Confirmed with Link: NHL & NHLPA Reach tentative agreement on 56 game schedule

[fahad203]

Going to be interesting. Early games will probably have a lot of line experiments.

At the same time with just 56 games too, each one is more valuable to win than during a regular 82 game season

I am so stoked for this. I didn’t care to watch games between the coyotes or red wings. They are so many meaningless games every year. This year going to be so awesome

especially players with 1 year contacts, they are going to play their hearts out. Along with the fact that so many new faces with new teams with these one year deals

unfortunately another year where we won’t see any Jack Eichel in the playoffs

 

[Menzinger]

I am so stoked for this. I didn’t care to watch games between the coyotes or red wings. They are so many meaningless games every year. This year going to be so awesome

especially players with 1 year contacts, they are going to play their hearts out. Along with the fact that so many new faces with new teams with these one year deals

unfortunately another year where we won’t see any Jack Eichel in the playoffs

If it wasn't for statistical records continuity is rather see the NHL play around a 62 game schedule under normal circumstances. Every team coasts for around 10-15 games every season (like the Leafs during West coast trips). Playoff hockey should ideally be over and done with by end of April.

Definitely should prove to be an exciting season this year for more than a few teasing

 

[Riellyfan04]

Are leafs playin in toronto?

 

[Clark4Ever]

Are leafs playin in toronto?

It's all up in the air now with Ontario set to enter a full scale province wide lockdown for 28 days starting on Christmas Eve.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Sounds like Ford will most likely give the stamp of approval but still not for sure.

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

It's all up in the air now with Ontario set to enter a full scale province wide lockdown for 28 days starting on Christmas Eve.

I find it very hard to imagine that whatever was just agreed upon, Ontario would just shut it down the very next day. It's not like Ontario has just learned today that they will be putting in stronger restrictions. It's likely been brewing for a week and made it into discussions w/ the League.

 

[Coachcorner]

I am so stoked for this. I didn’t care to watch games between the coyotes or red wings. They are so many meaningless games every year. This year going to be so awesome

especially players with 1 year contacts, they are going to play their hearts out. Along with the fact that so many new faces with new teams with these one year deals

unfortunately another year where we won’t see any Jack Eichel in the playoffs

You are so spot on sire. You got it right and see this life and this thang correctly I'm bout that too. Our canadian division will stoke very other sucka like real hard when this thang gets going. 13th it is then. We are going to see some of the biggest hockey ever to be played this year. Gary Bettman is an ice hockey lover and he got his way again. Me and so many other hftoronto boarders knew this will happen. We knew the season was going to be played and stated so over 2 months ago again. WE WON!!!!! :pump: :stoked: :cigar: :burn: :human being: :human: :man: :ego: :toronto: :maple leaf: :maple leafs: :matthews: :tavares: :marner: :belfour: :drunk: :arrested:

 

[Clark4Ever]

I find it very hard to imagine that whatever was just agreed upon, Ontario would just shut it down the very next day. It's not like Ontario has just learned today that they will be putting in stronger restrictions. It's likely been brewing for a week and made it into discussions w/ the League.

I hope you're right, but the last time around, there were no exemptions for professional sports leagues.

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

I hope you're right, but the last time around, there were no exemptions for professional sports leagues.

Once there was an agreement on precautions, I don't think there was concern it would be revoked later. I would think so long as testing across the league isn't showing signs of wide-spread infection across players and staff, the provinces who agreed would likely continue.

That said, it now appears that this is all contingent on provincial approval which is still in progress, so I suppose there is still opportunity for some provinces to shut it down.

 

[Deebo]

I hope you're right, but the last time around, there were no exemptions for professional sports leagues.

When Toronto entered the grey zone on November 23rd, there was an exempetion for the NHL:

What's allowed and what's not in Ontario's lockdown zone

Indoor individual and team sports (including training) not permitted with exemptions for high performance, including parasport athletes, and professional leagues (e.g., NHL, CFL, MLS, NBA)

From what I understand the further restrictions coming on Thursday is expanding the grey zone to cover the entire province, not re-defining the restrictions for grey zones.

We'll see what happens though,

 

[Clark4Ever]

Once there was an agreement on precautions, I don't think there was concern it would be revoked later. I would think so long as testing across the league isn't showing signs of wide-spread infection across players and staff, the provinces who agreed would likely continue.

That said, it now appears that this is all contingent on provincial approval which is still in progress, so I suppose there is still opportunity for some provinces to shut it down.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter where the games are played (from a fan standpoint). I'm sure the league is already working on contingency plans to be in place to house the Canadian teams in American cities just in case.

 

[Confucius]

I find it very hard to imagine that whatever was just agreed upon, Ontario would just shut it down the very next day. It's not like Ontario has just learned today that they will be putting in stronger restrictions. It's likely been brewing for a week and made it into discussions w/ the League.

If this were an election year, it would be a slam dunk we're playing.

 

[Clark4Ever]

When Toronto entered the grey zone on November 23rd, there was an exempetion for the NHL:

What's allowed and what's not in Ontario's lockdown zone



From what I understand the further restrictions coming on Thursday is expanding the grey zone to cover the entire province, not re-defining the restrictions for grey zones.

We'll see what happens though,

That is reassuring. The article I read on CP24 earlier today suggested that the lockdown would resemble the one in March earlier this year.

 

[egd27]

An asterisk doesn’t necessarily need to be negative, it’s just a way to denote an unusual situation.

These guys kill me. We haven't won a playoff round in over 15 years and they're worried about a possible asterisk being attached to this year's Cup.

 

[BTP]

Finally.

