So you play 82 games. You get 99 points. You finish in 7th. And then you lose two quick games and the whole season is over? Sorry. I will never be in favour of that. You deserve a 7 game series and the opportunity to climb out of an 0-2 hole.

For those who want the drama of a play-in...well we got that in the final week of the season with Wash, Detroit, Pitt...all going down to the wire. Wash won 3 in a row and edged the others out. That was the drama.
- HockeyBuzzed

Don’t lose to the 9/10 place team then…

Don’t lose to the 9/10 place team then…
- Feds91Stammer

Hockey is highly unpredictable in a single game. But over a 7 game series the better team typically wins. A flippant comment about don't lose to a 9/10 team can go the other way too...you had 82 games, try to finish better than 9/10 if you want to make the playoffs. See. We can go in circles all day.

Hockey is highly unpredictable in a single game. But over a 7 game series the better team typically wins. A flippant comment about don't lose to a 9/10 team can go the other way too...you had 82 games, try to finish better than 9/10 if you want to make the playoffs. See. We can go in circles all day.
- HockeyBuzzed

Okay just stick to the boring way things are now. And then we can all criticize Bettman for the game struggling to grow and enjoy the next lockout.

Okay just stick to the boring way things are now. And then we can all criticize Bettman for the game struggling to grow and enjoy the next lockout.
- Feds91Stammer

There are so many other ways to make the NHL more appealing. Changing the playoff structure to some gimmick is low on the list for me.

Start by marketing the right personalities, not just the top players. Fans are tired of the predictable answers from every superstar. But then you have really outspoken, interesting players that are unknown outside of their local markets.

Partner with the players to mic up more guys. Imagine an adults only broadcast where you could select which player to "listen" to. LA versus Florida. I'm tuning in to listen to Drew Doughty trashtalk Tkachuk all game.

Shorten the preseason. Scrap the allstar game.

Imagine if the NHL selected a fan each game to take the first 2 minutes of warmup. Like a season ticket holder lottery. Or have more celebrity deals like Justin Bieber in a Leafs warmup. Encourage more open practices for fans.

So many ways to market the game without altering the playoff format.

There are so many other ways to make the NHL more appealing. Changing the playoff structure to some gimmick is low on the list for me.

Start by marketing the right personalities, not just the top players. Fans are tired of the predictable answers from every superstar. But then you have really outspoken, interesting players that are unknown outside of their local markets.

Partner with the players to mic up more guys. Imagine an adults only broadcast where you could select which player to "listen" to. LA versus Florida. I'm tuning in to listen to Drew Doughty trashtalk Tkachuk all game.

Shorten the preseason. Scrap the allstar game.

Imagine if the NHL selected a fan each game to take the first 2 minutes of warmup. Like a season ticket holder lottery. Or have more celebrity deals like Justin Bieber in a Leafs warmup. Encourage more open practices for fans.

So many ways to market the game without altering the playoff format.
- HockeyBuzzed

OR, make games able to be watched on television and be able to choose your market, if you so desire...... All of the candy hand-outs are nice, but if a perspective fan can't watch their home team, what's the use?

Wholly agree w/pre-season & AS game......

Am also a fan of lower SCPO rounds going back to 5 games potentially. Only having 5 games puts a ton of pressure on teams to crank it up early.

There's a ton more that can be done, SCPO modification should be re-looked, IMO.

Somehow the NHL has to get away from the perception that the game is only for northerners (I hear it around here all the time despite the fact that we have the Charlotte Checkers, Greenville, etc... around here). It's getting better, but it's taking a VERY long time to adjust the perceptions.....

OR, make games able to be watched on television and be able to choose your market, if you so desire...... All of the candy hand-outs are nice, but if a perspective fan can't watch their home team, what's the use?

Wholly agree w/pre-season & AS game......

Am also a fan of lower SCPO rounds going back to 5 games potentially. Only having 5 games puts a ton of pressure on teams to crank it up early.

There's a ton more that can be done, SCPO modification should be re-looked, IMO.

