I’d rather the Canucks got into the playoffs.

The way that I look at it is that I wouldn't want my team to lose a play-in series for a 12.5% chance, but that chance will take some of the sting off of losing. In other words, it makes it a bit of a win-win.

I think we might want to pull back a bit on players always gunning for the win. I do agree they aren't going to be tanking. But there are certainly times when they just don't give a damn either way. Some serious tank jobs that were orchestrated by management have almost certainly sucked the will to compete as hard as possible out of players during those tanks.

The players in those cases may want to win still, but they aren't likely expecting it or digging as deep as if they truly believed they could win and had something to really play for. They are human beings not mystical beings that always give 110% and never settle for anything less than absolute victory.

Back to the last question. Eklund is certainly wrong. Are fans of teams that had no hope of ever making it 100% behind winning a round? No one is thinking "wow it'd be nice to have a franchise player to build around"? Of course there are plenty. Now for fanbases that always had playoffs in mind from the start of the season and are built for it then it'd be sillier to look at the draft lotto. If you are going to gamble, might as well gamble on the playoff run you were built for. But for teams that were selling at the deadline and looking to the future...yeah some fans in that mix are going to still be looking to the future. Not the low chance that they can win 5 rounds and 19 games against teams built to win today.

Cold reality still has a place. That's why teams sell at the deadline instead of living off the magical hope that they might still get hot and slip into the playoffs. The players on the teams might as well go for it. But the fans can have a wider perspective since their jobs aren't on the line depending on the results. There are teams that are better off winning and taking the chance to win right now with what they have. And there are ones that will be fortunate to get eliminated early and have a chance to build towards being a real contender in the future.

I think the Montreal Canadians from top to fans are in full tank mode. They get a tiny bit of revenue. A tiny bit of playoffs. And get swept into an 12.5% chance of their dream guy.

I typically don't believe in the draft being fixed but if Montreal wins it would certainly seems that way.

A lesser extent if a big market wins it like Chicago or Rangers.

I really hope Chicago is in full tank mode. The Oilers deserve a bit into these playoffs. Very strange they based that off conference instead of division like normal.

In the last 20 years only 3 first overall picks have won a cup ( fluery,crosby and kane)

Guys on the ice who may never see the NHL again arent going to pass up an chance to play for a cup. Especially not going to tank for a pick of a team they might not be on next year ( if they get traded, released)

This whole draft was dumb. But some teams consolation prize will be the 1st pick.

If you guaranteed me that Lafreniere would go to the pens if they lost the qualifying round I still wouldn’t sign up for that. This is their cores last great chance for a cup.

In the last 20 years only 3 first overall picks have won a cup ( fluery,crosby and kane)

Guys on the ice who may never see the NHL again arent going to pass up an chance to play for a cup. Especially not going to tank for a pick of a team they might not be on next year ( if they get traded, released)

This whole draft was dumb. But some teams consolation prize will be the 1st pick.
- Flexingtheshaft

Um ovechkin?

In the last 20 years only 3 first overall picks have won a cup ( fluery,crosby and kane)

Guys on the ice who may never see the NHL again arent going to pass up an chance to play for a cup. Especially not going to tank for a pick of a team they might not be on next year ( if they get traded, released)

This whole draft was dumb. But some teams consolation prize will be the 1st pick.
- Flexingtheshaft

Ovechkin also won.

I think you may find fans of some of the teams that really should not be in this modified playoff (Chicago, Montreal for example) hoping their team performs well in the play-in but does not advance.

I'd rather not be in a league where the draft process was decided by a group of wombats on ketamine.

Could see the lottery being rigged, but don't think it is. This is the best outcome the NHL could've asked for though. Having team TBD as the #1 pick ensures that playoffs are 100% going to happen. Plus with all the hype around who the team is going to be, I think you'll see an even bigger spike in viewership numbers once playing resumes.

Question for the room: Does all of this “draft lotto is rigged talk” go away if #1 goes to Columbus or Arizona?

