2025-2026 NHL Offseason

F Me In The Brain

Why should they mind massive upsets?
Exciting...and it allows all teams to have hope.  You can lift the cup as an eight seed.

CROJAM95

Koepka s liver must be shot
all these nba/nhl playoff games & celebration last Sunday 

MayDay10

Lerxst1992 said:

CROJAM95 said:

Gern Blansten said:

CROJAM95 said:

I think the Bruins will  end up being Florida's real cup final

they Are on some roll

vegas is good… but I don’t see more than 6 game Florida win 

I think you're right. I thought Boston was going to run away with it but FL seems to be steamrolling

It’s crazy

i believe they got in last day of the season

where there were 2 spots, 3 teams…. Florida, Islanders & Penguins

bruins got fucked
this isn’t a normal 8 seed

Boston also gotta be a lil sick that Cassidy is within reach of a cup 😦….. ooops

The NHL does the worst job amongst the major sports leagues in developing a regular season that identifies the best teams. From backwards reg season OT and SO rules that work in the exact opposite of how they work in playoffs as well as how games are officiated.

Bruins were 11-0-5 in OT in the regular season. 

During the regular season, the 2022-23 Florida Panthers went 6-8 in overtime games. In the playoffs, the 2022-23 Florida Panthers went 6-0 in overtime games.

The canes won three key OT games in the first two rounds. None, obvi, in the third.

there is good reason why massive upsets happen more in the NHL and the league seems to not care

I agree with all that.
IMO, Regulation wins should be worth 3 points.  OT win 2, OT loss 1, and regulation loss 0.  That would create a nice environment too where teams can make up ground if they string regulation wins together.  It incentivizes winning in regulation.  Regulation wins are much more impressive than forcing (or crawling to) OT and winning on 3v3 or the shootout.
Having some games worth 3 points where other games worth 2 imbalances the standings/league, and is not really fair.  It also creates a slog where everyone is like 4-3-3 in their last 10 games and nobody can move in the standings.

To take it a step further, I would eliminate the shootout and go continuous 3 v 3 (I would be shocked if any OT went more than 10 minutes). 


The playoffs have always given that randomness sheen to them, even before they gunked up the standings structure.  They call it a "Presidents Trophy Curse", but the truth is, it is just really damn hard to win a Stanley Cup.  You need health, a hot goalie, some shooters to heat up, and also a good heaping of luck.  I remember the Sabres made the cup finals as a 7 seed.  

Johnny Abruzzo

There were always massive upsets - even without the dumb OT loss and shootouts and all that. It's just the nature of the sport.

Lerxst1992

F Me In The Brain said:

Why should they mind massive upsets?
Exciting...and it allows all teams to have hope.  You can lift the cup as an eight seed.

Because it’s not an accurate product. I am tired of hearing how great regular season teams are. A leagues job is to identify the best team. It came one tie from not including a potential champion. If I did my job that accurately I’d be fired.

Lerxst1992

Johnny Abruzzo said:

There were always massive upsets - even without the dumb OT loss and shootouts and all that. It's just the nature of the sport.

Do you have any stats on that?

from my recollection, it was more difficult to knock out the top teams of the 70s era and earlier, by a massive amount. The Canadians, Bruins, Isles, Flyers, etc did not get upset in the first round iirc. Now it’s common.

Lerxst1992

MayDay10 said:

Lerxst1992 said:

CROJAM95 said:

Gern Blansten said:

CROJAM95 said:

I think the Bruins will  end up being Florida's real cup final

they Are on some roll

vegas is good… but I don’t see more than 6 game Florida win 

I think you're right. I thought Boston was going to run away with it but FL seems to be steamrolling

It’s crazy

i believe they got in last day of the season

where there were 2 spots, 3 teams…. Florida, Islanders & Penguins

bruins got fucked
this isn’t a normal 8 seed

Boston also gotta be a lil sick that Cassidy is within reach of a cup 😦….. ooops

The NHL does the worst job amongst the major sports leagues in developing a regular season that identifies the best teams. From backwards reg season OT and SO rules that work in the exact opposite of how they work in playoffs as well as how games are officiated.

Bruins were 11-0-5 in OT in the regular season. 

During the regular season, the 2022-23 Florida Panthers went 6-8 in overtime games. In the playoffs, the 2022-23 Florida Panthers went 6-0 in overtime games.

The canes won three key OT games in the first two rounds. None, obvi, in the third.

there is good reason why massive upsets happen more in the NHL and the league seems to not care

I agree with all that.
IMO, Regulation wins should be worth 3 points.  OT win 2, OT loss 1, and regulation loss 0.  That would create a nice environment too where teams can make up ground if they string regulation wins together.  It incentivizes winning in regulation.  Regulation wins are much more impressive than forcing (or crawling to) OT and winning on 3v3 or the shootout.
Having some games worth 3 points where other games worth 2 imbalances the standings/league, and is not really fair.  It also creates a slog where everyone is like 4-3-3 in their last 10 games and nobody can move in the standings.

To take it a step further, I would eliminate the shootout and go continuous 3 v 3 (I would be shocked if any OT went more than 10 minutes). 


The playoffs have always given that randomness sheen to them, even before they gunked up the standings structure.  They call it a "Presidents Trophy Curse", but the truth is, it is just really damn hard to win a Stanley Cup.  You need health, a hot goalie, some shooters to heat up, and also a good heaping of luck.  I remember the Sabres made the cup finals as a 7 seed.  

I’m with you on the three point issue, another thing the NHL massively screws up that they will never budge on due to tradition. 

