2020 NHL OFFSEASON

[Cherry Picker]

They can do this by starting the season with a Canadian division and three U.S. divisions. Canadian teams can just play each other at least to start the season. Then they don’t have to worry about the border opening. If the border doesn’t open in time the Canadian teams can just repeat playing each other all season. Not ideal, but it could work. At the end of the season take the top four Canadian teams into the playoffs, whether in a bubble playoffs again or not.

This might work, but the border being closed is only one problem. The other is fans; when will fans be allowed to go the rinks? Many NHL teams need ticket revenues to be viable, so likely their owners will not want to operate without fans in the stands.

If they do decide to play without fans, does the league ask for salary concessions from the players? Or does escrow deal with this, ie if revenue is down 50% does escrow automatically mean players will get about 50% of their usual salary?

My guess is that if they play 82 games in empty arenas and just get TV revenue the owners will eat much of the loss, and the players will have to give only the 20% escrow that they negotiated with the new CBA deal. However, there will be a battle if 82 games can’t be played. It seems that the expectation coming out of the CBA negotiations were not clear. The owners will only want to pay for the percentage of games played. The players want to be paid in full. If there are no games this season, I don’t think the owners want to pay the players.

[Zedlee]

[/quote]

We won’t find out about NHL and border opening until after Nov 4th.
[/quote]

That is a safe prediction. Covid cases are rising in many provinces and states and that is not good news for people who want to watch live sports.

[Zedlee]

They can do this by starting the season with a Canadian division and three U.S. divisions. Canadian teams can just play each other at least to start the season. Then they don’t have to worry about the border opening. If the border doesn’t open in time the Canadian teams can just repeat playing each other all season. Not ideal, but it could work. At the end of the season take the top four Canadian teams into the playoffs, whether in a bubble playoffs again or not.

This might work, but the border being closed is only one problem. The other is fans; when will fans be allowed to go the rinks? Many NHL teams need ticket revenues to be viable, so likely their owners will not want to operate without fans in the stands.

If they do decide to play without fans, does the league ask for salary concessions from the players? Or does escrow deal with this, ie if revenue is down 50% does escrow automatically mean players will get about 50% of their usual salary?

My guess is that if they play 82 games in empty arenas and just get TV revenue the owners will eat much of the loss, and the players will have to give only the 20% escrow that they negotiated with the new CBA deal. However, there will be a battle if 82 games can’t be played. It seems that the expectation coming out of the CBA negotiations were not clear. The owners will only want to pay for the percentage of games played. The players want to be paid in full. If there are no games this season, I don’t think the owners want to pay the players.

I doubt they can have an 82 game season. Next season will start late (Dec or Jan) and the NHL wants to finish the season before the Olympics (July 2021). If fans are not allowed in the stands that is the opening the owners need to get concessions from the players. The owners and the players are partners in the business, why should the owners take all the pain and the players get paid in full? It's not going to happen.

[Strangelove]

Yeah, owners and players will share revenues equally.

The fifty-fifty split is the prime directive.

In 2020-21 players already stand to lose 30% of their salaries (20% escrow + 10% deferral).

If revenues fall lower than that, players will reimburse the owners for that in future seasons.

[2Fingers]

I doubt they can have an 82 game season. Next season will start late (Dec or Jan) and the NHL wants to finish the season before the Olympics (July 2021). If fans are not allowed in the stands that is the opening the owners need to get concessions from the players. The owners and the players are partners in the business, why should the owners take all the pain and the players get paid in full? It's not going to happen.

To have any sort of season they will have to form bubbles again and not do what the NFL is doing. 20 members on Titans team tested positive and another game is delayed because of a player testing positive. The NFL is trying and doing an OK job but without a bubble it will just take a few issues and the season can end quickly.

The NHL is even harder to manage with 3 - 4 games in a week in different cities etc. the chance of a spread is higher.

I also do not think there will be any Olympics in 2021, there will not be enough herd immunity to hold it.

