2025-2026 NHL Offseason

mrussel1 said:

Meltdown99 said:

1969 Blues
1970 Black Hawks
1972 Black Hawks
1977 Bruins
1983 Oilers
1992 Bruins
1992 Blackhawks
1993 Sabres

It is a pretty stat considering from 83-93 it happened 4 times, then nothing for 25+ years. 

Love it again

I wonder if that is a sign of parity...

The NHL is one league in which home ice is not all that big a deal...except game 7...it's always best to be home for game 7.

Meltdown99 said:

The Islanders became the 1st team since 1983 to sweep a series and then to get swept in the next series...

If I was an Islander fan I'd be very disappointed...this is one of those years where the tops seeds are falling fast...missed a good opportunity.

Barry Trotz is a great coach...but until last season none of his teams have made it past round 2.  

Yes disappointed but not crushed heck I knew Trotz would make a difference but not this quick , I’m happy to have a team that’s being put together by Amarillo and coached by Trotz !

josevolution said:

Meltdown99 said:

The Islanders became the 1st team since 1983 to sweep a series and then to get swept in the next series...

If I was an Islander fan I'd be very disappointed...this is one of those years where the tops seeds are falling fast...missed a good opportunity.

Barry Trotz is a great coach...but until last season none of his teams have made it past round 2.  

Yes disappointed but not crushed heck I knew Trotz would make a difference but not this quick , I’m happy to have a team that’s being put together by Amarillo and coached by Trotz !

I am not knocking Trotz.  I like him.  I just found it interesting that he has not made it to the third round or higher more than once.

The NHL will never do a 1-16 in the playoff...

Bettman has said the playoff format will not be changing.

I am fine with how the format is set-up.  The NHL is trying to create rivalries.  However, if the NHL was really interested in creating rivalries give Quebec a franchise and kicking Tampa or Florida out of that division...Montreal and Quebec might have been one of the top 5 rivalries in North American sports...

Halifax2TheMax said:

Meltdown99 said:

mrussel1 said:

Meltdown99 said:

1969 Blues
1970 Black Hawks
1972 Black Hawks
1977 Bruins
1983 Oilers
1992 Bruins
1992 Blackhawks
1993 Sabres

It is a pretty stat considering from 83-93 it happened 4 times, then nothing for 25+ years. 

Love it again

I wonder if that is a sign of parity...

The NHL is one league in which home ice is not all that big a deal...except game 7...it's always best to be home for game 7.

Tell that to the Canucks.

The best game 7 I have ever seen was Boston and Montreal 1979 semi finals...Boston up 4-3 and they take a too many men on the ice penalty...LaFleur scores a beaut to tie it...Lambert wins it in OT.   One of the great NHL playoff games.  I just saw a little documentary on that game.  Some of the officials gave the Bruins several warnings that had too many men on the ice...but they finally had to make the call because the Bruins decided 6 skaters against 5 was the only way to beat Montreal...lol

I haven't really paid much attention the post season. Only team i know is still alive is Carolina and i think Boston?  Not sure who's still around in the west.

Wobbie said:

Meltdown99 said:

josevolution said:

Ugh 😑 

Tough loss Jose,  the islanders will be fine.  Sometimes you have tip your hat to the opposing goalie...but both goalies were great.

They’re “fine”...on the golf course.

this postseason is not trending as I would like...

All the top seeds are falling.  One of the weirder playoff years.  I was surprised the Isle fell so easily...some teams do not adjust well to rest.  Now Carolina will have a bit of a breather. 

Vitalogensia said:

Today is the anniversary of Jim Schoenfeld going after ref Don Koharski, calling him a fat pig and telling him to "go eat another donut." Playoff hockey at it's best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs9g0MC5eMY&fbclid=IwAR1AE3T6CcgR6nmQOtRNo0EDkiNpxsgkkROSKddmil0sKhXz0yDFiFuqiYM

Koharski was the fucking worst.  That is a great memory.

Meltdown99 said:

The NHL will never do a 1-16 in the playoff...

Bettman has said the playoff format will not be changing.

I am fine with how the format is set-up.  The NHL is trying to create rivalries.  However, if the NHL was really interested in creating rivalries give Quebec a franchise and kicking Tampa or Florida out of that division...Montreal and Quebec might have been one of the top 5 rivalries in North American sports...

We will see.  The NHL head honchos are always playing the part of Saddam's information officer claiming 'all is well' when things are broke (aligment/playoff format, Offsides challenge, current point system).  Last CBA brought about the last alignment change, and we have one coming up in the fall of 2020.  The current format is disliked by nearly everybody.  I was in favor of it when it first came out, but now I hate it.  The two wild cards is a confusing system, and IMO, the unfair first round match-ups are a very negative side effect.  As far as "creating rivalries"... it hasnt worked, nor will it.  In Divisions with 8 teams, playing teams in the other conference for 32 of your games, and in the modern NHL, rivalries arent going to grow, and if they do, it will be marginal.  You play teams in your Division, what? 4 times?  And the odds of a playoff meeting are low.  

When this first started, my subconscious was hoping for the old days when you play your Division rivals like 8 times, with fight-filled home and home series, and almost yearly playoff meetings.  Those days are gone, sadly and we arent getting them back.


I would like to see a general shake-up in the entire alignment.  Unsure of which.... but one thing, is I hope the NHL becomes the first league to re-seed the playoffs to make ANY Stanley Cup Final match-up possible.  Whether that is 1-16 format, or just re-seed the final 4 teams.  How awesome would a Philly/Pittsburgh final be?  Calgary/Edmonton?  NYR/NYI..... MON/BOS..... any match-up possible.

If it were me, once Seattle joins, I would break it down into (8) four team divisions.  Play each team within your Division 6 times (18 games), and the other 12 teams in your conference 4 times each (48 Games), and a home and home with 2 divisions in the other conference that rotate each season (16 games)... Or some variation of that.  Division winners make the playoffs, along with 4 wild cards in each conference.  Seed the teams #1-16 based on record.  Also employ the 3-2-1-0 points system (3 regulation W, 2 for OT or SO W, 1 for OT or SO L, and 0 for Regulation L).