Who are you to tell people to go elsewhere ,don't like it don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out . I also believe it is a idiotic scenario to start almost a brand new season and call it the Stanley Cup Playoffs .,Every other hockey league has called it quits and for good reason . They shut the NHL down in 1918 ,we should learn from our history . This is greed piled on the back of a pandemic
I will watch if they manage to get this farce off the ground ,and may ridicule mock belittle and laugh at the whole circus. And if that bother you well even better .
- oldduffman

Who am I?

I’m someone that’s had it up to (frank)ing here with all these miserable (frank)ing people and their pessimistic attitudes/outlooks. Seriously it’s taken it’s toll on me...(Incase you couldn’t tell). Every (frank)ing day I’m reading and listening to more and more negativity. It’s cancerous. If it’s not about the “sham playoffs” its about the virus. Or both.

And Incase you haven’t noticed cuz you’ve been too busy complaining and being miserable, there are PLENTY of sports leagues across the globe that are starting up again/not canceling their season. Why the hell would the NHL be any different? And why have these leagues been able to restart? Because the pandemic, believe it or not(I’m gonna guess in your case it’s “not”), is gradually going away. Things are improving, and if they keep trending this way what on earth is so wrong with the NHL resuming a unique post season format to crown a champ?

Who am I?

I’m someone that’s had it up to (frank)ing here with all these miserable (frank)ing people and their pessimistic attitudes/outlooks. Seriously it’s taken it’s toll on me...(Incase you couldn’t tell). Every (frank)ing day I’m reading and listening to more and more negativity. It’s cancerous. If it’s not about the “sham playoffs” its about the virus. Or both.

And Incase you haven’t noticed cuz you’ve been too busy complaining and being miserable, there are PLENTY of sports leagues across the globe that are starting up again/not canceling their season. Why the hell would the NHL be any different? And why have these leagues been able to restart? Because the pandemic, believe it or not(I’m gonna guess in your case it’s “not”), is gradually going away. Things are improving, and if they keep trending this way what on earth is so wrong with the NHL resuming a unique post season format to crown a champ?
- SimpleJack

I see someone hasn't seen their therapist for a while

Don't worry be happy, everything's gonna be alright

Honestly if you don't want anyone to poke holes in your denial social media isn't for you

what makes it a sham?
- Ogilthorpe2

It is probably going to be the most exciting playoffs in recent memory.

It is probably going to be the most exciting playoffs in recent memory.
- fattybeef

I was thinking the same thing.
If the teams are housed in the same area or even the same place it will be a like a frat house party. The stories of the poop happening could be epic.

It is probably going to be the most exciting playoffs in recent memory.
- fattybeef

I don’t know - there have been a lot of exciting tournaments recently - not just those where the Blackhawks went deep.

Last year’s was pretty good: the 4 division winners out in round 1....

It is probably going to be the most exciting playoffs in recent memory.
- fattybeef

But the quality of the product will suck. No action for months, and then right into playoffs? Might as well watch a beer league, at least when the play sucks it is expected. There is a reason there is an exhibition season.

But the quality of the product will suck. No action for months, and then right into playoffs? Might as well watch a beer league, at least when the play sucks it is expected. There is a reason there is an exhibition season.
- powerenforcer

It's hard to say, this could possibly be the case but the break also provided some other guys with the opportunity to rest and heal.

If it were up to me I would have cancelled the season. But I will admit that having hockey back will be a nice distraction.

Who am I?

I’m someone that’s had it up to (frank)ing here with all these miserable (frank)ing people and their pessimistic attitudes/outlooks. Seriously it’s taken it’s toll on me...(Incase you couldn’t tell). Every (frank)ing day I’m reading and listening to more and more negativity. It’s cancerous. If it’s not about the “sham playoffs” its about the virus. Or both.

