Topic: NHL is back! 20 of 30 teams make playoffs?

[NRevolutionR]

Hooray, the NHL is back                Go Stars!


Anyway, I heard from my local news network that 20 of 30 teams will be making the playoffs?

Does anyone know if it is true, or how it will work?

[stevey]

old

[IceCold]

I heard that too, and if it's true, well, f*ck that. It's easy enough to make the playoffs as it is; the last thing I want is sub-500 teams making the playoffs. That would be a disgrace. The reasons for doing it would probably be to attract more markets to hockey by giving them a taste of the playoffs, and of course, the playoffs is where all the money is made. The players don't even get paid during that time. So I can see why it could be implemented, but still, f*ck that.

All of the other rule changes I can stomach; I don't mind the game as it is - if they feel the incessant need to add penalty shots and widen the goals then so be it. I don't think it's necessary but w/e. And making goalie equipment smaller and stopping obstruction (assuming it's not another empty promise) are actually good rule changes.

But this I cannot accept.

[NRevolutionR]

But does anyone know how the new playoff brackets will work?

I just can't fathome it.

But maybe it's because that I am a north Texas hockey fan :/

Go Stars

[IceCold]

There would definitely be byes involved. And probably all in the first round, so the top 2 teams from each conference wouldn't play the first round. I don't know, but whatever it is, if it happens, it will be bullsh!t.

[Ian Sane]

Personally I feel shootouts are more objectionable.  20 teams is a lot but this is a 30 team league.  That's still only two thirds.  From a business standpoint it makes sense.  People don't come to games when their team has no chance.  Now every team has the potential to make the playoffs so it's not the same crappy teams never making it.  Besides it's not like team 20 has a shot at winning the cup.  If they can survive the playoffs from position 20 they deserve the cup.

Shootouts on the other hand are really stupid because they don't prove squat.  All they prove is which goalie is playing better that night.  It's not a team effort to win a shootout.  It's practically fluke.  I don't mind a tie.  At least then the two teams played hard through some extra time and were evenly matched enough to draw.  Winning a game on a shootout is a hollow victory.  I've seen enough Olympic medals lost due to stupid shootouts.  At least they won't use that in the playoffs.  I will turn the NHL off forever the day I see the Stanley Cup be awarded by shootout.

I like how they're ditching the red line.  It's wasn't so bad before since I watch an offensive team like the Canucks but while watching some playoff games between other teams it was like nothing but offside calls.  

[Guitar Smasher]

Shootouts are only in the regular season.

[nickmitch]

. . .and in Mighty Ducks.

[Nile Boogie]

Hockey is that sport that the Philadelphia Flyers suck at playing, right?

[IceCold]

Quote
Originally posted by: Nile Boogie
Hockey is that sport that the Philadelphia Flyers suck at playing, right?

Uh, not really. They made the Conference Finals last time but lost in the final game to the Lightning (eventual Cup winner)  

[Ian Sane]

At least the Flyers have won the cup before.  The Canucks never have.  I still get upset when I see footage of the 94 finals.

[IceCold]

The Vancouver Millionaires did in 1915, Ian, and at least I can cling onto that until the Canucks finally win it in overtime in Game 7 against the Leafs in GM Place

I can dream, can't I?  

[nickmitch]

Not if your dreams get eaten by a drowzee!

[Ian Sane]

Nothing would give me more pleasure than to see the Canucks beat the Leafs for the Stanley Cup.  You just KNOW that CBC would be blatantly rooting for the Leafs (they always do, even over the Habs) and it would be so great to see that get thrown in their face.  Don Cherry would have a fit.

CBC needs to realize that the only reason Toronto gets cheered over the home team in other Canadian cities is because people who moved from Ontario are at the game.  I've never met anyone born in BC, Alberta or Quebec who doesn't hate the Leafs with a passion.

[couchmonkey]

Ha ha, I was born in Alberta I don't hate the Leafs with a passion, but I'm no fan either.  
I don't like shootouts either, I see no problem with the current system, though maybe they think shootouts are more climactic.  20 teams in the cup seems silly but I can probably live with it, depends on how it's implemented.

[Ian Sane]

The Vancouver Canucks have resigned Markus Nasland.  Thank God.  I can now rest easy.  Anybody else they sign now is just gravy.

The signing frenzy has been really neat with all sorts of teams you wouldn't normally expect like Florida and Edmonton signing big names.  It looks like every team is going to have some big stars and almost all of them are starting to look like playoff contenders.  The way things are going 20 teams in the playoffs will be no big deal because all the teams will be pretty good.  

[IceCold]

Ah sh!t Ian...you stole my post

I was going to post it yesterday when I heard it on TSN, but it was still a rumour, albeit one that was most probably true. Then I log on today, and I see that you've done it already (damn time difference)

Anyway, yea this is great news - now they have to concentrate on signing the RFAs; it won't be too hard - I don't think any of them will provide any difficulty. And Bertuzzi will be back, if not at the beginning of the season, then only a few games in. The NHL is not in a position to suspend him for a long period; it's the end of a lockout and they know he is a money making player. So it might be a token suspension of 7 days or w/e, but not too long.

