Draft League Fun(?)

[Teezle]

For the past 5-6 years, one of the leagues I play in does a semi re-draft at the start of each season. The teams keep a captain and 2-3 other players constant, and the rest of the players get drafted to each team based on whatever obscure rules the league commissioner comes up with. Goalies get assigned to teams after the draft is completed; we don't get a say in which team we play for. The group of guys is great, there's beer and food after the game, and most people never being on the same team for too long means that there's not much animosity between people on the ice. Usually, the draft also means that parity is pretty good, but it's definitely fallen off the last few seasons - and I always seem to get the short end of the stick.

This is from our league stats page (cleaned up a bit for clarity). As you can see, I have more saves than the next highest goalie has shots against, and the spread between me and the goalie on the team that gives up the fewest shots per game is >100 shots over 7 games. Some highlights(?) of this season include games where the shots were 49-14 (we lost) and 52-21 (we won! because 5 of the 6 shots we took in the first period went in somehow...a completely sustainable shooting percentage. After the first period, the shots were 19-6). I've had 1 game all season where I've seen fewer than 40 shots (37); by contrast, our team averages ~31 shots per game (-102 shot differential).

I'm getting pretty frustrated, because as we all know from beer league, if one team is getting 2x or more the shots of the other, they're probably getting 4-5x more "good" shots: breakaways, 2-on-1s, 3-on-1s, wide open guys backdoor and in the slot, etc. So either I stand on my head and we eke out a win, or I play alright and we get blown out. Any advice for how to bring up to the people that run the league that next season: either we need to make sure the league is balanced, or assign me to a team that's actually trying.

[coopaloop1234]

1 hour ago, Teezle said:

as we all know from beer league, if one team is getting 2x or more the shots of the other, they're probably getting 4-5x more "good" shots: breakaways, 2-on-1s, 3-on-1s, wide open guys backdoor and in the slot, etc. So either I stand on my head and we eke out a win, or I play alright and we get blown out. Any advice for how to bring up to the people that run the league that next season: either we need to make sure the league is balanced, or assign me to a team that's actually trying.

Think about this from the other end.

Do you want to show up to the rink to see the other goalie play while you get ~20 shots and feel like your time is wasted?

My high level team sometimes runs over teams like this and I get bored. My lower level team, I'm relied on to essentially steal them games and I enjoy the challenge that brings, as well as the appreciation from the guys when things to work out. 

Just tossing in my 2 cents. 

[Teezle]

57 minutes ago, coopaloop1234 said:

Think about this from the other end.

Do you want to show up to the rink to see the other goalie play while you get ~20 shots and feel like your time is wasted?

My high level team sometimes runs over teams like this and I get bored. My lower level team, I'm relied on to essentially steal them games and I enjoy the challenge that brings, as well as the appreciation from the guys when things to work out. 

Just tossing in my 2 cents. 

Which is why I said I just want it to be balanced. If it's a good back and forth game, I'm happy with whatever outcome results because it's fun (though winning is obviously more fun). But it's not fun for either of us when one person sees tons of odd man rushes and backdoor plays they have no chance on, and the other sees wrist shots from the boards all game. My issue is that the "re-draft to ensure relative parity" mechanism has been broken for several seasons now, and if someone has to get the short end of the stick, it would be nice for it to be passed around to all of us, not just me.

[ethanallen]

The league I occasionally sub in will seemingly stack teams, even though the teams are supposed to be randomized every week. Of course we stay in net on the end we start in, so sometimes I'm shelled in the first and third periods, and sometimes only in the second. Of course if I am stealing a win, the ref will let me stay with the team I start with. The league organizer knows that I need as much work as possible, so he will put me with the team that gets 35 plus shots in a game. It actually helps me when I have no D. If I don't get on the spring league I've been asked to try out for, I will take a roster spot because it's pretty cool league and I'm the youngest guy there.

[creasecollector]

my league does a similar draft style and it works out really well. Very competitive and there's even a waitlist to get in.

 

Hope things balance out here.

Edited December 2, 2023 by creasecollector

[CPage]

Hey @Teezle,

Having been in both situations, I will agree with @coopaloop1234 that the guy standing in front of his net, freezing his toes, hardly getting any shots and just basically there to be a warm body and drink water (and eventually beer ), is probably getting the shorter end of the stick compared to the guy getting shelled at the other end; at least that guy is getting some exercise and an opportunity to work on some technique!

I agree with you though that it's ultimately better for all parties when the game is competitive. My experience is that it gets boring even for the team that's skating circles around their opponent. And as stated above: their goalie, freezing his toes across the rink form you, isn't getting his money's worth either...

So, my recommendation would be that you approach it from that angle. Not so much "I'm getting the short end of the stick here, and I'm fed up!", but rather "I don't think these games are fun for anyone and therefore I think we should re-balance the teams". Surely, the guys on your team must feel the same way? No one likes packing up their gear, driving to and from the rink (usually late on a week night, and potentially in a snow storm depending on where you live), going through the whole production, and knowing in advance that they're gonna get smoked. I think if you take the above approach and have backing from your teammates (and especially team captain), you'll have a better chance of being heard.

For the record, I also play in these types of leagues with annual or bi-annual drafts and it happens almost every year that trades need to be made around Thanksgiving to balance out the teams. It's tough in beer league to get the balance right on the first try... No one likes getting traded, but in a league where everyone knows each other, the atmosphere is friendly, and there isn't much on the line except maybe a bit of pride, most people accept it and even more so if the result is better balance throughout the league.

Finally, remember that if you're ending up year after year on the shittiest team, it's probably because you're considered the best goalie in the league!

Best of luck!

[WillyGrips13]

Do you have other places to play or other leagues at the same place to play? If so, you could always take a break from this league and focus on those leagues. Then come back to it when you think you’re ready. Or maybe skate out in this league and play goalie in others. 

[Fullright]

If you keep getting matched up with the worst team in the league, it probably is because you're the best goalie in the league. So you can either live with the tacit recognition of your skill and enjoy the action or speak up and perhaps end up on a team where you dont have much to do. Willy's suggestion works too.

That is a weird deal about this draft thing. I would not like being assigned to a team in a beer league. Almost seems as if the "commissioner" has a little too much authority. But beer leagues are generally weird any way. Hope it works out the way you want it.

[Teezle]

On 12/2/2023 at 6:15 PM, Fullright said:

If you keep getting matched up with the worst team in the league, it probably is because you're the best goalie in the league. So you can either live with the tacit recognition of your skill and enjoy the action or speak up and perhaps end up on a team where you dont have much to do. Willy's suggestion works too.

That is a weird deal about this draft thing. I would not like being assigned to a team in a beer league. Almost seems as if the "commissioner" has a little too much authority. But beer leagues are generally weird any way. Hope it works out the way you want it.

The league commissioner definitely has too much authority, but he and another fellow run like 50% of the leagues in the city (and have put a lot of time, effort, and money into growing the hockey community here, so it's not all bad). There are some weird rules about the draft for each season (usually teams can only draft 2 "top rated" players, there's a separate draft category for players 60+, sometimes people get paired up - e.g. a high-rated player and a lower-rated player are drafted as a package deal, etc). In theory, the average age and skill level for each team is roughly equal, but if Team A's top-rated player is 45 years old, he's not going to be as effective as Team B's top-rated player who is 28. Nor does it account for the most important aspect - showing up and trying hard. 

New season, different team in the same league, but the same nonsense. This Monday's game the shots were 17-4 against after the first period  - we only ended up losing by 1, so I consider that a win. One day I won't be the only person on my team actually putting effort into the game, but not this season apparently.

Edited March 21 by Teezle