NHL: Is Thanksgiving the ideal cut-off for the playoffs? Analysis and debate

Is Thanksgiving the right time to talk about NHL playoffs?

The conversation about playoff positioning on Thanksgiving Day in the NHL is something that is repeated every year. If an NHL team is in a playoff position by Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday in November), they generally make the postseason. From the 2005-06 season to last season, 77.1% of NHL teams in a playoff spot on Thanksgiving Day made the postseason. However, this season could be different. In the last 10 seasons, the average difference between first and last place in the Eastern Conference was 20.4 points. In the West, it was 20.5. If the current eight-point gap in the East holds in the coming days, it will be the smallest in either conference on Thanksgiving in the last decade. Given the tight standings in the East, we could witness a great deal of chaos and more changes than usual, which would be more entertaining for hockey fans! What if we postpone the conversation about the playoffs until a later date? I propose that the deadline for discussing the “Mendoza line” of the Stanley Cup playoffs be the first Monday of December. This would give the teams one or three more games. So, see you on Monday, December 1st for our playoff team predictions and laments!

This week’s matches

Taking advantage of Thanksgiving, this week presents a unique schedule in the NHL. There are 15 games on Wednesday and another 15 on Friday, and none on Thursday, as we will all be busy eating turkey. Here is a ranking of the 15 games on Friday: New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins

What I loved this weekend

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer is a pleasure to watch in his young career. He already calls the points like a veteran on the ice, skates very well with great positioning, fights for the pucks, and makes smart passes. Seeing him play in person for the first time on Saturday was an absolute pleasure. The way Schaefer strips players of the puck in the defensive end and makes it look so easy reminds me of how Cale Makar can do it with ease, often against superstars like Connor McDavid.

Hart Trophy Candidates if the Season Ended Today

Nathan MacKinnon could be on this list for the rest of the season the way he’s going. After 22 games, he has 37 points and 17 goals, leading the league in points and tied for the league lead in goals. The numbers 2, 3, and 4 are currently McDavid, Macklin Celebrini, and Connor Bedard. The “kids” battling against established superstars for the scoring lead throughout the season. Both have more goals than McDavid, I nominate them as finalists for the Hart Trophy for this week.

Social Media Post of the Week

Matthew Schaefer showed incredible composure and strength for the children he interacted with during Cancer Fight Day at UBS Arena. Schaefer’s mother, Jennifer, died of cancer, and the game was played on her birthday. A very touching post from Sydney Esiason Martin, with whom Schafer lives this season. Responding to a photo of Schaefer hugging his children, Martin replied “My girls are lucky to have him in their lives”. Special mention to Grant Joseph and his daughter Skyla, whom I met at UBS Arena. Their videos, where daughter Skyla criticizes her father Grant for being a Maple Leafs fanatic, make me laugh. Grant bravely wore a John Tavares Leafs jersey to the game.

A post shared by Grant Joseph (@therealgrantjoseph)

Applause

I was at the Islanders game against cancer to see how the organization did a fantastic job showing the children present an incredible moment. The young warriors were able to ring the bell for beating cancer, which caused an incredible and emotional reaction from the crowd. We see many examples of acts of kindness on social media during Cancer Awareness Month, but it’s a different perspective to see them in person instead of in videos on social media. The Islanders, like many other teams, have incredible charitable initiatives throughout the year. The money raised from auctions regularly allows winners to sit in the owners’ box, often meeting with Isles co-owner Jon Ledecky, or sitting against the glass, interacting with the players (and usually Sparky the Dragon), along with other unique experiences.