I think you are way off but everyone is entitled to an opinion.


On you posting above about Bettman's thought of finishing the season.
I think when players find out they will need to spend the next 2-3 months in a hotel room away from families is not going to go over well.

On top of that the hotel staff and food preparation still might be infected.

If they do intend to bring in a format then make it a one week 24 team bracket single gam elimination that lasts for about a week to ten days.
- VANTEL

NHL players are greedy, they won't like it but they like their paychecks more so they'll do it.

Gary Bettman says the NHL will have to be “flexible and agile” as it attempts to complete its season amid the COVID-19 pandemic and indicated that every team on the playoff bubble will be granted new life in whatever return-to-play format is selected.

Appearing Wednesday morning for an interview on Fox Business Network, the NHL commissioner said that teams have been lobbying the league’s head office since the season was paused on March 12 with different ideas about how a potential resumption should look.

“There are at least seven teams that were on the bubble of making the playoffs and not all of the teams had played the same number of games,” said Bettman. “Whatever we do to come back … we’re going to have to do something (fair): Whether it’s complete the regular
season in whole or in part, whether or not it’s expanded playoffs, we’re going to have to do something that’s fair and has integrity.

“That’s going to be very important no matter what it is we do and we’re considering all of the alternatives. And nothing has been ruled in and nothing has been ruled out.”

NHL focused on being ready to resume season at first opportunity

Among the ideas that have been discussed are an expanded, 24-team playoff format that would include a best-of-three, play-in round featuring all of the teams that were still battling for a playoff spot when the season was paused.

The Islanders, Rangers and Panthers were all within three points of an Eastern Conference wild-card spot through play on March 11, while the Canucks, Wild and Coyotes were each within four in the Western Conference.

And, if you accounted for points percentage because of a different number of games played, there would be a reordering of playoff qualifiers in a traditional 16-team format.

Several high-profile players, including Connor McDavid, have expressed a desire to see the regular season completed before any playoff tournament began. There were 189 total games left on the schedule — anywhere from 11 to 14 per team — when the novel coronavirus brought the season to a screeching halt.

Having regular season or exhibition games would help get everyone back up to speed after a long layoff. The majority of NHL players haven’t been able to skate during the pause and the league has extended its self-quarantine period through April 30.

After discussions with the NHL Players’ Association, Bettman believes they’ll need training camps lasting two to three weeks before any games can be played. And the commissioner already anticipates that any resumption of play will require games in July and/or August — months where the league has never previously played.

“We believe that we can be fairly flexible in terms of the calendar,” said Bettman. “My guess at this point is we’re probably going to be playing into the summer, which is something that we can certainly do.”

Bettman, NHL exploring every option for resuming or canceling season

He also acknowledged that neutral sites might be required for games because some areas of the continent are being hit harder than others by COVID-19.

“We have been considering all of the alternatives, as I’ve indicated, not just in terms of the structure of play but where we actually do it,” said Bettman.

“Because we are all over North America: Canada and the United States and lots of different locations, and not all of them may be in the same condition in terms of the coronavirus.

“So we’ve been exploring the possibility of some neutral sites.”

Under the circumstances, the NHL is willing to do just about anything possible to find a way to award the Stanley Cup.
- LeftCoaster

Greedy, stupid and out of touch with reality.

Several high-profile players, including Connor McDavid, have expressed a desire to see the regular season completed before any playoff tournament began. There were 189 total games left on the schedule — anywhere from 11 to 14 per team — when the novel coronavirus brought the season to a screeching halt.

Having regular season or exhibition games would help get everyone back up to speed after a long layoff. The majority of NHL players haven’t been able to skate during the pause and the league has extended its self-quarantine period through April 30.

After discussions with the NHL Players’ Association, Bettman believes they’ll need training camps lasting two to three weeks before any games can be played. And the commissioner already anticipates that any resumption of play will require games in July and/or August — months where the league has never previously played.

“We believe that we can be fairly flexible in terms of the calendar,” said Bettman. “My guess at this point is we’re probably going to be playing into the summer, which is something that we can certainly do.”


- LeftCoaster

Canada Cup games were played in late August and early September of 1987. Lots of people watched that. Lots will watch Stanley Cup playoffs in August as well. Maybe not as many as if they had played in the spring, but NHL owners seem to have a habit of taking every dollar they can get their hands on. That's usually their guiding principal.

I can understand top teams being at the top of the cap but for the love of God I cannot understand Benning continually being at the top of the cap for a bottom feeder team. They've made huge strides this year but now he has no flexibility with his cap situation being what it is.

I mean, no one could've predicted this, but, the team is gonna suffer from it if the cap is flat or actually goes down. Way too many non performers getting paid too much money.
- LeftCoaster

Spot on but the flat earther's/no cap problem crowd are not going to like it.

Spot on but the flat earther's/no cap problem crowd are not going to like it.
- Marwood

Very British of you

We are bottom feeders remember
- VANTEL

Through most of Benning's tenure, yes.

