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

[transplant99]

Hockey is serious business!

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by getbak

That's what I'm afraid of. The Oilers seem to alway have a hot start and the Flames sputter out of the gate. This will basically be a new season.

Pretty much. By the time Gio and the other slow starters get their legs under them, the first series will be over. Meanwhile the Oilers always seem to come out of the gates quickly as who wants to face McDavid's speed in the opening round when your defensemen are still finding their way?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Pretty much. By the time Gio and the other slow starters get their legs under them, the first series will be over. Meanwhile the Oilers always seem to come out of the gates quickly as who wants to face McDavid's speed in the opening round when your defensemen are still finding their way?

I kind of get the feeling this is the reason some don't want the league to finish this season.

I get it, that would suck.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Pretty much. By the time Gio and the other slow starters get their legs under them, the first series will be over. Meanwhile the Oilers always seem to come out of the gates quickly as who wants to face McDavid's speed in the opening round when your defensemen are still finding their way?

If you are that sure, it sounds like there is easy money to be made.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by keenan87

Oilers winning would suck.

As for the Flames, at the end of the day... if they win the cup, great. If not, I really hope there are major changes during the off-season.

I will be pretty annoyed if they somehow make the third round of the playoffs and the GM decides he wants to give the same core of guys another shot next year. I think the previous playoffs and most of this season is a bigger sample size than a modified playoff format.

In other words, the Flames ####ting the bed in the playoffs should not lead to excuses because of the modified circumstances. Every team will be dealing with something similar.

You would be annoyed if they take out St. Louis in a 7 game series lol. Why am I not surprised

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by dino7c

You would be annoyed if they take out St. Louis in a 7 game series lol. Why am I not surprised

Yeah, I would be because the Blues would have most likely kicked the Flames ass if things didn't stop. Getting a few lucky wins in a modified playoffs doesnt mean much.

Its okay, you can continue to stick your head in the GMs butt and appreciate mediocrity. Why am I not surprised.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by keenan87

Yeah, I would be because the Blues would have most likely kicked the Flames ass if things didn't stop. Getting a few lucky wins in a modified playoffs doesnt mean much.

Its okay, you can continue to stick your head in the GMs butt and appreciate mediocrity. Why am I not surprised.

So if the Flames win...it's "lucky"?

And its not a modified playoff. In fact it could be the most wins ever to claim the cup.

Im not sure how a team could go to the semi finals and a "fan" of the team actually be upset by that.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Most of us are excited about the prospect of having hockey to watch, and a couple of folks are already griping.

“It’s a sham!” “McDavid will be the only guy who is ready!” “I will be pissed off if the Flames win a couple of rounds!”


How about this? Players will be entering the playoffs healthy and well rested, not all dinged up from a season worth of grind! Could be the best playoffs ever!

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

How about this? Players will be entering the playoffs healthy and well rested, not all dinged up from a season worth of grind! Could be the best playoffs ever!

I am willing to bet some of them already have their summer beer bellies on.

It will actually be an interesting measure of character to see which players stayed in shape the best over the past ~3 months.

[troutman]

Be honest - if a team you don't like wins this tournament, this forum does not have a font big enough for the Asterisk you will attach to it. That's just the human nature of sports fandom.

I hope the tournament is as fair as can be, so the winner is not always tainted.

[Jordan!]

Originally Posted by troutman

Be honest - if a team you don't like wins this tournament, this forum does not have a font big enough for the Asterisk you will attach to it. That's just the human nature of sports fandom.

I hope the tournament is as fair as can be, so the winner is not always tainted.

This is so stupid..

24 teams with an equal chance to win. The best team will win period

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by troutman

Be honest - if a team you don't like wins this tournament, this forum does not have a font big enough for the Asterisk you will attach to it. That's just the human nature of sports fandom.

I hope the tournament is as fair as can be, so the winner is not always tainted.

I just dont understand the asterik thing.

Like....why?

Teams will still need to win at least 16 games to claim the cup. Back in the day you needed to win 8. Should all those be considered tainted as well?

This regular season has been longer than 2 other fairly recent ones that crowned winners. Should those not count any longer?

There is absolutely zero things that this has changed other than a pandemic that could never have had a contingency plan in place for it.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Jordan!

This is so stupid..

24 teams with an equal chance to win. The best team will win period

So if Arizona won, you would conclude they are the best team in the NHL, and not the benefactor of some very unusual circumstances?

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by troutman

Be honest - if a team you don't like wins this tournament, this forum does not have a font big enough for the Asterisk you will attach to it. That's just the human nature of sports fandom.

