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

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

https://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-41095132-4


Looks like the NHL and NHLPA disagree on this

Makes sense as there are probably bonuses and dollars tied to this decision.

[Toonage]

This has probably been answered, but can a team activate a player late in the playoffs or do they need to be on the roster at the start?

ie: Let's say the Flames make the conference finals. It now makes more sense to play Valimaki or they have an injury at this point and want to use him. Could they do it? They're more likely activate him and worry about the expansion draft ramifications if there are potential Cup winning scenarios at play in the moment

[MrMike]

I’m sure he’ll be included in the 28 skaters. He has to play one game for him to need protection from the expansion draft. I don’t see a team going through more than 28 Skaters. That an extra 10 from your roster you ice each night.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Toonage

This has probably been answered, but can a team activate a player late in the playoffs or do they need to be on the roster at the start?

ie: Let's say the Flames make the conference finals. It now makes more sense to play Valimaki or they have an injury at this point and want to use him. Could they do it? They're more likely activate him and worry about the expansion draft ramifications if there are potential Cup winning scenarios at play in the moment

IMO Valimaki's development is much more important than an expansion draft slot

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

If he plays he needs expansion protection. I want him to play, but I assume he’d be at the bottom of the activation list for that reason.

i suppose getting to do the training camp and practice with the team will be better than nothing for his development. It's probably not worth activating him unless they are in the round of 8 with a legit shot, and actually need him. Considering the glut on the blueline with the TD acquisitions, it seems unlikely.

Originally Posted by Geeoff

https://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-41095132-4


Looks like the NHL and NHLPA disagree on this

This is an interesting question without an obvious answer. Being playoff stats kind of makes sense, because those are inherently understood that number of games you can play is subject to your team's success. I wonder if round 0 counts towards Conn Smythe consideration, should one of these teams reach the final?

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

IMO Valimaki's development is much more important than an expansion draft slot

Playoffs aren't really the best time to develop a young defenseman. If we didn't have Gustafsson and Bort, then he might be the best player available for a slot.

The risk of re-aggravating injury also isn't worth it IMO. I'm sure they'd only do it if he's fully cleared, but training at moderate speed/contact will almost certainly be safer for him than full playoff speed.

[troutman]

Some teams may not play again until December (if that is when next season begins)? Other teams may only play 3 more games between March and December.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

...This is an interesting question without an obvious answer. Being playoff stats kind of makes sense, because those are inherently understood that number of games you can play is subject to your team's success. I wonder if round 0 counts towards Conn Smythe consideration, should one of these teams reach the final?

Are early playoff performances ever much of a consideration in awarding the Conn Smythe? I doubt it. The player who wins is one who has been consistent great all the way through to the Finals, but he is also usually the biggest stand-out in the Las Round.

I don't think the play-in will factor at all into the selection criteria for the Conn Smythe.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[sureLoss]

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
Treliving says he doesn’t have any clarity on the conditional pick involved in the Neal/Lucic trade with Edmonton from last summer.

Says the league has been focused on relaunching the league and will get to issues of conditional picks down the road. #Flames

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
Treliving says he doesn’t have any clarity on the conditional pick involved in the Neal/Lucic trade with Edmonton from last summer.

Says the league has been focused on relaunching the league and will get to issues of conditional picks down the road. #Flames

It would make sense that the play in games count toward conditional picks since they're not actually part of the best of 7 playoff rounds, but who knows.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

It would make sense that the play in games count toward conditional picks since they're not actually part of the best of 7 playoff rounds, but who knows.

Still only a few games for a select few teams. I’d just pro-rate across the entire league to make it fair.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

It seems pretty clear that at least for any deal that was conditional on making the playoffs, you have to win your play-in for that condition to be satisfied, right? The purpose of that condition is to prevent a situation where you give up a potential lottery pick.

Same thing with conditions about playing X games in the playoffs, or making a particular round - if you get a pick if the team you traded with reaches the 2nd round, that should presumably be the 2nd round after the play-in round (i.e. the conference semifinal).

That just seems like a no-brainer to me. Is the league really not clarifying that point?

[Crown Royal]

Originally Posted by getbak

One of the ####ty teams in the East needs to get in to round out the 12 teams and the Habs are slightly less ####ty than the Sabres.

Actually when you look at both point percentage and goal differential I think 24 teams works out fairly well. No qualifying team is under .500 or worse than -10, and the best non-qualifier in Buffalo is -22

[chummer]

Latest Stanley Cup odds-

Vegas Golden Knights +550
Boston Bruins +550
Tampa Bay Lightning +600
Washington Capitals +800
St. Louis Blues +800
Colorado Avalanche +850
Philadelphia Flyers +1200
Dallas Stars +1500
Pittsburgh Penguins +1500
Nashville Predators +2500
Edmonton Oilers +2500
Toronto Maple Leafs +2500
Calgary Flames +3000
Winnipeg Jets +5000
Vancouver Canucks +5000
Arizona Coyotes +5000
Carolina Hurricanes +5000
New York Rangers +7500
Columbus Blue Jackets +7500
Florida Panthers +7500
New York Islanders +7500
Minnesota Wild +7500
Montreal Canadiens +10000
Chicago Blackhawks +10000

[getbak]

Time to throw down a couple of bucks on Chicago.


I'm surprised to see Vegas that far ahead of St. Louis. Is it just a bump from local betting, or are people assuming that Vegas will be one of the hubs, giving the Knights defacto home ice advantage?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

The clear bet there is on the Flyers.

[SeanCharles]

Carolina doesn’t seem like a bad bet either

[Vinny01]

Arizona and Florida are experts at playing at home in front of zero fans I don’t underestimate their ability to get up for these games.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

IMO Valimaki's development is much more important than an expansion draft slot

Yeah, and coming off an injury with no games and no ability to play AHL hockey it would seem pretty smart to leave him off for both expansion and personal development reasons.

[1qqaaz]

Blues, Avalanche, Penguins and Caps seem like decent bets to me.
I guess the central teams have to balance each other out though.