Jeremy Laura: Another shift in NHL “balloons”, 24 team playoffs?

Even if the rest of the year can be played does it really make sense for let’s say the guys on Detroit to go into quarantine from their families for 2 months when they don’t even have a chance to be second worst let alone make the playoffs.

I could see maybe ownership/management of other guaranteed non-playoff teams pushing for it to see if other teams can jump them in the lottery standings but outside of financial implications there isn’t really much incentive for players of these teams to return, especially the red wings players given they’re guaranteed last place.

Even if the rest of the year can be played does it really make sense for let’s say the guys on Detroit to go into quarantine from their families for 2 months when they don’t even have a chance to be second worst let alone make the playoffs.

I could see maybe ownership/management of other guaranteed non-playoff teams pushing for it to see if other teams can jump them in the lottery standings but outside of financial implications there isn’t really much incentive for players of these teams to return, especially the red wings players given they’re guaranteed last place.
- RedC21

It really doesn’t. Dekeyser is recovering. Don’t need anyone getting hurt playing a contender. Just such a strange time

If you think the Wings have no motivation to finish the season...what about Eklund's idea of a 31-team bracket tournament. Report to Detroit. Get in shape. Have a dozen practices. Then lose 6-1. Stay quarantined for 2 more weeks. Finally go back home. What a dumb idea. If I was Illitch I'd send Abby with a bunch of beer leaguers.

If you think the Wings have no motivation to finish the season...what about Eklund's idea of a 31-team bracket tournament. Report to Detroit. Get in shape. Have a dozen practices. Then lose 6-1. Stay quarantined for 2 more weeks. Finally go back home. What a dumb idea. If I was Illitch I'd send Abby with a bunch of beer leaguers.
- Kooleus

Abby is a beer leaguer.

Obviously I have no insider information whatsoever, but from out here all these "scenarios" seem motivated by desperation.

I get why the NHL would want to do absolutely everything it could to limit the loss of TV revenue, conclude the season / playoffs in some fashion, and have some kind of sensible rhythm to the draft and offseason.

But at this point it seems to me like we have a better chance of losing two seasons to this thing than being able to finish this one. Would the NHL be prepared to play most or all of next season without fans? What happens when even one player tests positive -- do we shut the league down for two weeks every time?

I hate it and I hope I'm wrong, but I have a hard time seeing how we can have hockey safely anytime soon.

It’s time to cut your losses and move on. The draft and how it gets done should be the topic. The NFL draft and The Last Dance are getting to old.

Obviously I have no insider information whatsoever, but from out here all these "scenarios" seem motivated by desperation.

I get why the NHL would want to do absolutely everything it could to limit the loss of TV revenue, conclude the season / playoffs in some fashion, and have some kind of sensible rhythm to the draft and offseason.

But at this point it seems to me like we have a better chance of losing two seasons to this thing than being able to finish this one. Would the NHL be prepared to play most or all of next season without fans? What happens when even one player tests positive -- do we shut the league down for two weeks every time?

I hate it and I hope I'm wrong, but I have a hard time seeing how we can have hockey safely anytime soon.
- Sven22

I think it's ridiculous to continue this season. The NHL is embarrassing itself. And yes, I'd still say this even if I didn't cheer for the Red Wings. It's greed steering this ship.

It’s time to cut your losses and move on. The draft and how it gets done should be the topic. The NFL draft and The Last Dance are getting to old.
- Tee56

I've really enjoyed watching "The Last Dance." I'm not even a basketball Fan. I do remember how much people hated the "Bad Boy" Pistons. I recall how dominant Michael Jordan was. But I just never cared for basketball. I always got a kick out of Dennis Rodman. He makes me laugh. 😂

I shouldn't say that. I watched alot of Raptors playoff Games last year because my girlfriend is a lifelong Raptors Fan. I still don't understand basketball. I don't think I ever will. Her excitement during the Raps title run reminded me how exciting it was during those 4 Cup runs the Red Wings had. Even the choke jobs in the other years. I sure miss those days. ☹️

Does anyone remember the sheer hatred we had towards the AVS? When I think back to those days I just shake my head. I mean I really really really HATED that team!

I've really enjoyed watching "The Last Dance." I'm not even a basketball Fan. I do remember how much people hated the "Bad Boy" Pistons. I recall how dominant Michael Jordan was. But I just never cared for basketball. I always got a kick out of Dennis Rodman. He makes me laugh. 😂

I shouldn't say that. I watched alot of Raptors playoff Games last year because my girlfriend is a lifelong Raptors Fan. I still don't understand basketball. I don't think I ever will. Her excitement during the Raps title run reminded me how exciting it was during those 4 Cup runs the Red Wings had. Even the choke jobs in the other years. I sure miss those days. ☹️

Does anyone remember the sheer hatred we had towards the AVS? When I think back to those days I just shake my head. I mean I really really really HATED that team!


