Sources: NHL aiming for mid-January start, 52- or 56-game schedule

[hawkinmontreal]

Calling it honestly here, I don't think it matters what the division looks like either way. I think the Hawks get smoked this year. Hope I'm wrong, but this team really isn't that much improved from last year because our GM is completely incompetent and insists on rebuilding on the fly. I really don't have much faith in Colliton on top of it.

If those new division projections are accurate, the Hawks are screwed. It's nice to lose Dallas and especially Colorado, but you're gaining the Pens and the Lightning; while St. Louis is still in your division. It's nice they threw us a bone with the worst team in the league last year and our ex-biggest rival in Detroit, but the BJ's and the Panthers are pretty comparable to the Wild and Jets.

Much faith or zero faith, to be honest I have zero faith with The current coaching staff.

 

[gopher72]

This is the one I saw, but you’re right, just proposed.

View attachment 8945

Brutal...

 

[HSBOB]

Much faith or zero faith, to be honest I have zero faith with The current coaching staff.

Seems the 'letter' they published does little more than run cover for SB and his failed front office. Stink the joynt out and it's 'remember we're rebuilding',play good enough to just miss(more no man's land) and it'll be 'hey,look we're ahead of schedule'.
You'd think a young HC would relate to his younger players but D-Cat and Strome both regressed from their great year,JC didn't like Jokiharju who played em all for the Sabers @20 and Boqvist really didn't improve as the year went on and saw his minutes cut in the PO's.

 

[MassHavoc]

I assume that the realignment is in order to put all the canadian teams together and not have to worry about any travel restrictions should the pandemic continue to linger throughout the whole season? But does that mean no out of division games?

 

[Granada]

I assume that the realignment is in order to put all the canadian teams together and not have to worry about any travel restrictions should the pandemic continue to linger throughout the whole season? But does that mean no out of division games?

Most likely, yes.

 

[LordKOTL]

Wait a second, if these are the divisions, the Hawks have a huge shot at making the playoffs (whether that's actually a good thing or not is another question). Other than Tampa, this second division is beyond favorable and definitely the weakest:

Boston-Buffalo-New Jersey-NY Islanders-NY Rangers-Philadelphia-Pittsburgh-Washington

Carolina-Chicago-Columbus-Detroit-Florida-Minnesota-Nashville-Tampa Bay

Anaheim-Arizona-Colorado-Dallas-Los Angeles-Las Vegas-San Jose-St. Louis

Ottawa-Montreal-Toronto-Winnipeg-Edmonton-Calgary-Vancouver

Source: NHL outlines proposed division realignment for 2020-21 season

I still think we get smoked. The 'hawks are a RCH better on D (pure team D--Zadorov can be physical but he's still a middle pairing D-man like Maata), effectively the same on O, and they got a fuckton worse in net. Detroit is about the only team they're better than on paper. I could be wrong especially if Lankinen comes out of nowhere.

That being said, getting smoked might be a good thing.

 

[MassHavoc]

I still think we get smoked. The 'hawks are a RCH better on D (pure team D--Zadorov can be physical but he's still a middle pairing D-man like Maata), effectively the same on O, and they got a fuckton worse in net. Detroit is about the only team they're better than on paper. I could be wrong especially if Lankinen comes out of nowhere.

That being said, getting smoked might be a good thing.

I mean.... I think O and D are a wash because who knows, but net.... you said it. I don't think it matters at this point who is in front of them. I have no faith that any of the tenders can get w's

 

[Granada]

I still think we get smoked. The 'hawks are a RCH better on D (pure team D--Zadorov can be physical but he's still a middle pairing D-man like Maata), effectively the same on O, and they got a fuckton worse in net. Detroit is about the only team they're better than on paper. I could be wrong especially if Lankinen comes out of nowhere.

That being said, getting smoked might be a good thing.

