UPDATE: NHLPA votes for further negotiations on 24-team return to play format

[topfiverecords]

Is it no longer a possibility that it’s Edmonton and Vegas? Or has Columbus been set?

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Is it no longer a possibility that it’s Edmonton and Vegas? Or has Columbus been set?

Likely one West and one East....otherwise games in one of the cities would be starting at noon or so for Eastern time differences. Not ideal for the athletes.

[powderjunkie]

Tape delay is still possible, if not likely IMO.

Originally Posted by monkeyman

It's why they hold the awards show in Vegas,

it's why Alberta hasn't hosted an Allstar game in over 30 years.

If you're a player, and you aren't going to be out and about, where would you rather be, in a hotel in Vegas or a hotel in Edmonton?
We'll know soon enough.

No, they host awards in Vegas so that players will actually show up.

All star games are simply a reward for cities who allow themselves to be extorted.

If I'm not going to be out and about, I don't care. To the extent that I have any freedom to leave the 'bubble', but knowing the consequences of a positive test, I'd choose Edmonton. Hotel Fairmont MacDonald is nice enough...

[monkeyman]

Let's not mistake what the NHL should do and what it likely will do. Maybe we should look at their history of putting player safety above business? They're not marketing to us here in Canada, they know we'll watch regardless.
Like I said, I'd be happy to be wrong. I'm giving my opinion based on the NHL's past history toward Canada and Alberta in particular.

[transplant99]

Protocols for phase 2 of getting this thing going

https://media.nhl.com/public/news/13993?sf123003357=1

[keenan87]

I wonder what the discipline would be for players who don't practice proper social distancing or decide to break certain rules (going out in public etc.).. heavy suspensions? fines? team automatically eliminated?

I mean, they can't just lock everyone up in a hotel.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

Let's not mistake what the NHL should do and what it likely will do. Maybe we should look at their history of putting player safety above business? They're not marketing to us here in Canada, they know we'll watch regardless.
Like I said, I'd be happy to be wrong. I'm giving my opinion based on the NHL's past history toward Canada and Alberta in particular.

Has it been poor or something in your estimation?

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by keenan87

I wonder what the discipline would be for players who don't practice proper social distancing or decide to break certain rules (going out in public etc.).. heavy suspensions? fines? team automatically eliminated?

I mean, they can't just lock everyone up in a hotel.

Not physically but they can certainly make it a stipulation if the players want to actually play.

[monkeyman]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Has it been poor or something in your estimation?

yes.
how would you categorize thier handling of things like concussions?

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Not physically but they can certainly make it a stipulation if the players want to actually play.

Yeah, but that just reminds me of all the stories on fan960 when guys like Warrener and Commodore talk about sneaking out after curfew etc... I hope players are responsible and don't end up doing stupid crap like that.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

yes.
how would you categorize thier handling of things like concussions?

Not sure how that applies to your opinion of ....

"the NHL's past history toward Canada and Alberta in particular"

Im just curious as to what the NHL has targeted in Alberta that has you thinking they have been treated poorly.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by keenan87

Yeah, but that just reminds me of all the stories on fan960 when guys like Warrener and Commodore talk aboutsneaking out after curfew... I hope players are responsible and don't end up doing stupid crap like that.

Oh there is no question that the league will rely on the guys to behave like adults. As they should.

Breaking curfew is one thing...breaking curfew to go be among masses of people during a deadly pandemic is a completely different one.

They could simply say any players caught where they shouldnt be will cost their team that series and end the season for all of them.

They are going to have to be very diligent and probably heavy handed in their approach.

[monkeyman]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Not sure how that applies to your opinion of ....

"the NHL's past history toward Canada and Alberta in particular"

Im just curious as to what the NHL has targeted in Alberta that has you thinking they have been treated poorly.

Well, for that, you have to go back to my other post.
The NHL has a history of overlooking Alberta in favour of American markets.
Again, why haven't we hosted an Allstar game in over 30 years?
Why does the NHL feel the need to separate the Heritage classic game from the winter classic game?
It's because they know marketing Alberta events/teams is less desirable than marketing American teams and cities.
I'll just add one more thing. If the NHL is truly concerned about safety and minimizing Covid-19 exposure, why not play in Winnipeg?
Hey, it's ok for us to disagree on this.

[indes]

I wonder if for timing purposes they drop the conferences and have a west Division and east Division in each hub.

That way in the west, the east can play early games in primetime for the east and west can play the late games for primetime, and vice versa.

[transplant99]

The NHL has a history of overlooking Alberta in favour of American markets.

Again, why haven't we hosted an Allstar game in over 30 years?[/quote]

30 teams means a different venue every year for that long...no?

Edmonton will hold one soon because of the new arena....if they continue the AS game at all.

Why does the NHL feel the need to separate the Heritage classic game from the winter classic game?

Marketing to two different countries. One is "ours" featuring teams from Canada, one is " theirs" featuring teams from the US. Really not controversial is it?
It's all about eyeballs on the screen.

It's because they know marketing Alberta events/teams is less desirable than marketing American teams and cities.

Right. What's the problem with that? No one is going to watch Winnipeg and Calgary from Mosaic in New York. They will watch the Hawks and Rangers from Yankee Stadium.


Hey, it's ok for us to disagree on this.

Im not sure there is anything to disagree on though. The NHL treats its teams as regional...which is just smart business.

When it goes to a national audience...its broken down to 2 regions as well in the US and Canada.

I mean HNIC has Canadian teams whenever possible..does that mean the league is ignoring the US? No. Its a Canadian broadcaster playing to their audience.

NBC shows almost exclusively American clubs because...they are an American network. Same thing.

I just don't see anything that suggests the NHL treats Alberta based clubs any differently than anyone else. That's all.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by indes

I wonder if for timing purposes they drop the conferences and have a west Division and east Division in each hub.

That way in the west, the east can play early games in primetime for the east and west can play the late games for primetime, and vice versa.

They could as long as there is no reseeding of the top 8 if they want to avoid relocating teams come round 2.

It would also impact the 3 games the top 4 from each conference play.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by indes

I wonder if for timing purposes they drop the conferences and have a west Division and east Division in each hub.

That way in the west, the east can play early games in primetime for the east and west can play the late games for primetime, and vice versa.

I had thought about the possibility of splitting hubs or even multiple hubs (four), thinking that might be the reason the NHL is pushing the bracketing system even though it doesn't make competitive sense but then someone pointed out about the round robin that the top four teams in each conference will be playing and that makes it not really work.

[transplant99]

Looks like the NBA is taking a vastly different approach

[monkeyman]

We'll know soon enough. and again, I'd be happy to be wrong.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

...
It's because they know marketing Alberta events/teams is less desirable than marketing American teams and cities.
I'll just add one more thing. If the NHL is truly concerned about safety and minimizing Covid-19 exposure, why not play in Winnipeg?

We've been over this already, no? The reason Winnipeg will not be considered for a "hub" city is because of the shortage of infrastructure. The city does not have enough room and resources to accommodate all the team, league and network personnel for a lengthy tournament.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk