Well, if the league is running 24 teams into the playoffs they really should only allow the remaining 7 teams into the lottery.
- Queenie_5_hole

yeah, the 7 teams that miss should be the top 7 picks, as long as that is for sure, then I'd be ok if the Rangers missed

but if we miss and they still have the draft spots determined by overall points, I am gonna cut Bettman

Why should anyone care???

Eklund: Should the NYR/Hawks make it over the Sabres/Ducks? News Imminent. B@3:30
- Eklund

So, yesterday you said an announcement was going to come. Then today you say an announcement is going to come today... or tomorrow...

What's that saying about a broken clock...

From what I read, all teams that miss the playoffs will have equal chance at #1 (well if you have a #1 pick still).

Does every team win a participation ribbon?

So, yesterday you said an announcement was going to come. Then today you say an announcement is going to come today... or tomorrow...

What's that saying about a broken clock...
- iknowbest

Today is the day, my friend.

Anyone but the Hawks !

If the Rangers are out and buffalo is in it’s a total mockery. The rangers don’t play in a division with the two worst teams. It’s not sour grapes, it’s common sense. Rangers are one of the most exciting teams in the NHL, possibly the most exciting. They may not deserve to get in, but they certainly deserve to be in over buffalo
- Slimtj100

No team in 7th place in a division with 8 teams should ever be in any kind of playoff game. That would be almost as much a mockery of the sport as an expansion team in the Stanley Cup Finals in it’s inaugural season. Or a team buying up half of the Edmonton Oilers dynasty to win a Championship in the 90’s

So, yesterday you said an announcement was going to come. Then today you say an announcement is going to come today... or tomorrow...

What's that saying about a broken clock...
- iknowbest

They announced the Canada-US border closed for another month to all non essential travel. Didn’t notice hockey listed as essential. Maybe time for some lobbying Ek.

No team in 7th place in a division with 8 teams should ever be in any kind of playoff game. That would be almost as much a mockery of the sport as an expansion team in the Stanley Cup Finals in it’s inaugural season. Or a team buying up half of the Edmonton Oilers dynasty to win a Championship in the 90’s
- BringNYIhome

I couldnt believe when we bought Brian Leetch and Mike Richter from the Oilers, that was a shocker

Lebrun just said that the nhl and nhlpa are 7-10 days from announcing anything.

They announced the Canada-US border closed for another month to all non essential travel. Didn’t notice hockey listed as essential. Maybe time for some lobbying Ek.
- Canada Cup

I think they will fly over the border.

Lebrun just said that the nhl and nhlpa are 7-10 days from announcing anything.
- nigelwright275

that's insane

Side curiosity, but I am quite interested to see how fantasy leagues move on with whatever the NHL plan is. Many of those are cash leagues, including by Yahoo/etc...

I think they will fly over the border.

- Tragically Buffalo

Damn. Why didn’t the Mexicans think of that?

Lebrun just said that the nhl and nhlpa are 7-10 days from announcing anything.
- nigelwright275

Today is the day, my friend.

NEARER ONE OF THEM DESERVE IT , CHICAGO HAD TO CLIMB OVER TOO MANY TEAMS AND WERE NEVER GOING TO MAKE IT . THERE BETTER OF GETTING IN THE POOL FOR A HIGHER DRAFT PICK. IT WOULDNT BE FAIR FOR THEM TO GET IN AND PLAY A TEAM LIKE DALLAS AND PULL AN UPSET. IF THE NHL NEEDS TO GO BACK TO 68 GAMES SEE WHERE EVERYONE STOOD THEN . AND TAKE TOP 8 IN EACH CONFERENCE

Lifetime Sabres fan here.
Absolutely asinine if the Sabres get in over the Rangers.
- Jack Straw

Maybe the Sabres and Rangers could combine their rosters to make one playoff team, they can alternate home ice. That should end the mess that this is going to create.
BTW Sabres should be out....

Damn. Why didn’t the Mexicans think of that?
- Canada Cup

good one..

Maybe the Sabres and Rangers could combine their rosters to make one playoff team, they can alternate home ice. That should end the mess that this is going to create.
BTW Sabres should be out....
- Tragically Buffalo

baaaaah, I think I'd want about 4 guys on Buffalo brah

If I owned the Sabres I would decline being part of this 24-team format. Do I really want to fly in all of my players, coaches, trainers, equipment guys, put them up at a hotel for a month, pay all of the meals and travel, only to see my team eliminated almost immediately. Can we just decline and be guaranteed a top 7 pick?

baaaaah, I think I'd want about 4 guys on Buffalo brah
- jimbo83

I think it was meant to show the ridiculousness of the entire concept.

If the Rangers are out and buffalo is in it’s a total mockery. The rangers don’t play in a division with the two worst teams. It’s not sour grapes, it’s common sense. Rangers are one of the most exciting teams in the NHL, possibly the most exciting. They may not deserve to get in, but they certainly deserve to be in over buffalo
- Slimtj100

I can see you are too young to remember the Norris Division.

Consider yourself lucky.

Since the cup will have an ASTERISK let’s take the top 16, they all have the best records / points. Why not?

Boston 1 vs Rangers 16
St Louis 2 vs Winnipeg 15
Tampa 3 vs Islanders 14
Colorado 4 vs Columbus 13
Washington 5 vs Toronto 12
Philadelphia 6 vs Carolina 11
Pittsburgh 7 vs Dallas 10
Vegas 8 vs Edmonton 9

Why not lose the confront zone. If there is any Heart burn over the #16 sport between NY Rangers and Calgary, then play them down for spot.
- Tee56

I love this idea!

Lebrun basically said there were some in the media, ahem, who heard there was a call between Bettman and the team governors this weekend. So some in the media, ahem, assumed a decision or announcement was forthcoming. But Lebrun went on to say that this was a regularly scheduled call that has been ocuring every 2 weeks. Hmm, seems like if someone was connected to a bunch of sources (ie talking to NHL owners on the phone?) then they would already know that. This is what makes guys like Lebrun, Dreger, MacKenzie, Friedmann so well respected...they actually have inside info.
- Kooleus

They were all humping like something was about to happen