NHL Off-Topic thread

[Majingir]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

We have a season!

56 game schedule. No preseason.

Date not yet confirmed and no decision yet on Canadian division.


Playoffs though will be controversial. The playoffs will be 4 teams per division, meaning yes, the 7 team Canadian division will have 4 teams in it.

I hope the 4 team format won't be permanent once Seattle enters the league. Even 3 team per division format I'm not a fan of.

Although it does guarantee each division has 1 team in the conference finals. And for the Canadian division this year, it means we get 3 all Canadian matchups.


As for preseason, I won't mind reduced preseason going forward. 2 games (1 home, 1 road) and even an intrasquad game for fans (once they're allowed back).

[Majingir]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Big surprise....seems like NHL was bluffing about the US based Canadian division.

People at TSN and SN seem to suggest that only 1 province has an issue with this all Canadian division. The province? BC.

So if Alberta,Manitoba,Ontario and Quebec are fine with the leagues plan for this division, I doubt BC would stop them from doing so. If BC doesn't want Canucks and other teams traveling in and out of the province, I'm sure QC could host the Canucks for the season....

[nikethebike]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Big surprise....seems like NHL was bluffing about the US based Canadian division.

People at TSN and SN seem to suggest that only 1 province has an issue with this all Canadian division. The province? BC.

So if Alberta,Manitoba,Ontario and Quebec are fine with the leagues plan for this division, I doubt BC would stop them from doing so. If BC doesn't want Canucks and other teams traveling in and out of the province, I'm sure QC could host the Canucks for the season....

Quebec Canucks? 🤣

[Majingir]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

It's now confirmed.

56 game season, 4 divisions (north,east,south,west, I'd actually be ok with a 4 division format like this going forward instead of 2 conferences).

January 13th is the start date, May 8th is the end of the season.

And as mentioned, top 4 in each division makes the playoffs, the first 2 rounds of the playoffs will still be best of 7s, but it'll be intradivision games.

[DrJones]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

People at TSN and SN seem to suggest that only 1 province has an issue with this all Canadian division. The province? BC.

Alberta having double the number of COVID cases than BC, despite having 20% less population, probably has something to do with it.

[Majingir]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Another report says QC and Ontario apparently haven't signed off on games yet either.

Ontario going to announce more lockdowns starting tomorrow so we'll see how this impacts things.

I just dont see how the North division moves to the US. Worst case is probably a bubble situation, maybe between Calgary and Edmonton (so you can get 2 division games in a day, 1 in each arena). No way they do all this announcements and officially declare the 4 divisions when the North division might wind up in the US, thus negating a need for the diff divisions.

[DrJones]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

COVID's going to be at its peak in mid-January. They should wait until March.

This is just a combination of greed and magical thinking on the NHL's part.

[Majingir]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Fun fact.

The last 40 SCF have featured someone who has played with Jagr.

Take that Shaq.

I wonder who'll be #41?

[Majingir]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Something kind of likely, but theres no way NHL guys will be competing at the next winter olympics right? Summer games possibly cancelled, would NHL be fine letting guys go to the winter olympics in a years time? Was tough enough agreeing to this before 2020, but obviously it would be a tough sell now.

I'd be fine with another world cup of hockey. I know that has less prestige than an Olympics, but if NHL can make it a true international event (maybe even have it in August instead of September), and a small thing, but ditch those awful world cup jerseys we had last time and just have the traditional looks, it would make it better for sure.

[nikethebike]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Something kind of likely, but theres no way NHL guys will be competing at the next winter olympics right? Summer games possibly cancelled, would NHL be fine letting guys go to the winter olympics in a years time? Was tough enough agreeing to this before 2020, but obviously it would be a tough sell now.

I'd be fine with another world cup of hockey. I know that has less prestige than an Olympics, but if NHL can make it a true international event (maybe even have it in August instead of September), and a small thing, but ditch those awful world cup jerseys we had last time and just have the traditional looks, it would make it better for sure.

Yeah it should be a real national team tournament no junior teams or combined nations teams. While those teams were interesting to watch it made the tournament feel like a joke. Didn't feel serious in my opinion.

[Kobalt]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Another reason I wished hockey was more popular is because Tony DeAngelo possibly having a burner account is hilarious but won’t get fraction of coverage Colangelo’s burner account got.

[Majingir]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

2021 really isn't turning out to be any different than 2020.

George Armstrong passed away. 4 time Stanley cup winner and Leafs legend. Nobody will probably ever top the number of games played for the Leafs, or number of seasons either. Almost 1200 games, and 21 seasons. Of all guys to make their debut in the post original 6 era, only Salming,Clark and Sundin are "close" to Armstrongs mark, and all of them played 5+ years fewer for the Leafs than Armstrong.

[nikethebike]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

2021 really isn't turning out to be any different than 2020.

George Armstrong passed away. 4 time Stanley cup winner and Leafs legend. Nobody will probably ever top the number of games played for the Leafs, or number of seasons either. Almost 1200 games, and 21 seasons. Of all guys to make their debut in the post original 6 era, only Salming,Clark and Sundin are "close" to Armstrongs mark, and all of them played 5+ years fewer for the Leafs than Armstrong.

When you hear four time, stanley cup winner and leafs in the same sentence you know he played long ago...


RIP.

[mercalnd]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

2021 really isn't turning out to be any different than 2020.

I don't mean to sound insensitive but it seems a bit overdramatic to me to compare 2021 to 2020 based on old sports legends passing away. I've seen you make a similar comment in the MLB forum. Hank Aaron was 86 years old and George Armstrong was 90. These people have lived long fulfilled lives that solidly exceeded the average life expectancy. This hardly screams "What a horrible year already!"

Of course it's never easy for family and friends and fans to a lesser extent are certainly hurt by their passing away but as time passes by more and more of these legends will pass away just by virtue of so many of them getting way up there in age.

[Majingir]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

I don't mean to sound insensitive but it seems a bit overdramatic to me to compare 2021 to 2020 based on old sports legends passing away. I've seen you make a similar comment in the MLB forum. Hank Aaron was 86 years old and George Armstrong was 90. These people have lived long fulfilled lives that solidly exceeded the average life expectancy. This hardly screams "What a horrible year already!"

Of course it's never easy for family and friends and fans to a lesser extent are certainly hurt by their passing away but as time passes by more and more of these legends will pass away just by virtue of so many of them getting way up there in age.

I didn't mean the whole year and everything going on worldwide, I mean in terms of celeb deaths.

Hank Aaron, George Armstrong, Larry King among others already in 2021.