NHL should keep its 2020-21 alignment until a Canadian team wins the Cup

[Davenport]

So, forever?

 

[MMC]

It would be the only way the first three rounds of the playoffs are guaranteed to be on Canadian TV.

If the previous format is used and all Canadian playoff teams are eliminated before the final four, then Rogers and CBC should back out of televising the rest of the playoffs, demoting Canadian TV coverage to Centre Ice.

If it gets to the point where in Canada, the SCF is only available through Centre Ice as a result of being between two American teams, then it would seal Gary Bettman's removal as commissioner, in favor of one who would get the Canadian teams dominant again.

A new, pro-Canada commissioner would likely institute rules that give Canadian players larger incentive to sign with Canadian teams over American teams.

these cannot be serious posts. What in the world makes you think anyone has any desire to force Bettman out? Why would Canadian networks purposely forego the revenue from airing playoff hockey? And why the hell should Canadian teams be able to offer special incentives given to them by the league. What would this even be?

 

[RefalancheStillLose]

That moment when people still think a commissioner is a single entity with his own agenda and not a mouthpiece for the owners and their agenda.


Seriously op post is bad.

Canadian teams struggle because of their fans and the media.

You guys put tons of pressure on players and run them out of town the first second they don't live up to your opinion of what/where they should be.

Look at all the hate Marner got after Toronto lost, not just from fans.

Nothing says go play in a more relaxed market like rabid assholes dissecting your every mistake.

The Canadian teams don't have rules stacked against them.
And no commissioner is going to come in and make pro canadian team rules, because he works for all 32 owners not just the 7 canadian owners.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

these cannot be serious posts. What in the world makes you think anyone has any desire to force Bettman out? Why would Canadian networks purposely forego the revenue from airing playoff hockey? And why the hell should Canadian teams be able to offer special incentives given to them by the league. What would this even be?

I don't think hes being serious.

 

[DS7]

No. This narrative of a country needing a cup in the NHL like its a national sport/issue needs to die. Like yesterday

 

[snag]

Personally....I would rather they find a way to get rid of NMCs and NTCs (meaning convince the PA and players through some sort of incentive). They handcuff teams and undermine them in their abilities to be competitive.

If you don't like it and refuse to report...your contract is suspended and until it is served you can go get a real f***ing job like the rest of us schmucks for 1/100th as much as your entitled ass makes playing a game.

 

[Lua]

Before further replies are made, I encourage people to read my occupation and location.

You have the right to voice your opinions

Everyone else has the right to call them what they are

 

[Silencio]

Canadian teams struggle because of their fans and the media.

You guys put tons of pressure on players and run them out of town the first second they don't live up to your opinion of what/where they should be.

Undeniably a factor, yet I find it funny how this only ever seems to apply to hockey. Yankees and Lakers players face the same extreme pressure from their respective fans and media, but those teams have little trouble attracting and retaining star talent. Like, the notion of LeBron leaving LA because he couldn't take the fan pressure or got tired of their media is laughable but if Auston Matthews does the same thing in 3 years, as hockey fans we'll accept it as par for the course. Generally speaking top athletes from other sports tend to seek out and even thrive under the spotlight of major fan/media markets, but hockey players would rather golf in anonymity it seems. Maybe it's a personality thing, I don't know.

 

[snag]

Maybe it's personality thing, I don't know.

Totally a personality thing and a result of difference in the culture in whicht are brought up

 

[kodoshin]

Why stop here? NHL should just award the Stanley Cup to a Canadian franchise every 3rd year and everyone else plays for a red Solo cup.

Upside: Don't have to worry about someone dropping a Solo cup.

 

[Silencio]

Totally a personality thing and a result of difference in the culture in whicht are brought up

You're probably right. And I know these guys are human beings and not robots, and the external pressures they face are enormous. But with the extreme focus and drive (and ego) it takes to be the best at their craft, I still find it a little strange that the top hockey players in the world - and again I'm generalizing - wouldn't want to play and showcase their talents in the "meccas" of hockey, just as the top actors in the world are drawn to Hollywood and the top engineers to Silicon Valley.

 

[the_fan]

If they kept this covid divisions, I'd stop watching NHL. That was just a horrible boring divisional games and aside from couple of exciting playoff games, the rest was snooze fest

 

[GoldenSeal]

these cannot be serious posts. What in the world makes you think anyone has any desire to force Bettman out? Why would Canadian networks purposely forego the revenue from airing playoff hockey? And why the hell should Canadian teams be able to offer special incentives given to them by the league. What would this even be?

