Playoff Parity

[Hockey Junkie 0]

NHL commish and douchebag Gary Bettman touted parity all year with the recently instituted salary cap in the NHL.

But have any of the series in the playoffs this year been all that close?

Just look at the presumptive teams that will play for the Cup this year (DET-PIT). They’ve practically coasted in.

Just goes to show you that there is still a team that finishes 1st and a team that finishes 30th every year with or without salary cap.

And let’s not forget money can’t buy you a good team (Toronto and New York Rangers).

The only consolation prize for Bettman is that Sidney Crosby will be around to ***** out longer. But is he the answer to dwindling ratings nationwide?

Bettman is a terrible steward for the game. The game and it’s players are marketed poorly and the commercials on VS are lame as hell. Don’t even get me started on VS. Terrible announcers and no coverage for those that don’t want to get bled by cable companies.

But let’s leave on a positive note. As for the Wings, the Cup is in the bag. We will destroy our Finals opponent.

GO WINGS! GO HOCKEY! GO F@#*! YOURSELF BETTMAN!

P.S. What’s with Nashville dishing out all that dough for Erat? Looks like we will continue to dominate the Central.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

PMS?

[wingsfan75 2]

On a side note, I love the avatar HJ. Better Off Dead is one of my all time favorites.

[StevieY9802 6]

I think the parity is there when you look at how close so many teams were in the regular season standings. Calgary was better than a 7th seed and the Flyers were better than a 6th. Look at the teams that have turned around in just a year or two, like the Flyers. I also question if the Pens could be where they are at with no salaray cap because a team like the Wings might have gone and got a Hossa and just stacked their team. While I don't Bettman for the most part I'm glad he got this cap it saved the league as a whole from a financial standpoint. And I sereiously think it helped the Wings. They added key role players and added what they needed not just shopping for as much offense as they could.

[RedRockit 0]

I think the parity is there when you look at how close so many teams were in the regular season standings. Calgary was better than a 7th seed and the Flyers were better than a 6th. Look at the teams that have turned around in just a year or two, like the Flyers. I also question if the Pens could be where they are at with no salaray cap because a team like the Wings might have gone and got a Hossa and just stacked their team. While I don't Bettman for the most part I'm glad he got this cap it saved the league as a whole from a financial standpoint. And I sereiously think it helped the Wings. They added key role players and added what they needed not just shopping for as much offense as they could.

And I seriously think it helped Wings' fans as well.

Now I don't have to listen to my best friend's "Wings bought the Cup" razzing anymore.

(still doesn't make Bettmann any less of a bidet, though)

[McCartyFanForLife 17]

I like the parity; everytime there is a new hockeytown video, we'll see some different teams

[Hockey Junkie 0]

I think the parity is there when you look at how close so many teams were in the regular season standings. Calgary was better than a 7th seed and the Flyers were better than a 6th. Look at the teams that have turned around in just a year or two, like the Flyers. I also question if the Pens could be where they are at with no salaray cap because a team like the Wings might have gone and got a Hossa and just stacked their team. While I don't Bettman for the most part I'm glad he got this cap it saved the league as a whole from a financial standpoint. And I sereiously think it helped the Wings. They added key role players and added what they needed not just shopping for as much offense as they could.

That's true, but if you take away the point for SO losses, it's not as close in the standings. I like the fact there aren’t ties, but not the 3 point game system. All or nothing sounds better to me. I totally agree with you about the Wings though. Better chemistry now.

[timothy1997 0]

dallas and san jose series has been close. so has the boston-montreal matchup. There is parity among some of the teams but I think this year is just the case that Detroit and Pittsburgh are miles above every other team in their respected conference.

[betterREDthandead 58]

NHL commish and douchebag Gary Bettman touted parity all year with the recently instituted salary cap in the NHL.

But have any of the series in the playoffs this year been all that close?

Just look at the presumptive teams that will play for the Cup this year (DET-PIT). They’ve practically coasted in.

Just goes to show you that there is still a team that finishes 1st and a team that finishes 30th every year with or without salary cap.

And let’s not forget money can’t buy you a good team (Toronto and New York Rangers).

The only consolation prize for Bettman is that Sidney Crosby will be around to ***** out longer. But is he the answer to dwindling ratings nationwide?

Bettman is a terrible steward for the game. The game and it’s players are marketed poorly and the commercials on VS are lame as hell. Don’t even get me started on VS. Terrible announcers and no coverage for those that don’t want to get bled by cable companies.

But let’s leave on a positive note. As for the Wings, the Cup is in the bag. We will destroy our Finals opponent.

GO WINGS! GO HOCKEY! GO F@#*! YOURSELF BETTMAN!

P.S. What’s with Nashville dishing out all that dough for Erat? Looks like we will continue to dominate the Central.

You're completely missing the point of parity. Of course there will be bad teams and good teams every year. The point is that for the most part, they're greatly different teams from year to year.

Look at the East. Out of 15 teams, only 3 of them failed to make the playoffs both this year and last. Last year's conference finalists didn't win a single playoff game this year. Last year's bottom three made the playoffs this year; last year's worst team is this year's conference finalist. That's parity. It's ensuring that if you don't have a quality organization, you might have success in any given year but you won't maintain it. And it ensures that if you stunk this year, there's plenty of hope for next year.

Whether you think that's a good thing or bad is entirely a matter of opinion, but you can't claim the league doesn't have parity.

[Hockey Junkie 0]

You're completely missing the point of parity. Of course there will be bad teams and good teams every year. The point is that for the most part, they're greatly different teams from year to year.

