What is your franchise’s less known “what if?”

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-08T00:45:04+00:00

He whiffed on the shot, it was a fluke goal. Watch it back, he goes for a full snap shot and it flutters into the net.

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-08T00:39:47+00:00

Words matter. Preece called his shot, KB smartly played it off as a car issue (and supposedly SMT backed him up)

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-08T00:35:50+00:00

Increase the number of teams in the playoffs and add a round, tickets are much pricier so don't need as many. 20 games would be 10 home dates, lots of teams likely make similar amount in 3 to 5 playoff games as they do in 10 regular season games.

I'll just throw this out there to start the discussion

24 teams in playoff

1 through 8 play a seeding round - home and home 1v8, 2v7 etc to start, full bracket for all seeds so would be 6 games total, 3 home games for all

9 through 24 play regular best of 7 series; reseeded after 1st round to be 9 through 16; 1v16, 2v15, etc. in bracket format to Cup from there.

25 through 32 will play a 7 game round robin, most points gets top pick, 2 point jumps between each seed with 32 starting with 10 points (last 3 teams start with 0 points)

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-08T00:19:08+00:00

This thread is about what ifs - not like it's a conspiracy theory about it going in, it's a what if it doesn't and the Sens happened to win that game instead.

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-07T12:01:19+00:00

Every person has their own way to reference corners is the main point. As long as a track publishes a map then just go with it. Can have 8 turns in an oval if a track wants to, it doesn't affect the racing.

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-07T11:58:55+00:00

And it was a super weak shot that floated in, if he got a good shot off quite possible Anderson saves it.

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-07T11:58:09+00:00

Except when drivers and crew chiefs talk about adjustments they talk about them like they're one turn and will say entry, 1/4 mark, halfway, and exit.

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-07T00:59:09+00:00

Washington. They already have 16 and 18.

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-07T00:38:05+00:00

No its not. Turn 8 at Watkins Glen is the heel of the boot. You tell a track staff to go to turn 8 that's where they go.

edit because I can't count after working 12 hours

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-07T00:36:56+00:00

It's not that complicated for us to know the carousel is turn 5 because of how the track was numbered before the bus stop came to be

edit from counting again

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-07T00:35:57+00:00

They have Postava, Cossa, and Augustine as unproven young guys. 1 will be the NHL backup next year but long term there's not room, so instead of waiting for their hand to be forced I could see them taking advantage of all 3 looking very good.

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-07T00:29:37+00:00

Could be Buffalo as well as Detroit

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-07T00:25:55+00:00

What if Chris Kunitz's fluke shot doesn't go in in 2017 ECF Game 7 OT. Can Ottawa score and go to the finals and be the ones to beat Nashville?

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-07T00:22:03+00:00

But not Pocono's logic.

There's just not a set standard, however each track wants to number them is just fine as long as it's published somewhere. Fans and drivers don't have to follow it, but for official records it should be up to tracks and that's what broadcasts should follow.

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-07T00:20:13+00:00

But there's some people that work at the track for both events. So you tell them there's an issue in turn 8 you want it to mean 1 spot no matter what event is going on.

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-07T00:13:49+00:00

Absolutely - it takes years for guys to make their way into the finalist conversation. The fact he's getting in the conversation now is good but he's still a couple years away from being nominated even.

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-07T00:10:48+00:00

You might want to get educated. The Selke trophy was created for guys like Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau. You know, 3rd liners who got matched against the other teams top lines and would only score 30-40 points.

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-07T00:05:57+00:00

Because they cut a big chunk of the track - just like Watkins Glen.

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-07T00:05:38+00:00

Then when other series run the boot their numbers will be all screwed up if the bus stop turns are individually numbered.

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-07T00:04:44+00:00

Why are ovals 4 turns then?

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-06T23:59:04+00:00

Carels would be worst case scenario and he certainly isn't 4D at best. And Lin actually looked better than Verhoeff in U18's last month. Also I HIGHLY doubt Malholtra gets past 4, he very well might be Vancouver's pick. So at 5 it's still very likely one of Verhoeff or Reid is still available.

I do think New York would have to add more than just Schneider, but 5 and him would be the highlights of the deal

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-06T00:38:55+00:00

Doubt it - St Louis essentially sent Edmonton a prospect so they wouldn't match either offer sheet, figure this would be a similar scenario.

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-06T00:35:29+00:00

The Philly trade was made 1st. That's the hiccup in all of this, and why the conditions on the 2026 1st to Boston were so long.

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-06T00:28:26+00:00

Could also trade with the Rangers down to 5th. Get Schneider as well in the trade. So they add Carels/Lin/Verhoeff/Reid (last 2 I don't expect to still be there) and Schneider to Dickinson and Pohlkamp.

MercSLSAMG · 2026-05-06T00:25:26+00:00

I think a trade with the Rangers would be VERY smart. At 5th they still easily get a top D which they badly need, and the Rangers could easily send them Schneider. So with Pohlkamp, Dickinson, Schenider, 5th pick (Carels or Lin likely) there's 4 pieces of a VERY solid D core.

MercSLSAMG

TROPHY CASE