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Post by Skilly on May 25, 2020 15:35:18 GMT -5
So then what's going on with free agency. Is July 1st not July 1st anymore cause some players won't have a contract anymore. I don't know how I would feel as a player to play for a team that I was no longer under contract for, and they didn't really want to bring me back. Contracts end June 30th. Oh and I don't like this playoff thing. We were out now we're in. We lose our lottery pick. Teams still in the lottery pick have just seen their chances of landing a top 3 go up even more. What was the point of the regular season if 24 out of 31 teams make it in. This is a joke. When Seattle comes in, why not let all 32 teams in and have 5 rounds of playoffs. Make the regular season just as meaningless as the preseason. They didn't award the Stanley Cup in 1918 due to the Spanish Flu. They didn't award the Cup in 2005 due to greed on both sides. I would have been okay with no Cup in 2020 due to Covid 19. Just try to get as much of next season in as possible. Now we'll probably get another 48 game season next year. Yuck. If you are told that you either play past June 30th, or your next contract and other players existing contracts will get a 20-25% rollback. They won’t be long deciding to create hockey related revenue
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on May 25, 2020 16:21:58 GMT -5
So then what's going on with free agency. Is July 1st not July 1st anymore cause some players won't have a contract anymore. I don't know how I would feel as a player to play for a team that I was no longer under contract for, and they didn't really want to bring me back. Contracts end June 30th. Oh and I don't like this playoff thing. We were out now we're in. We lose our lottery pick. Teams still in the lottery pick have just seen their chances of landing a top 3 go up even more. What was the point of the regular season if 24 out of 31 teams make it in. This is a joke. When Seattle comes in, why not let all 32 teams in and have 5 rounds of playoffs. Make the regular season just as meaningless as the preseason. They didn't award the Stanley Cup in 1918 due to the Spanish Flu. They didn't award the Cup in 2005 due to greed on both sides. I would have been okay with no Cup in 2020 due to Covid 19. Just try to get as much of next season in as possible. Now we'll probably get another 48 game season next year. Yuck. Well said ... I like the Spanish Flu precedence, for sure ... they're working hard towards getting that tournament going, but there's no guarantee that they'll actually get it off the ground ... IMHO, adding 8 more teams into the mix just proves that the tournament looks more to be about recouping as many $ as they can and less about the awarding the Cup ... Cheers.
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Post by seventeen on May 25, 2020 17:15:28 GMT -5
Not sure why people would think that Montreal has a big edge in goal. Matt Murray has won 2 Cups & when called upon Jarry played quite well. Yeah. Beliefs die hard, huh? For several years, Carey was the best in the world. I'd say there are a dozen guys playing better than him right now (at least). A key thing is that another Canadian goalie hasn't stepped up. Binnington 'arrived' last year but we'll have to wait to see what kind of staying power he has. His save % this year is .912. Carter Hart is improving. Is he the next top Canadian goalie? Murray has been inconsistent (injuries have played a role) and Jarry is even less proven than Binnington. I'm probably forgetting some, for sure. The point is that Price doesn't have any obvious competition yet for best Canadian goalie. Why NHL players continue to believe he's the top goalie in the world simply points out their lack of critical thinking skills or, more likely, their lack of desire to say anything controversial and it's an easy reply to blurt out "Carey Price". No one is going to criticize you no matter how wrong you are. And you get to keep having drinks with everyone.
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Post by UberCranky on May 25, 2020 18:31:38 GMT -5
Let's get Romanov and Caufield in it and see what happens. Either they will be shock and aw'some or...
What is the status of Romanov? If he's signed, he can play?
