What's the Point?

Where I come from (Midale, SK) you play the game to win. So as I look at all these points being awarded for losses in the NHL, it makes me sick. What a great message the league is sending, its okay to be mediocre.

In a game that is as tightly contested as hockey, I can understand that you would like to reward teams for a tie. I'm fine with that, but then its a tie. How can you honestly justify giving 2 points to a team that wins a skills competition and then award the same amount of points to a team that wins in 60 minutes. It really is a joke and I'm getting awfully sick of teams being satisfied of playing the last ten minutes as if they were on egg-shells not ice.

Players aren't stupid. playoffs mean bonuses and points equal playoffs. Especially playing conference or divisional opponents when the points are doubly important. Why would you risk going for the win if it may cost you the loss? Just play safe and wait for OT where you are guaranteed the point and then take your chances in the shootout for the bonus.

Here is a league and a commissioner hell bent on growing the game in the US of A and yet they do nothing but create situations to bore the game. Sure fans love the shootout...It's the first 65 minutes of paint drying that is the tough part to get past.

The League has to look at adopting a new points awarding system. It's hardly fair that some games are worth a total of 3 points while winning the old-fashioned way only has the league giving out 2 points.

I know this isn't a new argument, but isn't that the problem, this system rewards mediocrity. If its so great, let's celebrate both teams in the Stanley Cup Finals..After all they both made it. Give the top 2/3's of the Cup to the winner and the bottom 1/3 to the losers. That way everyone can win and the League will continue to be the only LOSER!