NHL players are greedy, they won't like it but they like their paychecks more so they'll do it.
- LeftCoaster

They need to pay back 600 million of losses . The world has changed . They can either find another job that pays them 6 mil a year elsewhere or accept a 4 million dollar job here.

They need to pay back 600 million of losses . The world has changed . They can either find another job that pays them 6 mil a year elsewhere or accept a 4 million dollar job here.
- VANTEL

I think they'll be convinced to do anything that'll increase NHL revenue which will ultimately help their cause with reducing their checks as little as possible.

Through most of Benning's tenure, yes.
- Marwood

New coach , new GM , new President and old players usually doesn't equate to success.

Spot on but the flat earther's/no cap problem crowd are not going to like it.
- Marwood

I will still bet you any amount you want they make the cap on opening day.

I will still bet you any amount you want they make the cap on opening day.
- VANTEL

you're so clueless it's not even funny, they have to make the cap, it's in the rules. The problem is he won't be able to ice the best team possible because he had to let Markstrom, Tanev and Toffoli go because he has to make the cap. When you let your best players walk because you have too much money spent on bottom six players you have cap issues. Just because you make the cap number doesn't mean you don't have cap issues

Sutter - 4.375 million
Beagle - 3 million
Roussel - 3 million
Eriksson - 6 million
Baertschi - 3.375 million

~20 million dollars that could be better spent on Markstrom and Toffoli

you're so clueless it's not even funny, they have to make the cap, it's in the rules. The problem is he won't be able to ice the best team possible because he had to let Markstrom, Tanev and Toffoli go because he has to make the cap. When you let your best players walk because you have too much money spent on bottom six players you have cap issues. Just because you make the cap number doesn't mean you don't have cap issues
- LeftCoaster

Speaking of clueless you think that Canucks are the only team that will face this issue. Deal with it Fatty there are 24 teams that will have to shuffle things . That is what happens when you tell a team the cap is going up 6 mil one month and the next month say oops we have to take that away now.

Next month when they sign Tryamkin to a 1.5 mil deal and then later let Tanev walk will send you and Marwood to the top of the mountain screaming at Benning and the Canucks . That is not bulletin board material here because every day you both scream at Benning.

Sutter - 4.375 million
Beagle - 3 million
Roussel - 3 million
Eriksson - 6 million
Baertschi - 3.375 million

~20 million dollars that could be better spent on Markstrom and Toffoli
- LeftCoaster

Sutter - 4.375 million - Injuries made this deal bad, but at the time it was good. Nobody could have guessed Gaudette would surpass him so quickly.
Beagle - 3 million - Bad contract, not a huge cap hit.
Roussel - 3 million - his first year he was well worth the money, would have been again this year, but that injury is hard to come back from.
Eriksson - 6 million - terrible contract, every team has one. Not defending Benning, but LE came in as a top goal scorer and then just stopped caring.
Baertschi - 3.375 million - It is actually a good contract, considering his ppg leading in to it. He got passed on the depth charts quicker than we though. Only one more year on it though.

Speaking of clueless you think that Canucks are the only team that will face this issue. Deal with it Fatty there are 24 teams that will have to shuffle things . That is what happens when you tell a team the cap is going up 6 mil one month and the next month say oops we have to take that away now.

Next month when they sign Tryamkin to a 1.5 mil deal and then later let Tanev walk will send you and Marwood to the top of the mountain screaming at Benning and the Canucks . That is not bulletin board material here because every day you both scream at Benning.
- VANTEL

Another deflection, who gives a flying (frank) what other teams have to deal with, Benning defenders continually do this. "well other teams are in trouble so it's ok if we are".....what kind of (frank)in argument is this



PS: don't take this personal, just bustin balls

Sutter - 4.375 million - Injuries made this deal bad, but at the time it was good. Nobody could have guessed Gaudette would surpass him so quickly.
Beagle - 3 million - Bad contract, not a huge cap hit.
Roussel - 3 million - his first year he was well worth the money, would have been again this year, but that injury is hard to come back from.
Eriksson - 6 million - terrible contract, every team has one. Not defending Benning, but LE came in as a top goal scorer and then just stopped caring.
Baertschi - 3.375 million - It is actually a good contract, considering his ppg leading in to it. He got passed on the depth charts quicker than we though. Only one more year on it though.
- Retinalz

The man has no foresight, he's continually grasping at straws trying to be competitive. When he finally gets competitive he's backed himself into a corner with his poor spending.

But hey...his drafting has been excellent

Sutter - 4.375 million - Injuries made this deal bad, but at the time it was good. Nobody could have guessed Gaudette would surpass him so quickly.
Beagle - 3 million - Bad contract, not a huge cap hit.
Roussel - 3 million - his first year he was well worth the money, would have been again this year, but that injury is hard to come back from.
Eriksson - 6 million - terrible contract, every team has one. Not defending Benning, but LE came in as a top goal scorer and then just stopped caring.
Baertschi - 3.375 million - It is actually a good contract, considering his ppg leading in to it. He got passed on the depth charts quicker than we though. Only one more year on it though.
- Retinalz

This is the worst take ever. None of those contracts have provided good value, from day 1 that they were signed, and plenty of people said so on day one, so don't give us this "nobody could have imagined it". You sound just like a certain orange man south of the border.

