NHL plans to return with 24-team Stanley Cup Playoffs

NHL website ^ | 5/26/2020 | Tom Gulitt

[Dr. Sivana]

Feels like the old days...(playoff teams in bold)

[Alberta's Child]

I believe Edmonton has had very few COVID-19 cases.

[decal]

“Ditto the Lions, Tigers and Pistons”

Oh, my...

[OldMissileer]

If that is the case, and I don't contest that it is, isn't the regular season a glorified preseason?

Basically, yes.

Back in the 80s the fans and Media were getting fed up with the Minnesota North Stars and their play. Someone within the organization told the media that they always played just well enough during the regular season to get into the playoffs, then they actually started playing serious.

Their fan base disappeared after that and they ended up being sold to Texas as the Dallas Stars.

[Impy]

Blackhawks are in the ‘playoffs’! Assist: Covid (19)

So it was all worth it. ;-D

[Dr. Sivana]

Someone within the organization told the media that they always played just well enough during the regular season to get into the playoffs, then they actually started playing serious.

They SHOULD have been better. They got to merge with the Cleveland Barons. Between two bad teams you should be able to cobble together one good one.

Here is what must be the single worst division in professional sports history, the 195-76 NHL Smythe Division:

[rfp1234]

Ovechkin got cheated out of about a dozen probable goals in his quest to catch The Great One.

But playoffs in this format should be good, with rested players and others recovering from what were supposed to be season ending injuries. If Stamkos gets back, the Lightning (and Bruins) will be hard to beat. Vegas will come out of the West IMHO.

[rfp1234]

When Blackhawks was two words, those were indeed the old days.

[rfp1234]

I should add, if Guentzel somehow recovers in time, the Pens will be as strong as anyone else.

[wally_bert]

The most hockey I ever watched was some replays spliced into a 1962 or 3 episode of The Saint.

He was for the Maple Leafs in that one.

[rfp1234]

Before that, George Gund III moved on from the North Stars and the Sharks were born, with much of the core coming from Minnesota. Ironically, the Sharks have been historically good in the regular season and mediocre in the playoffs.

[Hieronymus]

I bet the Alberta will try its darnedest

[airborne]

It’s going to be interesting to see how the odds makers react to the format.

It could be a good time to put money down on a few teams depending on how the numbers fall.

The Penguin ‘s goaltending could be great or disastrous. Murray was unpredictable this year.

[Hieronymus]

They’ve finally figured out a way to be even less selective than 16 of 21.

As SI said in a hockey pre-season issue in the late 70’s: and here are the five teams we think will not make the playoffs, which in hockey is like not making the phone book.

[campaignPete R-CT]

A sad day ...

[Yaelle]

oh yeah, baby!!

[Yaelle]

Just please dear hockey gods, don’t shut it all down if some players get sick!! Keep playing! These healthy guys are at no risk for death!

[Yaelle]

I am betting on vegas too, because CA and L.A. “rulers” don’t know anything about making money or running a state or city in any decent way.

[Yaelle]

I love this pic! Enjoy your new team’s first season next year!! And go easy on stealing all o’ our players.... 😁

[Yaelle]

They have no ice but they’ve been working out like hell and their injuries have all healed - as much as possible.