How are Canadian networks making cash when most of their teams can’t make it past the first round?

Taxes in Florida tells the tale.

Problem is, Canada is far too Socialist in its thinking to consider giving a tax break or exempt status to one of the few things they’re known and prided over worldwide. Taxes ARE the problem for those franchises plus the tax nightmare of playing for a Canadian team playing a lot of games in AMERICAN cities. There are 25 Non-Canadian teams.

Yes, the Canadian teams and player should get an exemption to even the playing field whether it’s from the Gov’t (LOL) or from the NHL. If they can support dogs in the desert, they can help even the board for the franchises that MADE and are the backbone of the NHL and it’s history and legacy.

 

[Big Z Man 1990]

Alright people opposed to the continued existence of the all-Canadian Division need to realize something.

It isn't the only division in sports with teams separated by at least two time zones. The West Division as it existed this past season also counts.

They occur in the other major leagues too:
NFL: The AFC West has one Central Time Zone team, Kansas City, and two Pacific Time Zone teams, Las Vegas and LA Chargers
NBA: The Northwest Division has two Central Time Zone teams, Minnesota and Oklahoma City, and one Pacific team, Portland

Perhaps the most glaring example is MLB's AL West. The two teams in Texas, the Astros and Rangers, are in the Central Time Zone, the remaining teams are in the Pacific. Each year, both teams have to play at least 27 road games on the West Coast, and have far fewer off days than NHL teams.

 

[tsujimoto74]

...No.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

The NHL ought to put a second and third franchise in Toronto...and a second franchise in Montreal. More Canadian franchises equal more shots at the 'Cup...and who else other than Toronto and Montreal have the fanbases and resources to add an expansion franchise that could essentially start from top on day one?

 

[CupsOverCash]

Lol this is funny to see.

 

[castle]

Uh, the division was a one time gimic. No need for a Canadian based team to win a cup. Great if one does for people that seem to have a fixation with it, but it's not really that big a deal

 

[viper0220]

I think we will see the "North Division" for at least one more year.

I don't see the situation getting better, the situation might get worse.

If I had to guess, the "North Division", stays for at least 2 more years.

 

[GoldenSeal]

Seriously how the hell do you have ONE division across ALL time zones but will split up the rest of the league pretty much biased on time zone?

FAIL

 

[gstommylee]

I think we will see the "North Division" for at least one more year.

I don't see the situation getting better, the situation might get worse.

If I had to guess, the "North Division", stays for at least 2 more years.

THe NHL and the union did not agree to go beyond this past season for the alignment....

 

[viper0220]

THe NHL and the union did not agree to go beyond this past season for the alignment....

They will need to.

 

[Lua]

How are Canadian networks making cash when most of their teams can’t make it past the first round?

Taxes in Florida tells the tale.

Problem is, Canada is far too Socialist in its thinking to consider giving a tax break or exempt status to one of the few things they’re known and prided over worldwide. Taxes ARE the problem for those franchises plus the tax nightmare of playing for a Canadian team playing a lot of games in AMERICAN cities. There are 25 Non-Canadian teams.

Yes, the Canadian teams and player should get an exemption to even the playing field whether it’s from the Gov’t (LOL) or from the NHL. If they can support dogs in the desert, they can help even the board for the franchises that MADE and are the backbone of the NHL and it’s history and legacy.

Suggesting that Canadian hockey franchises should get a tax break for the sake of maybe helping them win a playoff series or two is pretty tone deaf

 

[ManwithNoIdentity]

Maybe they could earn a cup like every other team has to

 

[DJN21]

Before further replies are made, I encourage people to read my occupation and location.

Bettman's reputation in Canada has largely suffered throughout his tenure as commissioner. I feel if he doesn't agree to keeping this temporary alignment, the Canadian teams will find some way to force him out.

AFAIC, Bettman should have never been made commish. The NHL was the one league where Canadian teams were dominant, and I felt it should have stayed that way.

Remember, I was only a toddler the last time a Canadian team won the Cup. No Canadian team ever won in my adolescence, and one has yet to win during my adulthood.

what are you even saying? This is what participation prizes result in.