This is the worst take ever. None of those contracts have provided good value, from day 1 that they were signed, and plenty of people said so on day one, so don't give us this "nobody could have imagined it". You sound just like a certain orange man south of the border.
- 1970vintage

Another deflection, who gives a flying (frank) what other teams have to deal with, Benning defenders continually do this. "well other teams are in trouble so it's ok if we are".....what kind of (frank)in argument is this



PS: don't take this personal, just bustin balls
- LeftCoaster

This is my favourite excuse. "Well Benning has herpes so I might as well have it too".

Another deflection, who gives a flying (frank) what other teams have to deal with, Benning defenders continually do this. "well other teams are in trouble so it's ok if we are".....what kind of (frank)in argument is this



PS: don't take this personal, just bustin balls
- LeftCoaster

I don't take it personal at all. You guys went through it with my Sedins schtick and I know whats going on with your Benning schtick.

It creates talk , I know the personalities of this group now after years of arguing

I will still bet you any amount you want they make the cap on opening day.
- VANTEL

They will and always will but you continue to miss the point.

Alberta should just separate, better for everyone.
- Marwood

Agree...we've carried BC and Quebec long enough.

Gary Bettman says the NHL will have to be “flexible and agile” as it attempts to complete its season amid the COVID-19 pandemic and indicated that every team on the playoff bubble will be granted new life in whatever return-to-play format is selected.

Appearing Wednesday morning for an interview on Fox Business Network, the NHL commissioner said that teams have been lobbying the league’s head office since the season was paused on March 12 with different ideas about how a potential resumption should look.

“There are at least seven teams that were on the bubble of making the playoffs and not all of the teams had played the same number of games,” said Bettman. “Whatever we do to come back … we’re going to have to do something (fair): Whether it’s complete the regular
season in whole or in part, whether or not it’s expanded playoffs, we’re going to have to do something that’s fair and has integrity.

“That’s going to be very important no matter what it is we do and we’re considering all of the alternatives. And nothing has been ruled in and nothing has been ruled out.”

NHL focused on being ready to resume season at first opportunity

Among the ideas that have been discussed are an expanded, 24-team playoff format that would include a best-of-three, play-in round featuring all of the teams that were still battling for a playoff spot when the season was paused.

The Islanders, Rangers and Panthers were all within three points of an Eastern Conference wild-card spot through play on March 11, while the Canucks, Wild and Coyotes were each within four in the Western Conference.

And, if you accounted for points percentage because of a different number of games played, there would be a reordering of playoff qualifiers in a traditional 16-team format.

Several high-profile players, including Connor McDavid, have expressed a desire to see the regular season completed before any playoff tournament began. There were 189 total games left on the schedule — anywhere from 11 to 14 per team — when the novel coronavirus brought the season to a screeching halt.

Having regular season or exhibition games would help get everyone back up to speed after a long layoff. The majority of NHL players haven’t been able to skate during the pause and the league has extended its self-quarantine period through April 30.

After discussions with the NHL Players’ Association, Bettman believes they’ll need training camps lasting two to three weeks before any games can be played. And the commissioner already anticipates that any resumption of play will require games in July and/or August — months where the league has never previously played.

“We believe that we can be fairly flexible in terms of the calendar,” said Bettman. “My guess at this point is we’re probably going to be playing into the summer, which is something that we can certainly do.”

Bettman, NHL exploring every option for resuming or canceling season

He also acknowledged that neutral sites might be required for games because some areas of the continent are being hit harder than others by COVID-19.

“We have been considering all of the alternatives, as I’ve indicated, not just in terms of the structure of play but where we actually do it,” said Bettman.

“Because we are all over North America: Canada and the United States and lots of different locations, and not all of them may be in the same condition in terms of the coronavirus.

“So we’ve been exploring the possibility of some neutral sites.”

Under the circumstances, the NHL is willing to do just about anything possible to find a way to award the Stanley Cup.
- LeftCoaster

This is the worst take ever. None of those contracts have provided good value, from day 1 that they were signed, and plenty of people said so on day one, so don't give us this "nobody could have imagined it". You sound just like a certain orange man south of the border.
- 1970vintage

Sven was a good trade and had value at first. Extending his was stupid though which I pointed out over and over before the signing , just like I am doing with Tanev and Jake.

I like both players but time to get some value for Jake and Tanev doesn't play enough games a year to get a big contract with term

Another deflection, who gives a flying (frank) what other teams have to deal with, Benning defenders continually do this. "well other teams are in trouble so it's ok if we are".....what kind of (frank)in argument is this



PS: don't take this personal, just bustin balls
- LeftCoaster