I’m writing as a long‑time fantasy hockey commissioner and highly engaged user to share feedback on why my league ultimately moved from Yahoo to ESPN—and, more importantly, what changes could make Yahoo Fantasy Hockey the most robust platform in the space.
The decision to leave Yahoo was not taken lightly. We value the platform and its history. However, the driving factor was limited scoring flexibility, which made it difficult to accurately reflect player impact in today’s NHL. Simply put, we ran out of meaningful options to evolve our league.
Here are a few specific enhancements that would significantly improve the scoring model and better mirror real hockey value:
1. Defensive Point (Skater Level)
Defense in hockey is more than blocks and hits. A configurable “defensive point” would allow leagues to reward strong two‑way play—particularly for shutdown defensemen who drive possession and suppress scoring but may not accumulate traditional stats.
2. Hat Tricks as a Distinct Scoring Event
Hat tricks are rare, momentum‑shifting achievements. Recognizing them as a standalone scoring category (rather than just the sum of goals) adds excitement and properly rewards elite offensive performances.
3. Overtime Loss (Team or Goalie Context)
Overtime losses are a meaningful part of the modern NHL standings and competitive balance. Allowing commissioners to score OTLs—especially in goalie or team‑based contexts—adds realism and strategy.
4. Penalty Minutes (PIM)
Many established leagues still view PIM as an important dimension of player value, particularly for roster balance. The ability to include (or optionally exclude) PIM keeps Yahoo flexible for both traditional and modern league styles.
Collectively, these additions would:

Create greater scoring depth and differentiation
Reward real hockey impact, not just surface stats
Give commissioners the flexibility to evolve leagues year over year
Reduce churn to competing platforms that offer broader customization

Yahoo has an opportunity to reclaim leadership by leaning into configurability for serious fantasy players. With these scoring enhancements, I—and many commissioners like me—would strongly consider bringing leagues back.
Thank you for continuing to invest in the product and for listening to your most engaged users. I’m happy to provide further feedback or test new scoring options if helpful.
Best regards,
Tanner