TSN: Martin Biron and Craig Button discuss whether NHL stars should sit out preseason games to avoid injuries like NHL players do. This segment was recorded after Drew Doughty's injury but before the results were known, and before Patrik Laine's injury on Saturday.
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Gino Reda: “He was joined by Marty Biron and Craig Button. That nasty injury to Drew Doughty put the NHL preseason under the microscope again. The CBA states that NHL teams must dress at least eight veteran players for every single preseason game. But seeing what happened to the little guys, does the league need to change this rule to protect its stars, Marty?
Biron: “Well, I think it's a strange incident, isn't it? It's not like Doughty didn't play hockey and didn't get hit in the back. He went to look for a package while trying to complete the check and was injured.
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I don't think you need to change the rule of eight veterans per game, because you still have to wear, you know, a good order, but I think they played too many preseason games. If you have six to eight preseason games and then you have an 82-game season, that's huge. It should be three or four preseason games. That's all.
In the 2012-13 season, that was a shortened season, and then the COVID season, where there were no preseason games for one of them, not one player complained. 'Oh man, I really wish we had pre-season games so I could continue.'
Coaches complain, don't they? The owners complained that they did not receive the gates and the money they received before the season. But none of the players complained that they weren't ready for Game One because they didn't play a preseason game or two.
But I think you should shorten the preseason and maybe add a few more regular season games. The NFL did it, and they found a sweet spot. So I think there is still a lot to be done.
But the eight veterans still have to dress up and hit a line that the fans will see, that's why I think that should stay.
Button: “I'm going to introduce this first, Marty, I love you for many reasons, and this is just another reason to love you. Because I agree with you, 100%. Not 99, 100%.
The players are in great shape. They are suitable for the whole season. They come into training camp and what they want to do is get ready, get ready for the regular season. We know that the regular season is more important in Game One than in years past. So those players, those veteran players, want to get up and run.
They want it, and they know the 82-game schedule is long and hard. We are talking about the complexity of the system. We're talking about how many back-to-backs, and three out of four.
Well, why don't we ease some of that preseason pressure to play and let those players get their moments? To your point, they will come in and practice. You can be comfortable with contact and everything that goes with it, but they are ready to go from Game one.
And I know there's an economy to this in the preseason, but at the same time, I'd like to see fewer preseason games. And understand the injury that happened to Drew Doughty. It happened to Aaron Rodgers in his first game with the New York Jets. What are we going to do? Take out the first game of the season when someone gets hurt, it happens, and it's unfortunate.
There was nothing bad or bad about this game. It was just a game that upset Drew Doughty. Hopefully, it's not, anything that will really impact the Los Angeles Kings long term.
Reda: “Okay, guys, I understand, although I fully agree with you. The players are now coming in ready to play, and the rosters are set for the most part. Maybe two or three guys who are trying hard to get jobs.
But isn't this just a deduction? I mean, Marty, with HRR and players getting paid even in preseason games. Are the players, the owners, the teams, willing to donate dollars to protect their players, Marty?
Biron: “It's supposed to, you know, like preseason gates and all the money goes to the owners only, right? Players have nothing when looking at HRR before the season.
So if you go ahead, you can reduce the pre-season amount. No one will complain about it. And now the important thing is to realize that, you go into camp, you have your medicals, you have your fitness training, you practice for two days and, boom, you already have a preseason game. As if no one wants to play in the first week.
Sidney Crosby hasn't played a game yet. Evgeny Malkin has yet to play a game (hit recorded on Friday, both played over the weekend). You know, you look at veterans, Connor McDavid played. The reason why he played like this is because the Oilers and Flames made a split game, if not, as if they would run out of players, he had to play a game.
But the stars don't want to play. They may want to get the last game of the preseason and the regular season, and in the end, the NHL, the NHLPA, will have to sit down, because it comes to the distribution of money. What goes to the owners, what might come to the players, and if it makes sense.
But it makes sense to me, as a former player, that, I don't care if there's one or two preseason games. I only care about the regular season.
Button: “And Marty, the owner, must not care. And I'd like to hear an owner of the National Hockey League say, 'You know, we need money for preseason games, and I'm not worried about losing one of my key players during the regular season that could have an impact. my ability to play in the playoffs, where the cash cow is very important.'
What could Patrik Laine's injury mean for the Montreal Canadiens?
That's where the focus should be, Gino, and that, to me, is that there is no economic argument for this.
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