Ideas For Expansion

I am considering expanding my league from 14 to 16 teams and have been considering the implications of this.

Divisions
Last Season: 2 divisions of 7 teams
Next Season - Option 1: 2 divisions of 8 teams
Next Season - Option 2: 4 divisions of 4 teams

I'm leaning toward 4 divisions, since it will produce more division winners. (see Playoffs below)

Playoffs
Last Season: best 4 teams of each of the 2 divisions made playoffs
Next Season - Option 1: same as Last Season
Next Season - Option 2: NHL format; based on record, division winners are top seeds

I'm leaning toward the NHL format, since everyone is familiar with it. Also, it is already how ESPN processes the playoff seeds by default. (hence less work for the commish come post season)

Roster Size
Last Season: 14 teams * 25 players = 350 total players
Next Season - Option 1: 16 teams * 22 players = 352 total players
Next Season - Option 2: 16 teams * 21 players = 336 total players
Next Season - Option 3: 16 teams * 20 players = 320 total players

Either way, it seems we'll need to reduce roster size to keep the free agent list talent similar to last season. If we reduce rosters a bit more, then there will be better players on the free-agent list to pick from. I'm leaning toward 20.

Keepers 
Last Season: 14 teams * 12 keepers = 168 total keepers
Next Season - Option 1: 16 teams * 10 keepers = 160 keepers
Next Season - Option 2: 16 teams * 9 keepers = 144 keepers
Next Season - Option 3: 16 teams * 8 keepers = 128 keepers
Next Season - Option 4: 16 teams * 7 keepers = 112 keepers

The number of keepers should be reduced to be consistent with the new roster size. However, I am considering reducing the number of keepers a little more to make things more interesting at our draft. Currently, I seem to be stuck on lucky #7.

Draft
If we choose to expand, we will need to address the problem that the new teams entering the league have no existing players to choose keepers from. One idea that I have is to conduct an expansion draft from which our new owners will acquire their keepers from existing teams.

One possibility is to allow each existing team to 'protect' one keeper before the new expansion teams draft a player from one of the existing teams. This process can repeat, one keeper at a time, until the total number of keepers is reached. The normal annual draft could then commence where all un-kept players and free-agents are available. We could impose a maximum number of players that can be taken from any existing team.

In a league with 7 keepers and a roster size of 20:

• rounds 1-7: existing teams select 1 keeper from their own roster, new teams then select 1 player from an existing team's roster
• rounds 8-20: each team selects 1 player from all remaining players

At some point this summer, I'd like to test this draft format to see how it might work out. I think it will be the most fair to the new teams entering the league, while still giving existing teams the chance to keep some of their favorite players.