Pronger signed in Edmonton?!? WOW! I guess what Bettman has been advertising is actually true; the small market teams have a much better chance of keeping stars now. Also, Modano looks like he's going to sign back to Dallas - I really thought he would move.

Anyway, I can't keep up with this frenzy; I'll really have to look hard at the rosters once the dust settles.

EDIT:

Iginla re-signs with Flames - 3yrs, $20M (surprised they got him for less than maximum - guess he wanted to stay here - w/e)

Kovalev re-signs with Canadiens - 4 yrs, $18M (WOW what a waste! His playoff performance will NOT happen again, and 4 years?)

Penguins sign Sergei Gonchar - 5 yrs, $25M (Damn - the Penguins are going to tear it up this season)

More big signings on the way

[Ian Sane]

"Then I log on today, and I see that you've done it already (damn time difference)"

Time difference?  What are you in Hawaii or something?

[vudu]

Alberta.  It's in his profile.

I don't like hockey.

[Ian Sane]

"I don't like hockey"

Then why are you here?

[IceCold]

Haha - no - Calgary. I don't think there are many people in Hawaii that follow hockey, but I may be wrong.

Anyway, I meant that you beat me to it this morning because you are 1 hour behind. Which doesn't make ANY sense at all, because then I should have posted it first today because of the time difference. Yes...

[Ian Sane]

"I meant that you beat me to it this morning because you are 1 hour behind. Which doesn't make ANY sense at all, because then I should have posted it first today because of the time difference."

That's what I was thinking.  I thought maybe you were on vacation or something.

I did have one advantage though in that the local radio stations were all talking about it so I didn't have to look at TSN to find out.

According to Sportsnet Vancouver traded away Sopel.  With him and Malik out that leaves some more cap room and need of defensemen.  There is a certain unrectricted d-man that would take up some cap room that's is talking with Vancouver as well as some other teams.

Personally I'm glad to be rid of Sopel.  The only time he ever did anything great was when he was recovering from his own f*ck up.  The guy coughed up the puck like a cat with a hairball.

[IceCold]

"Personally I'm glad to be rid of Sopel. The only time he ever did anything great was when he was recovering from his own f*ck up. The guy coughed up the puck like a cat with a hairball. "

I agree with you fully. He was pretty damn lucky to be paired up with Ohlund, who covered up for him most of the time when he joined the rush without thinking, or gave up the puck time after time, or didn't cover his man well, and the list goes on and on. That was the only reason that he was able to put up some points - he didn't play defense thoroughly at all and he just concentrated on getting the points. Ohlund, on the other hand, even AFTER having to cover up for Sopel, AND playing more minutes and playing on the PK, still managed to rack up nearly the same amount of points. But many people didn't understand this, and they jumped on the Sopel bandwagon because he had a few more points. I tell you, wherever he goes now, I wish him luck, because he won't be able to do what he did anymore, that's for sure.

[Ian Sane]

"Ohlund, on the other hand, even AFTER having to cover up for Sopel, AND playing more minutes and playing on the PK, still managed to rack up nearly the same amount of points."

Ohlund is the Canucks' best kept secret.  He should be the Vancouver d-man that gets all the attention instead of Jovo.  Not that I don't like Jovo but Ohlund is Mr. Dependable.  Of all the Canucks he's the one I trust the most to deliver the goods.  Everybody has off nights but the only time I see Ohlund have an off night is when the whole damn team has an off night.

According to TSN however Vancouver isn't one of the choices for Neidermeyer anymore so I wonder what they're going to do to fill up their defense.  They've lost two d-man I really don't care much about but they still need someone in those slots.

[IceCold]

And Ohlund stayed at plus-13 even with playing so much and beng linemates with Sopel. A damn shame that he didn't get selected for the All Star Break over Filip Kuba?? It was painfully obvious that he was selected just because Minnesota was hosting the All Star Break, and he was a member of the Wild. That's no excuse...

And I just found out that the Bertuzzi decision will be made sometime this week - place your bets here.

I would love to have Niedermayer, but I doubt we'll get him, and this TSN report is probably true. His agent said that he would decide by Thursday; we'll see. The Canucks have, let's see, Ohlund, Jovanovski, Salo, and Bryan Allen (I think he's still there). That's pretty good, but we need just one more solid D man. I wasn't holding my breath for Niedermayer, but I badly wanted either Aucoin (really great, and underrated too) or Gonchar (a bit weak on D) or Foote. Hatcher maybe. But now that all of the really top end defensemen have signed, I don't know. Can you think of another defenseman out there that could come in? That's the only real concern for me.

Cloutier isn't really a concern for me - I thought he was playing really well in last year's playoffs (no easy goals) until he got hurt. He was more composed and didn't let the strategy of crashing the net by the Flames really bother him. I say he should get another chance at the playoffs; let's see what he can do. Do you think another goalie is needed?


Forsberg signed with Philly 2 yrs, 10.7 million - lucky bastards (you should be happy Nile Boogie). First, they got him for a bargain and half. Then they only got him for 2 years - perfect because he isn't growing any younger. The only problem is his injuries. I thought he wanted to play with Naslund, but so much for that.