That was the consolation prize for the 3rd place teams in each division (who otherwise would have had an automatic playoff spot and played the 2nd place team in the first round) for having to play a qualifier to get into the playoffs.

My attitude, and I'd have also said this if it were the Flyers who were 3rd in the Metro, is "too bad". If the Penguins lose 3-of-5 to the Habs or the Oilers lose 3-of-5 to the Blackhawks then they don't deserve to move on and shouldn't be rewarded for it with a significant chance at the first pick. Draft where you finished in the RS.

At least there's a 50-50 shot that the Lafreniere pick goes to a Western Conference team.

Edit: The Penguins conditionally traded their first round pick in 2020 and lottery protected it even though there was very little chance of missing the playoffs under the format that was in place at the time. They fully expected to surrender that pick. Now, not only is that pick deferred to 2021, but the Penguins could possibly get Lafreniere as well.
- bmeltzer

Bill,

It seems to me that the current format was due to a couple of things:

1. The past format, where teams not in playoffs get a weighted chance at the lottery picks.
2. The timing of the draft.

1 Implied that teams losing in play-in rounds do need to get a chance to have a crack at #1. They are effectively part of the non-playoff teams.

2. Now why give them equal chance though? Why not weigh their chances by their reg season p/g? The answer is because of the blasted draft timing. At the time of conducting the draft, the losing teams in play-in were not determined. So they copped out and gave everyone an equal chance.

What they should have done is to conduct a second lottery, among the losing-playin teams, and weigh chances in reverse order of regular season p/g (once we knew that #1 pick was assigned to these teams). That would be a reconciliation of past tradition and what you were saying.

In my opinion, it’s a waste not having JVR in the crease on the top unit PP unit a minimum. Allow him to work through whatever he needs to. Right now nobody is truly screening goaltenders. Couturier and Konecny are in the area but not truly taking away their eyes.

I think Konecny should be playing understudy to Giroux on that second unit. Konecny will never be Giroux on an elite passing level but I think he could do on a Briere level. Sneaky down low, behind the net or around the goal line around the left board.
- SuperSchennBros

Briere had two things he used to do, and not just in pp. He was amazing in sneaking down there unnoticed and open. And he was very good with wraparounds. Konecny does not have that particular skill set.

Idk what you are getting at though, are you ok with the penguins potentially adding a John Tavares caliber player? That would not be good.
- ClaudeFather

Yeah I don’t want this at all lol

Say what you will about JVR, sure he's been a disappointment for being the # 2 pick in the draft, and majority of his prime years will have been spent in Toronto.
But he's closing in on 250 career goals. And will certainly score 300+ in his career. If the Flyers want to do something special in the playoffs they are going to need him being a productive contributing member of the lineup.

It's not known for sure if he's going to be scratched, but if he is what is the purpose? He didn't play a strong game against the Bruins? Ok, they are coming off a nearly 5 month layoff. If you start scratching guys who have a bad game, it's going to be an awfully thin bench.

I doubt making him a healthy scratch does anything productive, he's way beyond sending a message at this point of his career. Maybe I could understand it if they had a legit prospect who can put the puck in the net they want to play, but Bunnaman will never be more than a fringe NHL player.
- PLindbergh31

I am very sympathetic to what you say. I think JVR could be a real threat in playoffs. He is easily the best pure goal scorer we have.

But I think this is a calculated message sent to a problem child: we know what your bad tendencies are, you are showing them again, and this is a warning you need to up your game or lose your place.

It has worked this very season.

There are plenty of kids making an instant impact, Peterson makar q Hughes, the other Hughes is very very small and there were certainly people that doubted his ability to make an instant impact at the nhl level.
- ClaudeFather

The players you named were drafted in 17 and 18. They're breaking out this season, 2-3 years later. I was talking about kids being drafted and immediately stepping into the NHL.

edit: besides pettersson, he had a good season in 18-19.

Say what you will about JVR, sure he's been a disappointment for being the # 2 pick in the draft, and majority of his prime years will have been spent in Toronto.
But he's closing in on 250 career goals. And will certainly score 300+ in his career. If the Flyers want to do something special in the playoffs they are going to need him being a productive contributing member of the lineup.

It's not known for sure if he's going to be scratched, but if he is what is the purpose? He didn't play a strong game against the Bruins? Ok, they are coming off a nearly 5 month layoff. If you start scratching guys who have a bad game, it's going to be an awfully thin bench.

I doubt making him a healthy scratch does anything productive, he's way beyond sending a message at this point of his career. Maybe I could understand it if they had a legit prospect who can put the puck in the net they want to play, but Bunnaman will never be more than a fringe NHL player.
- PLindbergh31

I think AV is also sending a message to the whole team not just JVR.

These games are not elimination games and they only had four total games before the actual playoffs start.

Five months off is a long time. I am fine with other players getting a look during the round robin. I trust AV to make the right moves to help this team win. If that means removing JVR from the lineup so be it.

I am very sympathetic to what you say. I think JVR could be a real threat in playoffs. He is easily the best pure goal scorer we have.

But I think this is a calculated message sent to a problem child: we know what your bad tendencies are, you are showing them again, and this is a warning you need to up your game or lose your place.

It has worked this very season.
- PT21

I could see if there was a trend 3 or 4 bad games in a row, but it's one game after a long lay off. Doesn't make sense to me. Hard to question Vigneault at this stage though, he's pushed all the right buttons this year. Perhaps there are things going on behind the scenes fans aren't priveyed to.

