I wouldn't bank on the NHLPA doing the NHL any favors. They're already not going to be happy, by no fault of the NHL really, that UFA's are going to see significantly lower contracts than they would have and I don't think the PA is going to start making concessions heading into another negotiation in four years. I don't think we're going to see the league throwing teams any bones. Most of the league is affected, so the playing field is really pretty level.
- eichiefs9

I remember Friedman’s saying that buyouts were an option at one point but they couldn’t decide on who would pay for them so they squashed it. Can’t see that mindset changing anytime soon

https://twitter.com/David.../1369705874462109696?s=19

Why would the NHLPA be against some buyouts? The bought out player gets paid and the cap relief will be spent on another player?
- JimmyP

Because they protect the players' interests. Most players probably don't like only getting paid 2/3 of what they have left on their deal and then having to move their family to a new city. I'm sure there's the odd player that just wants out of somewhere and is happy to be bought out, but I'd imagine most of them don't like having to uproot their lives.

Because they protect the players' interests. Most players probably don't like only getting paid 2/3 of what they have left on their deal and then having to move their family to a new city. I'm sure there's the odd player that just wants out of somewhere and is happy to be bought out, but I'd imagine most of them don't like having to uproot their lives.
- eichiefs9

That would be the current policy on buyouts. They may amend or change the policy for one time buy outs like they did after the Strike shortened season. In reality it’s no ones fault that the cap didn’t go up because of COVID-19 however letting teams struggle to improve due to no fault of their own hurts both the NHLPA and the league. If the cap remains the same and payrolls aren’t addressed players salaries will be reduced out of necessity. We have seem that with the FA signings the past off season and there’s no way the NHLPA wants that imo.

That would be the current policy on buyouts. They may amend or change the policy for one time buy outs like they did after the Strike shortened season. In reality it’s no ones fault that the cap didn’t go up because of COVID-19 however letting teams struggle to improve due to no fault of their own hurts both the NHLPA and the league. If the cap remains the same and payrolls aren’t addressed players salaries will be reduced out of necessity. We have seem that with the FA signings the past off season and there’s no way the NHLPA wants that imo.
- nyisles7

OMG! Players' salaries are just too low! No wonder Evander Kane filed for bankruptcy.

That would be the current policy on buyouts. They may amend or change the policy for one time buy outs like they did after the Strike shortened season. In reality it’s no ones fault that the cap didn’t go up because of COVID-19 however letting teams struggle to improve due to no fault of their own hurts both the NHLPA and the league. If the cap remains the same and payrolls aren’t addressed players salaries will be reduced out of necessity. We have seem that with the FA signings the past off season and there’s no way the NHLPA wants that imo.
- nyisles7

Compliance buyouts after the lockout were still only paid out at 2/3 of the remaining money on the deal over 2x the term. The only difference was that they didn't count against the cap at all.

Because they protect the players' interests. Most players probably don't like only getting paid 2/3 of what they have left on their deal and then having to move their family to a new city. I'm sure there's the odd player that just wants out of somewhere and is happy to be bought out, but I'd imagine most of them don't like having to uproot their lives.
- eichiefs9

Yes, but as things stand new contracts will have to be lower than they would have been. Most players probably won't want to be locked into a long term contract at a lower salary.

So it becomes a question of which players interests take precedence - the players with existing contracts or the players looking to sign in the next couple of years. I think it's generally in the NHLPA's interest to come to some type of deal.

Hope they get a win tonight against the devils. While they are the better team they are due for a loss at some point. Hopefully when they do it's only a game as sometimes when these win streaks end they are followed by a few losses. To me these are must win games against a weaker team

Compliance buyouts after the lockout were still only paid out at 2/3 of the remaining money on the deal over 2x the term. The only difference was that they didn't count against the cap at all.
- eichiefs9

Yes agreed but not counting against the cap now would help. My point is the players and or The NHLPA would welcome any kind of cap relief so that salaries continue to go up and buy outs with cap forgiveness would be welcomed IMO. That would be by all players not just a handful.

