24 teams and everyone gets a Stanley Cup with its’ size based on the order of finish in the playoffs. Biggest one to the Champ. Then no one feels left out.

Jeez, don’t we reward enough mediocrity these days?

NO!!!!!!!!

24 teams and everyone gets a Stanley Cup with its’ size based on the order of finish in the playoffs. Biggest one to the Champ. Then no one feels left out.

Jeez, don’t we reward enough mediocrity these days?
- Bluey

The reason why I like the expanded format is that it provides huge incentives for teams to stay young and rebuild on an ongoing basis. Too many mediocre, mid range teams that keep adding veteran players to try and grind out a playoff spot.

By going to 24 teams it allows young teams to know they will be rewarded sooner (rather than later) if they stick to they rebuild plans. At the same time, it would encourage older teams to commit to rebuild sooner.

I want to know:

What is YOUR order of the top 15 of the 2020 NHL draft?
Also highlight 5 honorable mentions

Jeez, don’t we reward enough mediocrity these days?
- Bluey

This is about opportunity and league marketability, not reward. You could make a similar argument that it shouldn't really matter a damn if you won a bunch of games last October if you're not playing good hockey when it matters. Honestly, if you couldn't beat a #17-20 or #17-24 seeded team, then you really never deserved to win anything in the first place. Look at this year... for every team like Toronto/Edmonton team that couldn't muster up the effort to maintain their regular season positioning, I was really quite happy to watch teams like Montreal/Vancouver rise up to take their place. And if we're talking reward, then rewarding teams that achieve success by playing well and earning their chance by straight-up beating the likes of Crosby/Malkin or the defending Cup champions is just fine by me.

I want to know:

What is YOUR order of the top 15 of the 2020 NHL draft?
Also highlight 5 honorable mentions
- AlfieisKing

1) Laf
2) Stutzle
3) Byfield
4)Drysdale
5)Raymond
6)Rossi
7)Perfetti
8)Holtz
9) Askarov
10)Lundell
11)Quinn
12)Mercer
13)Jarvis
14) Sanderson
15) Schneider

5 honorable mentions: Zary, Lapierre, Holloway, Gunler, Amirov

Saw interesting comment that suggests NHL might start next season with 4 hub cities. Each team in a hub would play one another and then after the rotation they would reform into different hubs. They would maintain this pattern until restrictions are lifted on travel and fans being able to attend games.

Overall, NHL believe fans are liking the hub games and think they can make the format even better.

NHL now thinks Stanley Cup can be awarded before the end of September and play for the new season may start much sooner than originally forecast.

1) Laf
2) Stutzle
3) Byfield
4)Drysdale
5)Raymond
6)Rossi
7)Perfetti
8)Holtz
9) Askarov
10)Lundell
11)Quinn
12)Mercer
13)Jarvis
14) Sanderson
15) Schneider
5 honorable mentions: Zary, Lapierre, Holloway, Gunler, Amirov
- Trilla

I imagine most lists would look pretty similar to this one with a few minor adjustments. Personally, I'd probably have Rossi slightly higher, move Sanderson up maybe the 7th-8th range, switch Zary for Schneider, and move Guhle onto the HM list in place of Gunler (who I think might fall quite a bit on draft day, like Brink/Kaliyev). That said, I think the order would also be quite different in a mock draft, because teams will inevitably differ in their approach and priorities.

NHL now thinks Stanley Cup can be awarded before the end of September and play for the new season may start much sooner than originally forecast.
- spatso

So the draft before the 9 October

Too soon to be scared about the Isles picks?

I imagine most lists would look pretty similar to this one with a few minor adjustments. Personally, I'd probably have Rossi slightly higher, move Sanderson up maybe the 7th-8th range, switch Zary for Schneider, and move Guhle onto the HM list in place of Gunler (who I think might fall quite a bit on draft day, like Brink/Kaliyev). That said, I think the order would also be quite different in a mock draft, because teams will inevitably differ in their approach and priorities.
- khawk

To me, Raymond is more electric then Rossi. He has more “wow” factors in his game: skating, hands, speed. He could be a “game-breaker”. He’s got more on his resume then Rossi...at one point it was a toss between Byfield and Raymond at the 2 spot. He’s been one of the best world junior players for Sweden despite having a sorta weak showing this year.

Drysdale over Rossi because his position in this specific draft is more valuable. He’s the most dynamic dman in the draft (there aren’t any really in this draft). Potential to be a top 2, pp specialist. I can’t see Drysdale falling out the top 5.


What Rossi has over Raymond is he’s more NHL ready (Raymond 2-3yrs away which may be an investment for some teams) and I’d say he’s a better two way player (Raymond is a bull though).

Sanderson IMO should not be a top 10 player. There’s nothing that stands out in his game. Skating is meh, soft passer, he’s got a good shut down game but that’s it to me. I feel like he’s got a lot of “media hype” behind him.

Zary I would put behind Schneider. Schneider being a dman, I give the edge to because there aren’t many in the draft. He’s got a good two way game and boom/bust potential. If this draft wasn’t so stacked, I actually think Zary would be a top 10 selectee. He’s got a solid two way game, gets in the corners and is good on the face off dot..he’s just not the best skater IMO.

Guhle could be a good honorable mention, I just think their are better players over him. His size and position may play a factor in teams selecting him early, but I don’t think he’s a top 15 player in this draft class