final nail for NHL season ?

[CaptainCrunch]

This season is over, they're not going to run a july august playoff and then start up again in October. You're going to create a bunch of unnecessary injuries.



Shut it down, start planning for Sept training camps.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't understand how you could have July/August hockey. You still need a month or more for the draft and free agency so assembling 2020/21 rosters would be very rushed. I get that they will hold on to finishing the season right up to the end but IMO they should just consider the season a casualty of the pandemic and move on to next season.

They would obviously shorten the 2020-21 season. Playoff games, even in July/August, would bring in significantly more revenue than regular season games in October and November would.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by keeper34

Flames hockey during instead of Stampede how awesome that would be better than nothing, I guess

FYP

Originally Posted by Ace

There’s going to be significant discussions with insurance companies before they pull the plug.

This. Nothing is getting formally cancelled anytime soon, no matter how inevitable/obvious it seems.

[chockfullofgoodness]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

This season is over, they're not going to run a july august playoff and then start up again in October. You're going to create a bunch of unnecessary injuries.



Shut it down, start planning for Sept training camps.

Even that is overly optimistic, in my opinion. I can't see hockey being played (in packed arenas, anyway) before January at the earliest. I'm guessing an abbreviated 2021 season and playoffs. Pure speculation, obviously.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by chockfullofgoodness

Even that is overly optimistic, in my opinion. I can't see hockey being played (in packed arenas, anyway) before January at the earliest. I'm guessing an abbreviated 2021 season and playoffs. Pure speculation, obviously.

It's not speculation, without a vaccine there's no pro hockey period, people can fantasize about playing in empty arenas all they want but it's not going to happen, why? because the NHL is a spectator sport and 80% of it's income comes from the paying fans.

I actually wouldn't be shocked to see two non awarded cups and the NHL not playing till the 21-22 season

[chockfullofgoodness]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

It's not speculation, without a vaccine there's no pro hockey period, people can fantasize about playing in empty arenas all they want but it's not going to happen, why? because the NHL is a spectator sport and 80% of it's income comes from the paying fans.

I actually wouldn't be shocked to see two non awarded cups and the NHL not playing till the 21-22 season

I was saying that I was merely speculating. And, yes, it would not surprise me in the least if we did not see hockey until autumn 2021. I just wonder how teams are going to cope with their 80+million dollar payrolls through all of this.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by chockfullofgoodness

I was saying that I was merely speculating. And, yes, it would not surprise me in the least if we did not see hockey until autumn 2021. I just wonder how teams are going to cope with their 80+million dollar payrolls through all of this.

At this point there's bigger problems to solve so who the F* cares?

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by chockfullofgoodness

I was saying that I was merely speculating. And, yes, it would not surprise me in the least if we did not see hockey until autumn 2021. I just wonder how teams are going to cope with their 80+million dollar payrolls through all of this.

The same way that most businesses are trying to cope during this crisis. Either look for some government support, accept the losses and ride it out, try to find some loans to cover the losses, work out some sort of salary reductions or just close up shop and call it a day (maybe some other rich dude(s) will step up and buy teams that are failing.)

[powderjunkie]

One would have to dig deeper into the CBA to see if there are any stipulations regarding this kind of force majeure, but it could be as simple as 50% of $0.00 in HRR = 0.

Another question would be whether any insurance income would count as HRR...probably depends on who's been bearing the burden of those premiums. Then again, SPCs are insured against injury (and other things?) - is there any chance those policies may apply?

[Flamenspiel]

My new team is Barcelona, their players all decided to take a 70% pay cut.

[Mayo]

I would love July/August NHL after this over

I enjoy watching June playoffs every year in the backyard - little bbq with the fellas - and if the Flames are in it even better

[Corral]

I will be pleased if COVID brings pro sports to its knees and athletes and owners have to show respect to fans instead of trying to bleed every dollar out of them. I’ll be more than pleased actually.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Corral

I will be pleased if COVID brings pro sports to its knees and athletes and owners have to show respect to fans instead of trying to bleed every dollar out of them. I’ll be more than pleased actually.

