We all know it has been stated that the definition of madness is doing the identical factor over and over and anticipating a unique consequence. I am undecided if this definition applies to the NHL and the match format or to me Writing roughly yearly for the previous decade.
Each, I think.
I perceive that the NHL does nothing to supply rewards for achievement and all the things it may to degree the enjoying discipline. the The utmost penalty, in fact, is the core of the league’s obligation to implement restrictions That tendon is most vital for profitable groups extra shortly than others.
So does this extremely unfair format by which two of the 5 at the moment greatest groups within the league—the fourth Toronto and the fifth Tampa Bay—meet within the first spherical. In the meantime, the Tenth-best or Eleventh-best group within the NHL — Seattle and Vegas, respectively — can be assured to advance to the second spherical if this matchup continues.
These are the inequalities which might be constructed into the 2-to-3 first-round match. It occurs nearly each season. Final season, the Maple Leafs-Lightning first spherical matched the fourth-best and eighth-best groups. The format was completely different through the 2020-21 and 2019-20 seasons affected by COVID. In 2017-18, the groups with one of the best data within the NHL performed Nashville and Winnipeg, respectively, within the second spherical, whereas Boston and Toronto got here out 4-7 within the first spherical.
In 2016-17, Pittsburgh confronted second-ranked fourth general Columbus—sure, that is proper—within the first spherical. The 12 months earlier than that, the third 12 months Blues met the fifth Blackhawks within the opening spherical. This isn’t a whim. It’s the coordination characteristic.
It could’t be in regards to the rivalries as a result of the NHL has gone to nice lengths to make them anachronisms. There is no such thing as a legit cause why the NHL mustn’t undertake the 1-8 convention refill format that existed from 1999 to 2013, besides that it might imply the top of the brackets.
Sure that is it. Advertising and marketing brackets take priority over aggressive integrity.
We all know that if the NHL can legitimize, say, No. 12 and No. 14 golf equipment general reaching the Convention Finals, that might reinforce the message that if you may make it, you’ve got an opportunity. This represents genetic engineering. It is the Ninth Avenue motto.
However why on the earth do membership house owners go together with this folly? Why would house owners who spend to the restrict, rent the appropriate individuals, ship a first-rate product (12 months after 12 months after 12 months), and endorse a system the place their group has an extreme probability of getting a most of 4 dwelling playoff dates?
one other season. One other event by which elite groups face one another within the first spherical. Maybe the US Open might supply a first-round match between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz in August. It could make as a lot sense because the Nationwide Hockey League sport format.
Yr after 12 months. This isn’t simply loopy. It’s asinine.
Greater than a good quantity of credit score goes to Gary Bettman for his steadfast opposition to including a play-by-play tier to a event that would embrace a group that may be twenty second general. Why anybody would assume {that a} group that finishes Tenth in a 16-team convention deserves a crack on the Stanley Cup is past me.
Opting out of Ivan Provorov’s Pleasure Evening in Philadelphia on January seventeenth It appears to have had a scary ripple impact that has reached not less than so far as New York, the place Rangers on Friday backtracked from their public dedication to warming up earlier than the sport sporting Pleasure T-shirts whereas utilizing a Pleasure themed ribbon..
The group has acknowledged the LGBTQ+ group all through Pleasure Evening, however has repeatedly refused to supply a proof as to why the group carried out warm-ups of their customized Liberty jerseys with gamers utilizing their normal black ribbon.
It was not decreed by the NHL. Deputy Commissioner Invoice Daley informed The Publish in an electronic mail that “each membership is entitled to proceed as they see match”.
After that sport on Friday, two gamers individually informed my teammate, Molly Walker and myself, that the gamers had not been consulted and that they solely knew they had been going to put on their normal warms after they reported to the rink.
The conclusion is {that a} high-ranking govt fears the prospect of withdrawal might turn into divisive and steps in to forestall it. It needs to be famous, nonetheless, that the Rangers wore rainbow warm-ups and used rainbow ribbon in celebration of Pleasure Evening the earlier two seasons.
Nobody will step ahead to take credit score or accountability for the decision. It’s as if it was an immaculate choice, made by the use of a plank on prime of a mountain.
Nevertheless it’s about extra than simply Rangers.
Far more.
As a result of if one protester can shut down a league-wide program for worry of imitating habits, what are we going to do right here?
What will we do?
A query for our time: Are the Islanders—2-7-3 of their earlier 12 video games, Eleventh in share factors within the East heading into their Saturday evening sport towards the Golden Knights—among the many NHL’s greatest disappointments, or are they precisely what individuals ought to have anticipated?
I believe Each issues will be true concurrently.
So, the 1984 tank sample. Because the Penguins had been embarking on a brazen recruiting spree, Mario Lemieux, Devils coach Tom McPhee was utilizing the No. 66 prospect as a shout-out to fringe forwards like Rick Meagher, Gary McAdam and Glenn Mirkowski to not let him. Come to New Jersey and take one in all their jobs.
Wait, Kirk Mueller II generally would not do the identical factor?
In recognition of the No. 50 spot, Will Coyle made his NHL debut on Wednesday for the Rangers, rating gamers who wore numbers within the 50s for our three groups: 1. Ryan Lindgren, No. 55, Rangers; 2 – Frans Nielsen, No. 51, Islanders; 3 – Casey Cyzikas, No. 53, Islanders; 4 – Johnny Boychuck, #55, Islanders; 5. Jason Blake, No. 55, Islanders. Honorable Point out: Fedor Tyutin, No. 51, Rangers; Recall: Marty McSorley, No. 55, Rangers.
Nicely, who’s again on factors? Denis Potvin and Stefan Pearson or Brian Leach and Sergey Zubov?