You're really close to getting it.
Both of these ideas have only been proposed numerous times, and had explained numerous times why they won't work and are likely to cause more problems than they problem they purport to fix, but sure ... let's keep lobbing it out like if we keep saying it enough times, it will fix all the problems it will really cause.
Right. That's how the conspiracy works. Physicians put their professional reputations on the line signing bogus injury reports. Vegas intentionally parks players on the sidelines and goes into a tailspin. They eventually get guys at the deadline, but the tailspin puts them in a spot where now they really have to work hard to secure a playoff spot and they still end up with a tougher opponent than if they'd just played everyone, no IR, no LTIR. They get everyone back for the playoffs, play the tougher opponents, no home ice advantage, everyone has to expend more energy as a result, and that's an easier path to success and a Cup than if they'd just played everyone, won games in the regular season and played the weaker opponents in the playoffs, with home ice advantage throughout.
It's f***ing brilliant, and it's a foolproof plan. Especially that whole "go play tougher opponents, no home ice advantage" thing. I can't believe other teams haven't caught on to that and started exploiting it themselves.
