Now that I’ve had more time to gather my thoughts on this, I will say this:

This is a gross misuse of Ownership power and a massive dump on every other other team and every GM or player that has been punished. We have all been told “those are the rules” or “the rules are black and white” when making an honest mistake and were aptly punished, most of the time, for less than this. We’ve all seem teams punished much worse than this for less.

I am not suggesting that Teddy, Leafs, or anyone has a bias towards Hamilton while stepping in. However, based on the events that happened, it is hard not to feel this way and I think everyone has a right to feel that way about this. Because what this looks like, regardless of intention, is Ownership overstepping their boundaries and shutting down HO without due process.

The point has been repeated that Ownership can step in and issue the final word on punishment. Yes, that is true, and like shown in Teddy’s OP, it has happened before. But does that mean it’s right? I say no. I do not believe that 2 people should have the power to overturn HO’s process, especially since HO is there to represent the league as a whole. What Ownership did here is basically tell the entire league that what we think doesn’t matter.

The rule was black and white. Thems the rules. We have all been told this, but that magically went out the window here. I do agree with letting Hamilton keep the players. They made an honest mistake. Anyone suggesting that Hallsy or Mills does not care about their players, are lazy, etc have no idea what they are talking about. We are all human and we all make mistakes. However, a mistake should not make them immune to the rulebook, just like the rest of us. We see many punishments handed out every season for double trading picks, 99% of the time those instances being honest mistakes. But these instances are still punished because that is what the rulebook says. Is the spirit of the rule to punish GM’s for every little mistake? No, of course not. The spirit of the rule is to prevent GMs from double trading a pick in order to have extra value in their stockpile and to stop massive problems with two teams having the same pick down the road. Yet double pick trading, even if obviously on accident, is still punished. Regardless of the “spirit of the rule”.

I am not suggesting that Teddy and Leafs be removed from their positions. Their countless hours of work in this league throughout the league have been invaluable. But Eggy and Tez need to go. There is no reason for a seat with this much power to be held by inactives who are completely out of touch with the league. If one site position is going to have the power to do this, shouldn’t we fill it with our best, most connected and active users?

I also think that Ownership stepping in like this should not be allowed. Owners should be able to give their thoughts, of course, or even vote on the punishments. But to be able to completely override the interests of HO and the interests of the league at large is unacceptable in my opinion. No one person or group of people should hold ultimate power.

Two solutions to this that come to mind are:

1. HO should ALWAYS be allowed to conduct their investigations and whole process when deciding on a punishment. Ownership needs to have clear and rigid boundaries as to when they can step in.

2. An appeals committee, something like that Infidel suggesting in SHL media earlier today. At the very least, his suggestion should be looked and and considered by site management, as it is clear to all of us that situations like this one are a problem.

Thats all i got.