Hockey 101: The Perception That the NHL Favors Certain Teams (From 1994 Until Now)

[@peterolbrisch8970]

Dang, an authenticated signed picture of Gary Bettman, the pinnacle of hockey memorabilia, second only to a signed picture of Mike Keenan. 😂😂😂😂

[@davyjones649]

I need it

[@XSharkdarkX]

Add a Lou Lamoriello beard hair to the list 🤣

[@peterolbrisch8970]

@@XSharkdarkX Yikes! Thanks for your reply and have a great day!

[@bartsanders1553]

The only thing better could be Mitch Marner's peer evaluations signed by Mike Babcock.

[@peterolbrisch8970]

@@bartsanders1553 Good one! Thanks for your reply and have a great day!🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@cronoros]

"There's no conspiracy" says the guy with the Bettphone on set but not in shot 🤔

[@gohabs8918]

I wonder how many Hot Wheels Gary has extorted out of Shannon

[@severed111]

@@gohabs8918 🤣

[@Borodin410]

The owners, players, and referees all want the league to grow. That's only going to happen in the US. A Canadian team winning the Stanley Cup doesn't accomplish this. League screws Canadian teams with the schedule. Owners can lose and still make money from expansion. Refs make more calls against Canadian teams in the playoffs. Have since 1993. Fancy that.

[@PiYodTong]

"Don't attribute to malice what can equally be attributed to incompetence"

[@shawnlewin9057]

Doesn’t really apply to this conversation.

[@father042]

Usually it's a bit of both

[@robatron1011]

@@shawnlewin9057 if you actually watched the video you would realize that it did

[@robatron1011]

I was coming to comment this lol

[@Razahoo7]

@@shawnlewin9057 Someone didn't watch the vid.

[@JoJo-ke5yz]

Words can not express how tickled I am to hear that Garys signature is worth $3

[@Sox-wp9lo]

that is still $4 more than it worth

[@SethFinberg]

THG overpaid and bought at the top of the market.

[@TommyBoy8771]

"Texas isn't right next to Florida I know how maps work" *points at Atlanta Thrashers magnet* 🤣never change Shannon

[@timjansen7694]

I'm a Columbus guy and I've been saying this for years, the problem with Columbus is that it is not a desired location for free agents. That would include their own free agents, mid-level free agents that every team needs to fill roles, and of course the best free agents. Columbus is not a desired location because it does not have a positive, winning history in the NHL, and it is not seen as an exciting city for young athletes.

[@AggrievedPuggle]

It’s the no move clauses. If you aren’t a perennial contender, low tax state, big market or warm climate then you aren’t attracting players.

[@timjansen7694]

@@AggrievedPuggle Columbus is not alone. Buffalo and Ottawa are in the same boat.

[@klompsauce]

​@@timjansen7694I'd argue Canadian teams are different and the Sabres have a long history, Columbus is on an island

[@stevn744]

@@timjansen7694 true that's why Panaren who was one of our best players we ever had not named Rick Nash left Columbus he desired the big city life that's why when we got Johnny Hockey it was exciting because he was a star who choose Columbus knowing the type of city it is but he choose it anyway and that's why we were so happy with him and now he has sadly passed away

[@Deadmanwolfpac93]

Thanks for being a trooper Shannon. Hard working as always.

[@fooddog45]

Guigere was an absolute monster in 03'. He absolutely stood on his head in the Detroit series and was a brick wall.

[@Eknashik]

Jiggy dominating the wild that year instantly made him one of my favorite players ever

[@QueensNewYorkguy]

Brodeur was still better and got robbed

[@eroy5448]

And he doesn't get the respect he deserves to this day. That was an all-time playoff run by Giguere

[@greggwarren5037]

Guigere was a big frame to hang lots of pads on. This led to the 2005 crackdown on NHL goalie gear, goalie equipment size was decreased by 11 percent. The dude was great but at times he looked like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man on the ice.

[@brimerrydeath]

Hockey Guy, I love your level headed approach and looking. for reasons that does not immediately turn to conspiracies and nonsense.

[@mitchell2769]

2009 Stanley Cup Finals per Wikipedia: "While Detroit dominated the middle of the first period, at one point firing nine straight shots, the Penguins caught a break when the officials missed a penalty for too many men when Pittsburgh had inadvertently created their own powerplay, and played with six men for nearly 30 seconds." This pressure caused Detroit to take a penalty. Pittsburgh scored on the ensuing powerplay. This was a huge swing in the momentum of the series.

[@penguinsfan251]

@@mitchell2769 Yes, the Penguins got a HUGE break. Detroit had a 3-2 lead after five games in 2009, same as in 2008. Detroit scored one goal in Game 6 and in Game 7. Give the Pens credit.

[@0shark096]

@@penguinsfan251 I'm a Wings fan, and do give the Pens credit. I also don't believe in any NHL conspiracies that I can think of. That said, missing too many men on the ice for 20+ seconds is about as bad a missed call as you can get. Imagine Crosby taking a cross check to the head every second for 20 seconds, you'd rightly feel robbed to a degree. I can understand missing an instantaneous thing like a high stick because refs can't see everything and there's an element of subjectivity even if they do see it. Having too many men on the ice is fairly objective, especially when for an extended period. Its just crazy. To reiterate though.... The Pens won it, Detroit didn't respond well. That Mike Babcock was the Wings coach at the time makes that loss 1000% easier as well, if only the loss resulted in Babcock being fired.