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Post by PTH on May 25, 2020 18:34:42 GMT -5
I would have been okay with no Cup in 2020 due to Covid 19. Just try to get as much of next season in as possible. Now we'll probably get another 48 game season next year. Yuck. Fact is, I expect something will screw up this summer tournament in some way, the logistics will just be insane. And by then next season will already be set up as a shortened season. If they say once a player breaks quarantine he can't come back in, I can't wait to see the league make an exception for a top player for some bogus reason... "OK, we banned Byron and some random 4th liner from some other team for leaving to see their dying parents, but Sydney just had to be there to see his sick kid, so we'll let him play and we'll hope his next test doesn't come back positive. We're doing this for the fans."
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Post by folatre on May 25, 2020 19:18:56 GMT -5
Cranky, Daly remarked that he would be very surprised if Romanov is allowed to play. However, I heard McKenzie say that since Romanov is a organizational draft pick who was on the reserve list, he thinks a solid case could be made that the kid should be eligible.
I also wonder what the magic number of players allowed on the expanded play-in and/or Playoffs roster. Ray Ferraro said 30 makes sense. Regarding Romanov, I would really like to see him in the mini-training camp even if he is ruled ineligible for the games.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on May 25, 2020 21:51:28 GMT -5
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on May 26, 2020 5:48:12 GMT -5
I would have been okay with no Cup in 2020 due to Covid 19. Just try to get as much of next season in as possible. Now we'll probably get another 48 game season next year. Yuck. Fact is, I expect something will screw up this summer tournament in some way, the logistics will just be insane. And by then next season will already be set up as a shortened season. If they say once a player breaks quarantine he can't come back in, I can't wait to see the league make an exception for a top player for some bogus reason... "OK, we banned Byron and some random 4th liner from some other team for leaving to see their dying parents, but Sydney just had to be there to see his sick kid, so we'll let him play and we'll hope his next test doesn't come back positive. We're doing this for the fans." How can hockey attempt a playoff summer when MLB is considering cancellation of their season. A hockey playoff in neutral cities without fans is not a Stanley Cup competition what next? A 24 game season with an 82 game playoff in empty stadiums We already have empty stadiums in Phoenix, Florida, Anaheim and points south.
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Post by BadCompany on May 26, 2020 10:11:57 GMT -5
Without playoffs the NHL could lose upwards of 20% of it's revenue this year, perhaps even more. Under the cap system that everybody fought so hard to get this would mean that one or more of the following would have to happen: * The cap drops by $15 million or so. Instead of a cap of $81 million next year, it would be around $65 million. The Ottawa Senators and New Jersey Devils were the two lowest cap teams last year, at $72 and $74 million, give or take. I'm not even sure that you could buy out enough players to get down to that cap hit, seeing as two-thirds of any buyout would still apply to the cap. The Leafs are already $11 million over a possible $65 million cap, with only 16 players under contract. Using capfriendly to get under the cap I had to buy out Matthews, Tavares, Marner, Nylander, Andersen, Reilley, Muzzin, Kerfoot, and Kapanen. That put the Leafs at $504,106 under... but with only 8 players signed. Obviously this will not work. * The players swallow the cost, and lose like 30-40% of their paychecks to escrow next year. I'm not sure if this even allowable under the CBA. * The owners swallow the cost, or they implement a (temporary?) revenue sharing system to ensure that all teams share the cost equally. Hahaha!The other issue is that apparently the TV deals are structured in such a way that they've already paid the NHL for this season, so if the NHL doesn't deliver on what the networks paid for they'll have to recoup those losses next year. In other words, pay the networks back, or at the very least not take any money from them. Which again brings us back to a plummeting cap, and all the issues therein. By playing games they can tell the TV networks that the NHL lived up to it's end of the contract, and still be in okay shape for next year. Money, money, money. That's all it comes down to. If you're asking yourself "why would the NHL..." the answer is money. Plain and simple.
