The Montreal Canadiens are heading into a roster size problem
By Omar L
The Montreal Canadiens may have to make moves to create space on their roster while other teams don’t feel their mode of signings has been fair.
1) Is the 24-team playoff format fair?
Scott Cowan: Personally, I see no reason for this 24-team playoff format beyond one answer. Money. Players like Matt Duchene have come out to voice their issues with this proposal, and it’s understandable. This format is more built around keeping the NHL as a business running than as something for the players. I see it as fair in the sense that it offers bubble teams like the New York Rangers who have played their hearts out in a packed division a chance to compete, but its unfair in similar regards.
Playing a best of five series means teams undergo preparations to play just two games? In the event that the Stanley Cup is awarded to a team like the Rangers, or any team for that matter, there will doubtless be some fans who will see it as not a true victory. We’re living in a very complicated time right now, and there’s going to be complications the entire way through for the NHL. It’s just the nature of things right now.
Elias Laradi: In this type of situation that we are currently dealing with the NHL and the NHLPA did it best to please everyone. It was clear not everyone was going to be happy, but the league needed to find a way to make up for the money it was losing.
More teams means more games, and more games generate more revenue generated. It just puts the Montreal Canadiens in a peculiar situation because, at the deadline, the Habs were sellers and sold key pieces for draft picks. They will need to now figure out a way to build a proper line up for a best of 5 against a high power offense team like Pittsburgh.
Omar White: ‘Fair’ is a very subjective term. The NHL is using it in the sense of allowing teams who were close to regular playoff contention an opportunity to compete as teams such as the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks. That said, it isn’t the fairest method as teams like the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils won’t qualify for the 24-team format despite having games in hand on the Montreal Canadiens.
The league is saying tough to them, but making all these means to make sure the Habs, Rangers and Blackhawks can get in. But that’s the power of revenue. The NHL gets more of it with these teams in than out, and with no hockey being played since March, it’s what they have to do to start making more of it back.
On the other hand, the format is fair as, for the first time in a long time, all teams will be on an equal level playing field. There won’t be any key injuries to game-breakers on rosters (for the most part), and the play will come down to who is the better team.