Around the NHL: 2024-25 Season, Are You Not Entertained?

[Fjordy]

By the way, Kaprizov played against Jets today, apparently the injury was not serious.

 

[Caroline Says ll]

I really hope the Canucks can dominate the Bruins tonight, get that goal differential even worse. Cut their win streak down right at 2.

 

[Jim Bob]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5948580/2024/11/25/paul-bissonnette-nhl-assault-group/

In a three-minute video posted to X, Bissonnette said the altercation took place inside and outside of Houston’s restaurant after he observed a group of guests cause issues with the restaurant manager. The 39-year-old Bissonnette said he is a regular diner at the establishment and attempted to intervene after a member of the group laid his hands on the manager.

“You could tell he was a little shocked and surprised and stunned,” said Bissonnette. “It’s a family restaurant. I don’t think there was anybody in there who could go maybe like help him out. I went over, I just grabbed the guy’s arm that was on him. I said, ‘Sir, if you continue to harass and assault the staff, we’re going to have problems.’

“And then they just started chucking, so it escalated extremely quickly.”

Bissonnette said he fought with seven people in total. Six of those men were arrested and are accused of assault and disorderly conduct, according to Fox 10 Phoenix.

 

[Beerz]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5948580/2024/11/25/paul-bissonnette-nhl-assault-group/

Good on Biz.

 

[NotABadPeriod]

Bruins drop another game. If the Sabres can keep banking wins here...

 

[Caroline Says ll]

Bruins drop another game. If the Sabres can keep banking wins here...

Honestly looking at that team - I do not see how they get out of their funk. This was probably their best defensive game this year and they still found a way to lose to a team that got less than 15 shots.

Their team has become slow, they lack forwards who can provide offence other than Pastrnak and Marchand, and their defence lacks any flair. Their powerplay is league worst, and even with the new coach bump they still have only scored 3 goals in his 3 games.

I think for them to even maintain in the Wildcard race they to have Swayman even out and Pastrnak produce as he has in the past two years - and both of those have started out poorly.

Love to see it.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Balls in our court tomorrow - let’s get a win and keep it rolling with 4. Hoping for a great crowd

 

[alehman42]

Balls in our court tomorrow - let’s get a win and keep it rolling with 4. Hoping for a great crowd

You should probably check with Mats to make sure it isn't one of his over in our court.

(Too soon? )

 

[Jacob582]

Boston got goalied tonight. Lankinen is 8-0 in away games.

Vancouver plays Pittsburgh tomorrow (Wednesday) night before they play Buffalo on Friday.

 

[Chainshot]

Boston got goalied tonight. Lankinen is 8-0 in away games.

Vancouver plays Pittsburgh tomorrow (Wednesday) night before they play Buffalo on Friday.

Yeah, Vancouver will be in the midst of 3 in 4 on the road when they come in to Buffalo.

In the meantime, Minny... tough nut to crack.

 

[Dubi Doo]

It sucks the Leafs are winning. My psychopathic mind loves to read a couple of pages of their post-game threads after a couple of losses.

Good on Biz.

Yeah. Most people aren't going to have the balls to step up to a group of rowdy dudes, and for good reason- most of us aren't NHL enforcers who ate and gave punches for their career. My 160 lb ass probably would've been laid out in 10 seconds, though I am a scrappy bastard.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Boston got goalied tonight. Lankinen is 8-0 in away games.

Vancouver plays Pittsburgh tomorrow (Wednesday) night before they play Buffalo on Friday.

Boston played well enough that I think their playoff chances went up (according to the models) even though they lost.

 

[Chainshot]

Boston played well enough that I think their playoff chances went up (according to the models) even though they lost.

They've been a bit better since the coaching change. There are too many vets on that squad to think they will simply fade. I won't declare them out until the day they put the little mark beside them in the standings stating they've been eliminated.

 

[Beerz]

Sounds like Erik Portillo is getting his first NHL start tonight.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

What a snipe

 

[Chainshot]

Sounds like Erik Portillo is getting his first NHL start tonight.

Rittich got the start.

 

[sabremike]

I know I'm going to cop a lot of shit here for saying this but the NHL really needs to follow the NBA's lead in expanding the playoffs.

 

[Zman5778]

I know I'm going to cop a lot of shit here for saying this but the NHL really needs to follow the NBA's lead in expanding the playoffs.

Not going to give you any shit.....yet.

What's your reasoning?

 

[sabremike]

Not going to give you any shit.....yet.

What's your reasoning?

Because it feels like the entire league is an insane caste system where the same teams make the playoffs forever and the same teams fail forever. Forget us, we are closing in on multiple teams having double digit playoff droughts. Another idea would be scrapping divisions altogether because it's absurd when you end up in a division of death where your only chance is sneaking into a last wild card spot. A single table for each conference would make things much more fair.

 

[Chainshot]

With the loss last night and other results, Buffalo is yet again on the outside of the Thanksgiving playoff line.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

With the loss last night and other results, Buffalo is yet again on the outside of the Thanksgiving playoff line.

At least it’s American thanksgiving and not Canadian thanksgiving. Although they were out of the playoffs then too.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

Because it feels like the entire league is an insane caste system where the same teams make the playoffs forever and the same teams fail forever. Forget us, we are closing in on multiple teams having double digit playoff droughts. Another idea would be scrapping divisions altogether because it's absurd when you end up in a division of death where your only chance is sneaking into a last wild card spot. A single table for each conference would make things much more fair.

The wild card system is terrible

 

[ValJamesDuex]

With the loss last night and other results, Buffalo is yet again on the outside of the Thanksgiving playoff line.

 

[Ehran]

Because it feels like the entire league is an insane caste system where the same teams make the playoffs forever and the same teams fail forever. Forget us, we are closing in on multiple teams having double digit playoff droughts. Another idea would be scrapping divisions altogether because it's absurd when you end up in a division of death where your only chance is sneaking into a last wild card spot. A single table for each conference would make things much more fair.

I think the league needs to revamp several things about playoff seeding and how the NHL treats "less successful" organizations.

But in a league where half the teams make the playoffs, expanding the field even further isn't the answer, IMO.

 

[Zman5778]

But in a league where half the teams make the playoffs, expanding the field even further isn't the answer, IMO.

Totally agreed. What I would do, personally:

No wild cards, but adjust the schedule.

8 games vs. teams in the division (56 games)
2 games vs. teams in the other division in your conference (16 games)
1 game against each team in another division in the other conference (8 games)
80 games. 74% against teams in your division. Playoffs are simple: top 4 in each division...play to a division champ, then conference champ, then SC champ.

The alternative, keeping wild cards but adjusting that: top 2 in every division, then next best 4. Top 2 in each division get home ice advantage (ie, they're the top 4 seeds).
5 games vs. teams in your division (35 games)
4 games vs. teams in the other division in your conference (32 games)
2 games vs. teams in another division in the other conference (16 games)
83 games. Vast majority in-conference with a slight edge to divisional play. Playoffs are a straight 1-8 seed (again, top 2 in each division get the top 4 seeds). No re-seeding.

If you want to go crazy with mike's 16-team-single-division idea:
4 games vs. every other team in your conference (60 games)
1 game vs. each team in the other conference (16 games)
1 "extra" game vs. teams that used to be in your division

I don't think that expanding the playoff field is a real option for one major reason: regardless of what basketball players say/believe/think.....the playoffs in hockey are by far the most endurance-testing time in any of the major sports. Adding more playoff hockey might lead the players to revolt.

MAYBE expanding the playoffs could work if the round of 16 (and maybe the round of 8) were Bo5. Not sure if there's appetite for that though.