If the NHL strike is settled - just do a playoff with all the teams.

[MikeG]

Who agrees?

[paineinthearse]

1. lol

Isn't that the way they do it for a regular season? I mean they take something like 75% of the teams. You can have a losing season and be in the playoffs.

Give me the old days of the original 8 teams, not this Disney league.

[On the Road]

2. Hey, I Like That Idea

That's really the only reasonable way to have hockey this season. There's got to be some sort of training camp, after which there won't be enough time for even an abbreviated season. After the scheduled dates for the playoffs, a lot of the venues will be booked and unavailable.

[Occulus]

3. How bout this

I was a baseball fan- until the player's strike. Haven't watched it or been to a game since. Disgusting.

So I turned to the NHL. Now they go and do the same thing. Equally disgusting. Used to be a Redwings fan...

Now, I could care less... it's obviously not about the game on the pro level- just the money.

[kick-ass-bob]

4. It's a lockout.

Sorry, but the billionaires (ok - overstated) payed too much for the players. They can't just stick it to them now because they fucked themselves up.

The players offer up a, what, 40% pay cut and the owners say no?
Would you offer a 40% pay reduction to your boss to come back to work?

Sure, its about the money - its entertainment. BUt it is also about the game. 40% ain't lip service.

[aldian159]

5. Make the league into 16 teams

2 8 Conference teams, 2 divisions in each conference.
30 teams is way too much

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
Montreal Candiens
Philadelphia Flyers
Boston Bruins
NY Rangers (or Islanders or Devils, but only one of those three)

Central Division
Chicago Blackhawks
Detroit Red Wings
Toronto Maple Leaves
Ottowa Senators

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Midwest Division
Minnesota Wild
Edmonton Oilers
Calgary Flames
St. Louis Blues

Pacific Division
LA Kings
Vancouver Canucks
Colorado Avalanche
Dallas Stars

That's it. That's all the NHL can keep right now and remain economically solvent. Too many warm-weather teams have doomed the league. Hockey has no business being in Tampa Bay, Miami, Phoenix, San Jose, Atlanta, Charlotte...

[THUNDER HANDS]

7. excuse me?

Why the hell does Dallas and L.A. get teams and Long Island or Jersey doesn't?

They've won 7 cups between them, how many have Dallas and L.A. won?

[lazarus]

9. bring back the old conference names

Those helped tie the NHL to classic old school sports. The Norris Division? That rocks.

[MrSlayer]

6. The owners would love it.

Since they don't pay the players in the playoffs they make all the tickets, concessions and whatnot. They'd have to have a short season, maybe 20 games and then the playoffs to satisfy everyone.

[tsakshaug]

8. how about..

every team plays everyone once..seed "playoff" based on that. first few rounds one and done. final 8 best of 3, final 4 best of 5, final best of 7.

That may be too many games, finish up around September.