Hockey

[Alex]

They had no Stanley Cup in 2005, and the NHL survived. Chalk this year's up to COVID19, move on, plan for the 2020-21 season.

[Alps]

They had no Stanley Cup in 2005, and the NHL survived. Chalk this year's up to COVID19, move on, plan for the 2020-21 season.

If I had to pick one sport to return, it's hockey. Let's do this.

[ftballfan]

A new twist in the events. https://www.tsn.ca/nhl-planning-24-team-return-in-2-hub-cities-new-draft-lottery-format-1.1479427

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced Tuesday the league is planning a 24-team Return to Play format but could not give specific dates on when games might start.

Bettman added that he does not believe training camps will open before the first half of July, meaning that if it lasts three weeks the season would likely not resume until August should it be deemed safe to play. Bettman said the Return to Play Committee is still debating whether the format/playoffs will use re-seeding or bracketing.

https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/status/1265381481939156992

As part of Tuesday's announcement, Bettman said the 2019-20 regular season is considered complete.

The 24-team plan will use an order of finish determined by each team's points percentage as of the league pause on March 12. The top four clubs in the Eastern and Western Conference will play separate mini round-robin tournaments to determine seeding for the playoffs. The other eight teams in each conference would play best-of-five "play-in" qualifying series to determine the 16 clubs left standing.

Bettman says the first- and second-round playoff matchups could be either best-of-five or best-of-seven series, but the conference finals and Stanley Cup final will be best-of-seven.

This likely means the 2020-21 season will be a shortened season (possibly 48 games, such as the 2013 season?)

[rickmastfan67]

A new twist in the events. https://www.tsn.ca/nhl-planning-24-team-return-in-2-hub-cities-new-draft-lottery-format-1.1479427

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced Tuesday the league is planning a 24-team Return to Play format but could not give specific dates on when games might start.

Bettman added that he does not believe training camps will open before the first half of July, meaning that if it lasts three weeks the season would likely not resume until August should it be deemed safe to play. Bettman said the Return to Play Committee is still debating whether the format/playoffs will use re-seeding or bracketing.

https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/status/1265381481939156992

As part of Tuesday's announcement, Bettman said the 2019-20 regular season is considered complete.

The 24-team plan will use an order of finish determined by each team’s points percentage as of the league pause on March 12. The top four clubs in the Eastern and Western Conference will play separate mini round-robin tournaments to determine seeding for the playoffs. The other eight teams in each conference would play best-of-five "play-in" qualifying series to determine the 16 clubs left standing.

Bettman says the first- and second-round playoff matchups could be either best-of-five or best-of-seven series, but the conference finals and Stanley Cup final will be best-of-seven.

This likely means the 2020-21 season will be a shortened season (possibly 48 games, such as the 2013 season?)

If shortened, I would think maybe 60-62 (75%) games instead with a few more back-to-back nights.  Especially since a new team is getting added next season.

[1995hoo]

The new team in Seattle is scheduled to begin play in the fall of 2021, not during the upcoming 2020—21 season.

[ET21]

I've given up on baseball starting so hearing hockey might be returning will make my summer 

[Henry]

Yeah, although hockey in July is unconventional, I'll take that over no sports at all.

[Stephane Dumas]

Yeah, although hockey in July is unconventional, I'll take that over no sports at all.

There was once roller hockey from RHI. That's close but no cigar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8jw88NFZsM

[1995hoo]

Good game on TV right now. Caps versus Las Vegas. I have a good feeling about Lars Eller in this one for some reason.

[rickmastfan67]

Yeah, although hockey in July is unconventional, I'll take that over no sports at all.

There was once roller hockey from RHI. That's close but no cigar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8jw88NFZsM

I went to one of those games back in the day for one of my classmates birthday parties @ the Civic Arena!

[rickmastfan67]

NHL Formal Training Camp, The League’s Phase 3 Of Returning To Play, Will Start July 10

https://twitter.com/PR_NHL/status/1271098920425459714

[ET21]

Nice!!!!

