All 30 NHL teams will get "an NFL-style 'bye week'" during the '16-17 season, according to Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com. The league and the NHLPA have "committed to building a 'five-day bye week' for each team into the schedule next season." The league will "schedule one for each club between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28 next season" (ESPN.com, 11/19). CBSSPORTS.com's Chris Peters wrote a five-day break in the latter half of the 82-game season "will be welcome for just about every player." That is "especially true" for the players who will have "participated in the World Cup of Hockey before the season." Those guys "will have played a whole lot of hockey by their bye week" (CBSSPORTS.com, 11/19).
TRADING POST: ESPN.com's Sean McIndoe wrote trading "used to be a big part of both the typical general manager's toolbox and the NHL's overall entertainment package, but it's been dying a slow death in the cap era." McIndoe: "And we all know why: It's the dollars. The salary cap complicated everything, we're told. It's just too hard to make a deal these days." This is the "third time" since '10 that the NHL has "made it well into November before seeing the first deal of a new season." History "tells us that the market will start to pick up soon, but not all that much, with a smattering of deals between now and the trade deadline." If fans are lucky, there will be "a handful of moves that feature players they've actually heard of" (ESPN.com, 11/18).
JUMPING THE SHARK? In Toronto, Mike Zeisberger wrote of the NHL's new All-Star Game format, "Kudos to the league for at least attempting to find a concept that would potentially bring some new life into an event that had digressed into a beer league exhibition played by millionaires who spent much of the game going through the motions. All the while, thousands of gullible fans sitting in the stands were left wondering why they’d shelled out hundreds of dollars." But while the league deserves "credit for always trying to make its product better," there is "something about the nature of the hockey fraternity that has its members never satisfied with the product, leading to the constant tweaking of the sport." Zeisberger: "When does the sport we’ve always known as hockey no longer qualify as hockey anymore?" (TORONTO SUN, 11/19). Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos said of the All-Star Game format, "It needed a change. Something needed to happen. I hated the last few All-Star Games." Sportnet's Doug MacLean said, "I love this move. I applaud them for doing this ... because it was so bad. ... It was unwatchable" ("NHL Hockey Central," Sportsnet, 11/18).
RAISING THE STAKES: CBSSPORTS.com's Peters wrote there is "no question" that the appeal of the All-Star Game "is dwindling." There is "so little incentive to watch," and a 17-12 hockey game "takes forever." If this new format "doesn't work and a lot of that is really dependent on the players, the league may have to consider scrapping the game all together" (CBSSPORTS.com, 11/18). In Chicago, Steve Rosenbloom wrote there is "no way to save the NHL All-Star Game," as it is "Disney on Ice without teeth." The new 3-on-3 format "means there will be fewer players on the ice to not hit anybody" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 11/19).
STARS SPEAK: Rangers G Henrik Lundqvist said of the new All-Star Game format, "I think it is fun that they switched things up. In the end they want to make something unique and fun for the fans. This 3-on-3 is so new ... I’m not sure what my opinion is on it right now, but for an All-Star weekend, why not?" (N.Y. POST, 11/20). Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said, "I actually like the thought that there’s going to be a competition for something of value, whatever that is" (BUFFALO NEWS, 11/20). But Blue Jackets LW Nick Foligno said, "It might be a little tiring. Hopefully, they can figure out how to make it exciting and not too taxing on the players." He added that the divisional setup "is intriguing." He said, "I think it’s kind of cool. You see it in (Major League Baseball) and the way they do it. I think it’s a great way to get some sort of rivalry going in the game. I think guys will enjoy it" (DISPATCH.com, 11/20). Hurricanes C Eric Staal said of the prize money, "That is a big deal to me. At the end of the day, yes, I have been fortunate to play this game a long time, but that to me is still a lot of money." He added of the new format, "I think it is a good idea. Change it up" ("Hockey Central," Sportsnet, 11/19).