Jan 13 is close enough. Lets GO

 

[member 300185]

I like it. There is not one Canadian team better than the Leafs. Certainly not Montreal or Ottawa. Edmonton will be close.

 

[Brown Dog]

So, on paper, this format benefits the Leafs?

Yeah, what could possibly go wrong? Things usually turn out well for the Leafs, right?

 

[Coachcorner]

So, on paper, this format benefits the Leafs?

Yeah, what could possibly go wrong? Things usually turn out well for the Leafs, right?

Your sarcasm is fantastico tico sire, but our leafs with our current new thugs is not to pushed with. Our current Simmonds, Bogostick and Big Joe Thornton.... mayne, these suckas is not to played withed. See how they score more than anybody (Joe's like the biggest point scorer ever behind wayne gretzky) and Simmonds being that powerful powerplay fool (although he'll play in our second PP), our current new thugs will rule the ice hockey world and yell thangs hard. They will TALK TALK AND TALK MORE. YELL YELL AND YELL MORE. Everybody will get an earful when this thang gets going sire. They gon need some ear plugs, hard. It's gon be the domi tucker days all over again. I love life sire.

 

[weems]

 

[BayStBullies]

Besides Ottawa at #7, it's insane how close 1-6 is; should be a fun division to watch, especially in a 56-game season. I could see a division-clinch/playoff-miss going down to the wire.

My guess:
1. Leafs
2. Flames
3. Canucks
4. Canadiens
5. Oilers
6. Jets
7. Ottawa

Wherever Harmonic signs may shake it up.

Jets way too low

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

Of those 7 CDN teams 4 are guaranteed to make the playoffs, and 2 are guaranteed to be in round #2 no matter what happens. You're never going to get any better odds than that !!!.

Considering last year the top 10 best teams in the standings all played in the USA, so that puts all 7 of the CDN in the bottom 20 in strength of competition. So you're eliminating 1/3 the leagues best teams from the Canadian Div competition, while guaranteeing 1 of those a final 4 spot in the playoffs in round #3.

So while Toronto gets to play Ottawa 9-10 times in the regular season, a team like Boston from our original Div needs to play Pens (Crosby/Malkin), Was (OV) and Philly 9-10 times etc just to qualify for the playoffs. Strength of Schedule of Div is not balanced, where equal odds of advancement would assume all teams are equal in strength so it doesn't matter whom you play.

For a Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup they only have to beat 6 other Canadian teams, and max 2 or 24 USA teams or 8 teams total to hoist the Cup and potentially never face Boston, TB, Pitts, Washington etc even a single game.

Of those 24 US teams 12 are guaranteed to make the playoffs, and 6 are guaranteed to be in round #2 no matter what happens. You're never going to get any better odds than that !!!.

Considering last year 9 out of 11 of the worst teams in the standings all played in the USA, so that puts over 70% of CDN division in the top 20 of strength of competition, and 70% of the US competition in the bottom 20 of strength of competition. So you're injecting 2/3 of the leagues worst teams into the US division competition, while guaranteeing 3 of those a final 4 spot in the playoffs in round #3.

So while Boston gets to play Buffalo and NJ 16 times in the regular season, a team like Toronto from their original Div needs to play Edm (McDavid/Draisaitl), Van (Pettersson, Q. Hughes) and Cgy 9-10 times etc just to qualify for the playoffs. Strength of Schedule of Div is not balanced, where equal odds of advancement would assume all teams are equal in strength so it doesn't matter whom you play.

For a US team to win the Stanley Cup they only have to beat 7 other US teams, and max of 1 or 2 Canadian teams or 9 teams total to hoist the Cup and potentially never face Toronto, St. Louis, Colorado, Dallas etc even a single game.

 

[Warden of the North]

I'm going to enjoy not playing Florida, Carolina, Buffalo, Columbus this season. All teams that seem to have thoroughly unenjoyable games vs the Leafs on a regular basis.

 

[Warden of the North]

Anyways, I'd be surprised if the Leafs start the season in Toronto given the imminent lockdown coming.

 

[ToneDog]

Of those 24 US teams 12 are guaranteed to make the playoffs, and 6 are guaranteed to be in round #2 no matter what happens. You're never going to get any better odds than that !!!.

Considering last year 9 out of 11 of the worst teams in the standings all played in the USA, so that puts over 70% of CDN division in the top 20 of strength of competition, and 70% of the US competition in the bottom 20 of strength of competition. So you're injecting 2/3 of the leagues worst teams into the US division competition, while guaranteeing 3 of those a final 4 spot in the playoffs in round #3.

So while Boston gets to play Buffalo and NJ 16 times in the regular season, a team like Toronto from their original Div needs to play Edm (McDavid/Draisaitl), Van (Pettersson, Q. Hughes) and Cgy 9-10 times etc just to qualify for the playoffs. Strength of Schedule of Div is not balanced, where equal odds of advancement would assume all teams are equal in strength so it doesn't matter whom you play.

For a US team to win the Stanley Cup they only have to beat 7 other US teams, and max of 1 or 2 Canadian teams or 9 teams total to hoist the Cup and potentially never face Toronto, St. Louis, Colorado, Dallas etc even a single game.

Sounds like the excuses are starting early

Me I just want to watch some hockey with some fans in the arena.

 

[ToneDog]

I'm going to enjoy not playing Florida, Carolina, Buffalo, Columbus this season. All teams that seem to have thoroughly unenjoyable games vs the Leafs on a regular basis.

Unless the Sens still suck or Winnipeg takes a step back, most games will be 50/50 and who wants it more. It won't be a picnic for the Leafs IMO unless they found a new gear since their exit from their playoff qualifier.