[@JamesEatWorld7758]

@@penguinsfan251pretty wild how the ice always tilts towards the opposing teams goal when the Pens are on the ice

[@zachdoran10]

i read this as "detroit had a powerplay goal, then pittsburgh got the next powerplay goal" lol good god you guys are still crying

[@jamesturner44]

I remember the discourse on the Vegas expansion draft going like this..."wow, they changed the rules so Vegas could get a good team, maybe they won't be terrible for 10 years like every other expansion team." then, "wow Vegas did not get a good team, lets point and laugh at how bad they did." and then "oh wow, Gary really set this team up for success, this is so unfair." and I think people just leaned in to the Garys team thing as a meme.

[@ryanspears1986]

Having an autographed Gary Bettman picture on display is friggin hilarious

[@AreYouKittenMeRtNow]

The signed Bettman 🤣🤣🤣 that had me rolling!!! Someone’s gonna send you a snorkel next Shannon 😂

[@TheNighthawke502]

Thanks for the analysis, Shannon, since it made me feel better about my Oilers. That's because I only just realized that for the past 3 years in a row, my team has only been eliminated from the playoffs by the (eventual) Cup Champ, which makes me more hopeful that they can soon succeed in that final step and finally bring the Cup home! 😊

[@brandongonzalez6034]

Turning out some great vids while you’re sick. Hope you all get some well deserved rest.

[@anne6448]

i love these longer form thg videos! perfect to put them on in the background doing chores or playing video games

[@pennyportolese6064]

Thank you for this video!! As a newer Kraken fan, this was so informative and interesting. There is so much to learn and relish about this great sport!!!

[@jonmendelson1104]

The Bedard lottery was 2023.

[@ryans413]

Shannon’s old lol

[@jonmendelson1104]

@@ryans413 Nah, in this case I'd pin it on brain fog from him being sick.

[@mynameismud-qd9vu]

Nobody complained about the Av's winning in 2001 because Bourque went out with a Cup win.

[@GabGaud]

One thing I will say is I did not like the officiating - notably the fact that they picked Chris Lee for the job - in the 2021 Vegas/Habs playoffs. There were many misscalls, Corey Perry getting highsticked in over time with blood being drawn for example. Suzuki getting punched in the face. With that said, I am a habs fan and therefore biased, though I do remember other fanbases agreeing on that! Even some vegas fans.

[@Northern_Grace]

Or the San Jose Vegas series with the 4 goal (I believe) comeback to win the series in 2010's.

[@Realistic316]

dude, i am a Boston fan and even i agree with you 100%

[@name-vi6fs]

It happens in every postseason series. Your team gets punched and punches the other team. It really helps to watch games between teams you don't care about. You might even laugh at how ridiculous some of the noncalls are.

[@ianspottiswood2419]

I was watching this video and thinking only of that Vegas series. That Perry noncall is still so unbelievable. God himself brought the right team to victory in that series. It stinks they didn't go all the way but Tampa was clearly the better team, and Vasy was a brick wall.

[@GabGaud]

@@name-vi6fs I agree! Every series has blatant non calls. However, here is an interesting stat for you. Since Chris Lee started officiating at the NHL level, the habs have had a 44% overall win rate. When Lee is officiating, that win rate drops to 36%. The same source found that while Lee penalizes other teams 1% less than the average official, he penalizes the Habs almost 14% more. Im not saying that the refs were told to favor Vegas in that series, but with these numbers in mind, it does seem like an odd choice to pick Chris Lee knowing his history with the habs. Could also be an unfortunate coincidence, who knows!

[@matambale]

A treatise on the NHL draft process would help clear things up a lot. The NFL process is pretty straightforward, players go from a US college -> draft -> pro team (or practice squad). NHL draft is so much more layered (worldwide, drafted at any point in a player's life (it seems), and potentially years away from appearing on NHL ice, with a few exceptions of course). Also some material on the draft lottery, of course. And maybe some "why it's so different from football" would be useful. Cover even the obvious stuff. Please and thank you.

[@BoyNamedSue4]

People who think Anaheim is the weakest team to win the cup either weren’t watching hockey back then or just don’t know anything about the sport.

[@RRaquello]

After Edmonton won the draft lotto for McDavid I became convinced of the basic honesty of the NHL's processes. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, at least outside of Edmonton, wanted to see McDavid go to the Oilers, including, probably, McDavid. If it was rigged, the Oilers would never have won that lottery, and if any lottery would have been rigged it would have been that one because it was the biggest one since Crosby.

[@stevn744]

Yeah the Sabers GM was tanking for McDavid then lost the draft lottery and picked Jack Eichal imagine if those picks were the other way around though honestly I don't think McDavid would have wanted to go to Buffalo that team has now become the hockey version of the Cleveland Browns and funny enough the Oilvers used to be in that same boat

[@RRaquello]

@@stevn744 He would have went to Buffalo at the start, but I doubt he'd still be there the way the team has been mismanaged. He would have forced a trade. He'd probably be playing for the Rangers.

[@zachhaist6426]

The top markets dont need to win the cup. They will sell out games and tickets regardless. Not saying theres something going on but these southern teams are hurting more than others when their not winning........the fanbase still needs growth after 20 years. Seen too many bad calls and more importantly non calls made at times in the playoffs. It could just be nad refereeing i guess and sometimes having the best goalie makes a bigger difference than we think. Spitballing here......

[@joshuatinney4712]

I think that’s a good bit of context to bring into the conversation. When the Leafs and Rangers get mentioned it seems like the only choice is to have them in the final for financial reasons, but they sell out all the time anyways. The NHL appears to be going for the long game, which is really weird because most of the time they are after a quick buck (fanatics deal).

[@Lazzar1958]

"Get a snorkel!" 🤣🤣

[@christhornycroft3686]

The only favouritism you could possibly allege with any evidence is US teams over Canadian teams for business reasons and your evidence would be the controversy after Game 6 in 1994 when Mark Messier wasn't punished for assaulting Trevor Linden after the game was over and the goal debate a decade later against Calgary. I don't think there's at all a bias between individual teams necessarily. But then again, the NHL screwed everything up with the instigator rule in the 90s, leading to a lot of concussions and head injuries, so I don't think a league that incompetent with respect to that issue could rig a game.

