I was arguing with a family member last week who did the "poop down the season and start from scratch in October"...I said to him do you think fans will be allowed in the arenas in Otober?
It's a stupid argument. We are in for a long fight. These teams need to make $$$. They are still paying expenses. The 2020/2021 seson is doen in terms of fans attending. Finsh the year.
- RogerRoeper

why do you make this about fans in the arenas?
seems quite straight forward that it's more about the integrity of the league and its playoffs - we'll know that there will be issues with how the playoffs (if played indeed) will be played and pan out.

there is no 'wrong/right' between the options of 1. playing 2019/2020 playoffs over Summer and then start new season in december/january; or 2. start 2020/2021 season in October.

why do you make this about fans in the arenas?
seems quite straight forward that it's more about the integrity of the league and its playoffs - we'll know that there will be issues with how the playoffs (if played indeed) will be played and pan out.

there is no 'wrong/right' between the options of 1. playing 2019/2020 playoffs over Summer and then start new season in december/january; or 2. start 2020/2021 season in October.
- MaximusAurelius

And yet if NHl was the only league to shut it down we'd hear complaints about whythey were the only league not returning.

Integrity is fine but if you lose a bunch of franchises it's not good. They need to make money.

And yet if NHl was the only league to shut it down we'd hear complaints about whythey were the only league not returning.

Integrity is fine but if you lose a bunch of franchises it's not good. They need to make money.
- RogerRoeper

not sure if the league would be better off with 32, or 24 teams.
i was wondering as well that hockey might suffer from decrease in talent (not top end talent, but average talent) due to the continued increase in cost of youth hockey (less and less accessible for lots of families) in combination with the fact that there is more concern for (head) injuries in young adolescents (13+ years when hitting starts) -- resulting of less and less 13+ kids actually playing hockey (at least in US and Canada) and less competition meaning decrease of average level of future nhl players..

Looking at the future, I'd rather have a 24 league high-level product than a 32 league lower-level on-ice product.

I'm curious what some of you guys (with kids playing (competitive) hockey?) think about this - and whether indeed less and less young teenagers aspire to become professional hockey players..

why do you make this about fans in the arenas?
seems quite straight forward that it's more about the integrity of the league and its playoffs - we'll know that there will be issues with how the playoffs (if played indeed) will be played and pan out.

there is no 'wrong/right' between the options of 1. playing 2019/2020 playoffs over Summer and then start new season in december/january; or 2. start 2020/2021 season in October.
- MaximusAurelius

How do they start the 20/21 season in October? You think they're still going to have bubble hubs for regular season starting in October?

There is no way that there will be 31 nhl hockey teams jetting around the continent and crossing the boarder come October .

How do they start the 20/21 season in October? You think they're still going to have bubble hubs for regular season starting in October?

There is no way that there will be 31 nhl hockey teams jetting around the continent and crossing the boarder come October .
- burn

nope and it seems less likely now than 2 months ago. u.s is a disaster and nothing will change.
That's why I'm confused by the "Start Over in October" takes from people. This ain't going away.

not sure if the league would be better off with 32, or 24 teams.
i was wondering as well that hockey might suffer from decrease in talent (not top end talent, but average talent) due to the continued increase in cost of youth hockey (less and less accessible for lots of families) in combination with the fact that there is more concern for (head) injuries in young adolescents (13+ years when hitting starts) -- resulting of less and less 13+ kids actually playing hockey (at least in US and Canada) and less competition meaning decrease of average level of future nhl players..

Looking at the future, I'd rather have a 24 league high-level product than a 32 league lower-level on-ice product.

I'm curious what some of you guys (with kids playing (competitive) hockey?) think about this - and whether indeed less and less young teenagers aspire to become professional hockey players..
- MaximusAurelius

Whether you or I would prefer fewer teams is irrelevant. The League is obviously going to make decisions to try to maximize (sorry) revenue through playing playoffs and starting next season late in the hope that they can get to part if the season with fans.

I think if they can get to the hubs they should be ok. The challenge will be training camps throughout the southern and western states.

The way the US is blowing up right now whether they get either playoffs or much of a regular season going is a real open season. This league and CBA (along with all sport) might look very different in a year.

NHL fans often forget decisions ultimately are about money and it's a business. NHL can't afford to cancel the season and get 0 revenue when all other sports will be playing.

nope and it seems less likely now than 2 months ago. u.s is a disaster and nothing will change.
That's why I'm confused by the "Start Over in October" takes from people. This ain't going away.
- RogerRoeper

Been saying for a while restart in October (like everything is back to normal) makes no sense.

Too many hurdles for that. It's not even remotely close to possible. Best thing to do is isolate the league in the hub cities and do your best to make sure that everyone follows protocol and finish off season. There is too much at stake just cancel the playoffs and they're not able to restart as regular in October. Finish off this year, award the cup try to make as much as you can in the situation and then hope that you can start somewhat normally in like January

Been saying for a while restart in October (like everything is back to normal) makes no sense.