Yeah I don’t want this at all lol
- arichardson22

I'm not saying I want it, and the odds are against that. I just am not as worried as some other people. Now that I'm saying this, this kid will definitely become a generational talent.

Say what you will about JVR, sure he's been a disappointment for being the # 2 pick in the draft, and majority of his prime years will have been spent in Toronto.
But he's closing in on 250 career goals. And will certainly score 300+ in his career. If the Flyers want to do something special in the playoffs they are going to need him being a productive contributing member of the lineup.

It's not known for sure if he's going to be scratched, but if he is what is the purpose? He didn't play a strong game against the Bruins? Ok, they are coming off a nearly 5 month layoff. If you start scratching guys who have a bad game, it's going to be an awfully thin bench.

I doubt making him a healthy scratch does anything productive, he's way beyond sending a message at this point of his career. Maybe I could understand it if they had a legit prospect who can put the puck in the net they want to play, but Bunnaman will never be more than a fringe NHL player.
- PLindbergh31

JVR has always been a frustrating player to watch for me. All the way back to his first stint here I used to go to practices and watch him look so disengaged from pushing himself and I don’t know how much that’s changed over the years. But that said if you look at his year end stats he always seems to end up putting up solid numbers and you can’t argue with that.

Like someone else said tho, I didn’t really miss him when he was gone. Thankfully we have some decent scoring depth now. If we had to rely on his offense more I’d be more concerned. He will bury some pucks that come his way. That’s about the best to hope for.

I'm not saying I want it, and the odds are against that. I just am not as worried as some other people. Now that I'm saying this, this kid will definitely become a generational talent.
- Ftown19125

When’s the last time a high pick didn’t turn out to be HOF level talent for the Pens? Honest question

The players you named were drafted in 17 and 18. They're breaking out this season, 2-3 years later. I was talking about kids being drafted and immediately stepping into the NHL.

edit: besides pettersson, he had a good season in 18-19.
- Ftown19125

Was just thinking off the top of my head, not going to run down the whole league but there is a solid chance that kid makes an instant impact next year

Was just thinking off the top of my head, not going to run down the whole league but there is a solid chance that kid makes an instant impact next year
- ClaudeFather

You've obviously watched him more than me, so I believe you. I'm just saying it isn't automatic that he steps in and puts up 70 points.

4:00 game. 4 months with no revenue and then they put the games on while everyone is at work.

When’s the last time a high pick didn’t turn out to be HOF level talent for the Pens? Honest question
- hereticpride

Jordan Staal comes to mind. He is still a solid player though.

edit: after looking Derrick Pouliot. It's kind of tough because they've been so good over the last decade that they don't have a lot of high picks.

You've obviously watched him more than me, so I believe you. I'm just saying it isn't automatic that he steps in and puts up 70 points.
- Ftown19125

I hear you, and he might not. I haven’t studied the kids film or anything but he is almost like a poor mans mcdavid from what I watched.

4:00 game. 4 months with no revenue and then they put the games on while everyone is at work.
- Dkos

I get your frustration to an extent. But how would you change it? There aren't enough days in the week, or ice surface available to only play at night or weekends without this whole tournament stretching way longer.

4:00 game. 4 months with no revenue and then they put the games on while everyone is at work.
- Dkos

Be thankful games are on Jesus.

4:00 game. 4 months with no revenue and then they put the games on while everyone is at work.
- Dkos

Work from home life is great.

Work from home life is great.
- arichardson22

I'm just going to watch at work.

I'm a Maryland native so I'm not sure of the stations, but I'll be driving through south jersey today while the game is on. Will I be able to listen to the game on the radio? 610am or 97.5fm? Or are these bubble games not being broadcasted on the radio? Thanks and hope everyone is staying safe and well!

EDIT: nevermind, literally just saw the Flyers website post and it's on 97.5. Wohoo!

I'm a Maryland native so I'm not sure of the stations, but I'll be driving through south jersey today while the game is on. Will I be able to listen to the game on the radio? 610am or 97.5fm? Or are these bubble games not being broadcasted on the radio? Thanks and hope everyone is staying safe and well!

EDIT: nevermind, literally just saw the Flyers website post and it's on 97.5. Wohoo!
- bmoreflyer

yeah I listened to some of the first round robin game on 97.5 I think it was.

All 8 teams that lose in the qualifying round have a 12.5% chance at the top pick.

It’s truly asinine. The lottery should have only been for the 7 teams who had ZERO chance of winning the Cup. The 8 losers in the qualifiers should have been slotted 8-15 based on regular season points percentage.
- BiggE

Yea, I can't understand that at all.

Yea, I can't understand that at all.
- MJL

This would never ever happen, but would love for the NHL to just own up to messing this up horribly and slide everyone up one draft spot. I’m sure those bottom 8 teams wouldn’t mind haha

"RELEASE jvr to THE KRAKEN!"

Yea, I can't understand that at all.
- MJL

Remember the reason why the lottery was expanded to include all teams not in playoffs. To disincentive teams from tanking, and to give teams who fought hard but did not make playoffs some chance to get a high pick.

Same reasoning applies now. If all the lower seeded teams lost in play-ins, why should they not get a chance at a lottery pick unlike previous years?