The only way that happens is if people stop being fans. What you are saying is you hope that most people don’t care about sports anymore.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

This season is over, they're not going to run a july august playoff and then start up again in October. You're going to create a bunch of unnecessary injuries.



Shut it down, start planning for Sept training camps.

Actually both the NHL and the PA said they absolutely would play a a late summer schedule given the chance.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Actually both the NHL and the PA said they absolutely would play a a late summer schedule given the chance.

I have always thought this was just posturing on both sides. Publicly, this is what the NHL and the PA want everyone to believe, but pragmatically speaking I think most recognize that this is unrealistic.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[powderjunkie]

I actually think it's more feasible to finish the current season (single location 8 team tournament) than starting the next season in anything that resembles usual.

Vegas makes sense for the NBA (I see a pretty natural 12 team format for them) considering they already run their summer league in essentially this format.

For the NHL, SK or MB might be more suitable locations. A big college in a state that hasn't been hit too hard might be even better (all the necessary facilities and accommodations in one site.

Unfortunately, the change that would make it most manageable is probably not palatable to most:

NSFW!

3 on 3

This is mostly a numbers game. 11-12 man rosters, 1 coach, 1 trainer, 1 equipment guy.

After a long layoff and limited opportunity for much of a training camp, it's a better transition from an injury standpoint, etc. too

I wouldn't be keen to award the Stanley Cup through a 3v3 tournament, but while I'm in fantasy land, maybe round 2 could become 4v4 and the finals 5v5 (total people involved should remain under 100 throughout).

[dino7c]

I would be surprised if the boarder is even open this summer

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

At this point there's bigger problems to solve so who the F* cares?

What a ridiculous, selfish attitude. Yes, there are bigger issues than sports in the world right now. There are always bigger issues. That doesn't mean we need a forum mom telling us we can't talk about how these issues will impact the NHL.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

I actually think it's more feasible to finish the current season (single location 8 team tournament) than starting the next season in anything that resembles usual.

Vegas makes sense for the NBA (I see a pretty natural 12 team format for them) considering they already run their summer league in essentially this format.

For the NHL, SK or MB might be more suitable locations. A big college in a state that hasn't been hit too hard might be even better (all the necessary facilities and accommodations in one site.

Unfortunately, the change that would make it most manageable is probably not palatable to most:

NSFW!

3 on 3

This is mostly a numbers game. 11-12 man rosters, 1 coach, 1 trainer, 1 equipment guy.

After a long layoff and limited opportunity for much of a training camp, it's a better transition from an injury standpoint, etc. too

I wouldn't be keen to award the Stanley Cup through a 3v3 tournament, but while I'm in fantasy land, maybe round 2 could become 4v4 and the finals 5v5 (total people involved should remain under 100 throughout).

I think if they wanted to do a 3 on 3 mini tournament just for something to do and to generate some revenue - that's one thing. But the NHL would get crapped on by literally everybody if they tried to award the Stanley Cup for it. And deservedly so. Even the Houston Asterisks' tainted World Series title carries more legitimacy than that would.

Never mind the fact that nobody not already in the country you'd be running the tournament in would be able to cross borders to get there. Nah, you'd have to run that as just a fun, made for TV event with nothing on the line but pride.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I would be surprised if the boarder is even open this summer

Me neither, but that wouldn't necessarily preclude a half dozen chartered planes with occupants who will be following strict protocols and closely monitored/tested.

Until most of the teams are able to sell tickets w/o restrictions, it's hard to see the league resuming regular operations (with nearly full operating costs). I think some half-measures are quite likely, depending on negotiations with TV networks.

Obviously the dates are flexible, but I wouldn't be surprised if we end up with something like this:

July 15-Aug 30 = modified NHL playoffs

Sep. 15 - Free Agency
Oct. 1 - Draft

November - World Cup (single/dual city, maybe you're able to sell some tickets by this point; maybe a 3v3 format with Canada West/Ontario/Canada East, etc.)

January 2021 - start new season; hopefully as normal, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if it wasn't.