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Post by BadCompany on May 26, 2020 10:16:16 GMT -5
Let's get Romanov and Caufield in it and see what happens. Either they will be shock and aw'some or... What is the status of Romanov? If he's signed, he can play? The NHL seems quite intent on not letting players like Romanov (and Kaprizov in Minnesota) not play this year. Whether this will change or not I do not know, but right now don't expect Romanov to be allowed to play, even though Bergevin structured Romanov's contract to do just that. Caufield has already committed to going back to Wisconsin. I do not know what the rules are for when you can sign an NCAA player, and whether or not that window has already passed (if there is in fact a window), but they've been pretty clear on their plan to send him back anyways. So don't expect him either.
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Post by PTH on May 26, 2020 11:41:11 GMT -5
Money, money, money. That's all it comes down to. If you're asking yourself "why would the NHL..." the answer is money. Plain and simple. I know, you're right, but this seems like a case where business should be able to adapt itself to reality, this is to say, a world-altering pandemic. This is Berlin wall-falling/9-11 type world-altering, it's kind of silly to try to keep going as if business as usual still applied. It doesn't, and it might never again.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on May 26, 2020 12:26:59 GMT -5
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on May 26, 2020 12:42:22 GMT -5
Money, money, money. That's all it comes down to. If you're asking yourself "why would the NHL..." the answer is money. Plain and simple. Less the research, I guess ... Cheers. ... if they do return it won't be about the game, the fans, or the Cup, it will be about salvaging as much $ as they can ... Cheers.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on May 26, 2020 12:45:44 GMT -5
This is Berlin wall-falling/9-11 type world-altering, it's kind of silly to try to keep going as if business as usual still applied. If they can cancel the Olympics ... Cheers.
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Post by GNick99 on May 26, 2020 13:13:07 GMT -5
A few top teams who get the bye likely to get upset. A 4th month lay off then have to play a team who has just played a 5 game series.
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Post by schooner on May 26, 2020 15:08:08 GMT -5
Haha... leafs get Columbus and then the top seed... lots of whining going to come from the gta... burgerbrain lucked out... get Pittsburgh and then the 4 seed... best thing for this team is to get swept by the Pens... I have heard the statement about the Pens possibly fearing facing a rested Carey Price. I'd be more worried about facing a healthy Sid Crosby, Gene Malkin and Kris Letang. It's also quite possible Guentzel will be back by then, too. The Pens aren't a pushover. Quite an understatement given the Pens will be heavy favourites. Our only hope is for a healthy Price. If we could steal a series vs the Pens, I think a Flyers team that hasn't played any meaningful games could be ripe for the pickings in Round 2.
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Post by UberCranky on May 26, 2020 15:20:52 GMT -5
I have heard the statement about the Pens possibly fearing facing a rested Carey Price. I'd be more worried about facing a healthy Sid Crosby, Gene Malkin and Kris Letang. It's also quite possible Guentzel will be back by then, too. The Pens aren't a pushover. Quite an understatement given the Pens will be heavy favourites. Our only hope is for a healthy Price. If we could steal a series vs the Pens, I think a Flyers team that hasn't played any meaningful games could be ripe for the pickings in Round 2. Welcome to HabsRus Schooner. Schooner.....sounds like an Atlantic guy. Your IP is showing Fredericton...a place on my wife and mine bucket list. Please read our Code of Conduct. Our community is based on respect and civil discussions which is monitored and enforced. Most of our membership is here for decades and while we always seem do differ and endlessly debate, we also know when to move on. After all, it's just an opinion and everyone has one, so there is no "right" or "wrong" to it. Anywho.....welcome and participate. As for the the Pens, Crosby and Malkin will be rested and ready to go. Price on the other hand can be hot or cold. IF, a big IF Price is hot, maybe, just maybe we get through at least one series.