Don't get me wrong -- I have zero hope that this team will go anywhere next year -- but compared to the initial reports of what the "central" division would have looked like, the most recent report gives them waaayyy better of a chance to make the playoffs. Does that mean they will indeed make the playoffs? No, but again, obviously it's better for the Hawks to go up against teams like Detroit, Minny, Nashville, etc. than Colorado, Dallas, St. Louis, and Vegas. Remember, they will only play in their division, and they are -- by far -- in the weakest division, there's no doubting that. Tampa is the lone powerhouse in that division. Again, I'm not saying the Hawks will indeed make the playoffs; just that it does improve their chances.

 

[MassHavoc]

As expected, boarders given issues.

Sources: Canadian NHL teams may play in U.S.

The NHL told its seven Canadian-based teams on Thursday that there is a possibility they will have to play in the United States this season due to roadblocks with Canadian health authorities, sources confirmed to ESPN.

www.espn.com

 

[Raskolnikov]

As expected, boarders given issues.

Sources: Canadian NHL teams may play in U.S.

The NHL told its seven Canadian-based teams on Thursday that there is a possibility they will have to play in the United States this season due to roadblocks with Canadian health authorities, sources confirmed to ESPN.

www.espn.com

God I hate humans. Are we really this stupid?

We just make arbitrary rules without balancing facts, or allowing petitions. The NHL is completely capable of constant testing and re-testing. They have a GDP product that can be broadcast by television all over the world, and continue to support an industry in a way where trickle down really does make sense.

Human beings are safer in the protocols of the NHL or NFL or MLB than they are at home with their family.

Banning their gathering in California, or Canada in this case, does not protect any human beings if they will gather anyway elsewhere. A bunch of humans "gathering" with 100% daily testing of staff, players, coaches poses little risk, and we are talking about mostly fantastic respiratory health individuals.

 

[HSBOB]

God I hate humans. Are we really this stupid?

We just make arbitrary rules without balancing facts, or allowing petitions. The NHL is completely capable of constant testing and re-testing. They have a GDP product that can be broadcast by television all over the world, and continue to support an industry in a way where trickle down really does make sense.

Human beings are safer in the protocols of the NHL or NFL or MLB than they are at home with their family.

Banning their gathering in California, or Canada in this case, does not protect any human beings if they will gather anyway elsewhere. A bunch of humans "gathering" with 100% daily testing of staff, players, coaches poses little risk, and we are talking about mostly fantastic respiratory health individuals.

I read that four provinces came on board and the fifth was close but then I saw this today so who knows....

Germany has eight players test positive for COVID-19 at World Juniors (nhl.com)

 

[KBIB]

Wait a second, if these are the divisions, the Hawks have a huge shot at making the playoffs (whether that's actually a good thing or not is another question). Other than Tampa, this second division is beyond favorable and definitely the weakest:

Boston-Buffalo-New Jersey-NY Islanders-NY Rangers-Philadelphia-Pittsburgh-Washington

Carolina-Chicago-Columbus-Detroit-Florida-Minnesota-Nashville-Tampa Bay

Anaheim-Arizona-Colorado-Dallas-Los Angeles-Las Vegas-San Jose-St. Louis

Ottawa-Montreal-Toronto-Winnipeg-Edmonton-Calgary-Vancouver

Source: NHL outlines proposed division realignment for 2020-21 season

Hahahahaha

If anybody doesn't think there's home cooking for the Hawks in the NHL office, just show them the perceived pandemic divisions.

Tampa is solid but over the cap and will most likely lose a little depth before the season starts, Seguin and Bishop will be gone most of the year in Dallas if not the entire year, Carolina has depth and is solid, the Jackets still have Torts.....

And the Hawks, with their piss poor additions can actually sneak into a top four spot in the division if one of the beer league goalies pulls his weight and the Hawks commit to a forechecking system that JC wants to play.

Granted, alot would have to go right, they would be playing keep away 5v5 and would be scoring on the PP which they have a hard time doing and pretty much making human walls in front of the goalie, but there is a chances the Hawks could very well make the playoffs in this format.

