Leave it to the NHL to do everything it can to insure the players will not be at their best, in the league’s showcase event.

I’m talking about the schedule the league has put together, for the Stanley Cup finals between the Red Wings and the Penguins.  The series starts Saturday night in Detroit.  That’s game one.  Game two?  Sunday night.  Back to back nights of intense playoff hockey for a couple of teams that have already survived three tough playoff rounds.

Even worse-game three is Tuesday night in Pittsburgh.  So if you’re keeping score at home, that’s three games in four nights for the two finalists in the league’s championship series.  That’s the kind of scheduling any NHL team would dread during the dog days of the regular season, let alone the best of seven series with the Cup on the line.

The reason, of course, is television.  In order to get its’ first two games on NBC TV, the league had to guarantee the network the games would be played on weekend nights, not during their precious weeknight prime time schedule.  Of course, the league is bending over backwards to satisfy a network “partner” that does not contribute to dime to NHL coffers.  It’s more evidence of just how lightly regarded NHL hockey is to American sports fans.

The complete disregard for the two teams in the finals and their players is shocking.  The NHL has chosen to pacify its’ network TV associates, rather than insure the two teams playing for the Cup will be able to play at a high level.  It’s another reason Gary Bettman should be replaced as Commissioner, as soon as possible.

What do you think of the Stanley Cup Finals schedule?