[@davidedwards3838]

The Gretsky high stick on Gilmore was outrageous, too. No call on it either.

[@AnoobisSaibotis]

Had there been a Stanley Cup Final in 2005, Ottawa was the team most would suggest to go all the way, most likely against Detroit.

[@zackattack366]

as a casual hockey fan in the midwest during the Chicago run it honestly felt like they won 3 or 4 years in a row. Interesting to see that it was more spread out than it felt.

[@isaacmolter1640]

Although this example is not the NHL, the Lakers-Kings Playoff series in 2002 screams that the NBA (particular the refs) had something going on. I think there is a documentary on the whole thing.

[@atpyro7920]

it was an episode of buzzfeed unsolved, if imdb is anything to go by

[@SaintGBar22]

This video makes me chuckle because my brother in law who i like very much definitely is one of those people who blames Bettman for every little thing and he definitely thinks that Chicago is Bettmans favorite team and that he just breaks all the rules to help Chicago all the time. It’s the silliest thing ive ever heard but he genuinely believes it

[@BrettHornby]

Could say 2014 was the dream Stanley Cup Finals for the NHL with the two biggest NHL markets facing off with the Los Angeles Kings vs New York Rangers. Many said for years though the NHL would crave a Los Angeles and New York final and it actually happened.

[@qp773]

I think the argument becomes a bit more believable if you only apply the supposed favoritism factor once the final is set, as to say the league lets them play it out normal regular season and first three rounds unimpeded

[@leftcoaster67]

Yet, the NFL gives expansion teams scraps for it's expansion franchises and they pay more. Part of the issue with Vegas is the other GM's panicked and gave them picks and players not to take certain players. A lesson that was clearly learned when Seattle got it's franchise.

[@reevohere]

@@leftcoaster67 and still VGK were predicted/picked to be last in the division and bottom of the league standings by just about every media outlet and pundit, professional and armchair both.

[@penguinsfan251]

The NFL has expanded exactly 6 times since 1968. Tampa got garbage. Jacksonville and Carolina got to the conference finals in their second seasons.

[@gordiepuff]

@@penguinsfan251 Jacksonville doesn't, and hasn't ever had an nhl team.

[@csolivais1979]

​@gordiepuff what does that have to do with the conversation?

[@xerneasrising2412]

I still would like u to splain how my Anaheim Ducks of Mighty still have never had a #1 pick despite being in the lottery like every year since El Sid was drafted. Also we’ve never hosted an All-Star game even tho we’re across from Disneyland. How come - cause Gary no like us that’s why.

[@haysbrickell9579]

Atlanta actually is in Georgia, but Florida is close enough. Regardless, as always, good commentary by thg.

[@danielmuzika9584]

For me, the 2015 Draft Lottery is an example where the NHL was NOT pulling the strings behind the scenes - if they were, Conner McDavid would not be an Oiler. The Sabers finished last place and both the Maple Leafs and Coyotes were lottery teams.

[@waverod9275]

Some random thoughts: 1. For some, the big thing determining whether a Stanley Cup champion is legitimate is whether it's a team they're a fan of. 2. I was living in Atlanta for a few years for school around when the Thrashers began. A fellow student of mine, also not from the area, didn't have an NHL team he rooted for, and decided to pick the Thrashers. I was already a Habs fan, but I had to agree that the Thrashers colors and logo were quite good. I'd be happy if someone (with due permission from the current Jets) took major inspiration from the graphics elements of the Thrashers, even if it's not an Atlanta team. 3. Quebec City deserves to get the Nordiques back. As for other lost markets, Phoenix and Atlanta are so large, they will be on the NHL's radar no matter what. Hartford....was always a weird outlier in major league sports. Connecticut as a whole is sandwiched between NYC and Boston, and any league would have a hard time putting a franchise there. Sorry, Whalers. The other WHA markets? Houston is like Phoenix and Atlanta, too big of a market to ignore. The rest fall into three categories: a) already have an NHL team, b) fall into the Ohio Conundrum, or c) are Indianapolis, with no one really even trying to bring a team there. 3b. The Ohio Conundrum: Ohio has three large cities which can handle pro sports in three parts of the state. However, overall the state seems to be able to support no more than two teams in any top level pro league, and even then with a preference to putting them in Cleveland and Cincinnati (MLB, NFL). Columbus, being in the middle, is more able to get the whole state backing them. So expansion to Cleveland or Cincinnati is going to be problematic with Columbus in the league already. 4. Gambling companies know how to make money from bets without having to affect the game; they definitely don't want anyone rigging it. If it came out to them that the NHL was affecting the outcomes of games, you can bet the gambling companies would tell them "stop it or we pull our advertising".

[@henryca03]

True North doesn't own the trademark to the Thrashers; the league does. The Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL had to get permission from the NHL to use the Thrashers' IP.

[@djentleman7]

Shannon, I completely agree gambling in sports has gotten completely out of control. I don't think it should be force fed to us so often. You should give watching tennis a try. The US Open had ZERO, and I mean no gambling ads whatsoever anywhere

[@isaiahvining6023]

HE SAID 24th STANLEY CUP. HABS FAN CONFIRMED HAHAHA

[@rockriverash3120]

Great video! I like how objective your approach and viewpoints consistently are. Love the channel, keep up the awesome vids! 🏒👍🙏

[@richardferguson6893]

Shannon wanting to recreate games from the 80's-90's to see what controversies he could dig up sounds like a perfect collaboration with Down Goes Brown.

