What exactly is parity? Doesnthe NHL- or any league- really have it?

[Chips]

It just means any team can win, which is the case already even with LTIR stuff.


Montreal made the final, and they likely would have missed the playoffs in a non covid regular season.

The Isles, who outperformed their talent level by a lot, took the expensive Bolts to game 7.

The expensive Knights got put down in the first round. I feel like I’m forgetting something, but yeah

 

[PistolPete]

NFL futures odds: How many new playoff teams will there be this year?

Offseason moves, injuries, coaching changes, and a 17-game schedule lead to more year-over-year NFL playoff turnover than you may think.There's been an average of 5.85 new postseason teams compared to the year prior since 1990, according to USA Today's Nate Davis. That number increased to nearly...

www.thescore.com

THAT is parity and an incredible statistic. The NFL has nailed it when it comes to parity and cost certainty.

If I'm understanding that article, it's not accounting for the additional playoff spot in the average number of new teams.

I hate the lottery system but I get why it is done. There just aren't enough superstars to go around in the NHL. Expansion is partly to blame as well. Bettman sucks.

Even in the 6 team league not every team had a superstar. And they expanded even then- to double the teams and tripled in size by 8 years later, so I don't think Bettman is the issue.

But I guess this also begs the question what exactly is a superstar?

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Yes. When there’s no parity it’s like European soccer leagues. A few mega clubs can spend 50x what other teams in their league can spend, and they buy up all and every hot young prospect as soon as they start breaking out

 

[T REX]

NFL doesn’t have guaranteed contracts which is a huge advantage. Teams can just get rid of underperforming players instead of being stuck with an anchor

Unfortunately, more and more contracts have guaranteed like Deshaun Watson's for example...a lot of contracts now have "guaranteed" money in their language. I have always hated any guaranteed money...especially when a player gets paid for having ONE good/great year. That contract year BS drives me nuts.

 

[PistolPete]

Bingo. I don't think you see Cup wins for teams like Carolina, and Anaheim without a cap.

Parity means every team has a chance to build a contender. I couldn't bother watching a sport like Baseball where some of the teams are basically feeder teams for the big money clubs. Hockey was getting like that in the mid 90s and on until the lockout year, and my interest was low.

But does every team really have a chance to build a contender?

Some markets are more desirable than others to attract players; talent is relative and so some team has to end up with the lesser talent- both for players and management. Not every team creates the type of culture conducive to becoming a contender...

I sometimes have to wonder if parity is a meaningless concept inside of sports aside from perhaps a comparison amongst sports (NHL v NBA v NFL)

 

[PistolPete]

Yes. When there’s no parity it’s like European soccer leagues. A few mega clubs can spend 50x what other teams in their league can spend, and they buy up all and every hot young prospect as soon as they start breaking out

But is there parity even in the NHL when some markets are more desirable than others?

 

[PistolPete]

It just means any team can win, which is the case already even with LTIR stuff.


Montreal made the final, and they likely would have missed the playoffs in a non covid regular season.

The Isles, who outperformed their talent level by a lot, took the expensive Bolts to game 7.

The expensive Knights got put down in the first round. I feel like I’m forgetting something, but yeah

How does a team qualify as expensive?

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

But is there parity even in the NHL when some markets are more desirable than others?

Is this a real question?

 

[PistolPete]

Is this a real question?

Yup.

 

[Chips]

How does a team qualify as expensive?

Over the cap by a lot, in this context.

 

[UED]

Socialism, that's what parity is.

 

[jetsforever]

In MLB, because of the nature of the game, the As can beat the Mets on any given day too. Parity like that does exist in MLB. Just like in the NHL.

However, the 2025 Rockies cannot beat anyone.

 

[Crunchrulz]

Folks will explain "parity" as they see it, however, we are watching a Stanley Cup Final that involves the Sixth Seed from one conference and the Fifth Seed from the other Conference.

Difficult to argue the league lacks "parity" when that is taken into consideration.

 

[avocadosmoothie]

Parity means everyone has the same opportunity. Every team has to operate within a given set of parameters financially, and fittingly parity is a financial term in origin. Teams will still ebb and flow as players come and go, some will get stuck in a funk for a while, some will have relatively sustained success, but at least everyone knows that if they make the right personnel moves they can have a shot.

So that means that we don’t have parity right? Since no tax states don’t operate within the same parameters financially as taxed states