Originally Posted by J.OT13 (Post 7832404)

Refs' assistance was enough to give the Pens a win in game 7. BS interference call on Phaneuf when it was clearly a dive by Kessel. Pens scored on that PP.

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone (Post 7832507)

assistant coach Jacques Martin hails from Quebec as well. He will have the Cup a few days also.

Originally Posted by Berklon (Post 7832557)

How was that not interference? Even if Kessel embellished a bit, Phaneuf clearly put his elbow out and extended he is leg out and pushed into Kessel - resulting in holding him up on the way to the puck. 100% interference.

Originally Posted by Nicko999 (Post 7836390)

Why is Marc Bergevin still making trades???:facepalm::duh:duh

Originally Posted by TownGuy (Post 7832503)

Come on do you actually think the NHL tries to rig these things? That has to be the most annoying fan reaction to losing and it seems to be a new thing.

Bottomline is every single team in the league has calls go both ways for them all year and the Penguins had a couple calls go their way in the finals. To win a Stanley Cup you usually need a little luck on the way and the Pens had it.

Originally Posted by J.OT13 (Post 7840606)

The NHL (just like every other sports league I'm sure) can very well try to push things to favour certain teams or go out of their way to encourage certain cities to get an expansion or relocation over another.

Originally Posted by J.OT13 (Post 7840606)

Will anyone deny that Crosby can get away with murder while a lesser known player would get suspended for a lesser offence?

Originally Posted by J.OT13 (Post 7840606)

The NHL wants to build up its brand. What better way than to have a new dynasty led by the presumed second coming of Wayne Gretzky.

Originally Posted by J.OT13 (Post 7840606)

The expansion itself; the NHL was hoping for Vegas, Seattle and Kansas City. When only Vegas and Québec placed a bid, Québec was thrown aside and only Vegas, who they wanted, got a franchise.

Originally Posted by J.OT13 (Post 7840606)

The NHL awards in Vegas is a good example of pushing an expansion franchise. Why have them their every year? Why not awarded to different NHL cities every year like the All-Star Game and Draft? Now more than ever, Vegas should no longer host the awards now that they have a team. No matter how you look at it, it's favouritism.

Originally Posted by JHikka (Post 7840624)

If they're doing it through the referee's union i'd be shocked.

Are ref's ever disciplined for bad calls? If so, we never hear about it. It's one thing if they miss an interference or slashing call, but when it's something that could have completely changed the momentum of the game, it's a major issue.

Literally every sport in the world has this happen to some degree. Hockey is nowhere near the worst culprit.

No doubt. I'd like to see the NHL set an example though by disciplining its stars the same way as any other player.

The NHL's insistence of building brand via players instead of teams has been aggravating to say the least.

Agreed.

Vegas benefits the NHL more than QC does. We've been over this a million times.

Yes, but Québec would benefit the league non-the-less. I don't oppose Vegas getting a franchise, but I take issue with the NHL's treatment of Québec City.

Quebec can be thrown aside because the NHL knows it can go back to Quebec at literally any time in the future and Quebec will still be on its knees waiting with open arms.

Right you are. Québec City (and Canada) is the NHL's bitch.

The NHL Awards used to be in Toronto every year.

Many cities may or may not have theatre/arena availability like Vegas/Toronto/NYC. A lot of it comes down to scheduling, logistics, and infrastructure. How many celebrities/players/media are going to show up if the awards are in Columbus or Edmonton? It's not an easy sell to sponsors if the NHL calls you up and says "Hey, want to sponsor this event we're putting on? It'll be great exposure for your business interests in Ohio".

In a league built on a corporate business structure whose sole goal is making money for its owners there's favourtism that may lead to making more money? Shocking.

How is it different than the All Star Game, Outdoor Games or the NHL Draft?

Originally Posted by suburbanite (Post 7842489)

That was the cheesiest piece of crap expansion draft/award show ever. Why is the NHL incapable of marketing itself as a serious entity?

Vegas loaded up with a ton of d men. I assume we'll see some of them moved for staggered 2018/2019 draft picks before the start of the season.

Originally Posted by lubicon (Post 7842609)

Does the draft signify the end of the season or the start of a new season? I would argue it's time to start a new thread for the 2017-2018 season (or rename the current thread).