The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

The NHL Board of Govenors convened the other day to discuss a couple of things. First thing is that projected revenues are expected to increase to over $2 billion, more than the originally thought $1.8 billion, and that means the salary cap will go up next year and the players will receive back the majority of the escrow fund they have contributed to over the course of the season. That's a good thing.

The bad thing they're talking about is increasing the number of teams that qualify for the playoffs...sort of. Instead of just allowing the top 8 teams in each conference reach the playoffs, they'll move it up to 10 teams, where the teams that place 7 thru 10 will play a three game elimination matchup to see if the can reach the original 8 team playoff series.

This is a horrible idea. The lockout was supposed to fix things that were wrong with the game. Did anyone every say we need more than 16 out of the 30 teams to make the playoffs? NO!!! This move has nothing to do about improving the game or strengthening the integrity of it. It's a move designed to try to make a few more bucks for the owners and that's all.

It may not come to fruition, and hopefully that'll be the end result. We don't want to be playing hockey until July, and we don't want to see the Anaheim Mighty Ducks or New York Islanders squeeze through the cracks when they have no business being in the post-season after placing so low in the standings.