With no productive talks happening between the NHL and NHLPA to work out a new collective bargaining agreement by the September 15th deadline, it’s becoming more of a certainty that the players will be locked out and the start of the season delayed. The big question though is how long will that delay be and what will the NHL look like once it returns.
After experiencing a lockout that wiped out the entire 2004-05 season, it’s hard to believe that the NHL would or could return with the same general makeup as it does now. When the NHL returned for the 2005-06 season several rule changes were put in place that put an emphasis on speed and scoring in an attempt to gain new fans.
Jesse Spector of the Sporting News though has a pretty radical idea that would more than likely be a long shot to happen IF the NHL experiences another long, grueling lockout.
In order to avoid contraction which he says would be unfair to the staffs and fans of those teams being liquidated, Spector writes that the NHL could undergo a change that reshapes the entire landscape of professional sports in North America. This change could be the addition of a second NHL which would be similar to global soccer in which teams could be demoted to lower level leagues if they simply aren’t competitive.
In order to form the NHL2, eight teams would need to be initially relegated. This could be done on a financial basis, to ensure that revenue juggernauts like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens stay in the NHL. Or, it could be done by virtue of performance on the ice in one more season under the current format. The last-place teams in each of the six existing divisions would be relegated, along with two additional teams, one from each conference—these teams would be determined by a relegation playoff between the two non-last place teams with the lowest point totals in the regular season.
With this setup that would mean the top NHL would feature 22 teams with each team playing a home and home against each other. Spector also writes that the top 16 teams would play for the Stanley Cup at the end of the season. On the other end of the spectrum, the 22nd place team would be sent down to NHL 2 along with the loser of a playoff between the 20th and 21st place teams. Subsequently the champion of NHL 2 would be sent up to the NHL along with the winner of a playoff between the second and third place teams.
This certainly sounds drastic but perhaps unique enough to garner what would be much needed positive attention after another black eye to the league.
In addition to the above changes, here’s what else this NHL and NHL 2 could bring on according to Spector…
- Players in NHL and NHL 2 would be full members of the NHLPA.
- Eventually NHL 2 would be able to expand to lost NHL cities such as Hartford, Kansas City, Quebec and Seattle.
- Significant revenue sharing for teams relegated to NHL 2.
- Loan system for players in NHL to NHL 2 teams.
- Opt out clauses for NHL 2 players.
- A common draft between the two leagues. First pick going to the 22nd place team in the NHL.
- Salary floor and lower cap for NHL 2 teams.
Of course this probably won’t happen but it’s fun to think about. Check out the full article here.
h/t: The Sporting News