And Incase you haven’t noticed cuz you’ve been too busy complaining and being miserable, there are PLENTY of sports leagues across the globe that are starting up again/not canceling their season. Why the hell would the NHL be any different? And why have these leagues been able to restart? Because the pandemic, believe it or not(I’m gonna guess in your case it’s “not”), is gradually going away. Things are improving, and if they keep trending this way what on earth is so wrong with the NHL resuming a unique post season format to crown a champ?
- SimpleJack

Ya who are you to tell people who deviate from your Trumped up world view of rainbows and unicorns to leave or alter their view .
And as for unique playoff no thanks .They are playing for the oldest Pro Trophy in North America .Have some regard for tradition .Not some ramshackle playoffs hastily thrown to gather at a couple hubs in the middle of July the real season 3 or 4 month's in the rear view mirror .Sham money grab whatever you want to call it .
Every other HOCKEY league has shut down month's ago .The KHL shut down in the middle of their playoffs , they are the voice of reason .
You believe what you want about the virus it's not going away without a vaccine . Not going to disappear magically like Donald said ,you know 15 case going to be Zero soon man of wisdom .This world has far more important thing to be concerned about now then crowning some fabricated NHL champ .
They should be focusing on trying to get next season started .Instead of having two sham season maybe with some luck they could put together a fairly completive season and playoffs next year .

But the quality of the product will suck. No action for months, and then right into playoffs? Might as well watch a beer league, at least when the play sucks it is expected. There is a reason there is an exhibition season.
- powerenforcer

Everyone will also be healthy and since its the playoffs they will be going balls to the wall. The first round and round robin may be a wee bit sloppy but these guys coming in fresh and ready to go could make for some very entertaining hockey.

It is probably going to be the most exciting playoffs in recent memory.
- fattybeef

It will be the most exiting playoffs for Hawks in the last three years.

It's hard to say, this could possibly be the case but the break also provided some other guys with the opportunity to rest and heal.

If it were up to me I would have cancelled the season. But I will admit that having hockey back will be a nice distraction.
- DarthKane

I’m with you 100%, the season should have been cancelled, but $ talks and we all could sure use the distraction, I know my wife wants hockey back just to get rid of me for a few hours.

It will be the most exiting playoffs for Hawks in the last three years.
- Angotti

Well played.

I’m with you 100%, the season should have been cancelled, but $ talks and we all could sure use the distraction, I know my wife wants hockey back just to get rid of me for a few hours.
- Angotti

Since the season will continue I don't believe the Cup winner should have an asterisk beside their name. Yes the format is different, but given the current environment we can't expect the NHL to follow their normal ways.

Ya who are you to tell people who deviate from your Trumped up world view of rainbows and unicorns to leave or alter their view .
And as for unique playoff no thanks .They are playing for the oldest Pro Trophy in North America .Have some regard for tradition .Not some ramshackle playoffs hastily thrown to gather at a couple hubs in the middle of July the real season 3 or 4 month's in the rear view mirror .Sham money grab whatever you want to call it .
Every other HOCKEY league has shut down month's ago .The KHL shut down in the middle of their playoffs , they are the voice of reason .
You believe what you want about the virus it's not going away without a vaccine . Not going to disappear magically like Donald said ,you know 15 case going to be Zero soon man of wisdom .This world has far more important thing to be concerned about now then crowning some fabricated NHL champ .
They should be focusing on trying to get next season started .Instead of having two sham season maybe with some luck they could put together a fairly completive season and playoffs next year .
- oldduffman

Hey Duff. This whole situation comes down to a risk assessment. There is no guarantee that a vaccine will be developed and can be produced at the required scale. In that scenario, (I'm assuming) you would not be comfortable beginning next season.

In my estimation, virtually everything outside of video games is more important that sports. That doesn't mean that it is not important. Huge numbers of jobs, medical advancements (finding new ways to heal significant injuries), and tax revenue are only some of the important factors.

I'm not against what you are saying, but this is more than just a money grab (IMO). Should baseball, football, and basketball cancel their seasons? At what point is it safe to come back?

I was thinking the same thing.
If the teams are housed in the same area or even the same place it will be a like a frat house party. The stories of the poop happening could be epic.
- 6628

...and if these rumors about Carey Price being approached to see what he thought about accepting a trade to Colorado in the off season since it didn't;'t happen at the deadline...if there is a shred of proof to it, you think he he sits back in his finale hurrah to the Habs and their fans or does he play his tush off ?

But the quality of the product will suck. No action for months, and then right into playoffs? Might as well watch a beer league, at least when the play sucks it is expected. There is a reason there is an exhibition season.
- powerenforcer

So don't watch then you cry baby

So don't watch then you cry baby
- GPHawksfan

Why the hate? You going through stores too!

I am well. Once the season went lights out and Covid hit. Hanging around here didn't make any sense.