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Post by UberCranky on May 26, 2020 15:30:01 GMT -5
Without playoffs the NHL could lose upwards of 20% of it's revenue this year, perhaps even more. Under the cap system that everybody fought so hard to get this would mean that one or more of the following would have to happen: * The cap drops by $15 million or so. Instead of a cap of $81 million next year, it would be around $65 million. The Ottawa Senators and New Jersey Devils were the two lowest cap teams last year, at $72 and $74 million, give or take. I'm not even sure that you could buy out enough players to get down to that cap hit, seeing as two-thirds of any buyout would still apply to the cap. The Leafs are already $11 million over a possible $65 million cap, with only 16 players under contract. Using capfriendly to get under the cap I had to buy out Matthews, Tavares, Marner, Nylander, Andersen, Reilley, Muzzin, Kerfoot, and Kapanen. That put the Leafs at $504,106 under... but with only 8 players signed. Obviously this will not work. * The players swallow the cost, and lose like 30-40% of their paychecks to escrow next year. I'm not sure if this even allowable under the CBA. * The owners swallow the cost, or they implement a (temporary?) revenue sharing system to ensure that all teams share the cost equally. Hahaha!The other issue is that apparently the TV deals are structured in such a way that they've already paid the NHL for this season, so if the NHL doesn't deliver on what the networks paid for they'll have to recoup those losses next year. In other words, pay the networks back, or at the very least not take any money from them. Which again brings us back to a plummeting cap, and all the issues therein. By playing games they can tell the TV networks that the NHL lived up to it's end of the contract, and still be in okay shape for next year. Money, money, money. That's all it comes down to. If you're asking yourself "why would the NHL..." the answer is money. Plain and simple. Ahhh c'mon. This is not about the "Benjamin's baby". I'm not sure where you even got that conspiratorial virus. Mol$on puts the teams winning above all else and I'm sure that he is jumping with glee at the opportunity to prove how great his team is. Side note....the medication is working.
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Post by UberCranky on May 26, 2020 15:35:52 GMT -5
I know, you're right, but this seems like a case where business should be able to adapt itself to reality, this is to say, a world-altering pandemic. This is Berlin wall-falling/9-11 type world-altering, it's kind of silly to try to keep going as if business as usual still applied. It doesn't, and it might never again. I'm not sure which US or Canadian jurisdiction they will play in. Also...are they going to have private virus testing every day? We are talking a few thousand people involved in this. Which ALSO begs the question, if they have private testing every day, they are using a limited resource because virus tests are in short supply. By no means I am a stickler and want to make virus test a social issue for them, but, it has to be a consideration.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2020 15:49:04 GMT -5
Have the details of the play-in been announced? It's not an actual 7-game series for the Habs/Pens, is it?
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Post by folatre on May 26, 2020 15:55:50 GMT -5
Montreal v Pittsburgh is a 5 game series.
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Post by Tankdriver on May 26, 2020 16:33:13 GMT -5
That's a weird draft. Team A B C D E. Etc.
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Post by schooner on May 26, 2020 17:11:23 GMT -5
Quite an understatement given the Pens will be heavy favourites. Our only hope is for a healthy Price. If we could steal a series vs the Pens, I think a Flyers team that hasn't played any meaningful games could be ripe for the pickings in Round 2. Welcome to HabsRus Schooner. Schooner.....sounds like an Atlantic guy. Your IP is showing Fredericton...a place on my wife and mine bucket list. Please read our Code of Conduct. Our community is based on respect and civil discussions which is monitored and enforced. Most of our membership is here for decades and while we always seem do differ and endlessly debate, we also know when to move on. After all, it's just an opinion and everyone has one, so there is no "right" or "wrong" to it. Anywho.....welcome and participate. As for the the Pens, Crosby and Malkin will be rested and ready to go. Price on the other hand can be hot or cold. IF, a big IF Price is hot, maybe, just maybe we get through at least one series. Thank you sir! I used to post here many years ago....probably 15 years ago. Good forum with a good bunch of dudes. Price is normally at his best when he's healthy and rested. We shall see if that's enough to give the more talented and more experienced Pens a run for their money.