Somehow the NHL has to get away from the perception that the game is only for northerners (I hear it around here all the time despite the fact that we have the Charlotte Checkers, Greenville, etc... around here). It's getting better, but it's taking a VERY long time to adjust the perceptions.....
- mcmastermike1968

A lot of it is the youth hockey programs. It’s terrible here in the Greenville area compared to Tampa or Ft Myers

OR, make games able to be watched on television and be able to choose your market, if you so desire...... All of the candy hand-outs are nice, but if a perspective fan can't watch their home team, what's the use?

Wholly agree w/pre-season & AS game......

Am also a fan of lower SCPO rounds going back to 5 games potentially. Only having 5 games puts a ton of pressure on teams to crank it up early.

There's a ton more that can be done, SCPO modification should be re-looked, IMO.

Somehow the NHL has to get away from the perception that the game is only for northerners (I hear it around here all the time despite the fact that we have the Charlotte Checkers, Greenville, etc... around here). It's getting better, but it's taking a VERY long time to adjust the perceptions.....
- mcmastermike1968

This year in round 1...Boston goes up 3-1 on Toronto. If best of 5, that series is done. Instead, Toronto storms back, wins 2 in a row, forced game 7, which Boston wins in overtime. All that drama is lost if it was best of 5.

Or how about last year. Boston goes up 3-1 on Florida. Series over if best of 5. But Florida comes all the way back to win in Game 7 overtime. That sparks their run to the finals.

Again, why mess with the format when there are so many other ways to engage fans.

A lot of it is the youth hockey programs. It’s terrible here in the Greenville area compared to Tampa or Ft Myers
- Feds91Stammer

ABSOLUTELY. I mean, awareness IS growing, this year's SCPO will help somewhat help, but if the game isn't accessible to the commoner, it's not going to catch on. Soccer is HUGE because all you need is something round and 2 rocks. Methinks there's a lesson to be learned in that....

I may come up for a few games this season, maybe hit Charlotte as well. Working in the Norfolk, VA area I can snag some games there as well..... Norfolk is really hot on their team, great fan-based. Just harder as heck to sell it in warmer climates unless there's a conscious effort to do so....and make it meaningful.

This year in round 1...Boston goes up 3-1 on Toronto. If best of 5, that series is done. Instead, Toronto storms back, wins 2 in a row, forced game 7, which Boston wins in overtime. All that drama is lost if it was best of 5.

Or how about last year. Boston goes up 3-1 on Florida. Series over if best of 5. But Florida comes all the way back to win in Game 7 overtime. That sparks their run to the finals.

Again, why mess with the format when there are so many other ways to engage fans.
- HockeyBuzzed

Fair points, all. 'Course, using Tronno for anything automatically makes me

ABSOLUTELY. I mean, awareness IS growing, this year's SCPO will help somewhat help, but if the game isn't accessible to the commoner, it's not going to catch on. Soccer is HUGE because all you need is something round and 2 rocks. Methinks there's a lesson to be learned in that....

I may come up for a few games this season, maybe hit Charlotte as well. Working in the Norfolk, VA area I can snag some games there as well..... Norfolk is really hot on their team, great fan-based. Just harder as heck to sell it in warmer climates unless there's a conscious effort to do so....and make it meaningful.
- mcmastermike1968

When my sons grew up and I wasn't spending $25k a year on travel hockey, I thought for sure I'd be able to ramp up retirement savings. I was wrong. (by the way, one son has a size 13 foot and the other is 14 so I had to custom order skates). My daughters started playing travel volleyball and it's WAY more expensive than hockey. The equipment is way less, but the travel costs are through the roof. Most rinks are in suburbs where there are affordable hotels, but volleyball tournaments are at convention centers in city centers, with the most expensive hotels, parking, restaurants, and if you want snacks or waters at the tournament, it's $4.00 per bottle of water. On top of that, we'd usually have to spend $50 to $100 each just to watch our daughters play. Almost all of the tournaments are out of state, as far as Las Vegas, Dallas, Orlando and LA.

Of course, any thoughts of retiring are out the window now that I have four in college. Oh well, the government will take care of me