All they would need is a really hot start

 

[HSBOB]

Report: British Columbia government denies NHL travel for Canucks

The British Columbia government remains unwilling to allow NHL teams to travel in and out of the province for games, reports TSN's Ryan Rishaug, who adds discussions are ongoing.The NHL and players' association reportedly came to a tentative agreement on a 56-game season Friday night. The plan...

www.thescore.com

 

[hawkinmontreal]

I admire the fact Bettman and the players worked hard to get this done, but the reality is with the virus already Consuming so many lives spreading our hospitals thin, the NHL should wait this one out, maybe have the players all vaccinated and wait for the numbers to go down before starting the season. Just my 2 cents.

 

[JimAKABlkhwks918]

56 games, all games played within the division, agreed to by NHL and NHLPA today...

 

[ruprecht]

Carolina is very good

 

[MassHavoc]

Gross

 

[Tater]

I'm not big on the divisions, but I understand why it has to be like that (travel). Anyways... glad I get to watch hockey soon.

 

[Granada]

Hahahahaha

If anybody doesn't think there's home cooking for the Hawks in the NHL office, just show them the perceived pandemic divisions.

Tampa is solid but over the cap and will most likely lose a little depth before the season starts, Seguin and Bishop will be gone most of the year in Dallas if not the entire year, Carolina has depth and is solid, the Jackets still have Torts.....

And the Hawks, with their piss poor additions can actually sneak into a top four spot in the division if one of the beer league goalies pulls his weight and the Hawks commit to a forechecking system that JC wants to play.

Granted, alot would have to go right, they would be playing keep away 5v5 and would be scoring on the PP which they have a hard time doing and pretty much making human walls in front of the goalie, but there is a chances the Hawks could very well make the playoffs in this format.

All they would need is a really hot start

It looks like they substituted Dallas for Minny since those last projected divisions, which is a big kick in the nuts obviously. That does make the divisions a little more even -- I was shocked how stacked the West was initially before they moved Dallas.

I think that's the only change they made. Definitely sucks to not have Minny in the division now. It also sucks to have the two Stanley Cup finalists in the Hawks' division, but from a pure hockey-loving standpoint, having them both in the same division is going to be insane from a rivalry perspective. The hatred is only going to grow and now they have to play each other regularly -- I'm pumped to see that develop.

But yeah, Dallas instead of Minny in the division greatly diminishes the Hawks' playoff chances now, compared to the initial division projections.

No preseason games this year either. This actually does matter greatly for the Hawks in my view, especially considering how up-in-the-air their goalie situation is.

 

[KBIB]

It looks like they substituted Dallas for Minny since those last projected divisions, which is a big kick in the nuts obviously. That does make the divisions a little more even -- I was shocked how stacked the West was initially before they moved Dallas.

I think that's the only change they made. Definitely sucks to not have Minny in the division now. It also sucks to have the two Stanley Cup finalists in the Hawks' division, but from a pure hockey-loving standpoint, having them both in the same division is going to be insane from a rivalry perspective. The hatred is only going to grow and now they have to play each other regularly -- I'm pumped to see that develop.

But yeah, Dallas instead of Minny in the division greatly diminishes the Hawks' playoff chances now, compared to the initial division projections.

No preseason games this year either. This actually does matter greatly for the Hawks in my view, especially considering how up-in-the-air their goalie situation is.

My issue is.....

Say the Hawks have a hot start, like a 10-2-2 start, everything Stan was saying about rebuilding will go out the window and he and the marketing team with brand him a genius.

With a 56 game season and a deep draft, I'm sorry, I'm a huge Hawks fan, but they should be tanking. Toews, Kane, and Keith should be sitting out this year and getting ready for next year.

As much as I want to, I can't sugar coat just how bad this team is in a rut. Not so bad that they get high picks for difference makers, but not good enough that they're worth being in the playoffs. And I just can't see Stan being the guy who can turn things around and he's not going anywhere any time soon.

And I'm not putting it past any of the goalies to have a career year in a shortened season filled with a bunch of variables they hopefully won't have to deal with ever again and then Stan boasting "well we found our guy in net thanks to my astute observations" them watching them be the shits when hockey goes back to normal.

This will be an interesting year