[@brandonf24]

Speaking as a Preds STH of 24 years now, I will say that the mm offsides call on Forsberg, in which his skate lifted off the ice hovering over the blue line on Subban's goal in Game 1 changed the momentum...now a legal play...coupled with the early whistle in Game 6 on the grandest stage of hockey. What made it infuriating was that there was a game earlier that season whereby an early whistle on a goal was overturned and counted...something we saw again within the past few years in a regular season PIT game, no less, against the Sharks...if memory serves. Add to it the tantrum of a bottle-throwing Crosby going unpenalized in that series and voila. Meanwhile, Neal is playing with a broken hand, you're centering Sissons on the top line vs Crosby due to injuries to Joey and Fisher, and yet taking it to the Pens while Fiala was out with a fractured femur. That team was on a magical run. Do I think the league had a hand in the outcome? No, but I do think an egregious referee error went uncorrected in a SCF elimination game. Did I lose respect for Sydney Crosby with the deferential treatment shown to him, yes; although, I was among many rooting for him in the years prior, especially during the 2008 and 2009 series vs a hated rival in DET.

[@atpyro7920]

honestly, i do believe the whole "canada hasn't had a cup in 30 years!" crowd would have immediately moved the goalposts to "canada only has one cup in 30 years!" if the oilers had won in 06. that's just the way the cookie crumbles.

[@MikePurdue-ky9pm]

So? It still proves the odds are against us. Canadian teams have had high presence in the past 30 years of playoffs.

[@atpyro7920]

@@MikePurdue-ky9pm "the odds are against us" is not the same as "the NHL doesn't want Canadian teams to win"

[@Borodin410]

The owners, players, and referees all want the league to grow. That's only going to happen in the US. A Canadian team winning the Stanley Cup doesn't accomplish this. League screws Canadian teams with the schedule. Owners can lose and still make money from expansion. Refs make more calls against Canadian teams in the playoffs. Have since 1993. Fancy that.

[@heresJohnny73]

​@@MikePurdue-ky9pmyeah the odds are against Canadian teams there were 6-8 teams over that time where as there were 18-25 American teams over that time the best odds of a Canadian team winning was the 94 and 95 when it was 8 and 18 about 30% of the teams

[@gdecarlo4178]

@@heresJohnny73 Yeah but Canadian teams are also in.. Canada. Thee history, culture, money, prestige. Thats an excuse. Even if its only a small percentage its been 3 decades and most NHL players are what...? Canadian. The Habs and Leafs media presence, money invested and prestige along equals maybe all the southern US teams. Yet the Lightning, Canes, Stars, Panthers and more have all won a ring since Canadas last cup. You guys should be winning rings. Period. Cope harder.

[@LarryWeinreb]

You've mentioned several times the Thrashers lost the lease on (at the time) Philips Arena. Living here in Atlanta and with having a few of my friends in my beer league working for the team, I have never heard report from anyone other than from you. The Atlanta Spirit Group (add numerous expletives here) ran both the Thrashers and the NBA Hawks - so they ran the arena. I know the lease for the practice facility @ the IceForum in Duluth was about to end, so where did you hear this info about Philips? And the NHL will be back here - just up here in the northern 'burbs...and I 100% agree one of the 4 new teams should be Quebec City!

[@d0pp3lgang3r]

Also, I know you've done a few interviews, but you should think about doing a podcast or something. You deserve that extra revenue stream, boss!

[@VoIcanoman]

All things being equal, 14 Canadian teams should have made a Stanley Cup Final in the 30 years being tracked (based on the proportion of Canadian teams in every season over the years). 7 teams actually did make the final. Now leaving aside the fact that 7 Canadian teams made the finals, and NONE of them won the Cup (a statistical anomaly that bears investigation...it's highly improbable that not a single one of those teams won the league), to say that the NHL is not favoring certain teams is insanity. It may not be overt, rule-breaking kind of favoring, but the way the league has been structured DEFINITELY favors certain teams over others. And this is something that the owners have control of - they could make the league truly equitable, wherein the only real factors separating teams are the competency of their management and luck, but they have not done so, and the decision is deliberate. They want to grow the league, which means convincing more people to spend money on hockey. They don't need to convince most Canadians to spend money on hockey - it's the only game in town here (well, almost). So even owners of Canadian teams see the logic of making it easier for new teams in places where hockey is a relatively new sport, to compete, and compete without the decades of disappointment fans in Canadian markets have endured. As they say, "it's a business." The goal of team owners is not WINNING (directed at Shannon's point about why owners aren't complaining that the league is harming their ability to win). It's increasing the value of their investment. Winning certainly helps. But given revenue-sharing, LOSING can be more profitable, if the teams doing the winning are gaining a lot of new fans. As they say, "it's a business."

[@VexJinks]

Yes, this is a great post! THG’s take is a little too broadly defined and really misses the nuance of what the NHL would want. The NHL doesn’t care per-say about teams that are already money-makers-it’s the ones that COULD be big money-makers but aren’t that are the problem. Obviously, the NHL will throw Toronto or the Penguins or whoever a bone every now and again, but their main goal is to expand into untapped markets.

[@HHSGDFootballJPD]

Conceptually, I agree with most of this. But there are some practical questions... Why, if the league is favoring some teams over others, why did Edmonton win the 1st pick in the 2015 draft (and got McDavid) instead of the Coyotes? Why has one of the strongest southern hockey markets (Tampa, especially given its size) been given 3 opportunities to win a cup (winning 2)? Especially after making it to the ECF in '18 and having the 2nd or 3rd best regular season in NHL history in '19? Why wasn't Carolina, Anaheim, or Florida given that opportunity?

[@csolivais1979]

Especially now with gambling sponsorship, you really think any league is doing anything that might even seem like they are favoring any team? Then to think the same NHL that is so incompetent that they can't run the league right, according to most NHL fans, can some how manage to cover up said favoritism?