Hope they get a win tonight against the devils. While they are the better team they are due for a loss at some point. Hopefully when they do it's only a game as sometimes when these win streaks end they are followed by a few losses. To me these are must win games against a weaker team
- Upstate_isles

Yes, but as things stand new contracts will have to be lower than they would have been. Most players probably won't want to be locked into a long term contract at a lower salary.

So it becomes a question of which players interests take precedence - the players with existing contracts or the players looking to sign in the next couple of years. I think it's generally in the NHLPA's interest to come to some type of deal.
- JimmyP

100% agree

The East Division is a gauntlet, featuring one of the most fascinatingly cruel playoff races in recent memory. A very good team is going to miss the playoffs.

Here’s what the top five teams would currently be on pace for in a normal 82-game season.

TEAM POINTS PACE
1
New York Islanders
114
2
Washington Capitals
112
3
Boston Bruins
107
4
Philadelphia Flyers
103
5
Pittsburgh Penguins
102
The margins are razor thin, every game already matters and it wouldn’t be a shock to see a team with a 100-point calibre season miss the playoffs – that’s how difficult this division is. In the Central, the fifth-best team is on pace for 82 points, in the North, it’s 79 and in the West, it’s 92 points (and I doubt the Kings keep it up).

The competition is fierce in the East and pretty much non-existent everywhere else. It’s led to some rather comical playoff probabilities where all five have been above 50 percent since mid-February. At one point, all five were at 70 percent or higher. To the laymen, that probably makes no sense – there’s only four playoff spots, how can five teams be more likely than not to make it?

The reason for that is there are 400 total playoff percentage points to divide up and the top five all have serious claim to it. If all five teams were exactly equal and the other three had zero chance, then those 400 percentage points would be divided up equally for an average of 80 percent. Sometimes Pittsburgh misses. Sometimes Philadelphia misses. Sometimes Boston misses. Sometimes Washington misses. Sometimes the Islanders miss.

Put all the simulations together and they all make it more often than not, but come May the music is going to stop and one team is going to be left without a chair. Right now, it’s very hard to discern exactly which team that’ll be – but it’s going to be extremely exciting to find out. And heartbreaking for that one team that misses, a team that likely would’ve made it if they were in literally any other division.

Buckle up.

1. During the last instalment of 16 Stats, I waxed poetic about how the Islanders were actually good with some strong underlying numbers. They’ve gone 7-0-1 since. There’s a legitimate argument to be made that the Islanders have separated themselves enough from the rest of the East pack to be considered the best in the group, and that’s not just because of their division-leading record and goal differential.

In terms of expected goals percentage, the difference between first and second in each division is largest in the East where the Islanders currently lead.

East (3.9 percent)

1. Islanders: 54.9 percent
2. Capitals: 51.0 percent

North (2.7 percent)

1. Montreal: 56.9 percent
2. Toronto: 54.2 percent

Central (0.8 percent)

1. Panthers: 54.3 percent
2. Stars: 53.5 percent

West (0.6 percent)

1. Wild: 56.1 percent
2. Avalanche: 55.4 percent

Expected goals aren’t everything, but the team gets timely scoring and strong goaltending on top of their imposing territorial dominance. Strong five-on-five play with above-average special teams? That’s enough to be considered at least a dark horse team, maybe even a contender. My model, which has famously never given the Islanders the credit they’ve deserved, is finally noticing thanks to these strong expected goals numbers. Only the Wild have seen a larger jump in expected win percentage than the Islanders have this season.

2. One of the biggest reasons for the Islanders’ success is the strength of its top line and top pair. The top line of Mathew Barzal, Anders Lee and Jordan Eberle is currently rocking an expected goals percentage of 64.1 percent, the fifth-highest among forward lines who’ve played over 100 minutes together. The top pair of Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech currently have a 60.3 percent expected goals rate, the fourth-best of any defence pair that has played over 200 minutes together. Only Minnesota has a top five unit in both.

