Eyes On Isles
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Islanders: Three theories on what will happen when hockey comes back

ByMichel Anderson|
UNIONDALE, NY - APRIL 25: A general view of the arena prior to the game between the New York Islanders and the Washington Capitals in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on April 25, 2015 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Capitals 3-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY - APRIL 25: A general view of the arena prior to the game between the New York Islanders and the Washington Capitals in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on April 25, 2015 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Capitals 3-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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New York Islanders
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 18: Head coach Barry Trotz of the New York Islanders watches from the bench during the third period of the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on December 18, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. The Islanders defeated the Coyotes 3-1. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Shorter Season

Assuming the NHL is only gone for a few weeks, they still have time to even out the schedule and avoid this hole points-percentage scenario when they come back.

According to Greg Wyshynski, the NHL could play a shorter season when they come back. That would certainly allow teams to ‘earn’ the right to get into the playoffs and not luck their way in like they would do in a points percentage scenario.

This scenario would, aside from keeping things fair for playoff seeding, would also keep the NHL to a regular time table. With a shorter season and with a truncated playoff structure where the first round is shorter, the season could still be done in June, as usual.

As an Islanders fan, I like the points percentage scenario better. Simply for the fact that it leaves no room for error. The Islanders can’t possibly screw it up.

But as a hockey fan, this scenario is fair. It gives teams some time to earn their way in. In this scenario who makes it and who doesn’t is up to the performance on the ice and not by some sort of algorithm. In this scenario, there can be no complaints about who gets in and who doesn’t.

The question for this scenario is what games do they and don’t they play? Do they simply keep the same schedule and only play, say, 75 games? Or will it be 75 games and all inter-conference play?

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