WHO DO I KEEP?

My team is on the bottom.
The league is a keeper pool, 10 gm's.

Every Team Can keep between 8-12 players.

Now comes the complicated part. The way our draft is structured is as follows:

The teams that keep 12 or less (8,9,10 or 11 players) are involved in a "pre draft" hence:

If Team A) kept 8 players Team keeps 10 players and the remaining teams keep the Maximum 12 players, than teams A and B would load up there teams to 12 players before the draft begins. Team A) would choose 2 players before Team B (or anyone for that matter) has a chance at anyone. once team A has reached 10 players than A) and will go back and forth up to 12.

this was originally setup so that the worst teams would drop to 8, the best would keep 12 and the league would be much more competitive year-year.

However the top 3 places are paid out, while 4th place is rewarded with the 1st overall pick. If 4th place is willing to drop to 8 players, than 4th place also gets 1st overall in the pre draft.

This was done so that there was not a race to the bottom for 1st overall.

The problem now becomes evident. Even the top three teams, everyone in the league is trying to make deals to get down to 8 players to get stamkos, if not than turris, filatov etc...
I finished in 5th and there is no guaruantee that the 4th place guy will drop down to 8 players.
Judging by my team, is it worth it to try and trade/lose to FA/ drop down to 8 players and enter the pre draft, or do I stick with my team? (most of the GM's I have talked to in my league like my team and have called me out to be a contender next year--barring the injury bug)

I apologize to all who have taken the time to read this, I understand it is terribly confusing, but I thank you all for any input and insight into my delimma.

Interesting league setup. Personally, I'd keep:

Malkin, Datysuk, Semin, Hossa, Kovalev
T. Kaberle, Enstrom, Lubo V,
Fluery, Bryzgalov

That's 10. Now I'm not sure the quality of players that get into the draft but if they are better than Bouchard, I'd do this. If not, keep Bouchard.

Hope this helps.

very cool and unique setup. I like it.
Huet, Prospal have to go for sure. Langkow and Gionta are next. That's 11. I think playmaker has the right idea. If you think you can do better than Bouchard, than drop him. But I don't think you would do better. And trade Semin. He scares me and his value is pretty high I think

Dobber wrote:
very cool and unique setup. I like it.
Huet, Prospal have to go for sure. Langkow and Gionta are next. That's 11. I think playmaker has the right idea. If you think you can do better than Bouchard, than drop him. But I don't think you would do better. And trade Semin. He scares me and his value is pretty high I think

I was also going to suggest trading Semin. He left once for Russia, I think he's a target to go when his contract expires (not positive but it might be next year?).

yeah his contract (which was echted for two years at 4.5mill per is up at the end of next season). I tend to agree that he might go back home, but with Federov their now to not only teach him more about the game, I think Federov will help him learn the culture.

So to cleairfy to the gentlemen that did respond (karma to all that thank you--I know it wasnt easy making it through that)
My Keepers are:

Malkin, Datysuk , Hossa, semin (traded?)Kovalev
Kaberle, Enstrom, Lubo
Bryzgalov,Fleury

(keeping in mind we start 3 goalies every night if possible--unlike the other pools I know of where you keep 3 but start two). And yes too both replies, I do believe by yahoo rankings, there will be better players than PM bouchard out there--but I am weary of giving him up as I think he will have a break out yearon the top line with gabby and koviu.