The East Division is a gauntlet, featuring one of the most fascinatingly cruel playoff races in recent memory. A very good team is going to miss the playoffs.

Here’s what the top five teams would currently be on pace for in a normal 82-game season.

TEAM POINTS PACE
1
New York Islanders
114
2
Washington Capitals
112
3
Boston Bruins
107
4
Philadelphia Flyers
103
5
Pittsburgh Penguins
102
The margins are razor thin, every game already matters and it wouldn’t be a shock to see a team with a 100-point calibre season miss the playoffs – that’s how difficult this division is. In the Central, the fifth-best team is on pace for 82 points, in the North, it’s 79 and in the West, it’s 92 points (and I doubt the Kings keep it up).

The competition is fierce in the East and pretty much non-existent everywhere else. It’s led to some rather comical playoff probabilities where all five have been above 50 percent since mid-February. At one point, all five were at 70 percent or higher. To the laymen, that probably makes no sense – there’s only four playoff spots, how can five teams be more likely than not to make it?

The reason for that is there are 400 total playoff percentage points to divide up and the top five all have serious claim to it. If all five teams were exactly equal and the other three had zero chance, then those 400 percentage points would be divided up equally for an average of 80 percent. Sometimes Pittsburgh misses. Sometimes Philadelphia misses. Sometimes Boston misses. Sometimes Washington misses. Sometimes the Islanders miss.

Put all the simulations together and they all make it more often than not, but come May the music is going to stop and one team is going to be left without a chair. Right now, it’s very hard to discern exactly which team that’ll be – but it’s going to be extremely exciting to find out. And heartbreaking for that one team that misses, a team that likely would’ve made it if they were in literally any other division.

Buckle up.

1. During the last instalment of 16 Stats, I waxed poetic about how the Islanders were actually good with some strong underlying numbers. They’ve gone 7-0-1 since. There’s a legitimate argument to be made that the Islanders have separated themselves enough from the rest of the East pack to be considered the best in the group, and that’s not just because of their division-leading record and goal differential.

In terms of expected goals percentage, the difference between first and second in each division is largest in the East where the Islanders currently lead.

East (3.9 percent)

1. Islanders: 54.9 percent
2. Capitals: 51.0 percent

North (2.7 percent)

1. Montreal: 56.9 percent
2. Toronto: 54.2 percent

Central (0.8 percent)

1. Panthers: 54.3 percent
2. Stars: 53.5 percent

West (0.6 percent)

1. Wild: 56.1 percent
2. Avalanche: 55.4 percent

Expected goals aren’t everything, but the team gets timely scoring and strong goaltending on top of their imposing territorial dominance. Strong five-on-five play with above-average special teams? That’s enough to be considered at least a dark horse team, maybe even a contender. My model, which has famously never given the Islanders the credit they’ve deserved, is finally noticing thanks to these strong expected goals numbers. Only the Wild have seen a larger jump in expected win percentage than the Islanders have this season.

2. One of the biggest reasons for the Islanders’ success is the strength of its top line and top pair. The top line of Mathew Barzal, Anders Lee and Jordan Eberle is currently rocking an expected goals percentage of 64.1 percent, the fifth-highest among forward lines who’ve played over 100 minutes together. The top pair of Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech currently have a 60.3 percent expected goals rate, the fourth-best of any defence pair that has played over 200 minutes together. Only Minnesota has a top five unit in both.
- Upstate_isles

We Suck!!!

Fire Barry Can Lou!

We Suck!!!

Fire Barry Can Lou!
- nyisles7

The East Division is a gauntlet, featuring one of the most fascinatingly cruel playoff races in recent memory. A very good team is going to miss the playoffs.

Here’s what the top five teams would currently be on pace for in a normal 82-game season.

