At this point any format will have flaws. A question or problem I have is teams playing meaningful games before others. Will this be an advantage. And round robin random play for teams with a bi. What happens when Marchand is March an dab and injures someone prior to playoffs starting or something similar. Just weird to me.

Agree. This is all about money. Nothing else.
- Peter Richards

"March an Dab" will definitely be a hit pop/hip-hop song in the near future. You should trademark it now.

According to “Flyers feed”, the players have accepted 24 team playoff format.

I started typing a long post but deleted it. I don't even know where to begin with this clown of a commissioner the league has.

Probably jumps over dollars to pick up nickels.
- Pelle31Forever

I'm not sure where you were going to go with this but I'll speculate. Are you aware that Bettman's job as commissioner is to grow the league and grow profit for the owners of the team's correct?

I'm not sure where you were going to go with this but I'll speculate. Are you aware that Bettman's job as commissioner is to grow the league and grow profit for the owners of the team's correct?
- MJL

He works for the owners, they are his boss. Maximizing league profits is his #1 job. He gets booed because he's the face of the corporate NHL (something he's well aware of and willing to accept), but he's actually done his job pretty well.

I started typing a long post but deleted it. I don't even know where to begin with this clown of a commissioner the league has.

Probably jumps over dollars to pick up nickels.
- Pelle31Forever

So what’s wrong with wanting your venture to be profitable??Whats wrong you. The NHL is not a non profit.

Metallica did a free show. Janne, a healthy scratch that night, had permission to go. That's all there was to it. There is a whole urban mythology about it.

Janne is a huge metal fan in general and Metallica in particular. Nowadays, he is involved in concert promotion and venue development in Finland.
- bmeltzer

A Fin loves metal?

Get outta town!

A Fin loves metal?

Get outta town!
- Hesh_

You're talking about a country that halted construction of s highway so as not to disturb the Elves living under the ground.

So yeah, that's a pretty damn metal country. #Fintroll.

So what’s wrong with wanting your venture to be profitable??Whats wrong you. The NHL is not a non profit.
- bird_dog_pa

I saw an ESPN article about every major professional sports league’s status that mentioned the NHL stands to lose $1.2 Billion if they can’t resume this season. The league doesn’t have the revenue of the NBA or NFL to withstand a loss like that. It’s perfectly reasonable for the league to try and complete the season.

I saw an ESPN article about every major professional sports league’s status that mentioned the NHL stands to lose $1.2 Billion if they can’t resume this season. The league doesn’t have the revenue of the NBA or NFL to withstand a loss like that. It’s perfectly reasonable for the league to try and complete the season.
- Sublime55

Anyone who has suggested the season gets scraped, while owners continue to pay their millionaire employees is not thinking logically. It’s the players job to play, so the owners see a return. The players have a job to do no matter what time of year it is.

Anyone who has suggested the season gets scraped, while owners continue to pay their millionaire employees is not thinking logically. It’s the players job to play, so the owners see a return. The players have a job to do no matter what time of year it is.
- SuperSchennBros

Agreed. It also would not look good if all other sports leagues find a way to conclude their seasons while the NHL remains sidelined. Their job is to hold a season and award the Stanley Cup. If they can find a way to do it safely, it’s going to happen.

How will cap play into this? Players coming back from injury now eligible to play, would it put teams over cap? Or now its playoffs and cap is out the door. Pittsburgh getting Guentzil back won’t hurt

How long would the proposed playoff scenario take to complete?

You're talking about a country that halted construction of s highway so as not to disturb the Elves living under the ground.

So yeah, that's a pretty damn metal country. #Fintroll.
- jmatchett383

A little bit more than elves. There were environmental and cultural issues deeper than elves. It’s a good right wing talking point though.

A little bit more than elves. There were environmental and cultural issues deeper than elves. It’s a good right wing talking point though.
- Gogol

I just find it hilarious that people really think that there are Elves living underground.

I just find it hilarious that people really think that there are Elves living underground.
- jmatchett383

Have you read about the idiots that think 5G caused COVID? It’s as horrifying as it is hilarious.

