The National Fantasy Hockey League Salary Cap will rise to $88 million for the 2024-25 season. The NFHL cap which mimics the NHL cap has been confirmed for the upcoming season, a slight increase from the projected $87.7M.
Along with the NFHL Salary Cap going up to $88 M next season here are some highlights of next seasons changes.
The Skagway Siskin have won their second NFHL Championship with a dominant roster performance with a 61 point lead over runner up the Smith Falls Rideaus. The Siskin have also earned their third Smythe Division title in six years while the Rideaus captured their record eighth Patrick Division Champion.
The Macomb Marauders finished third overall and their third Norris Division title. The Manayunk Maulers earned their third consecutive Adams Division title and their fifth in the last seven years. The 2024 NFHL Draft & Compensation Lottery took place April 20th, 2024 utilizing the Pennsylvania Lottery.
The Top 16 teams in the overall standings were eligible with bonus odds for Division winners. The Fort Saskatchewan Snipers won the NFHL Compensation Lottery having an 8% chance with their fourth place finish in the overall standings. Ironically with the first three overall teams automatically receiving prize pool funds and the Snipers lottery win all top four teams were compensated this season. Teams that finished from 4th to 41st were eligible for the NFHL Draft Lottery with 8th place Palm Spring Playboys winning with a 1% chance. This is the last season for the NFHL Draft Lottery as next season the 'Play In' Lottery being introduced which allow the top 24 teams in the NFHL standings an opportunity to win the Compensation Lottery. Visit the NFHL Lottery page for details of teams, odds and number allocations. NFHL LOTTERY In an effort to keep engagement for teams to continue to improve their standing position during the season, the NFHL has announced it will be replacing the existing NFHL Draft Lottery with a "Play In" Lottery that will enable teams that finish between 17th and 24th overall and opportunity to participate in the Compensation Lottery with teams that finish in the top 16.
Both lottery's will be heavily weighted towards the top teams placing an emphasis on teams to continue to improve their overall position despite an NFHL Championship not being in the cards. Eight teams will participate in the 'Play In' lottery with odds varying from 21% for the 17th overall team to 6% for the 24th place. The winner will then be placed in the Compensation Lottery with an opportunity to win funds from the prize pool. Odds in the Compensation Lottery are weighted with odds varying from 15.5% for 1st overall to 2.8% for 16th overall and the winner of the Play In lottery having a 2.6% chance. In additional all division winners will receive an additional 1% bonus odds meaning the NFHL Champion will have a 16.5% chance in the lottery.. The NFHL Commissioners are reviewing a proposal for teams to acquire two free agents during the season with the first players being acquired using a draft selection process during the NHL December Christmas break. The second Free Agent would be acquired any time after the new year until a pre-determined date (possibly NHL trading deadline).
The NFHL previous announced a revised two phase Roster selection process along with a Reserve Roster to be reduced to 15 players (from this season 17 players) in a goal to create roster diversity. The free agency concept would allow teams to acquire two players to the roster with some insight of player performance with the draft providing limitations on player selection. As the league looks at how best it is to keep GM's engaged in a season the free agent draft being held at specific week would allow for teams to engage all at the same time, similar to the initial selection process. We still want our league to be engaging but not require constant interaction on a daily basis. How do you have a free agent draft with over 40 teams? How could this all work? Click on the button below to get a glimpse on how it will all work, as always GM's can contact the Commissioners with any feedback! The National Fantasy Hockey League opened its 30th season with 41 franchises which are divided into 4 divisions consisting of Norris, Adams, Smythe and Patrick. For the 2023 - 24 season each division will have 10 teams except the Patrick Division which has 11 teams.
All Division winners will get bonus odds in the Compensation Lottery which will consist of the Top 16 teams in the overall standings. Prize Pool funds will be provided to the NFHL Avco Cup World Champion plus teams finishing in 2nd and 3rd overall, as well as the Compensation and Draft Lottery winners. The National Fantasy Hockey League season opens on October 10, 2023 with a Salary Cap set at $83.5 Million.
Below are keys dates for the upcoming NFHL season. Preliminary Salary List Available September 6, 2023 Final Salary List Available Late September 2023 Phase 1 Selection Deadline October 2, 2023 Phase 2 Selection Deadline October 9, 2023 NFHL Season Begins October 10, 2023 All Star Break Transactions February 1 - 4, 2024 "Out For Season" Injury Transaction Recoup: February 1, 2024 - March 1, 2024 NFHL Season Concludes April 18, 2024 The Red Deer Rebels edged out Norris Division rivals St. Albert Sewer Rats to win their first NFHL Championship in their 13 year history. This is the second season in a row that that Championship was won by a mere 1 point difference. The Rebels also win their first Norris Division title. Congratulation to Rebels owner and GM Ryan Gagan.
The Sewer Rats finishing second overall and remain one of the elite NFHL teams in league history. Despite finishing second in the division two years in a row the Sewer Rats have 6 Norris Division titles and an Avco Cup Championship back in 2017-18. This is the 8th consecutive year the Sewer Rats have finished in the Top 16 with eligibility for the Compensation Lottery. The Fort Saskatchewan Snipers finished third overall and won their first Smythe Division title in their 8 year history. The 3rd place finish is their best in franchise history topping a 12th place finish in 2020-21. The Manayunk Maulers won their fourth and second consecutive Adams Division title and finished fourth overall. The Maulers also have now finished in the Top 16 for the seventh consecutive season. The Reno Lucky Pucks won their second Patrick Division title with their previous division title happening in 2006-07. Despite finishing second overall in 2020-21 they lost out of the division title to the overall champion that season. The Top 16 overall finishers are now eligible for the Compensation Lottery which will be held on May 8, 2023. |