Look at the East. Out of 15 teams, only 3 of them failed to make the playoffs both this year and last. Last year's conference finalists didn't win a single playoff game this year. Last year's bottom three made the playoffs this year; last year's worst team is this year's conference finalist. That's parity. It's ensuring that if you don't have a quality organization, you might have success in any given year but you won't maintain it. And it ensures that if you stunk this year, there's plenty of hope for next year.

Whether you think that's a good thing or bad is entirely a matter of opinion, but you can't claim the league doesn't have parity.

Yes, but those kind of things happened pre-salary cap as well I’m sure.

My rant was mostly knocking Bettman’s “everything’s peachy” attitude and how he positions team parity as an avenue to higher ratings and NHL growth. Also, parity in the regular season with the aided crutch of the 3 point game doesn’t make for a more exciting playoff year.

I believe the real parity is mostly found in the players due to the overall increase in the quality of training and preparation for the players. That’s why you’ll never see another Gretzky-like difference between the best player’s stats and the rest of the league.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Bettman is the happiest guy in the world knowing that these two teams are going to play each other.

[pavyaz19 1]

I hate Bettman as much or more than the next guy... but the way the playoffs have gone is no way to judge parity. As for the playoff races, many teams were in the hunt in the last month of the regular season with many seeds changing weekly, that is what they wanted... Bettman knows all the playoff games will sell-out (well, if there not in Detroit) and most of the games will be seen by a national TV audience.

It couldn't have worked out any better for the league... the plans have gone just the way they wanted...

think about it, who do they showcase every weekend on NBC??? the Rangers, Penguins, and Red Wings.

Well, two of those three are nearing the finals while the third was bumped by a premiere team.

This is EXACTLY what they wanted... if the pattern continues, it will be Wings / Pens for the Cup.

However, I still hate Bettman and always will.

[Redwingsfan18 1]

Bettman is the happiest guy in the world knowing that these two teams are going to play each other.

Yep.

He may want his sun-belt teams to do well, but nothing rakes in the money like Hockeytown versus the "savior" of the NHL. Basically you've got the two biggest hockey markets going head to head there - Detroit against Canada

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

NHL commish and douchebag Gary Bettman touted parity all year with the recently instituted salary cap in the NHL.

But have any of the series in the playoffs this year been all that close?

Just look at the presumptive teams that will play for the Cup this year (DET-PIT). They’ve practically coasted in.

Just goes to show you that there is still a team that finishes 1st and a team that finishes 30th every year with or without salary cap.

And let’s not forget money can’t buy you a good team (Toronto and New York Rangers).

The only consolation prize for Bettman is that Sidney Crosby will be around to ***** out longer. But is he the answer to dwindling ratings nationwide?

Bettman is a terrible steward for the game. The game and it’s players are marketed poorly and the commercials on VS are lame as hell. Don’t even get me started on VS. Terrible announcers and no coverage for those that don’t want to get bled by cable companies.

But let’s leave on a positive note. As for the Wings, the Cup is in the bag. We will destroy our Finals opponent.

GO WINGS! GO HOCKEY! GO F@#*! YOURSELF BETTMAN!

P.S. What’s with Nashville dishing out all that dough for Erat? Looks like we will continue to dominate the Central.

At ease solider. Step away from the computer, stand up, take a few deep breats, relax.

Plenty of series have been close this year.

Wings-Predators went to 6 games.

Flames-Sharks went to 7 games.

Stars-Ducks went to 6 games.

Wild-Avalanche went to 6 games.

Capitals-Flyers went to 7 games.

Canadiens-Bruins went to 7 games.

Sharks-Stars went to 6 games.

[auxlepli 17]

The whole League, owners and players, agreed to the new CBA. Bettman can be blamed for a lot of stuff, but a few lopsided series is not is not one of them. I'd rather credit the dominating teams for doing things the right way.

[PaVel DaTsYuK fan13 0]

I think all the short playoff series are hurting the league.

to the casual fan, watching the six and seven game NBA series sounds more appealing than all the four and five game NHL series.

Granted, I would rather put needles through my eyes than watch a full NBA game, but I think that hockey is losing a lot of potential viewers.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I think all the short playoff series are hurting the league.

to the casual fan, watching the six and seven game NBA series sounds more appealing than all the four and five game NHL series.

Granted, I would rather put needles through my eyes than watch a full NBA game, but I think that hockey is losing a lot of potential viewers.

Basketball is for girly men.

It's just a bunch of pansies who get slapped on their wrists, and constantly whine to the refs about it.

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

I disagree entirely with this OP....

Since the CBA look at the teams that have been in and out of the playoffs. There is definitely parity in the league unlike there was between 1995 - 2003 when a combined 4 teams won the Stanley Cup ( and 3 different teams since then)

[Nev 1,085]

There is parity among some of the teams but I think this year is just the case that Detroit and Pittsburgh are miles above every other team in their respected conference.

Agreed. Crosby missed half the season and the Pens still only just missed out on 1st in the East. We coasted to 1st in the West despite having half the roster out and not winning a game for a month.

Basically, we are the class of each conference, and now that mugging is no longer allowed and the Refs aren't so afraid to call obvious (and not so obvious ) penalties in the playoffs, our class is allowed to shine.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Basketball is for girly men.

It's just a bunch of pansies who get slapped on their wrists, and constantly whine to the refs about it.

Kinda like how a fair amount of hockey players are accused of embelishing and diving and acting as well to get a penalty?

Watch the hypocrisy...

[McCartyFanForLife 17]

Kinda like how a fair amount of hockey players are accused of embelishing and diving and acting as well to get a penalty?

Watch the hypocrisy...

Difference is you can beat the crap out of those hockey players for doing so; in basketball, you'd be suspended for over half of a season for that.