If you're in the play ins you're playing to win. I'm not buying the whole players tanking scenario. The fans might though. Especially Habs fans.
- gergeswillems

Pricer doesn't have to play if he doesn't want to as any player should have that right. Domi shouldn't play either as per your and other queef fans request. Funny how that has changed now...


So now queef fans want Domi to play - risking his life - as long as it means they might not have a shot at Laffy? Yikes. Great bunch!

Pricer doesn't have to play if he doesn't want to as any player should have that right. Domi shouldn't play either as per your and other queef fans request. Funny how that has changed now...


So now queef fans want Domi to play - risking his life - as long as it means they might not have a shot at Laffy? Yikes. Great bunch!






- Komisaurus Rex

Question for the room: Does all of this “draft lotto is rigged talk” go away if #1 goes to Columbus or Arizona?
- goavsgo10

No.

Will the Leafs tank...again to get a chance at the 1st pick?
- islansjet

Probably not, they already have two on the roster, theirs and the isles....Dubas says thanks by the way.

Pricer doesn't have to play if he doesn't want to as any player should have that right. Domi shouldn't play either as per your and other queef fans request. Funny how that has changed now...


So now queef fans want Domi to play - risking his life - as long as it means they might not have a shot at Laffy? Yikes. Great bunch!






- Komisaurus Rex

No worries habs fans montreal will both lose and not get Lafreniere. Go back to sleep until 2021

Question for the room: Does all of this “draft lotto is rigged talk” go away if #1 goes to Columbus or Arizona?
- goavsgo10

I think in that scenario people will argue that the rig wasn't for a SPECIFIC play-in loser to win the draft, but for the #1 to go to ANY play-in team - thus extending the wait and anticipation to find out who wins the number one pick.

Poor Red Wings fans. And we still have to wait to see who gets Laffy Taffy. This stuff is rigged.
- PavohnDatsvares

They put an AHL team out 3 straight years. I have no sympathy for them

The Rangers are gonna win the lottery after Carolina beats them in 3. Everyone knows it. This league is so rigged it’s not even funny. Bettman probably has 50 million in an off shore account from that Vegas Golden Showers expansion debacle two years ago

- gergeswillems

Ya, your right. We do! and Laffy could be just what the doctor ordered



Imagine the Habs get swept by the Wings and then end up with the #1 pick. That would be some more sweet sweet karma headed your way















On a more serious note, let's be real, they will be giving that #1 pick to a US team. Like it's been stated before, it'll be the likes of the NYR/Minnesota/Chicago/Coyotes.... or a US team that is on the cusp that could use that one final piece to push them over the top


And if Vegas loses hell gary will gladly give them the pick. Follow the money, read between the lines

The way that I look at it is that I wouldn't want my team to lose a play-in series for a 12.5% chance, but that chance will take some of the sting off of losing. In other words, it makes it a bit of a win-win.
- Osprey

This is the longest way of saying no that you can possibly have

Ya, your right. We do! and Laffy could be just what the doctor ordered



Imagine the Habs get swept by the Wings and then end up with the #1 pick. That would be some more sweet sweet karma headed your way















On a more serious note, let's be real, they will be giving that #1 pick to a US team. Like it's been stated before, it'll be the likes of the NYR/Minnesota/Chicago/Coyotes.... or a US team that is on the cusp that could use that one final piece to push them over the top


And if Vegas loses hell gary will gladly give them the pick. Follow the money, read between the lines
- Komisaurus Rex

I think the Habs will get Laffy but I certainly won't be surprised if it's the Rangers.

Eklund: Would you Rather: Have a 12.5% chance OR Be in the Final 16 for a Cup?
- Eklund

final 16 equals to a 6.5% chance of winning the cup, 12.5% is statistically a better bet tough guy

The way that I look at it is that I wouldn't want my team to lose a play-in series for a 12.5% chance, but that chance will take some of the sting off of losing. In other words, it makes it a bit of a win-win.
- Osprey

This is about where I’m at. No way we would have got a good 12.5% shot, it’s a weird year. I’d prefer a good run though