[ftballfan]

I've seen that Las Vegas will likely be one of the hub cities for the NHL

[Alps]

I've seen that Las Vegas will likely be one of the hub cities for the NHL

The going assumption is NHL East will play there, NHL West will play in Toronto if they can work it out with Canada (I bet that doesn't happen), else I think Columbus was the other city.

[MisterSG1]

I've seen that Las Vegas will likely be one of the hub cities for the NHL

The going assumption is NHL East will play there, NHL West will play in Toronto if they can work it out with Canada (I bet that doesn't happen), else I think Columbus was the other city.

Which won't happen, and I can only hope that soon enough, your Islanders will be history from the league. The most disgusting and despicable fans there are. fans of the Leafs still remember your antics from the 2002 First Round series.

[Alps]

I've seen that Las Vegas will likely be one of the hub cities for the NHL

The going assumption is NHL East will play there, NHL West will play in Toronto if they can work it out with Canada (I bet that doesn't happen), else I think Columbus was the other city.

Which won't happen, and I can only hope that soon enough, your Islanders will be history from the league. The most disgusting and despicable fans there are. fans of the Leafs still remember your antics from the 2002 First Round series.

The Leafs don't even have fans, so don't start. And instead of Columbus I'm seeing Chicago or even giving up on the East Coast and going to LA.

[rickmastfan67]

I've seen that Las Vegas will likely be one of the hub cities for the NHL

The going assumption is NHL East will play there, NHL West will play in Toronto if they can work it out with Canada (I bet that doesn't happen), else I think Columbus was the other city.

Which won't happen, and I can only hope that soon enough, your Islanders will be history from the league. The most disgusting and despicable fans there are. fans of the Leafs still remember your antics from the 2002 First Round series.

The Leafs don't even have fans, so don't start. And instead of Columbus I'm seeing Chicago or even giving up on the East Coast and going to LA.

I could see LA not being an option IMO.  Pittsburgh on the other hand, I think we're still good to go here on everything that we could host the Eastern teams without any issues.

[Stephane Dumas]

The Leafs don't even have fans, so don't start. And instead of Columbus I'm seeing Chicago or even giving up on the East Coast and going to LA.

If the Leafs have no fans. Some memes tell otherwise.

[MisterSG1]

Islanders have the most disgusting fan base around.

In the 2002 playoffs, they booed O Canada in every home playoff game in the series against the Leafs. Fans also burned Canadian flags that a fan had on his car in the parking lot prior to Game 6.

To further add insult to injury, this was right after 4 Canadian soldiers, the first to die since in combat since the Korean War were killed in a friendly fire incident.

[Stephane Dumas]

Seems there one guy who's isn't happy with the current playoffs format.  The Downfall parody clip never get old, lol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWOfGUBnPp8

[rickmastfan67]

NHL is back!  Too bad the Penguins lost to the Flyers in OT today, but it was an Exhibition game at least.

[Alps]

NHL is back!  Too bad the Penguins lost to the Flyers in OT today, but it was an Exhibition game at least.

I don't care that the Rangers lost. I care that they played.

[Stephane Dumas]

We got some surprises, the Pittsburgh Penguins was kicked out by the Montreal Canadiens. https://www.tsn.ca/artturi-lehkonen-scores-winner-as-montreal-canadiens-shock-pittsburgh-penguins-for-series-win-1.1505963

[I-55]

We got some surprises, the Pittsburgh Penguins was kicked out by the Montreal Canadiens. https://www.tsn.ca/artturi-lehkonen-scores-winner-as-montreal-canadiens-shock-pittsburgh-penguins-for-series-win-1.1505963

That didn't take long. Goes to show the level of parity in the league, only one sweep (Carolina over NY Rangers), and many classic comebacks like Columbus and Toronto in game 3... and game 4, with plenty of overtime games.

[ET21]

Hawks play Vegas in round one, Lightning are once again playing mehhh against the Jackets at the moment.

Rangers got the #1 pick for the draft