Monday, April 18th, 2011
The Amazing Fantasy Hockey League (AFHL), often called the most famous fantasy hockey league in the world, has begun it’s million-dollar renovation, it’s first in AFHL history.
“The AFHL is moving full-speed ahead on it’s renovation to provide AFHL fans and GMs with the state-of-the-art website the greatest league in the world deserves” AFHL Commissioner Anthony Furino said in a statement today.
The duration of the renovation period is currently unknown, but the AFHLcommissioner said if all goes according to plan, then renovation will be complete around the time of the 2011 AFHL Entry Draft in June.
Free agency fireworks could start tonight @ midnight
AFHL farm team roster limit will increase from 12 players to 23 players
May 31st, 2011
The first thing to remember when shopping for diamonds in the free agency rough: the key to success in all hockey formats is carefully crafting a well-rounded team. The question is what players are still available in such a deep league? Currently, there are about 700 players signed to AFHL contracts (20 teams with 35 players each).
Most AFHL GMs admit they have no idea who to sign let alone who is still available. But the consensus among those team builders and rebuilders is that they plan to be patient rather than pounce, hoping the glut of available players will depress the market and eventually names will pop up here and there.
“It depends on how the market goes,” Montreal GM Keith Cancilla said. “You can speculate – we’ve been speculating for months. But (tonight) speculation will turn into reality. And I don’t know whether stuff is going to happen in the first 24 hours of this roster limit increase or whether it’s going to be spread out and become a league-wide waiting game.”
Newly hired Wolves GM Jason Briggs suspects there will be a bit of both.
“I think most people are uncertain as to what’s going to happen come (tonight) – I know I am,” Briggs said. “And I think we’re just going to research, prepare and see how it unfolds.”
The free agent pool is lacking in overall depth, but if there’s one position that bucks a trend, it’s in goal, where there are a multitude of free agents looking for jobs.
“It’s the year of the goalie, it seems,” netminder Alex Kangas told theAFHL.com on Monday night.
Kangas, a prospect goalie for the Thrashers (soon to be Jets) is one of many of the free agent goalies. As Kangas looks at his options, he has competition. Joining him in the free-agent waters are prospect goalies such as his former teammate Edward Pasquale, and Columbus’ Gustaf Wesslau.
“You look into stuff and try to understand what’s going on, but ultimately, it’ll come down to which teams believe in you and believe you’re a fit,” said Red Devils goaltender Al Montoya. “And you know, a lot can change at the draft. You have your teams in line that you think need goaltending, but then they make a trade. You really never know what team you’re going to play for come the first game of the season.”
Vipers GM Chris Hartley says goaltending is very important in this league but you’ve got to go after what’s best and grow your players from within.
“I’ve said from Day 1 that I think the way to win the AFHL Stanley Cup is to grow your own,” Hartley said. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t surround those guys with good, quality players.”
June 2nd, 2011
Call it whatever you want. A housecleaning. A makeover. A revamping. No matter how you slice it, the new GMs are usually the most active in making trades during the offseason so it should be interesting to see which of the four new GMs will be most trigger-happy in this offseason.
“Not sure of the exact number of trades I made, but I think it was close to 15, maybe even 20 trades shortly after I was hired last summer,” said Warriors GM Mike Brunetta who’s going into his second season as an AFHL GM. “The new GMs better be ready to receive a ton of offers during these next few months. My suggestion is to just talk to as many GMs as possible.”
Most GMs must be drooling over the thought of making a trade with one of the new GMs for a star player such as a Jarome Iginla, Nicklas Backstrom, Martin Broduer or even a Ryan Getzlaf. Some of them have already begun fielding offers for their top players.
“Since I arrived, I’ve had three calls,” said Thunderwolves new GM Jason Briggs. “It doesn’t take very long for people to recognize that you’re going to do some house cleaning.”
The talk is that GM Briggs could be the most active of the new GMs, only five days after being hired he’s already offered up several players that include Milan Hejduk, Ryan Malone, and Sergei Bobrovsky in trade chatter.
“I wouldn’t put anything past any of these guys,” said Montreal GM Keith Cancilla. “They’re capable of anything.”
The fact that the total number of players traded at the 2010 trade deadline dropped off at the 2011 trade deadline could change the thinking of GMs as they pursue players in this offseason.
“Every team has their own philosophy,” Red Devils GM Jordan Carbone said. “Everybody has got their eye on the new GMs’ rosters. I think you just saw what happened at last year’s trade deadline where there wasn’t a lot of trades. I think part of that reason was because of the unknown of new GMs in this offseason. You’d think that would impact the trade market also.”
Rumors surrounding the new GMs making trades have been light this week, but expect them to pick up after the trade freeze is lifted on Friday.