How will cap play into this? Players coming back from injury now eligible to play, would it put teams over cap? Or now its playoffs and cap is out the door. Pittsburgh getting Guentzil back won’t hurt
- MrPerfect316

I imagine they’ll probably allow teams to do whatever to just get themselves cap compliment and then expand the rosters for the playoffs. They’re not going to let the cap be an issue to getting things moving imo

I saw an ESPN article about every major professional sports league’s status that mentioned the NHL stands to lose $1.2 Billion if they can’t resume this season. The league doesn’t have the revenue of the NBA or NFL to withstand a loss like that. It’s perfectly reasonable for the league to try and complete the season.
- Sublime55

They could always stop propping up unprofitable franchises and put that money towards the losses from COVID but unfortunately we know that won’t happen.

They could always stop propping up unprofitable franchises and put that money towards the losses from COVID but unfortunately we know that won’t happen.
- hereticpride

It's smoke and mirrors and creative bookkeeping. Owning an NHL franchise is profitable or the businesses and owners wouldn't stay in it. They need to grow, not contract.

I imagine they’ll probably allow teams to do whatever to just get themselves cap compliment and then expand the rosters for the playoffs. They’re not going to let the cap be an issue to getting things moving imo
- hereticpride

I wish they would fold a handful of teams or at least move them. I don’t know how strong Tampa’s fanbase is but at least they’ve always been competitive. Florida can go though. Arizona can go. The Jackets have gotten better over the years but c’mon, their fan base is just cute. You can line up at the door, buy a ticket and walk in. That’s three teams, which would go down to 28.

I wish they would fold a handful of teams or at least move them. I don’t know how strong Tampa’s fanbase is but at least they’ve always been competitive. Florida can go though. Arizona can go. The Jackets have gotten better over the years but c’mon, their fan base is just cute. You can line up at the door, buy a ticket and walk in. That’s three teams, which would go down to 28.
- SuperSchennBros

Tampa has a pretty decent fan base. But that also may be attributed to them icing good teams. If that team went south do the fans still show up? Idk.

The league could absolutely do with either moving or folding the Yotes and Panthers. You’ve got to think there’s somewhere in Canada that will easily support these teams better. I think Columbus fits into that Devils mold. They’re never gonna going to be a huge draw but they’ve got a loyal group of fans and manage to make it work somehow.

One of these teams should go to Quebec and the other should try somewhere like Houston/Portland/Baltimore. Hell, I’m not even opposed to giving a city like Toronto or Montreal a 2nd team. It’ll be better for the league than endlessly supporting poor hockey markets.

Tampa has a pretty decent fan base. But that also may be attributed to them icing good teams. If that team went south do the fans still show up? Idk.

The league could absolutely do with either moving or folding the Yotes and Panthers. You’ve got to think there’s somewhere in Canada that will easily support these teams better. I think Columbus fits into that Devils mold. They’re never gonna going to be a huge draw but they’ve got a loyal group of fans and manage to make it work somehow.

One of these teams should go to Quebec and the other should try somewhere like Houston/Portland/Baltimore. Hell, I’m not even opposed to giving a city like Toronto or Montreal a 2nd team. It’ll be better for the league than endlessly supporting poor hockey markets.
- hereticpride

They need teams in all the TV markets.

Tampa has a pretty decent fan base. But that also may be attributed to them icing good teams. If that team went south do the fans still show up? Idk.

The league could absolutely do with either moving or folding the Yotes and Panthers. You’ve got to think there’s somewhere in Canada that will easily support these teams better. I think Columbus fits into that Devils mold. They’re never gonna going to be a huge draw but they’ve got a loyal group of fans and manage to make it work somehow.

One of these teams should go to Quebec and the other should try somewhere like Houston/Portland/Baltimore. Hell, I’m not even opposed to giving a city like Toronto or Montreal a 2nd team. It’ll be better for the league than endlessly supporting poor hockey markets.
- hereticpride

It's all about trying to land that big TV contract. People in Quebec and Ontario will watch no matter what. Expanding into "non-traditional" markets will theoretically increase viewers. More viewers equals more expensive TV contract.