiming to curb this tanking strategy.

The new rule states the following:

“The draft order will be determined as follows:
Picks 1-4 determined by points amassed after a team is eliminated from playoff contention, with 1OA being awarded to the team with most points earned after playoff elimination. In the event that there is a tie for any of these picks, the tiebreaker will go to whichever team has played fewer games since being eliminated.
The remainder of picks will be awarded in reverse order of regular season standings by playoff elimination round (this remains unchanged, the existing wording is still under Section I, Subsection A in the rulebook).
Following rounds will proceed in the same order as the first round (this is a change from the previous procedure in which the order of rounds 2 and later were based entirely on regular season standings).
Additionally, due to concerns raised regarding teams waiting until they are eliminated from playoff contention to make their roster better via call-ups and the impact this would have on SMJHL teams:
SMJHL players may be called up only prior to their SHL team’s elimination from playoff contention, with the exception of emergency callups in the event of suspensions.”

As a result of these changes, Winnipeg Aurora's strategy is sound. After a long successful run at contending, the Aurora saw Father Time come for them and move them out of the upper echelon of talent in the SHL. Rather than embracing the tank, the Aurora shed assets that were redundant or not part of their long-term plans and acquired a slew of valuable draft capital.

The Aurora currently holds three first-round selections in the S77 Entry Draft, one owned by the 15th overall Calgary Dragons. The Aurora are hopeful they get some lottery luck with that Calgary Dragons selection. The Aurora also has four first-round selections in the S78 Entry Draft and three first-round selections in the S79 SHL Entry Draft. This gives them 10 first-round picks in the next three seasons to supplement their younger roster members and replace the players who age out of the lineup. Meanwhile, the Aurora find themselves in the top half of the league in the standings, currently sitting at 7th in the overall standings. They intend to have their cake, and eat it too!

It will be fascinating to see how the Aurora fares in the upcoming postseason while trying to maintain a competitive roster and balance a youth movement. Will they be able to field a competitive team while ushering in the next generation? Or will this be a failed experiment? Only time can tell.

*CptSquall* · 05-04-2024, 10:24 AM

Approved @Ace

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