Okay, I am honestly asking here, does anybody actually like the idea of a 3-on-3 overtime? This is more stupid tinkering that seems to come from people who have no knowledge of the game, and in a vain attempt for Bettman to [sigh, once again] make it more appealing to 'American' audiences. I'd rather see him bring back the stupid glowing puck and focus on real issues in the league. I seriously wonder what planet the GMs and BOGs are on sometimes with all this hockey marketing.

Anything, and I do mean anything as in I'd rather see a who can milk a cow the fastest competition rather than that fucking god awful shootout. Stupidest way to end a TEAM sport tied game. Personally I say have a 5-5 overtime period that is just as long as a regulation period and if no one scores that's it- tie one point apiece.

I wouldn't even mind them going back to the tie point, end of. I think regular 5-5 OT is the way to go, maybe just five minutes. I mean, if you have to revert to some other format during the playoffs, i.e. implying it is the 'standard,' doesn't that tell you that that is the way to go?

This 3 on 3 for five minutes is just another glorified version of the shootout. What is going to be next, for even more REALZ excitement? 1 on 1 for three minutes? End-to-end blue line races? And if I see a team in Vegas I am really going to cringe about the whole future of the NHL.

Fuck Vegas- Quebec City and Seattle! I'd love to see the Nordiques back (only in original uniforms though!) Although I think the issue is the West needs two teams to even it out.

Vegas? WTF what will they be called the Las Vegas Slots? Vegas Chips?

Simple, Vegas Follies.

Vegas would be a joke, I did always want to see a seattle team also.

Shootout sucks. 3v3 would be fun to watch, and in OT they take the trapezoid away from the goalie

That's what I'm for. Give me back my sleep time, fuckers.

Vegas has had 2 minor league teams. There was the Thunder in the IHL which lasted about 5 years. They had some NHLers go through their team like Curtis Joseph, Alexei Yashin, and Pavol Demitra. Now, they have an ECHL team called the Wranglers and have been around for 10 years now (and are still around). So that means there is definitely a market in Vegas.
Seattle would be a great place as well. They've had the Thunderbirds for a long time now (since 1977).

Oh...if anyone wants a San Francisco Bulls (ECHL) jersey, they are super cheap now (around $50 for a replica and maybe $80 for the authentic). Just let me know. It might take a bit of time to get it at the store since I'd only go on the weekend.

Maybe Bert, but you could say that with a lot of places where they are discussing expansion now too. I just look at what happened with Phoenix, and think, if that has been such a massive struggle and money sink, maybe they need to take a lesson or two from it. But they even reiterated yet again that they are dead set the Coyotes are staying.

Anyways, I don't get the NHL's announcement. They are not starting process but "it doesn't mean they will expand"? But they are soliciting formal expansion proposals already? WTH Bettman. And 500$ million for an expansion team, gimme a break. The last buy in was 80$ million, and even that was pretty crazy. This is a money grab pure and simple. They don't care about the future of the league. Look, more teams would be fine, and hey, every city should have a hockey team, why not, but you have to consider how this is going to affect the talent pool you see on the ice. And you have to also bear in mind how this is going to financially affect all the other teams to support these 'weaker' markets. Look at Phoenix and how much of a drain that was on the NHL. That money should be better spent, but in the end they only grab it from us, the fans, so they don't care. Well I say that we should.

IF they are dead set on this, here is my proposal. They should set up a tiered system, similar to football in Europe, with a premier, first division etc. They can merge this with existing AHL franchises or bring back old WHL teams, and add expansion teams as they need. Teams already swap out players with their farm clubs on a regular basis, so you can at least say the calibre of play is somewhat similar. Then, you can have promotion/demotion for those clubs who warrant it. If you have a strong team that performs well then why not play in the NHL, if you have a shitty team who has no money and can't put a club together to compete against the big market teams, then it only makes sense they should be better balanced with a small market team. This seems like the best of both worlds; you can have more teams 'in the league' essentially, you get get to encourage smaller market teams to be competitive, you gain interest by local fans in supporting their team (to make it) versus piling their support to a main team they have less of a connection to, and you get the most deserving players playing against each other. I don't really see a downside to be honest. It is not my preferred solution, but one that will work.

