If I were a player, I feel like as long as for this year playoff money is shared somehow and helps offset any losses/escrow I'd likely be up for it. It sounds like there is a direct hit to the TV deals if we don't play therefore I think I would care.
Maybe if my team isn't in the playoffs/crappy and I'm at the tail end of my career/on my last contract that would be an impact. If I'm say Dustin Brown I could be less inclined as I've made good money for many years and the escrow hit may not be a big deal to my future.
If I'm a younger player I would want to play as I haven't built up my nest egg as much. If I'm Kylington I want to get back at it to minimize escrow. I have no idea if my career is 2 more years or 10, I do everything to maximize. Similarly if I'm Gaudreau I want to get back at it too as I have a future big contract riding on my ability to rewrite/write my playoff capabilities. Plus most of these guys got to the top level because they are ultra competitive.
As a fan, feeling this is tainted or maybe cheapened is in some way is fair. It's going to be different, and hopefully a one-off experience (for all sports). I think it could be very exciting...but then I've been watching F1 esport races as a bit of a sports fix. To me enough of the season has been completed and if the playoffs are largely the same as always I'm feeling pretty comfortable a title is legit. Conversely, an F1 season with only about half the races completed would have an asterisk to me. It won't affect my viewership though, I'll be watching every race. I suspect the NHL sees the pent up desire for sport and wants to try and be in there as early as possible. There could be a larger audience than normal because any sport is better than reruns and more Netflix.
__________________
|