Two teams can play a sloppy hot mess, play to a 6-6 tie decided in a SO, and the NHL awards three points. Another game, a team can play a perfect flawless game, a 3-0 shutout, that game is worth two points, 50% less. It’s just as illogical as the reg season OT rules and how penalties are excessively called, but they’ll never change due to their yes culture on sixth avenue.

F Me In The Brain

Lerxst1992 said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Why should they mind massive upsets?
Exciting...and it allows all teams to have hope.  You can lift the cup as an eight seed.

Because it’s not an accurate product. I am tired of hearing how great regular season teams are. A leagues job is to identify the best team. It came one tie from not including a potential champion. If I did my job that accurately I’d be fired.

I get your opinion, and that many might share it.
I'm not one of them.     
I would not say a league's job is to identify the best team.  If you roll out the rules and all teams play by them, in my opinion there is not room for the teams that just miss out to cry.
College football has always been an example of that....a team that at the end of the year is badass and nobody wants to play or that many say are better than one of the teams in the Natty (especially before the playoff) but they lost a game or games earlier which stopped them from making it in.
Part of the deal.  They expand the playoff pool and the first few teams out still complain.  
Part of it.

My take.  You want to be the best?  Play like the best.  Everyone plays by the same rules.

Wobbie

Johnny Abruzzo said:

SLC did host the Winter Olympics (bribery notwithstanding) so a hockey team there seems reasonable enough.

best olympics money could buy!

mrussel1

F Me In The Brain said:

Lerxst1992 said:

F Me In The Brain said:

Why should they mind massive upsets?
Exciting...and it allows all teams to have hope.  You can lift the cup as an eight seed.

Because it’s not an accurate product. I am tired of hearing how great regular season teams are. A leagues job is to identify the best team. It came one tie from not including a potential champion. If I did my job that accurately I’d be fired.

I get your opinion, and that many might share it.
I'm not one of them.     
I would not say a league's job is to identify the best team.  If you roll out the rules and all teams play by them, in my opinion there is not room for the teams that just miss out to cry.
College football has always been an example of that....a team that at the end of the year is badass and nobody wants to play or that many say are better than one of the teams in the Natty (especially before the playoff) but they lost a game or games earlier which stopped them from making it in.
Part of the deal.  They expand the playoff pool and the first few teams out still complain.  
Part of it.

My take.  You want to be the best?  Play like the best.  Everyone plays by the same rules.

I don't have any issue with the points system and craziness of the playoffs if what makes it so great. 

Johnny Abruzzo

Lerxst1992 said:

Johnny Abruzzo said:

There were always massive upsets - even without the dumb OT loss and shootouts and all that. It's just the nature of the sport.

Do you have any stats on that?

from my recollection, it was more difficult to knock out the top teams of the 70s era and earlier, by a massive amount. The Canadians, Bruins, Isles, Flyers, etc did not get upset in the first round iirc. Now it’s common.

Well the 1970s Flyers (the Bullies of course) generally didn't get upset early in the playoffs, but the 1975 team nearly blew a 3-0 series lead vs. the Islanders. The 1980s & 1990s Flyers (as everyone knows, post-1975, Cupless) were absolutely plagued by upsets - 1981, 1983, 1986, and of course 1996 against the dreadful Florida Panthers who's fans threw about 100,000 plastic rats on the ice. And oh yeah, the 1980 Stanley Cup Finals.

Also the 1980s Oilers were massively upset in 1982 and 1986 early in the playoffs. Pre-1970s there were only 6 teams so you can't really look for meaningful stats from then. Also Montreal literally had a monopoly on Quebec-born players, per my understanding. Not exactly a fair system.

Vitalogensia

Lerxst1992 said:

Johnny Abruzzo said:

There were always massive upsets - even without the dumb OT loss and shootouts and all that. It's just the nature of the sport.

Do you have any stats on that?

from my recollection, it was more difficult to knock out the top teams of the 70s era and earlier, by a massive amount. The Canadians, Bruins, Isles, Flyers, etc did not get upset in the first round iirc. Now it’s common.

Years ago I tried to do research on NHL playoff styles (I'd have to go back and update some stuff to see what's happened since 2020), and to me it looks like upsets have increased over time:

F Me In The Brain

I know you are not saying they are bad....but that would be my question.   Why would upsets be viewed as a bad thing?  Exciting.
Gotta be the best, at the right time, to win.

Vitalogensia

I think upsets are great in every sport.  That whole Miracle on Ice was pretty cool, as well as in the NCAA basketball tournaments. 

Wobbie

VGK-FLA should be a hell of a series. I hope FLA has cooled off.

Poncier

Panthers in 6.
Tkachuk Conn-Smythe winner.

eeriepadave

Vegas put a spanking on Dallas last night. Should be a good series especially if you like the nightlife in those two cities. I can see this series going at least six games, probably Florida's gonna win but i'd be ok if Vegas won.

mrussel1

eeriepadave said:

Vegas put a spanking on Dallas last night. Should be a good series especially if you like the nightlife in those two cities. I can see this series going at least six games, probably Florida's gonna win but i'd be ok if Vegas won.

Trust me, the nightlife in Sunrise FL is not very good.  You've got the mall in front of you and the Everglades behind you.  

Wobbie

mrussel1 said:

eeriepadave said:

Vegas put a spanking on Dallas last night. Should be a good series especially if you like the nightlife in those two cities. I can see this series going at least six games, probably Florida's gonna win but i'd be ok if Vegas won.

Trust me, the nightlife in Sunrise FL is not very good.  You've got the mall in front of you and the Everglades behind you.  

yeah, it ain’t south beach.

I love vegas’ depth. any line can hurt you.

F Me In The Brain

On paper Vegas wins this.  Gotta settle it on ice, though!