You also have to consider the number of teams currently in other professional sports leagues by comparison. The NBA has 30 teams, as does the MLB, while the NFL has 32. It is not a coincidence that there is an upper limit to this number. Another reason expansion teams fail. You dilute interest in the game by having too many teams. Smaller numbers means more rivalries and a better on-field product. Plus, I don't know who the F Bettman and Daly are going to talk to as they travel around on this 'consultation' tour, but you can believe it won't be the people who really matter.

Fuck! I was just on the NHL site and read about the rule changes. So we still have that fucking shootout?! Now it's 3-3 then shootout! I thought it was 4-4 then 3-3 and no more shootout! What a fucking sham. This is getting comical. I hate less players on the ice. 5 on fucking 5 Bettman- last I checked it's a team sport, not Harlem Globetrotters. 5 on 5 for at least 10 minutes then it's a tie. None of this 2 points decided by a shootout. Teams don't need to get 125 points in a season based on individual efforts by a shootout sniper. Fuck this is the worst. Get rid of the shootout! Argghhhh.

I see the Bruins are playing the Habs 5 times in 2015-2016! At least the NHL has figured out 3-4 is not enough. All the games are from the beginning of the season till 1/19 though so in the 2nd half there are none Well we have the Winter Classic at least......please don't trade Lucic, please don't trade Lucic. Lock up Hamilton...fingers crossed.

3v3 is dumb.
4v4 was okay.
the shootout was okay but i can live without it.

i think they should stick with at the very least, 4v4 20min and if no one scores, it's a tie. i'd rather it be 5v5 20min, 1 period.

as far as expansion goes, it doesn't really matter to me where the next team will be.

OMG. Is today April Fools day? Is it some kind of sick joke? Is the only requirement to be Bruins GM is to have shit for brains? What the fucking fuck? You trade a future #1 D-man just coming into his own for a pair of picks? Really Sweeney? That's your first move as GM? Did you take one too many pucks to the head? WTF?!!!!!!

Now I suspect they are going to package these picks and shed salary with a trade (probably Lucic- which means I will stop watching the Bruins this year) to move up to that #3 spot, but it's a dumb ass move. You get a guy who won't be ready for at least 4 years (Hanifin is going to BU right?) meanwhile your core gets old. WTF? And rumor has all Hamilton was asking for was 5.5 million. Seriously Sweeney you could not shed some dead weight contracts like Kelly to find the dough? WTF?

This is apparently the requirement to be the GM for the Sharks.

And now Lucic?!

what do we have so far?
D. Hamilton > Flames
M. Lucic > Kings

the actual draft will not be as exciting as all the trading before and after draft day.

My team has imploded Game of Thrones style.

The two guys you kept mentioning.... That sucks

What do you think of the Sharks first pick?

Meier looks like a player the Sharks need. He has size, skill, and is not afraid to hit or be hit from the footage that I've seen. I wonder how he is on D. The one thing we really need is a physical player. We lost that with the departure of Scott and Torres seeming to be in forever IRL.

Yep, been there a few times (more than I care to think on actually) with the Habs myself, Lixx. Naturally you can never please everyone with a roster of players, but some bonehead moves by GMs make you wonder how these pople got the job - and what we need to do to get hired in their place.

I'm sure it's a stressful job, and of course everyone loves to play armchair GM, but ultimately doesn't seem that difficult. I think the main skill is to be able to bluff like a poker player with all the other GM's. Sweeney got taken to school. The sentiment all over the league and with our fanbase is: what a tool! Unbelievable, and now everyone hates him.

I mean I guess there are a lot of moves to be made off season, but the Dougie thing was absolutely unnecessary. He wanted to stay and was willing to do 5.5 million. A steal! Then he dumps Lucic to help with cap relief to be able to sign players? Wait the guy you needed to sign badly you just gave away for nothing? So why bother trading Lucic now? Oh and you did not even do that right! We still retain 2.7 million of his contract. Then 2 of his 3 picks were guys we could have picked up in later rounds! Can we please have Chia- pet back? Wait no he traded away Seguin for nothing as well.

Lucic was the identity player for the Bruins. How am I going to get pumped up for games now? Guess I won't watch much hockey this year because the Bruins are going back to the late 90's early 2000 dark days.

I forgot to mention, at least they didn't trade Lucic to Montreal, right?

He had a no trade clause so I'm sure he would have said no to that one!

WTF is going on with the Bruins? I mean really. The fanbase is befuddled and very unhappy right now. I know nothing about this guy they got for Martin Jones but we really needed a backup goalie. Rask was overworked last season.