[@VoIcanoman]

Are you people just ignoring everything I said, or are you unable to read? Of course the league does not overtly favour teams. There aren't plans in place for referees to go easier on some teams than others, or for them to allow some teams to get away with cap overages that other teams cannot. The problem is in the structure itself. The league COULD have a bylaw that adjusts a team's cap ceiling based on the local state/provincial income tax and cost of living, ensuring that teams in California or Canada don't have to pay players an extra 10-20% a year to gain their services (when compared to teams from Florida or Texas). The league COULD have rules in place that enable teams to "bid" on new UFAs, so that regions which are more desirable as destinations for players aren't naturally going to draw all of the best players, who are willing to take a pay cut to play there. There are any number of ways in which the league enables and encourages a disparity between teams, all the while publicly claiming that they are interested in parity. And because disparity happens to be profitable for all owners, teams that are screwed over tend not to complain, as winning was never the owners' goal. Profit is their overarching goal. And making things fair and equal for all teams is not profitable. They won't go and put their finger on the scale to affect the integrity of the game, directly screwing over teams. But they will allow the conditions of the market to do the exact same thing, all the while denying that they could do anything about it, as they continue to rake in the cash. I just wish they were honest about it.

[@HHSGDFootballJPD]

@VoIcanoman I can't explain for Western Canada or Ottawa. But as a Bruins fan in southern New England (where we have our fair share of taxes), I haven't heard of a story where taxes got in the way of the B's signing a player. The Bruins, when they can't sign guys, can't because they've overpaid other players on the roster (like Hampus Lindholm who at $6.5 million is now a 2nd pair d-man or Tuukka previously). In Toronto, they are playing with 4 guys and a rotating cast of characters. Tampa and Florida have won cups because they are deeper teams that can absorb and play with physicality. Their key players are accountable and set the identity (Stamkos, Hedman, Barkov, Tkachuk). Those players also show up when it matters. That being said--I have heard players appreciate playing in the states because they don't feel like 'they're in a fish bowl' with all eyes looking on them. Players can go to a bar in Ft. Lauderdale or Vegas and not be noticed by fans. That comfort might be worth something, but I think it's below AAV, years of contract (job security), and role.

[@auzmo]

Income tax appears to be a major factor in Stanley cup teams. Canadian teams have higher income taxes and there have been no winners and few finalists even from Canada. Meanwhile Florida, Nevada and TN all have had lots of finals appearances with little to no state income tax. Florida TN and Nevada all basically the lowest income tax of any states that have major league sports. The other states as lows or lower dont have major league level cities. Those states have 8 finals appearances in the last 8 years. Not a total coincidence in my opinion, especially when coupled with Canadian teams lack of success. Of course it could just be weather. They all have that in common too.

[@Varonno]

Players are paid in greenbacks. Add the power of +30% currency exchange which is ALOT when one considers taxes. US states grab taxes in other ways

[@neilflood6508]

Buffalo has never gone up any positions in the draft lottery, only maintained their spot or gone down.

[@dannik9932]

Being the worst team and getting the first overall draft pick is winning the lottery.

[@neilflood6508]

@@dannik9932 That is maintaining their place. They have never gone up like Devils, Rangers, Blackhawks etc. If I was to do the research, I would guess about half the 30 teams who were in the league when the draft lottery started have risen in the draft at least once due to the lottery. Buffalo would not be one of those teams.

[@dannik9932]

@@neilflood6508 Higher chance to move down than stay. Gotta win to get the first.

[@leftcoaster67]

Interesting point. The Toronto Maple Leafs have not gotten past the second round in it's history. The Last Cup Win in 1967, there was only two rounds in the Stanley Cup. (top 4 teams out of 6). Since expansion to 12+ teams. Toronto has never won a conference finals, nor Stanley Cup.

[@benoitrobitaille5235]

I’m sure no Maple Leaf fans will have any problem being reminded that by a few fans until they actually get passed a 2nd round. So weird that they have actually five of their best performing players in their history in regular season and are so freaking far from contending.

[@QueensNewYorkguy]

@@benoitrobitaille5235my Devils are about to show this season that the problem definitely was not the coach

[@TheManny717]

They never won three rounds in the history of the franchise. Ever. Their highest ceiling is the conference finals.

[@BraydenKing1972]

I keep hearing this and it’s just bullshit because In 2002 they beat the islanders round 1 Beat Ottawa in round 2 And lost in round 3 to the canes I don’t know who is telling you guys this but it’s just bullshit and you need to do research lol

[@leftcoaster67]

@@BraydenKing1972 Ok when did Toronto win in the 3rd round. I'll wait.

[@ajbolt7]

It’s always interesting as a Canucks fan when we look back at 2011. Because it 2011 finals seems like the most insane, controversial, toxic, well-known and impactful finals in the last 20 years. But of course, that perception is wildly biased and influenced by being in Vancouver. For a long time I assumed that general experience (minus the rioting) was the standard in the cup finals, and I was only hyper aware of it in 2011 because I was a fan of one of the teams. But every time any long term retrospective video from any channel looks back at Stanley Cup Final Series, there’s always this way that people talk about it. It’s never “just another year”, the year 2011 just holds some sort of weight here. Idk, am I crazy thinking that the 2011 SCF was way more widely known and impactful than it actually is?

[@fabriziolorenzo2392]

It’s so funny hearing this revisionist history about Vegas, how they were gifted a great team in the expansion draft when that was absolutely NOT the narrative before the start of the season. Virtually everybody thought they were going to stink it up that year.

[@FalloutUrMum]

I'd say the best argument for biased refs would be the Penguins vs Predators finals. A good goal called back and it gives the cup to the Penguins. I don't think there's another time where such an obvious call had such a direct impact on deciding who won the cup.

