Armchair Commissioner: How I Change the NHL

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The NHL is a horrible league. Really, truly, honestly, horrible. It's got a disaster of a leadership group, and they (as I've previously noted) care more about lining the owners pockets with desperate cash grabs, than creating a more fan friendly game that will grow on it's own. So, here's how I fix it for the players, for the fans (and maybe even for the owners).

1. A player's-choice re-draft

So what is this? Well, it's likely the one idea on this list that you've never heard before. The basic idea is that players that are unhappy with their current situations can opt-out of their contracts and enter a league wide draft.

Now, obviously the superstars are likely going to stay put, they're making good money and their on good teams, unless you're Mark Stone.

But what about guys like Jacob Trouba. These are players that have been hamstrung by their RFA status (more on that coming up) and wanted out, only to see their lazy as fuck GM make excuses about not being able to make trades or whatever.

Well here is their chance. They can opt out of their guaranteed money and re-enter the league. If a team wants them, boom, they have a fresh start on a team that can utilize them. If not, well, them's the breaks. Let's break the cycle of indentured servitude. Speaking of which...

2. No more RFA.

I'm all about keeping the draft. It's a huge day for the players, it's an exciting day for the fans, I don't want to take that away, though I do want to limit it.

If you draft a player and they tell you to fuck off, then you gotta fuck right the fuck off.

Yes, this does somewhat turn the draft in to a meaningless presentation, but I think that puts more onus on the GM's and team owners to create viable and attractive environments for prospects. Teams can still only have a certain number of players on the roster, and only a certain number of players on the ice. So, sure, Toronto or New York or LA can be as attractive as possible to a new recruit, but they can't ice every player from the draft.

3. A 3 round draft.

As I've said above, I like the draft, but I don't think some sweaty, hairy owner and his lacky GM should get to decide the fates of the sport's future.

Not being drafted in the first 3 rounds then equates to you basically entering the same pool of free agents as the rest of the draftees, but, obviously, affects your immediate earning potential. These players already have to earn it, why not let them earn it where they want...

As we've seen, and you can see in my pieces on the idiots that run drafts, being drafted after the 3rd round (really after the top 10) basically makes you a complete shot in the dark. Why waste time, and energy on a big spectacle that nobody even watches?

4. Cancel the fucking stupid NHL All-Star Game.

Nobody cares about the All-Star Game. Nobody. See, I don't even care enough to write more than one meaningful sentence about it. It's stupid.

Keep the skills competition, change it back to like 2009, and kill anyone who tries to change it with a big stick.