[ESQ]

To have any sort of season they will have to form bubbles again and not do what the NFL is doing. 20 members on Titans team tested positive and another game is delayed because of a player testing positive. The NFL is trying and doing an OK job but without a bubble it will just take a few issues and the season can end quickly.

Maybe rotating bubbles? Play a quarter season in one, rotate to a different bubble with different teams? Could be cool, seeing rivalries build up within the bubble.

But you're right, can't do the NFL model. I'm somewhat impressed that MLB made it to the playoffs with only a few cancelled games, in spite of all that travel.

[SKYO]

Tampa Bay another team trying to dump salary.

bob mckenzie:

Cup champs TB have let it be known to other teams they aim to be aggressive in offloading . How aggressive? Hearing teams have been told only four Bolts are unavailable/untouchable: Vasilevskiy; Hedman; Point; Kucherov. Presumably, RFAs Cirelli, Sergachev and Cernak, too.

The point is multiple bodies may need to go. Stamkos may or may not end up being one of them, but he doesn’t appear to be exempt from that consideration, as Vasilevskiy, Hedman, Kucherov and Point are. Complicating things is so many teams trying to shed . Interesting week.

I guess they did win the Cup without Stamkos lol.

[SKYO]

Justin Abdelkader and Canadiens Karl Alzner on waivers for buyout.

https://www.capfriendly.com/buyout-history

So far this Sept onwards, Bobby Ryan, Lundqvist, Grabner, Johnson, Abdelkader and now Alzner all bought out.

Niskanen retires.

AZ letting Hinostroza walk to UFA.

Betting Baertschi is going to be bought out as well.

[Curmudgeon]

Justin Abdelkader and Canadiens Karl Alzner on waivers for buyout.

https://www.capfriendly.com/buyout-history

So far this Sept onwards, Bobby Ryan, Lundqvist, Grabner, Johnson, Abdelkader and now Alzner all bought out.

Niskanen retires.

AZ letting Hinostroza walk to UFA.

Betting Baertschi is going to be bought out as well.

In hindsight and considering who Calgary selected, the Baertschi trade was by far the worst deal Benning has made.

Edited to add the Toffoli deal ultimately may come close if he doesn't re-sign.

[Cherry Picker]

Current colour-coded depth chart. Forwards look okay, a top six would be nice, but with Podkolzin on his way, they can get by and give their young guys a chance this season. maybe add a cheap forward after the frenzy. Bigger needs are in purple. Defence needs a top four at least Stecher’s quality but hopefully better and Demko needs a partner if not Marky then someone cheap.

Miller Pettersson (Virtanen, MacEwen, or Lind,)
Pearson Horvat Boeser
(Roussel, Hoglander, or Bailey) Gaudette (Virtanen, MacEwen, or Lind,)
Motte Beagle (Virtanen, MacEwen, or Lind,)
Eriksson Sutter

Myers Hughes
OEL, Stecher, or UFA Edler
Rafferty Rathbone
(Benn, Chatfield Woo) Juolevi

Demko
Markstrom or UFA

[SKYO]

Brennan Klak: #Oilers officially announce they have not qualified Andreas Athanasiou and Matt Benning.

Oilers traded two 2nd rounders & Gagner for Athanasiou, flat cap ruined the oilers plans to try to get Athanasiou some time to adjust to team.

Brian King:
Since becoming GM, Ken Holland has traded away:

John Marino, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, Milan Lucic.

The Oilers have James Neal to show for this.

[Carl Yagro]

When does McCovid demand a trade?

[rats19]

When does McCovid demand a trade?

Hahaha.... is that wrong to laugh??

[Cousin Strawberry]

When does McCovid demand a trade?

Bwahahahahahaaaaaaa! Fuck thats pure CC gold right there

[mr perfect]

When does McCovid demand a trade?

Hahaha.... is that wrong to laugh??

Yes it is.