He wouldn't have to do much since the current division setup always finds a way to reduce the number of Canadian teams by at least 1-4 teams per season since they are all bunched up in 2 divisions.

He's already prevented any expansion teams being Canadian if they take away from US teams (ex. Phoenix, Nashville) although a big rumor involves Atlanta loosing its team within the next 1-2 years.

Largest fan base or not...us Canadians are going to buy tickets next year, we're going to watch TV, we're going to buy jerseys...hell, if Kraft Dinner started making over sized hockey cards on the back of there boxes, I'd do it.

From a business stand point, there is no need to sell the game here. Every time us Canadian's buy a ticket...we're playing into Bettman's plans.

Honestly...we're all douche bags for supporting the NHL the way it is.

Just to add to that...

Doesn't matter if it's "my" team or "your" team.

Who cheers for the fucking Ducks?

Emiloooooooooooo

Goldberg>Hiller

As much as I love the Moose being the Nucks farm team, the MTS center holds 16,000+ fans. Not to mentions tickets will sell for more than 20 bucks like in the desert...

Isn't going to be a all Canadian team final. Not trying to put the Canucks down because they are a good team, but the President's Trophy usually equals choking early or losing in the Conference Championship.

I just want your guys opinion, would you yay or nay, continuous sudden death 4-on-4 overtime in place of a shootout?

It'll never happen. NBC would FREAK if a game went too long and screwed up the rest of their programming.

Also, I've put my helmet on before I'm making this statement..........I like the shootout. (Ducks for cover)

Adam Foote set to retire. Wow am I ever getting old lol

More like is he ever getting old.

Man, those amazing late 90s-early 2000s Avalanche teams are pretty much retired. Guys like Drury and Hejduk are really all I can think of still playing.

Milan Hejduk
Alex Tanguay
Chris Drury
Steven Reinprecht

last 4 remaining from the 2000-2001 champion Avalanche after Foote retires, and it looks like Reinprecht will be following Foote.

I don't get why people call the Presidents trophy a curse. There are 15 other teams that are playing just as hard.

When the playoffs start every team has a chance. Upsets happen in every sport every year. Home fans are an X factor. Not to mention the coach being able to match lines.

Would you really have your team finish 2nd or lower because of some "curse?"

You know what's a curse. Not making the playoffs for 7 straight years. My mom and I were talking. My dad was still alive the last time the Leafs made the playoffs. Hmmmm. My dad died and the Leafs haven't made the playoffs since. THE CURSE OF RICK DUFOUR!!!!!!

I like the shootout...but I don't like 3 point games. If the game is tied late in the 3rd, teams tend to play it safe, guarantee that 1 point. Take away the loser point and you will see teams weaker on shootouts play harder in those last minutes in regulation and during the overtime.
If you bring back ties were teams get 1 point each, the shootout becomes redundant, unless it's used to determine overall standings in case of a tie in points. It would be stupid to use the shootout for that considering there are no shootouts in the playoffs.

I really don't know how to eliminate 3 points games while keeping the shootout relevant.

-edit-

as far as the regular season goes, you can't have those marathon games. All teams at one point or another play back to back games. Imagine playing 2 full OT periods, getting on a plane, flying 2000km then playing again the next day...

how about 3-3 hockey? If 4-4 solves nothing, 5 more minutes of 3-3. Could be exciting.

I 100% agree. The 3 point games makes it next to impossible to catch anybody. It friggen killed my Leafs chances.

I still remember Selanne's rookie year where he torn the league up like it was yesterday. Blink twice, and these guys are old farts.

More to do with piss poor management than anything else.

I dont have a problem with shootouts, I dont want to see triple OT in the regular season. I would like to see it be a 10 minute 4 on 4 then the shootout.

And I agree, I hate the 3 point game. My solution? Either drop the point for losing in OT, or make wins count for 3 points.

And OT loss is not half as good as a win. It is much worse.

Also make the Tiebreaker Regulation wins, not total wins.

Increase the incentive to win in Regulation, and make wins count for more, and you remove the "Just get a point mentality".

There is no reason a team that is 0-0-82 should have as many points as a team that is 41-41-0

12-0-70 and that's a clinched playoff spot.


