[polak]

I know this topic has been thrown around a lot but I had a pretty crazy idea that might just work and won't stop bad teams from being able to draft good players.

I don't think there is anyway the owners would agree to it, but where is the fun in not dreaming of a "Oiler-Level-O'-Suckage" free league...

The general idea:
As soon as you are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, your Hockey-Related revenue from every game after that point goes into a fund that is re-distributed after the season.

Variables:
- The one thing that might make it more feasible is that you can alter exactly how that money is re-distributed. Maybe there is a vote amongst the owners as to whether or not the team deserves the money returned in full? Maybe it is redistributed by a certain % going back to each team that missed the playoffs based on final standings? Many ways you can slice and dice the re-distribution to make it fair.

- You could also set a certain game number that teams are no longer punished for tanking. For example, maybe you only forfeit the Hockey-Related revenue for games you play in which you are mathematically eliminated from the play offs before Game 70? That stops teams who genuinely tried and lost from being punished and keeps teams who start falling out of contention early playing as hard as they can to avoid being eliminated before Game X

- You can change the amount they forfeit as well. Doesn't have to be 100% of HRR.

Result:
Pretty self-explanatory. If the owners see that their team is falling out of contention they will have to decide if they want their team to dive for a better pick or if they want to keep as much of their money as possible. Is losing millions directly out of their pocket worth it to get a better shot at McDavid? I doubt it.

Thoughts?