I know a few of us here have engaged in fantasy trading before. However, through what I've seen in other leagues. I think there are some things some of the newer people should know about trade offers, and the mentality behind it.
A lot of times people might approach you with off the wall proposals with a bunch of potatoes for your gold bar. Now some people take this in a bad way. And tell the guy to bug off. Usually this happens because the orginal trade proposal guy is testing the waters out.
Its like if you walk into a used car lot and there isn't a price listed on the car window. You won't go "I'll give you ten thousand for this beauty." The used car salesman will jump all over it. He would have let it go for a thousand. Instead, you go around the lot, look at a car you don't really want, make your way over to the baby you really want. And then ask him about that car. He'll say, twenty five hundred. So now you know a good starting point, and saved you a fair bit amount of cash. From there you can start to deal and find a good halfway point.
But if you go and tell this guy that he's a fool, or that he shouldn't bother contacting you for trade offers in the future. You burn a bridge, and you create a hostile environment in the pool. We all want to be in this for the long haul, so there is no point in getting mean with each other. It will only deminish the bond that we are trying to create. Don't take an aweful trade proposal as an insult, counter his offer, with something that interests you.
In a league two years ago I had Ovy and Lidstrom on my team. This guy comes at me with a trade proposal:
My
Ovy and Lidstrom for his
Ron Hainsey, Todd Marchant, Mike Johnson, and Steve Reinprect. At first I was really upset. Who the hell does this guy take me for?! I countered with my
Steve Sullivan and Rob Blake for
Eric Staal and Sergei Gonchar. Not as bad as his offer, but still. A trade I wouldn't have done if I were him. He countered with my
Ovechkin, Rob Blake, Lidstrom for his
Eric Staal, Henrik Sedin, Brian McCabe. To make an already long story short. After a week of going back and forth. We struck a deal.
My
Nick Lidstrom, and Mats Sundin for his
Eric Staal, Brian McCabe and Saku Koivu.
This deal went on to win me the league championship, shortly after the trade Koivu took off on a point streak (as he usually does late season), and Staal put up monster numbers. I lost out on Nick Lidstrom for Brian McCabe. But I had to give to get. And thats the point of trading. No one here is a Mike Milbury. We all except a decent return for our assets.
So please, if someone makes you an off the wall trade (it might be me, I've already given one bonker trade
) counter him with something that you are interested in. Or respectfully decline. No harm...no foul.
Enjoy the league guys. I know I will!