All is well here in the Shenendoah Valley for now. Been a great 2020 so far: phony impeachment, Covid, economic collapse and now a race war...

Glad I am here than in Chicago...2nd ammendment rights looking good now...

anyway no fan of the sham playoff, won't be watching...my guess there is a good chance it doesn't happen...

stay safe
- bogiedoc

Good to have another Hawk fan in the Commonwealth.

Hey Duff. This whole situation comes down to a risk assessment. There is no guarantee that a vaccine will be developed and can be produced at the required scale. In that scenario, (I'm assuming) you would not be comfortable beginning next season.

In my estimation, virtually everything outside of video games is more important that sports. That doesn't mean that it is not important. Huge numbers of jobs, medical advancements (finding new ways to heal significant injuries), and tax revenue are only some of the important factors.

I'm not against what you are saying, but this is more than just a money grab (IMO). Should baseball, football, and basketball cancel their seasons? At what point is it safe to come back?
- Chunk

Well exactly, at what point is it completely safe? Also, I imagine since the virus is still relatively new they are studying mutation rates and they still don’t know exactly what that looks like I would think.

So they do develop a vaccine and it’s effective against the original strain, will it confer immunity to a mutated one? Who the hell knows.

So yes I would have preferred they scrap the season but to Chunk’s point they probably won’t have a vaccine ready in the fall so why start then either?

Since it looks like they may play, please forgive me and anyone else for finding a shred of joy in it.

Well exactly, at what point is it completely safe? Also, I imagine since the virus is still relatively new they are studying mutation rates and they still don’t know exactly what that looks like I would think.

So they do develop a vaccine and it’s effective against the original strain, will it confer immunity to a mutated one? Who the hell knows.

So yes I would have preferred they scrap the season but to Chunk’s point they probably won’t have a vaccine ready in the fall so why start then either?

Since it looks like they may play, please forgive me and anyone else for finding a shred of joy in it.
- HawkintheD

I wrote and deleted about 5 posts only to see you sum it up in one. Thanks, D!

Well exactly, at what point is it completely safe? Also, I imagine since the virus is still relatively new they are studying mutation rates and they still don’t know exactly what that looks like I would think.

So they do develop a vaccine and it’s effective against the original strain, will it confer immunity to a mutated one? Who the hell knows.

So yes I would have preferred they scrap the season but to Chunk’s point they probably won’t have a vaccine ready in the fall so why start then either?

Since it looks like they may play, please forgive me and anyone else for finding a shred of joy in it.
- HawkintheD

This is going to be the big problem. there is no such thing as completely safe. It is likely going to have to come down to what is considered "safe enough".

Well technically we don’t know for 100% certain who has business in the playoffs considering some teams(such as the Hawks) were robbed of a chance(however unlikely it may have been, crazier things have happened) to make a late push for a wild card spot when the regular season was cut short. Hence why they’ve expanded the post season to include those teams.

I honestly don’t get the doom and gloom coming from so many people about this format/potential playoff scenario. Like, can’t you just be happy there’s anything at all? Crazy extraneous circumstances. A once in a lifetime situation. Let’s take what we can get and look forward to the action!! No sense in being all upset about it.
- SimpleJack

Hey bud, because it's no different than getting excited over exhibition games.

C'mon man that's hilarious there's no way this team would have made it. As we a watched all year long the team was very inconsistent with their play. The only thing that you can count on was a bad defense that turned the puck over and was always giving up quality chances. The goalies stopped alot of rubber which made the final score somewhat decent. I prefer the the pick in the draft with the possibility of moving up. Hey I never said I would not watch seriously what else is there to do.
- BGKarras

Who can forget that first shutout last year in Nashville where we faced 200 shots to negative 10 and Pekker Reenner made fun of us!

Who are you to tell people to go elsewhere ,don't like it don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out . I also believe it is a idiotic scenario to start almost a brand new season and call it the Stanley Cup Playoffs .,Every other hockey league has called it quits and for good reason . They shut the NHL down in 1918 ,we should learn from our history . This is greed piled on the back of a pandemic
I will watch if they manage to get this farce off the ground ,and may ridicule mock belittle and laugh at the whole circus. And if that bother you well even better .
- oldduffman

Saddest thing about it is they will surely engrave some team on the cup for "this" season.

what makes it a sham?
- Ogilthorpe2

I'm sure Darth would have a good answer regarding Stanbo.