possible draft changes Were the topic of the last entry. While the league scrambles to get buy in from provinces/states, GMS and Players, very little seems to be “sticking”. The newest balloon being floated is a
24 team playoff format
The impact to Detroit, again, is negligible with the club solidifying last place. However, 5 other teams (Ottawa has SJ pick) may well have some issues with the “one winner” format with a limited jump up. It is going to be an imperfect solution, and so it is best not to get too attached to any scenario until it’s been voted on or announced. There’s still that gut feeling that Detroit will pick at #4 behind Ottawa and New Jersey (with Ottawa picking 1 and 3). The brief moments of excitement that looked to remedy these fears are back in “shaker”.
If you liked some of the bizarre kid focused Sci Fi of the 1980s, you may have stumbled across “The Never Ending Story”. A movie that proved that not only is reading books social taboo, it can literally destroy the universe. Far better to be the bully throwing a kid into the trash can than the kid covered in cardboard and ramen noodles stumbling into a creepy store with an old man who, likely as not, wants to know if you like Gladiator movies.
I digress. The “plot” of the “not safe book” was that a mysterious force call “the nothing” was destroying an imaginary world. As a skeptical child, the “bad guy” was still fairly disappointing. I’ll take the talking wolf any day over “nothing”. Little did I know that nothingness can, in actuality, shut down everything. “The Nothing” has consumed all of our lives for a couple months now in a fascinating and bizarre fashion. The everyday is far gone, and watching Ovechkin play Gretzky at NHL20 is how I’ve actually spent an hour of my life. It was refreshing to hear Gretz complain about how big the goalie equipment was.
And so, in this void, we look for the floating bits of what may be news. The league continues to float ideas to see if they are embraced or trolled. Players come out to shoot them down (a la Brendan Gallagher) and voice concerns about being away from their families. So far, the 24 team format is the brand new, shiny toy. Abandon the regular season and expand the playoffs. Whispers of cities/provinces/states being pressured to adjust their quarantine laws are leaking out here and there. Finding the right fit for this square peg is getting harder. “Saving the season” is swiftly degrading into “we have to have a winner, no matter what”.
The damage is still not “done” at this point. With teams addressing season ticket refunds already, the leak is about to get stronger. I’d mentioned before that the Fox affiliates have a penalty build into the contract for local markets. If games aren’t played, part of that money has to be returned. There isn’t a sweeping, single penalty to every team. Each franchise will have to deal with it on an individual level to some degree. The new losses will then be subtracted from HRR and the players will get a feel for the “make good”. Before a solution is given, the damage has to be counted.
There are teams who won’t be affected nearly as much (Toronto and New York) but others who had already reported a loss on the season (Nashville) who may be looking for creative ways to keep the lights on. Detroit is in an interesting spot, and will probably be fine. Arizona has a new owner who has deep pockets, for sure. Somewhere, there will be a hefty price paid. At the very least, a flattened cap will see some internal creativity. Until something happens, “the nothing” is full of options.
Detroit has a strange amount of security in what has been a very difficult season. There is great flexibility and a very patient GM at the helm. When the wheels of the NHL start moving again, Detroit may well be in the position to benefit from a brave new world.
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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