[@brianhobaugh]

The ref didn’t have a view of the puck behind Murray. It was an early whistle, though. Things like that happen all the time, just sucks that it happened in a Final. The Pens were likely winning regardless of whether the Preds took a 1-0 lead. We’ll never know, though.

[@diegoarmando5489]

Let's give the conspiracists their due for a second. Wouldn't the NHL have preferred a Predators win here anyways? The Penguins were massively popular in 2017, both in Pittsburgh and out of market, so there's no incentive from a marketing standpoint to have them win another cup.

[@VexJinks]

@@diegoarmando5489Crosby sells in both the US and Canada, so I’d still give the edge of favoritism to the Penguins.

[@user-gg1gb8pr9djrkscbsnotabot]

Look up the 1999 cup final result, it’ll shock you.

[@JarradBruessel32]

Pekka rinne was just too good at that point.

[@daveblock4061]

From Buffalo. Obviously Dallas was needed to win in 99, even without 'NO GOAL'. Buffalo wins: no new fans. Dallas wins: tens of thousands of new fans. And I do not want to hear about memos, there was NO REVIEW. Blatant rule violation. And FYI; there was no replay in the building.

[@user-gg1gb8pr9djrkscbsnotabot]

Yeah we know there was no replay - they added it right away in 2000…

[@MbisonBalrog]

NHL has most parity out of all big leagues all sports globally. Anyone can win it any given year.

[@chrismdb5686]

Certainly not anyone. There's always teams we know won't be making the playoffs before the season even begins.

[@20thCenturyManTrad]

@@chrismdb5686 That would happen if there were 6 teams today and every team had a set of superstars, there still would be teams that would be mired in futility. It always happens, it's as close as you can get to anyone can win it any year.

[@chrismdb5686]

@@20thCenturyManTrad Half the league being stuck in a rebuild, some for over a decade at this point, is not "anyone can win it" by any stretch of the imagination. If the OP meant anyone can win on any given night, sure, I'll give you that. Your comparison makes zero sense.

[@20thCenturyManTrad]

@@chrismdb5686 It makes perfect sense. Even in a smaller league with 6 teams, with limited playoffs, any team could win it in a given year. Same today, half the teams make, the other half, could win it. But no matter how even the talent, there will always be teams that lose, it's the nature of sport.

[@chrismdb5686]

@@20thCenturyManTrad In a 6 team league everyone is in the playoffs, therefore everyone has a chance. In the 32 team NHL we currently have half the teams mathematically cannot win the championship (or "it"). It's plainly evident to even the most casual viewers who the worst cellar dwelling teams will be every season with very few exceptions. Your comparison is awful and holds no water.

[@ryanlauzon177]

I think if you bring back PX or ATL you need to call them the coyotes and thrashers. They’re perfect names and they’re iconic. Plus, the local fans I think would rather get back their old teams rather than get new ones. Also I like the name Hellcats for Houston. The Houston Aeros, is kinda girly, if that even makes sense.

[@billyfields7722]

Professional Sports and gambling doesn't mix and causing consequences against certain teams and questioning calls and getting certain draft picks. There will be problems.

[@brianwright4852]

My only gripe with sliding rule book in the 2009 penguins win is that Malkin should’ve sat out game 3 for instigating a fight with less than 5 minutes to go in a losing game.

[@JerseyDevil26]

You should have mentioned that if anything the NHL would be AGAINST my Devils for not only almost moving to Nashville in 95 but with our “boring” style of play they wouldn’t want us to win so many Cups

[@DerekOlsons]

Really shitty hockey but hey win with what you have..

[@VexJinks]

Why? New Jersey is in a big market and hadn’t really had much success until then. The NHL was likely ecstatic when NJ won those cups. THG’s line of reasoning for NJ is odd. No one spoke out about NJ because everyone knew they were just simply that good of a team. They went through the motions and built themselves a cup-winning roster, just like any other team. The problem was never “oh, American teams are winning”, it’s been the NHL giving favored teams little helping hands now and again.

[@johnnyslokes2712]

It's crazy that from 1995 to 2003, only 4 different teams won the Stanley Cup. Wings, Aves, Devils and the Stars in 99.

[@qp773]

Same as from 2009 to 2017, four different teams in a nine year span

[@HawklordLI]

From 1976 to 1990 only four teams won the cup. Canadiens, Islanders, Oilers and Flames.

[@zachn]

@@HawklordLI only five 1976-1993 counting Pittsburgh going back-to-back in 91 and 92, then Canadiens in 93!

[@johnnyslokes2712]

@@qp773 Those were some of the best runs too imo. I remember being without a TV one year listening to the Wings and Hawks go to 7 on a radio app I had on my phone.. good times!

[@dennish.7708]

Since the league began expanding from 6 teams in ‘67, up to and including the Oilers’ last Cup in ‘90 (so, 23 Cups in total, 1968 thru 1990), only 6 franchises won the Cup.

[@kitfisto1827]

Toronto, Columbus, Minnesota, NY Islanders, Winnipeg, Arizona/Utah, and Seattle are the only teams to not make a Final in 30 seasons.

[@michaellord9745]

...and the Minnesota Mild never will.

[@MetalCharlo]

As a Habs fan (yeah the Canadian FRENCH fanbase of the NHL) I always thought the conspiracy against Canadian teams was bullshit. And the famous BETTMAN DOESN'T LIKE US BECAUSE WE'RE FRENCH is absolutely ridiculous. There has been so many fundamental problems with most Canadian teams since 1993 it's crazy when you start digging things out. Canadian teams did this to themselves.

[@commonman317]

Metal, I'm a Floridian, and long time NHL fan. I always wanted to ask a French Montreal fan if you would want to see Quebec get the Nordiques back? Would that be good or bad? That was such a rivalry back in the day.

