OK I'll sit him for that one, then.
I think that's oversimplifying, tfong. Suppose that we had our draft order based on the results of the consolation bracket.
Normally, when I'm playing a matchup, I am constantly checking my roster every day to see how many games each of my players play the next day and whether it's worth keeping that player during his off-days or replacing him with a waiver pickup. I also make a decision for every goalie start whether I should play the goalie or bench him. Now, suppose that I know that winning only hurts me in the long run because there is zero chance at winning the playoffs. Maybe I make decisions a little differently. Maybe I "thoughtlessly" pick-up some players who only play twice in the week. Maybe I start Scrivens more than I start Dubnyk. Or maybe I just don't make any decisions and let my team play with a hands-off approach. In either of those cases, I would not technically be doing anything wrong, but I could affect the standings draft order based on how much effort I want to put into the consolation bracket. That's what I want to avoid. Now that there are no implications, GMs are free to do what they want, and I think if anything, that will make them more inclined to try to win in the consolation bracket.
