Meh as long as they crown a champion imo. If there’s a repeat of 2005, the Sens and Detroit will get screwed. I want 2 things for this year:

Lebron to win another championship and the Sens to get 2 top 5 picks

Yeah, I don't know if I agree MH91
Even if they take the top-8 as is now (pts or %, some good clubs) and do best-of-3 or 5 and then best of 7-final it's a solid winner.
"#no * asty"
Cheers

theres no doubt it will be a solid cup win. but people will always question this years playoffs. No home ice advantage, teams like philly that were flying to the playoffs have their momentum completely stopped, etc.. this is a pretty bizarre season if it does resume

While there will be a mental asterisk because of the factors mentioned, I don't think the cup would mean any less to those who compete and whoever wins. As long as there's at least 16 teams are involved and the final 2 rounds are best of 5 at the least, I'm good with that. I would prefer an enlarged format though.

True, never get a consensus. Just ask CapFriendly LOL...

I'm the opposite - lets take the top-8 and drop the puck.
Then the draft, FA etc. and drop it again in 20-21...

edit - see consensus blown in 30 seconds ha ha ha
Cheers!

I just thought of something. If the cap did go down, what the hell do the Leafs do? They have like 50 mill committed into like 5 players, they’d have to trade one of Marner/Nylander or else they will be the Edmonton Oilers with minimum players and a few top end players and that team would go straight up nowhere

For sure...Barstool had a blog post mentioning a flat cap which is probably the biggest sigh of relief for TML and many others (CHI...)
UFA's are gonna take a haircut (but we all likely need a trimming after this c r a p p y shelter-in-place bs).

https://twitter.com/KenLairdWEEI/status/1251137174222843906?s=20

Basically saying Manchester, NH is a possibility of a location

No offense, but easy for a philly fan to say right? Phi only makes top-8 because of their hot streak and PIt's cold streak. if they do top-8, there should be 8 asterisks on the cup--for the at least 8 teams robbed of a shot. the whole "integrity of the cup" thing is totally gone if there's only 8 teams. IMHO

No prob, it's just fantasy.

Money-$ will decide is the true answer anyway right!?
* ie: owners input you gotta think will be heavily weighted to 16 teams as being in the playoff dance is where the $$$ is.

Trade-off, is likely the following season a few meaningless games will be axed OTT vs ANA etc. They can also possibly alter the sched. in 20-21 to have more exciting and impt games amongst PHI-PITT, PITT-WSH, DET-CHI, BOS-MTL/TOR, FLA-TB etc etc etc.