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Post by folatre on May 26, 2020 17:16:53 GMT -5
Welcome, schooner. Price is capable, for sure. And he will probably need to be the difference maker because the Pens have like four guys in their top six who average more than a point per game.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 26, 2020 17:25:52 GMT -5
A rested Price. Montreal’s team speed. Only best of five. Nothing to lose. First rounds always seem to have big upsets.
PIT is more talented, but this series is no gimme for them.
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Post by folatre on May 26, 2020 18:47:40 GMT -5
Yeah, because of the long pause in the season, none of the play-in series really have a clear-cut favourite. I would say the surest bets in the play-in phase are 55-45 or maybe at most 60-40. So Montreal, Columbus, Arizona, Chicago or whoever certainly have a decent shot.
Notwithstanding what may happen in the play-in, Montreal is worse positioned to go on a deep run playoff run than they would have been before the trade deadline. Now the Habs will have Weise in place of Kovalchuk, Kulak in place of Scandella, and Evans in place of Thompson. Taking this into account, the NHL did not do Montreal any favours by including its mediocre team (who understandably sold at the deadline) in this 24 team field, in particular given how the Lottery is screwing Montreal and Chicago far worse than any of the other teams who may occupy the spots of Team A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H.
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on May 26, 2020 20:21:47 GMT -5
Yeah, because of the long pause in the season, none of the play-in series really have a clear-cut favourite. I would say the surest bets in the play-in phase are 55-45 or maybe at most 60-40. So Montreal, Columbus, Arizona, Chicago or whoever certainly have a decent shot. Notwithstanding what may happen in the play-in, Montreal is worse positioned to go on a deep run playoff run than they would have been before the trade deadline. Now the Habs will have Weise in place of Kovalchuk, Kulak in place of Scandella, and Evans in place of Thompson. Taking this into account, the NHL did not do Montreal any favours by including its mediocre team (who understandably sold at the deadline) in this 24 team field, in particular given how the Lottery is screwing Montreal and Chicago far worse than any of the other teams who may occupy the spots of Team A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H. Ottawa improved their chances to get both Lafreniere and Byfield. Players who are no longer under contract can play but Romanov who is under contract cannot. Players traded by sellers are gone to the playoff buyers. Bettman is dictating to both players and owners. Players and owners make money but cleaners, cooks and ushers do not. Neither do cab drivers, barmaids or parking attendants. Cheer for your team from your man cave as they play in an empty rink somewhere in North America. It’s all about the fans.
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Post by The Habitual Fan on May 26, 2020 21:03:41 GMT -5
Montreal vs Pittsburgh is not what anyone expected a few months ago. Even if picking at 8-9 they were confident of getting a good player. The irony is that they are now getting a shot for the cup which hurts them long term. There is no way any team would pass up an opportunity to be in the playoffs so time to look ahead.
- Montreal lost both games to the Pens this year but they were never blown out. - Price, Weber, Gallagher, Petry must be over the moon happy with this 2nd chance and know they have a lot to prove. - Price hasn't stolen many games this year so maybe its his time. - Montreal were a much better road team than at home and now they will not have any games at "home" - There is much more pressure on the Penguins and they cannot be happy facing Weber and Price in a short series. Maybe nerves play a part. - Is Montreal capable of winning 3 games from Pittsburgh? Yes they can so lets start the "Drive for 25"
oh and lets go Blue Jackets!!
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Post by PTH on May 26, 2020 21:22:50 GMT -5
Also...are they going to have private virus testing every day? We are talking a few thousand people involved in this. Which ALSO begs the question, if they have private testing every day, they are using a limited resource because virus tests are in short supply. By no means I am a stickler and want to make virus test a social issue for them, but, it has to be a consideration. Twice a week, apparently.
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Post by jkr on May 27, 2020 7:42:54 GMT -5
Ì'm wondering about the selection of hub cities. I hope it's based on the Covif-19 levels in the city. With the level of infection in Ontario, I'm really surprised Toronto applied for this.
If the NHL really takes the health of its players seriously & wants to play in Canada they should go to Vancouver or Edmonton.
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