I hope the tournament is as fair as can be, so the winner is not always tainted.

Agree with the last sentence of course.

I don’t necessarily see it the same for that first part. Other lockout shortened seasons do not get asterisks.

I accept the reality that the world is different. The proposed format rewards the top teams, protects the teams that were out if it by excluding them, and gives a fighting chance to the teams that still had a shot. Then it’s a normal 4 round, 16 win path to the Cup, with a level playing field

There is definitely room for them to botch calls and end up with the usual type of asterisks (Dallas, Tampa Bay in the finals, or the 5 minute major for the Pavelski face plant - although it didn’t end up in a Cup win, Vegas had as good a shot as anyone)

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by transplant99

If you are that sure, it sounds like there is easy money to be made.

Maybe the fact that the Flames haven't won a season opening game for a decade has me a little jaded.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Maybe the fact that the Flames haven't won a season opening game for a decade has me a little jaded.

OK...but not sure how that has any bearing on a playoff opening series?

[Matty81]

I think they should do it... will be entertaining as heck and I have no issues with them trying to make money.

I don't think the winner should get the Stanley Cup and I don't think they should ever do a 24 team format again as it is nothing more than a cash grab under ordinary circumstance. This is not a proper SCFs based on a full regular season. Hand out a trophy but maintain integrity of the cup. Seeing the oilers win the cup after a mini tourney with them having home ice for the every game and no fans watching would probably finish me on hockey.

Also even now I think 24 teams is BS. Arbitrarily drawing the line at 24 is no better than drawing it at 16. Either way it is a line in the sand so why 24? Just go with 16 and get rid of the byes and any other advantages like host cities being NHL sites. Neutral site 16 teams. Pick a city whose team didnt qualify so u have an NHL rink but nobody sleeping in their own beds and getting their own dressing room boards and ice.

Flames get screwed here imo. They made the playoffs based on games played and winning % and points just like the top 8 but they have to play a an extra round and a team in the jets that didn't qualify based on games played

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by troutman

Be honest - if a team you don't like wins this tournament, this forum does not have a font big enough for the Asterisk you will attach to it. That's just the human nature of sports fandom.

I hope the tournament is as fair as can be, so the winner is not always tainted.

Seeing there's a possibility that near certain non-playoff teams like the Habs and Hawks can win the whole thing it's a given this the winner of this tournament will likely have an asterisk next to it. It's not a traditional NHL playoffs in that teams come in cold and will not be afforded a few games to get in game shape or up to speed. It's likely there will be several upsets and you can make a good case that the teams with byes will be at a disadvantage playing their first game in months against an opponent fresh off a series. There's nothing about this tournament that relates to a typical NHL season and playoffs as it's more akin to a World Cup of Hockey than NHL playoffs so I think regardless of what team wins they deserve an asterisk next to them.

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by troutman

So if Arizona won, you would conclude they are the best team in the NHL, and not the benefactor of some very unusual circumstances?

... That is kind of how it has always worked. If you win the Stanley Cup, you are the best team that year. It doesn't mean you necessarily have the best team, but you performed when it mattered. See: Tampa Bay vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, 2019.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Matty81

I think they should do it... will be entertaining as heck and I have no issues with them trying to make money.

I don't think the winner should get the Stanley Cup and I don't think they should ever do a 24 team format again as it is nothing more than a cash grab under ordinary circumstance. This is not a proper SCFs based on a full regular season. Hand out a trophy but maintain integrity of the cup. Seeing the oilers win the cup after a mini tourney with them having home ice for the every game and no fans watching would probably finish me on hockey.

Also even now I think 24 teams is BS. Arbitrarily drawing the line at 24 is no better than drawing it at 16. Either way it is a line in the sand so why 24? Just go with 16 and get rid of the byes and any other advantages like host cities being NHL sites. Neutral site 16 teams. Pick a city whose team didnt qualify so u have an NHL rink but nobody sleeping in their own beds and getting their own dressing room boards and ice.

Flames get screwed here imo. They made the playoffs based on games played and winning % and points just like the top 8 but they have to play a an extra round and a team in the jets that didn't qualify based on games played

I definitely agree on 24 teams possibly screwing some teams.

Looking at the standings, there are really 4 wild card teams in the west and 5 in the east that are still in it for the 2 slots on each side

Too bad there are 5 in the east because it would be easier logistically to add in 4 more teams in total (2 east, 2 west) and then sort things out