(S4) - PT #6 - Playoff Scenarios

[ExemplaryChad]

Obviously, as a Yeti, my focus has to be on my team. At 1-11, we’ve long been eliminated from playoff contention. A potential reason to watch the playoffs now is for talent scouting. Who might we add in free agency? Who might be available via trade? Who are some backups on other teams that might have a role on our team? Another, more viable, reason for us is watching for the performance of rebuilding teams.

Arizona is, as always, the team to beat right now. They have the most talent, and so they could be a wellspring of players for less competitive teams to take advantage of. Except, wait, that’s not really what happens. Most of them have chosen to stay on for extremely meager contracts in order to help out the team. As fun as it could be to watch Arizona, they will have little to offer in terms of helping the Yeti roster in the coming years. They’re not the only team in this category, either. Most players have, thus far, been willing to stay on for new, team-friendly contracts in the league’s first real free agency period (as rookie contracts were expiring).

So there’s some potential for talent scouting in the playoffs, but not enough to warrant watching extra closely, perhaps. This brings us to the second thing to watch for: successful rebuilds around the league. I’m looking especially at the Sabercats. While they’ve never made the playoffs before, it’s looking quite possible this year, as they’ve managed to stay ahead of the Legion by a whopping four games and are within striking distance of the Otters. At 7-5, they’ve performed as well as both the Hawks and the Wraiths in the NSFC. How have they rebuilt this year? How are they looking right now? And what can we emulate to have more success in the coming seasons?


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