[@MetalCharlo]

@@commonman317 That would be good for business and the rivalry that's for sure! The real question is can Quebec manage a team.

[@OfficialZoone16]

It is very cyclical. Just in those 30 finals there are 25 different teams.

[@BTScollectables]

Great idea 😊

[@jamison1010]

There was definitely controversy in 2019 with the Bozak hit on Acciari, and 2015 with Kane on LTIR. Wondering when Winnipeg starts to get on the cursed side too

[@GoudaGoudaGouda]

2012 - There was definitely controvery in the final game , Game 6. Devils assessed a 5 min game misconduct for boarding only 5 seconds after Devils player, Stephen Gionta is crushed from behind into the boards at center ice. This penalty handed LA the game and the series

[@zeffergaming007]

As a Devils fan, I remember it well. Most people say the hit on Gionta was clean...which to me is crazy. They also claim the 3 goals that LA got on that 5 minute major wasn't a factor since they won the game 6-1...but we all know it's much easier to climb back into a game when it's only 1 PP goal and then back to 5 on 5. Would we have won that game 6? Hard to say...but if we did and went back to NJ for game 7, I'm confident we win that.

[@timburr4453]

“When I first heard about it, I sent the guy(Bettman) a puck and I heard he spent all day at his desk trying to figure out how to open it up,” said Pat Williams, then general manager of the NBA’s Orlando Magic.

[@TheOriginalTuhat]

The guy who makes videos from his living room is CLEARLY on the take

[@ronpeacock9939]

Well, outside of the Star/Sabres series where the goal that ended the Marathon game 6 and the series counting when it was called back 100% of the time in the regular season (and yes, we know it might not have matter because 2 minutes later a clean goal could have happened with the same result... just the fact that it was called differently), all the rest of it appears around the canadian teams. Sadly, that may or may not have some truth with the Bettman.. but the reality is.. After the MTL cup.. the money in game, moreso in canada dried up. Yeah, it's canada's game (or religion).. but they have 1/4 of the teams.. an 0% of the championships since 93... I was rooting for Vancouver in 11.. mostly because I have to root against anyone playing boston.. but I also have a softspot for the team that came in with my Sabres.

[@ryans413]

In the last 30 years Torontos not even in the finals once. Even Buffalo has them beat that’s wild.

[@kevinwhite1671]

I think the classic example of the NHL fixing something would be the 2005 draft where Pittsburgh won Crosby because Mario Lemieux made a deal with Bettman to make it so. I guess we'll see how long it will take before the Penguins magically get to draft the next face of the league.

[@paullarsen4987]

Boston earned the cup in 2011. That being said, the main reason was that the Canuck key players had significant injuries. It was a great series until game 7 unless, you cheer for the Bruins😅

[@nster3]

Connor Bedard, the 2020 or 2021... or 2022? 1st Round Draft pick! Poor Shannon was sick for 3 days, but it felt like 3 years xD

[@choppergunner8650]

Not going to lie, as a Panthers fan, if the league brings back the Thrashers, I would actually love that. I really don't know if it's the wacky jerseys, or if it's the fact that Kovalchuk used to dominate in such a horrid team, I just really, really want to see them back. And I honestly believe that the Thrashers fit Atlanta way more than the Flames did in the 1970s. Another team I would love to see returning is the Nordiques. Back in the 1980s, there was this huge nationalistic pride in being a Quebec fan, simply because of the whole Quebecois identity, and "screw those damned English-speaking Montreal fans", but other than that, everything about the Nordiques spelt class. The jerseys were perhaps the most beautiful ever on the ice, the logo was cool and it's such a damn shame that if they hadn't moved in 1996, well, probably Roy wouldn't have been in net, but I guess they could have won the Stanley Cup either way, but not beating the Panthers in a sweep.

[@izumolee6714]

Wasn't the whole storyline with the 94 Cup finals was that the Rangers hadn't won it in 54 years, i remember that was such a big deal on US broadcasts.

[@ayayronburgundy608]

Best 3 dollars I ever spent lmao awesome I love it 😂

[@mmicb0b]

I mean as a fan of the NFL/NBA both leagues ABSOLUTELY do this The NFL always favors the Cowboys/Steelers/Packers and whenever the 49ers/Raiders/Bears/Colts/Browns end up with even a little bit of hype they give them 5 primetime games at least. The NBA Does this too with the Lakers/Celtics/Knicks (they don't favor the Spurs/Heat ALL the time but will if they're expected to be good before I Add the Warriors I need to see what it's like without Steph)

[@gregbluefinstudios4658]

As a general issue, I don't beleive the NHL wants one team over another. The league does enjoy when two big markets play, or, when there is some big rivalry, involved, but no.. there's no NHL wants X over Y. I am sure however, that refs do favor big name stars over some of the rookies or 3rd and 4th liners. It happens in all leagues and sports. It's a simple math issue. Lose the big names and the league shrinks.

[@Exz84]

"Not that it matters, for three dollars" 🤣

[@andybartalone2829]

When Esa Tikkenan missed an open net in OT vs Detroit in 1998. I knew the Caps were getting swept.

[@georgehand]

This league is a 1000% guilty of showing favourites and for me the prime example is the same teams keep getting picked for the Winter Classic

[@AnimalClans]

14:12 To be fair, Pittsburgh do have more Stanley Cups than one of the Original Six teams. As does Edmonton (and, until 2010, the Islanders too!)

[@penguinsfan251]

@@AnimalClans Edmonton and Pittsburgh have five Cup wins. The Rangers have four.

[@HALberdier17]

​@@penguinsfan251Before 2010 Chicago only won the Stanley Cup three times.

