Scoresheet Hockey Draft and Rules Packet

Welcome to Scoresheet Hockey. This packet contains the materials you need to draft your team. Included are player lists, an explanation of the roster balancing features in our draft, a description of how games are played, additional Scoresheet Hockey rules, a sample blank depth chart, and a blank ranking sheet.

To begin, you are asked to list your top 245 choices for your Scoresheet team. On the ranking sheet we've provided (or on any other piece of paper), list your choices in the order you want them to be eligible for drafting by your team. The number "1" player is the player you want the most, number "2" the second, and so on. (Hint: You can mix players from different positions - make sure the players you want the most are listed first!) As explained later in this packet, you can list players, or use our "+" options to indicate when you want backups drafted. On your draft list please include the player's Scoresheeet player number and last name (first names are optional.) If a player does not appear on our lists, please give his full name, position, and NHL team.

Once you submit your ranking sheet you should keep the enclosed player lists, rules, and sample depth chart for use throughout the season. You may also want to make a copy of your ranking sheet, since we keep the list that you send us. Please mail us your ranking sheet by the indicated date, or you could delay the formation of your league.

Using your ranking sheet, and those of the other owners in your league, we'll draft 26 players for each team. NOTE: We have teams draft 26 players, and then there is no free agent draft the first week of the season. Yes - we DO still have weekly free agent drafts (at no charge), they just won't start until week 2 of the season.

Ranking 245 players should be more than enough for 12 owners to each get 26 players, since different owners generally list very different players. Just make sure you list plenty of players at each position - a suggested breakdown of players per position is given later in the packet. The order that teams pick in round 1 will be determined randomly. After that, each round will go in the reverse order of the previous round. As your team's turn comes up each round, you'll be assigned your highest-ranked undrafted player, subject to the roster balancing procedures described later in this packet.

If we don't receive your ranking sheet on time, we'll have to use player's point total order from last year (the player number order at each position) as your draft list. Naturally, it's not nearly as much fun to have the computer draft for you! If for some reason you miss the postmark deadline please give us a call as soon as possible. The mailing deadline is just a postmark deadline; we have allowed a few days for your sheet to travel through the mail. Typically, we complete the draft and put the results in the mail about 4-7 days after your postmark date. This means you should receive your draft results in the mail about 7-10 days after your postmark date, though mailing in your list early will speed it up. We will also post draft results on your league's web page as soon as your draft is run, and will send you an e-mail message as soon as the first stage is done, letting you know those results are up, what league you are in, and what your league's web address is. (A list of all our league's web page links can also be found at www.scoresheet.com/list.html)

At the conclusion of this draft you will receive blank and sample depth charts, final instructions for filling them out, along with complete league rosters and a season schedule. When you turn in your initial depth chart you'll be asked to submit a team name.

Hint: In essence, the draft is really very simple. We simply progress down your list, awarding you the top listed player that still remains undrafted. To ensure that you receive a balanced team, we do keep track of the players you've already drafted and skip over the players whose positions you have already filled. You do not need to group players by position on your ranking sheet. Instead, players should be listed in the order you think they are most valuable. And save your top picks for established quality players. We all like to gamble on unproven players, but for the most part they will still be available in later rounds. Use your high picks to get players you are certain will play a great deal and star in the upcoming season.

P.S. If you still owe any part of your team fees please include a check for the remaining balance with the ranking sheet! Good luck - Have Fun!