Hockey has turned from win in 60 mins to don't be losing in 60.

How about this one: win in regulation = 3 points, win in OT/shootout = 2 points, loss in OT/shootout = 1 point, loss in regulation = 0 points. That way EVERY game is worth 3 points, so no advantage for teams that go to OT lots.

Simply put, every game should be worth the same amount of points.

And honestly, whoever thought that a 3pt game is better then a point a piece tie is an idiot.

:'(

love him, but he's been hurt like all year.

The tie breaker is wins in regulation an OT, SO wins are not counted. Whic reates a fucked up system where a team can win the tie breaker despite having lost more games then the other team, the current sytem basically gives more value in a tie breaker system to shootout/OT losses then shootout wins.

Proof in my point:

Flyers lost in OT, so Pens and Flyers are tied.


Now normally it would come down to wins which would put the Pens up in 2nd in the East (they have 2 more wins then the Flyers) but with the new stupid tie breaker status the Flyers get to stay in first despite having actually lost more games then the Pens because SO wins don't count.

Fucking stupid, it should be # of wins, then if tied # of SO wins, right now if I get this right a shootout/OT loss is worth more than a shootout win in a tie breaker situation and that's idiotic

If you took away OT/SO loss points the Penguins would have clinched the division today

Rangers are in the same boat against Carolina but worse Rangers have 3 more wins then the Hurricanes but 4 more SO wins then the Canes so the Canes are in 8th now. Stupid stupid stupid

So now if the Rangers and Hurricanes both win their next game in regulation or OT, Canes make the playoffs, Rangers are out despite the Rangers having won more games. Essentially the Canes get in for having lost more games in shootouts/OT then the Rangers


BTW y'all should have seen the end of regulation of the Sabres/Flyers game, the Sabres just sat in their own zone and didn't even try to move the puck up ice because they knew win or lose the OT point would clinch a playoff spot and the Flyers hung back and let them because they knew as long as they got to OT win or lose they'd stay tops in their division. It was hilariously awful

Yeah, I wasnt thrilled with the way that one ended. Like its one thing to kill the clock and play for the point, but Philly didnt even forecheck and both just coasted the last minute.

Happy with the results, upset with the way it happened.

Then like right into the overtime period Thomas Vanek sealed the fucker closed. Vanek needs to so shit like that more. 3rd time he has won a game in OT this year with pretty much the same move....Charge the fucking net and blow by everyone.

Also - once the playoffs start I suggest you catch some Sabres game. Try watching NAthan Gerbe play and not like the guy.

Tim Thomas broke Hasek's old single-season saves percentage record after the 3-1 win against the Senators. Since he didn't allow another goal and Rask plays the season finale vs NJ, the record belongs to Thomas (57 games played).

Rangers locked up the 8th seed due to Hurricanes loosing 6-2 and Rangers winning 5-2.

Flyers won which means Bruins (#3) can't get #2 seed and Penguins becomes #4 in the East.

East Round 1:
Washington vs New York
Philadelphia vs Buffalo
Boston vs Montreal
Pittsburgh vs Tampa Bay

West still has some seeds on the line for the last game with only Vancouver as #1 seed locked.

AOh my, All excited about the 1st round.

Wash in 4
Philly in 5
Montreal in 7
Tampa in 6

hahaha Teemu Selanne got into a fight! Did pretty well. lol Fangel, the Habs are going to get crushed. That's a horrible match up for the Habs.

We will see.

If any team is getting crushed both figuratively and literally its Buffalo.

Nice goal by Detroit. Just smacking down the defending champs.

How often does it happen that the entire division makes the playoffs?

Blackhawks lost to Red Wings 3-4 and now have to wait to see if Dallas wins or looses for their playoff future.

Blackhawks have a 2 point lead but if Dallas wins in regulation or in OT, Dallas gets #8 seed in West. A Dallas loss (regulation, OT, or SO) or a shootout win and Chicago gets the #8 seed.

Wow that has to suck to have your season be dependent on what someone else does

Sabre are the best team in the east since December. 64 points. Chilly drew the long straw. Sabre are a beast of a 7 seed. Fuck philly...they are done.sabre have owned them this year

Don't play like shit or lose big games and you won't have to.

To the Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks: FORGET YOU!