TEAM POINTS PACE
1
New York Islanders
114
2
Washington Capitals
112
3
Boston Bruins
107
4
Philadelphia Flyers
103
5
Pittsburgh Penguins
102
The margins are razor thin, every game already matters and it wouldn’t be a shock to see a team with a 100-point calibre season miss the playoffs – that’s how difficult this division is. In the Central, the fifth-best team is on pace for 82 points, in the North, it’s 79 and in the West, it’s 92 points (and I doubt the Kings keep it up).

The competition is fierce in the East and pretty much non-existent everywhere else. It’s led to some rather comical playoff probabilities where all five have been above 50 percent since mid-February. At one point, all five were at 70 percent or higher. To the laymen, that probably makes no sense – there’s only four playoff spots, how can five teams be more likely than not to make it?

The reason for that is there are 400 total playoff percentage points to divide up and the top five all have serious claim to it. If all five teams were exactly equal and the other three had zero chance, then those 400 percentage points would be divided up equally for an average of 80 percent. Sometimes Pittsburgh misses. Sometimes Philadelphia misses. Sometimes Boston misses. Sometimes Washington misses. Sometimes the Islanders miss.

Put all the simulations together and they all make it more often than not, but come May the music is going to stop and one team is going to be left without a chair. Right now, it’s very hard to discern exactly which team that’ll be – but it’s going to be extremely exciting to find out. And heartbreaking for that one team that misses, a team that likely would’ve made it if they were in literally any other division.

Buckle up.

1. During the last instalment of 16 Stats, I waxed poetic about how the Islanders were actually good with some strong underlying numbers. They’ve gone 7-0-1 since. There’s a legitimate argument to be made that the Islanders have separated themselves enough from the rest of the East pack to be considered the best in the group, and that’s not just because of their division-leading record and goal differential.

In terms of expected goals percentage, the difference between first and second in each division is largest in the East where the Islanders currently lead.

East (3.9 percent)

1. Islanders: 54.9 percent
2. Capitals: 51.0 percent

North (2.7 percent)

1. Montreal: 56.9 percent
2. Toronto: 54.2 percent

Central (0.8 percent)

1. Panthers: 54.3 percent
2. Stars: 53.5 percent

West (0.6 percent)

1. Wild: 56.1 percent
2. Avalanche: 55.4 percent

Expected goals aren’t everything, but the team gets timely scoring and strong goaltending on top of their imposing territorial dominance. Strong five-on-five play with above-average special teams? That’s enough to be considered at least a dark horse team, maybe even a contender. My model, which has famously never given the Islanders the credit they’ve deserved, is finally noticing thanks to these strong expected goals numbers. Only the Wild have seen a larger jump in expected win percentage than the Islanders have this season.

2. One of the biggest reasons for the Islanders’ success is the strength of its top line and top pair. The top line of Mathew Barzal, Anders Lee and Jordan Eberle is currently rocking an expected goals percentage of 64.1 percent, the fifth-highest among forward lines who’ve played over 100 minutes together. The top pair of Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech currently have a 60.3 percent expected goals rate, the fourth-best of any defence pair that has played over 200 minutes together. Only Minnesota has a top five unit in both.
- Upstate_isles

So what are the expected goals for Ross Johnston?

- Upstate_isles

Because they protect the players' interests. Most players probably don't like only getting paid 2/3 of what they have left on their deal and then having to move their family to a new city. I'm sure there's the odd player that just wants out of somewhere and is happy to be bought out, but I'd imagine most of them don't like having to uproot their lives.
- eichiefs9

Also because most of these guys are extremely competitive and want to continue playing but that’s why I stressed “as long as they don’t get hurt on the way out”. Maybe they negotiate a payout for the players benefit and if the teams really want to buy out a player they do it? Something that works for both sides because of the worlds current situation because like recent salaries there will have to be some correction eventually unless this thing is really gone before the start of next season...

- nyisles7

What will sorokons save %be tonight?

Over or under .900

I'm going with .959

Nice shift for 3rd line

Martin!

Martin!

Scoring machine!

4th line again

Martin on fire !!!

4th line again
- Upstate_isles

Shat signing line strikes again!