[@jamesstemmler7620]

I think the biggest thing we can pull from this is if one team is consistently competitive for extended periods of time everyone defaults to "THE NHL WANTS THIS" lol. Confirmation bias of alleged corruption runs rampant in sports fanbases when the corruption just isn't there. Fans see what they want to see.

[@Dr.JHamilton]

I never believed any conspiracies about NHL favoritism until I watched the 2021 Conference Finals between the Canadiens and Vegas. That series featured the absolute worst officiating I had ever seen. Even the hockey media talked about it. I'm convinced the NHL wanted Vegas to get to the final and tried to help them get there.

[@lanemars]

Shannon bedard was a rookie last year hes 2023 draft lol ik actually a little suprised you fumbled on that one lol he definitely knew that

[@BFMVrocks34]

Other than the blown goal in game 6 I really don't think there was that much of a Pittsburgh bias against Nashville and even that play just a bad judgement by the ref, it happens. Unfortunate but it does happen.

[@jimmykarlsson2567]

I want hockey in Alaska. Imagine Alaska Bears against whoever.

[@MrZeek1519]

As an admitted biased Devils fanboy, I take umbrage with Colorado winning the Cup over NJ in 2001. The rumored reason(s) being that the NHL loved Roy more than Marty and didn't want Marty getting a Cup win over the favored Roy.... Supposedly at least. The other reason was the league wanting a feel-good story with Ray Bourque finally winning a Cup after his trade to Boston. Obviously that's all B.S., but it's fun to imagine the league has it out for your team. Then there's also Giguere getting the Conn Smythe over Marty in 2003, even though Marty shutout Anaheim three times in that series and outplayed Giguere in the Finals. Again, the league supposedly showed it's hate for NJ. But in the end, the Devils still won the bigger prize, so once again... B.S.

[@kevinwhite1671]

I also think that a conspiracy theorist would look at the last 5 Stanley Cup finals and say that the teams represented there certainly do fit nicely with Bettman's agenda to make hockey work in Florida.

[@Merlin_From_Shrek_3]

THG is clearly on the take

[@jeffaddy3373]

😂

[@arionrowan5273]

Imho the poor ticket market says a lot when the gretz was sold, money filled the eye of the business tycoons in the nhl, I mean we even lost the north stars and whalers in that era, I won't say it but florida still had seats open in the cup finals.... gotta give the people a reason to fill those seats. Ahem,,,,Thrashers....

[@zeffergaming007]

Don't forget, 2021 is also considered a BS Finals due to it being 2 Eastern Conference teams playing each other. I honestly don't even count that year. Short season, non-conventional bracket, just seems out of place. Everybody knew Tampa was going to smoke Montreal...which they did.

[@Syphon13]

Math never lies. In a perfect world where all teams were equally as good as one another, you would expect a canadian team to win every 5 years (7 teams out of 32 are canadian). If I were to roll a dice 30 times and never see the number 6, that would a statistical anomaly. If rigging is not a factor, what is inherently wrong with the Canadian market (economically, geographically, etc) that could affect outcomes?

[@CLFCBasel]

The fact that all professional sports are listed as "Entertainment" legally. Which means that they have a loophole if they are ever "caught", for example NBA ensuring Ewing went to the Knicks

[@csolivais1979]

Not with gambling allowed now. The lawsuits would.end the league.

[@SpaceWolfPainter]

oooh You're talking about the Penguins.

[@greggwarren5037]

Health and skill wins playoff series. The lottery is where the NHL has been obviously corrupt. Who didn't know that that Chicago was going to get Bedard? Then look back at 2007 the Blackhawks, originally slated to draft in fifth place, won the lottery *surprise!* and as a result had the first overall pick in the draft and were able to get Patrick Kane another generational talent. There are plenty of examples when East Coast teams and large market Canadian teams move up in the draft. Yes there are other examples where there were not players veiwed as generational are allowed to fall to whoever tanked the best. Behind Chicago the most egregious lottery corruption was 2020, when the NHL had to do literal gymnastics to get the Rangers from 11th place into a position to draft someone viewed as a generational talent in Alex Lafreniere. It hasn't worked out as anticipated but at the draft this was looked at as a great coup for the Rangers. Tell me how I'm wrong?

[@tt128556]

Same five teams in the finals all the time, it's clearly rigged.

[@kpk33x]

If the Rangers win in 94 was "fixed", with putting the NHL in the spotlight as much as possible and maxing revenue and popularity, the LAST thing that they'd want is a lockout! That was the NHL's chance to pass the NBA in popularity in the US. Instead the NHL disappeared and its never been close to those heights since.

[@G7M9W]

Commenting very late, but for anyone who's interested: Stanley Cup Final appearances in the last 30 seasons: Anaheim - 2 Arizona/Winnipeg - 0 Boston - 3 Buffalo - 1 Carolina/Hartford - 2 Calgary - 1 Chicago - 3 Colorado/Quebec - 3 Columbus - 0 Dallas - 3 Detroit - 6 Edmonton - 2 Florida - 3 Los Angeles - 2 Minnesota - 0 Montreal - 1 Nashville - 1 New Jersey - 5 New York Islanders - 0 New York Rangers - 2 Ottawa - 1 Philadelphia - 2 Pittsburgh - 4 San Jose - 1 Seattle - 0 St. Louis - 1 Tampa Bay - 5 Toronto - 0 Vancouver - 2 Vegas - 2 Washington - 2 Winnipeg/Atlanta - 0

[@michaellord9745]

Now there's a board you will never see a Minnesota Mild logo on. Never, ever. Bring the NHL back to Minnesota !!!

[@markhollingsworth3262]

Well, there was that year when they put the unqualified Rangers in the playoffs AND the first overall draft pick. Where is league office located? Hmmm 🤔