The Seven-game Series...

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Toronto Star.

This is an interesting take on the main advantage of a short series versus a longer series, according to the executive director of the NHL players' union.

[thedisappearer 291]

Yeah. Interesting. A league employee saying the league wants series to be extended.

[19Hockeytown5 0]

This is nothing new or ground breaking. The NHL is a business just like any other.

He didn't say they were rigging the games or intentionally dragging the series out. It is a fact that long series are better. It's more Tv add revenue, more fan attendence, and interest tends to build as a series goes deeper. In no way did he say they were working to ensure the series go longer. He only said sweeps are bad for the league (and they are).

[BlueMonk 102]

I like Paul Kelly's honesty, but I don't see what the point is in talking about this. People can only infer negative things from it, IMO.

[19Hockeytown5 0]

Oh, come on. This literally means nothing. It's like business 101.

[Guest MrSandMan]

That would explain the bad reffing and no-goal in GM#3.

[b.shanafan14 733]

I like Paul Kelly's honesty, but I don't see what the point is in talking about this. People can only infer negative things from it, IMO.

QFT. Obviously more games equals more revenue, but someone from the league talking about it to the press and apparently mentioning it to the players, while I doubt there is a single player in the league that would throw a playoff game, it gives the strange impression of tampering.

[19Hockeytown5 0]

He was asked a question and he answered it with a fact. What would you rather have him say? We like sweeps. It's good for the fans and the league! Stating the obvious does not mean they are openly rigging the games. Let's be reasonable.

[blikst 1]

I like Paul Kelly's honesty, but I don't see what the point is in talking about this. People can only infer negative things from it, IMO.

Not people that actually know what they are talking about. The fans that want to cry conspiracy will do so in any case.

[Hossa7.4 0]

so a team is up 2-0 on the Face of the new NHL and they get 6 straight power plays so they can go up 3-2 in the seminal fifth game of a series.

there's nothing fishy about that.

[thedisappearer 291]

He was asked a question and he answered it with a fact. What would you rather have him say? We like sweeps. It's good for the fans and the league! Stating the obvious does not mean they are openly rigging the games. Let's be reasonable.

Of course it obvious, but that doesn't mean he should say it out loud, especially when bad calls and a suspension system that appears borderline retarded.

When you buy a drink for a girl at the club, do you tell her it's because you want to get into her pants?

[Turretin 0]

When you buy a drink for a girl at the club, do you tell her it's because you want to get into her pants?

Only if she is wearing super large sweatpants with an elastic band. It would be too crowded and tight otherwise.

[donfishmaster 62]

Of course it obvious, but that doesn't mean he should say it out loud, especially when bad calls and a suspension system that appears borderline retarded.

When you buy a drink for a girl at the club, do you tell her it's because you want to get into her pants?

Well, I usually tell her it's because she doesn't sweat a lot for a girl her size.

Or that "She's not like the other girls, I promise I will respect you when I'm through."

Or "I dig you crazy chicks with low self-esteem!"

[RusDRW 155]

I would say it was very honest... I can understand why they are treating this as business. However, it is still sporting business that has a lot of specific things including unpredictable results, for example. Assume for a moment we are all confident that our series with Aanheim will be decided in game 7 (with refs "helping" a lot to ensre that). Are you going to watch game 5 and 6? Will you spend yout money to watch it?

[BlakChamber 8]

"I'm not going to the players and saying, `Look, guys, stretch out these series,'" said Kelly. "That's not the point. But I have an obligation to tell the players (the economic variables). And if I'm telling the players this, there's no reason for me not to state it to the public."

He is right, and what he's saying is common sense really. Longer series equal more money.

But he probably could have worded it a little better. This will just add more fuel to the fire for all the tin-foil hat wearers who think the games are rigged.

[LIDDYGIBBY5 1]

What are we going to go to, a best of nine, a best of eleven? If they are going to do that they will have to eliminate an entire round of the playoffs or extend the season until the beginning of July. The series would last at least four more days for one that goes the distance in a best of nine format, which there is usually at least one in each of the first two rounds. This means more travel which will cost teams mega dollars to fly. (especially western conference teams) Free agency would have to be pushed back so teams in the conference finals and Stanley Cup finals would have time to qualify players/negotiate with there own FA's. This is a terrible idea. Make the game more palatable and there would be more $$$.

[Vincanni 1]

I've been advocating the fact that the league intentionally draws out series for years now, this really changes nothing of my opinion. Its especially bad in the SCF, the refs where about as subtle as a jackhammer in obscuring this fact last year.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

He is right, and what he's saying is common sense really. Longer series equal more money.

Especially when, from mlive dot com:

The NHL and the NHLPA agreed to set the escrow at 13.5 percent for the first and second quarters of the season and raised it to 22.5 percent as the recession deepened. That averages out to 18 percent of players' salaries for the entire season.

and

The rumor in the agent community is that the final escrow percentage could end up being somewhere around 13 percent to 14 percent. The exact amount of NHL revenue the players will receive is also to be determined, but it's expected to be between 56 percent and 57 percent.

I don't know what Kelly and the membership of the NHLPA feel about this matter, but the League is thinking about taking two pre-season games and converting them to regular-season games, bringing back the 84-game schedule, which was scrapped after the lockout of 1994-95.

[Z and D for the C 712]

What an *******. Plain and simple.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

... A league employee..

Paid by who?

[CdnWingsFanEh 2]

As long as the 1st seed always plays the 8th seed, and the 2nd seed plays the 7th seed etc, there will always be sweeps during the playoffs. Particularly in the first round. It only makes sense. The absolutely best teams are playing the absolutely worst teams (in the p/os). If they don't want as many sweeps, they will have to change the playoffs format. Maybe go back to intra-divisional rounds...