- gergeswillems

We all despised the AVS. The anticipation waiting for game day was priceless along with the day after armchair reviews.
What happened to those types of rivalries, the so called hate between teams. Was this a place in time?
I guess things have changed, these players seem to run into each at young ages more then the past.

We all despised the AVS. The anticipation waiting for game day was priceless along with the day after armchair reviews.
What happened to those types of rivalries, the so called hate between teams. Was this a place in time?
I guess things have changed, these players seem to run into each at young ages more then the past.
- Tee56

I don't think it'll ever be the same as it was back then. And that's unfortunate. It made for some great hockey.

I don't think it'll ever be the same as it was back then. And that's unfortunate. It made for some great hockey.
- gergeswillems

I have the brawl on DVD. that game seems to last forever! At one point I tried calling penalties based on today’s rule book. Forget it. That game would still be going

I have the brawl on DVD. that game seems to last forever! At one point I tried calling penalties based on today’s rule book. Forget it. That game would still be going
- Jeremy Laura

Me too. I still can't believe Igor Larionov started the whole thing. 😊 Well in the game anyway. Claude Lemieux cheap shotting Kris Draper from behind the year before really started it. The Wings became a TEAM on March 26, 1997.

Happy Birthday Stevie

Let’s take the top 16 teams in the league for playoffs, forget divisions. Just top 16 which ends in New York Rangers as #16.

We all despised the AVS. The anticipation waiting for game day was priceless along with the day after armchair reviews.
What happened to those types of rivalries, the so called hate between teams. Was this a place in time?
I guess things have changed, these players seem to run into each at young ages more then the past.
- Tee56

I think the rivalries became watered down when the nhl reconfigured the playoff format.

The new format ensures geographic/old time rivalries in the first 2 rounds which doesn’t leave room for teams to create rivalries. The best example I can think of is the one between the hawks/Canucks at the beginning of the decade was always highly anticipated now it’s nonexistent

Bill Placzek from DraftSite.com here.

I was going to throw this up on the site, but there is a bit of a size restriction but more than anything I was wondering what you all thought.

Here goes:

First round trades involving slight movement at the top of the first round have been very rare in the modern area of a universal draft. The Columbus Blue Jackets traded out of the fourth overall slot into eighth overall slot to add a late second 59th overall. The draft as being hosted by Carolina and Hurricanes made a splash with this move up to select Andrew Ladd was drafted in the first round in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
In 1999, The Sedin Brothers were adamant about being drafted and playing together so Brian Burke, whose Vancouver Canucks had the 3rd overall selection, traded defenseman Bryan McCabe and Vancouver's 1st-round pick in the 2000 Draft (used to select Pavel Vorobiev) to the Chicago Blackhawks for the fourth overall pick. Then he obtained the first overall pick from Tampa Bay, flipping Chicago's fourth overall pick — which the Lightning subsequently traded to the Rangers, who used it to draft Pavel Brendl — and two third-round selections. Vancouver and Atlanta then worked out a deal whereby Atlanta, who held the second overall selection, promised to select Patrik Stefan with the first overall pick, leaving both Sedins available to Vancouver at 2nd and 3rd. The Burke intricately four team deal, in my humble opinion, was one which the likes of hockey drafting will never be seen again.
Other than that, I cannot recall teams willing to move out of high slotting, and especially that coveted number one spot, because if you move out and that prospect turns into a generational player, your fan base never forgives you!
But, is this the year where the prospects and draft order may align so that the Detroit Red Wings can have success by NOT drafting Rimouski’s Alexis Lafrenière?
There is a proposed draft change that there will be one lotto drawing with the winner selecting first. No three separate chances for all the non playoff teams to leapfrog into slots one through three…one winner who gets to them jump up four notches closer to the top of the round.
What has to happen is Detroit wins the lottery stay in their number one overall slotting before they can deal.
Ottawa would then hold both the 2nd and 3rd overall slots, and be willing to take the chances on one Alexis Lafrenière. Would the Senators make that move to add Francophone player and pass on two chances as franchise pillar prospects? I can easily argue it both ways.
Even if the Detroit Red wings would have to “sacrifice that first overall in the second round to make it happen, the Red Wings would have to see try benefit of two high draft additions to a roster that has started adding to its young nucleus and the prospects selected this early are usually selected here due to the fact they are already closer to being ability to compete for jobs than then the ones just a few slots later.
Could the Red Wings see the two for the price of one as something they could sell to their fan base or would they fear the future successes of Lafrenière might forever haunt and hurt them?
I would like to hear what you think about this possible trade scenario, taking the side as GMs for both teams.