This is so stupid. If everyone makes the playoffs why even bother with the regular season? The regular season is already way to long.. when its almost pointless as you have a 50/50 shot of making it anyway, and the league has such parity its basically a big waste of time . Expanding it just makes it even worse. Im sick of this dumb bs. making drastic changes just to finacially support teams in stupid locations. We now have league parity, a salary cap which is a punishment to all the fans which support their fav team, and 3point games. It's getting out of control.

Also .. good job nhl.. Montreal will make the playoffs even though 1 maybe even 2 teams in the north will have more wins because the stupid loser point.
- Hockey777

if only everyone knew the rules before the season started maybe those other teams wouldn't have lost so many games in regulation!

No.

We should just have a new playoff format where all the original 6 teams automatically get in and then Gary Bettman should have one of those lottery ping pong machines pick the rest. We could let him pick the number and weight of the balls for each team. And we can re-name it the Bettman Cup instead of the Stanley Cup. At least Gary watches the games. Fredrick Stanley stopped watching hockey 9 years before the NHL was even created.

Our whole society is upside down.

Losing is how you get better, mistakes are how you learn to get better. I understand that an 8yr old cries when they lose and has trouble dealing with losing, but what the hell has happened to all of our adults? Life doesn't give you 3rd and 4th chances (usually not even 2nd chances).

People need to stop trying to change the rules whenever they lose and they have to start getting better so they can compete.
- JLO961

Yes, we must teach these 25 year old professional hockey players on teams that finished 5th in the standings lessons that sometimes you just lose.

(frank). Quit drawing out weird points from it. Just say no, it's stupid, and move on.

Eklund: Would The NHL Be Better With a 4/5 Play-in Game? Buzz @1
- Eklund

I think it would be better if 3 points were awarded for regulation wins. You could see a team cover 9 points through 3 games and the swings would be unreal. Why is it fair to have some games hand out 2 points, while others award 3 points. Winning in regulation should be rewarded.

I think it would be better if 3 points were awarded for regulation wins. You could see a team cover 9 points through 3 games and the swings would be unreal. Why is it fair to have some games hand out 2 points, while others award 3 points. Winning in regulation should be rewarded.
- bikeguy99

if you really want to (frank) off with this OTL/3-point game bullpoop and bring full integrity back to the standings, extend OT to 10 minutes and bring back the tie. there was never anything wrong with ties. two teams play hard and even for 65 minutes, both get a point. nothing is more fair than that. it was fine for 100 years.

but we're stupid now and we need artificial excitement like 3 on 3 or shootouts.

What do you think about the AHL champ from the previous year playing the lowest #4 team? It would be nice for their feelings. Anything can happen in a single game. Hi kids.
- Kooleus

Bottom 4 teams in each division get relegated to the AHL.

More playoff BS, I realize Bettman Is addicted to the smell of money but It's time to reward winning again, 2 points for a win and NO points for a loss regardless of how you lost, 8 teams In the playoffs that's it! If you can't win In the regular season then get the hell out and hit the golf course, No more liberal mediocrity.
- Shady1962

I think you said it best. Everyone had 56 games to figure it out. If you didn't and missed the "cutoff", wait until next year. Even as a big Rangers fan, I feel it should stay as is. Top 4 of each division had the same obstacles. They just figured it out better than the bottom four. And no points should be given BEFORE overtime. Dumb rule. That whole point process needs to be revised. This isn't pee-wee hockey where everyone gets a point just because you showed up. Want to do a point to the loser after a shootout loss? Fine, but that's it. Great point, thank you.

Yeah but what about legit teams that just didn't get off to a good start? If they are better than the #4 team then they deserve a chance.
- Kooleus

Suck it up and try next year

oh, might want to start better and earlier too

if you really want to (frank) off with this OTL/3-point game bullpoop and bring full integrity back to the standings, extend OT to 10 minutes and bring back the tie. there was never anything wrong with ties. two teams play hard and even for 65 minutes, both get a point. nothing is more fair than that. it was fine for 100 years.

but we're stupid now and we need artificial excitement like 3 on 3 or shootouts.
- DoubleDown

Sure! My main point was that some games hand out 50% more points than others which just awards close games and mediocre play. Teams that are winning in regulation have such a hard time separating themselves with all this 1 point handouts for losses.

Personally, I despise the shootout and find it slow and boring with the rare exception. 3 on 3 was a big success, but has seen the puck possession strategy take some of the excitement out of it. I'd say 5 minutes 4 on 4, then 5 minutes 3 on 3, then a tie if not resolved. No points for the losing team.

Yeah but what about legit teams that just didn't get off to a good start? If they are better than the #4 team then they deserve a chance.
- Kooleus

...and if my grandpa had tits he'd be my gramma!

The way the world works, you see, is that there are bars that you have to step over, and if you don't step over it you don't get to move forward. Stop looking for someone to carry you over the bar. "but, but, I was so close...I could have done it if you gave me more time" said pretty much every member of the so called 99%, meanwhile blaming the 1% for jumping too high.

I think the Flames are MILES better than the Habs, but guess what? Habs have more points. See how that works?

Yes, we must teach these 25 year old professional hockey players on teams that finished 5th in the standings lessons that sometimes you just lose.

(frank). Quit drawing out weird points from it. Just say no, it's stupid, and move on.
- Blackstrom2

You've missed the point entirely. The players are definitely not complaining or making excuses, it's the fans/people and in this case Eklund who are whining at the big bad rules.

More playoff BS, I realize Bettman Is addicted to the smell of money but It's time to reward winning again, 2 points for a win and NO points for a loss regardless of how you lost, 8 teams In the playoffs that's it! If you can't win In the regular season then get the hell out and hit the golf course, No more liberal mediocrity.
- Shady1962

You mean, the NHL should just go with the win-loss record?