Too many hurdles for that. It's not even remotely close to possible. Best thing to do is isolate the league in the hub cities and do your best to make sure that everyone follows protocol and finish off season. There is too much at stake just cancel the playoffs and they're not able to restart as regular in October. Finish off this year, award the cup try to make as much as you can in the situation and then hope that you can start somewhat normally in like January
- burn

It's wishful thinking. We are (frank)ed for 2 years. You go with what you can do. Get that TV revenue and instead of fans, fill the stands with ads. I hope we have fans back in October of 2021.
Remember when Trump said on Easter the entire country will magically open up and go back to normal?

It's wishful thinking. We are (frank)ed for 2 years. You go with what you can do. Get that TV revenue and instead of fans, fill the stands with ads. I hope we have fans back in October of 2021.
Remember when Trump said on Easter the entire country will magically open up and go back to normal?
- RogerRoeper

Ads in the stands is an intersting idea....they have the ability to digitally put ads in too, we've seen them use the glass behind the net to digitally put in adds.

12 cases will become 0. (frank)ing idiot. Every us citizen should be marching towards the whitehouse to remove that jackass. Hopefully he doesn't do any more damage in the next 4 months before he looses horribly.

Been saying for a while restart in October (like everything is back to normal) makes no sense.

Too many hurdles for that. It's not even remotely close to possible. Best thing to do is isolate the league in the hub cities and do your best to make sure that everyone follows protocol and finish off season. There is too much at stake just cancel the playoffs and they're not able to restart as regular in October. Finish off this year, award the cup try to make as much as you can in the situation and then hope that you can start somewhat normally in like January
- burn

- MaximusAurelius

I don't understand, are you saying they're not trying to run the playoffs this year?

I don't understand, are you saying they're not trying to run the playoffs this year?
- burn

Finalizing the season as proposed is not the same as 'playoffs'.

I am very much in favor of having Summer hockey this year.
However, I do think the entertainment value will be 'meh' compared with regular playoffs.

Finalizing the season as proposed is not the same as 'playoffs'.

I am very much in favor of having Summer hockey this year.
However, I do think the entertainment value will be 'meh' compared with regular playoffs.
- MaximusAurelius

They're playing playoffs and awarding the cup, so you'd be wrong.

Edit: at least that's the goal.

Finalizing the season as proposed is not the same as 'playoffs'.

I am very much in favor of having Summer hockey this year.
However, I do think the entertainment value will be 'meh' compared with regular playoffs.
- MaximusAurelius

Having all players completely rested for the 1st time ever might make it better playoffs.

Having all players completely rested for the 1st time ever might make it better playoffs.
- RogerRoeper

No it's going to be terrible because they changed all the rules of how they're going to play and all the players are going to have to use wrong hand stick, oh and the goalies will be blindfolded

Having all players completely rested for the 1st time ever might make it better playoffs.
- RogerRoeper

the fact that players have already played 82 games in previous 5-6months and traveled, battled through injuries etc. adds to the playoffs - it doesn't subtract from it.
having a glorified preseason type tournament where teams battle it out for the Stanley Cup could work out well, but it could potentially pan out as well as very mediocre..

No it's going to be terrible because they changed all the rules of how they're going to play and all the players are going to have to use wrong hand stick, oh and the goalies will be blindfolded
- burn

And no frozen ice. Just water.

the fact that players have already played 82 games in previous 5-6months and traveled, battled through injuries etc. adds to the playoffs - it doesn't subtract from it.
having a glorified preseason type tournament where teams battle it out for the Stanley Cup could work out well, but it could potentially pan out as well as very mediocre..
- MaximusAurelius

UThey played 70 agmesa nd are 100% rested. They have had more time off than an fregular offseason

UThey played 70 agmesa nd are 100% rested. They have had more time off than an fregular offseason
- RogerRoeper

They have had equal time off now than normally between end of playoffs and start new season.

They have had equal time off now than normally between end of playoffs and start new season.
- MaximusAurelius

By the time they play it's more. Are you trying to say they are never rested then?

By the time they play it's more. Are you trying to say they are never rested then?
- RogerRoeper

I just said that having players very rested might not be a plus for the playoffs, but a minus..
Of course they are now more rested than normally when starting the playoffs.

I just said that having players very rested might not be a plus for the playoffs, but a minus..
Of course they are now more rested than normally when starting the playoffs.
- MaximusAurelius

It generally takes teams more time to get their defensive schemes in place at start of year which. Advantage Leafs

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Arizona has activated a guidance plan for hospitals facing difficult decisions about how to ration dwindling resources as the number of COVID-19 patients climbs.


Jesus, they're going to "make a difficult decision" about Matthews.