Lots of talk in the last couple days (rightly) about how poorly the schedule is currently constructed, with Montreal only coming here once this season.
I'd be curious to hear your proposals for a new schedule...I've had a couple ideas in mind. I think it is important for every team to play at least a home and away with the rest of the league...but beyond that?
Scenario 1 - Same Divisions, 91 Games
Divisional Play - 5x (3 Home, 2 Away, alternating yearly) = 35 games
Conference Play - 3x (2 Home, 1 Away, alternating yearly) = 24 games
Out of Conference Play - 2x (1 Home, 1 Away) = 32 games
This would be extremely unlikely to happen because the season's already too long, and adding in another 9 games is probably asking too much.
You could cut it down to 84 games by playing the divisional opponents 4x, which is reasonable but still feels like too little divisional play.
Scenario 2 - 8 Divisions, 86 Games
Northeast - Bruins, Canadiens, Senators, Maple Leafs
New York - Sabres, Devils, Islanders, Rangers
Atlantic - Blue Jackets, Red Wings, Flyers, Penguins
Southeast - Hurricanes, Panthers, Lightning, Capitals
North Central - Blackhawks, Wild, Blues, Jets
South Central - Avalanche, Stars, Predators, Coyotes
Southwest - Ducks, Kings, Sharks, Golden Knights
Northwest - Flames, Oilers, Kraken, Canucks
Divisional Play - 6x (3 Home, 3 Away) = 18 games
Conference Play - 3x (2 Home, 1 Away, alternating yearly) = 36 games
Out of Conference Play - 2x (1 Home, 1 Away) = 32 games
Honestly, I love this scenario. Lots of intra-divisional play, still see the rest of the conference 4x a year, and see every team at least twice. Slightly increases the number of games but should cut down on travel. Divisions aren't perfect but they're solid. Could cut 4 games a season by rotating which division in your conference you only play 2x instead of 3x?
Another intriguing option is playing the rest of the conference 4x, and the opposite conference 1x. That cuts things down to the current 82 games, but I don't love only playing the west once.
Playoff scenarios get a bit interesting with 8 divisions. You could do the #1 in each division and 4 wild cards, which I feel like is reasonable, and seed 1-8 based on points. Or you could do the Top 4 as the division winners. Or you could get really crazy and just have the top 2 from each division, no wild cards.
Would love to hear your thoughts!
I'd be curious to hear your proposals for a new schedule...I've had a couple ideas in mind. I think it is important for every team to play at least a home and away with the rest of the league...but beyond that?
Scenario 1 - Same Divisions, 91 Games
Divisional Play - 5x (3 Home, 2 Away, alternating yearly) = 35 games
Conference Play - 3x (2 Home, 1 Away, alternating yearly) = 24 games
Out of Conference Play - 2x (1 Home, 1 Away) = 32 games
This would be extremely unlikely to happen because the season's already too long, and adding in another 9 games is probably asking too much.
You could cut it down to 84 games by playing the divisional opponents 4x, which is reasonable but still feels like too little divisional play.
Scenario 2 - 8 Divisions, 86 Games
Northeast - Bruins, Canadiens, Senators, Maple Leafs
New York - Sabres, Devils, Islanders, Rangers
Atlantic - Blue Jackets, Red Wings, Flyers, Penguins
Southeast - Hurricanes, Panthers, Lightning, Capitals
North Central - Blackhawks, Wild, Blues, Jets
South Central - Avalanche, Stars, Predators, Coyotes
Southwest - Ducks, Kings, Sharks, Golden Knights
Northwest - Flames, Oilers, Kraken, Canucks
Divisional Play - 6x (3 Home, 3 Away) = 18 games
Conference Play - 3x (2 Home, 1 Away, alternating yearly) = 36 games
Out of Conference Play - 2x (1 Home, 1 Away) = 32 games
Honestly, I love this scenario. Lots of intra-divisional play, still see the rest of the conference 4x a year, and see every team at least twice. Slightly increases the number of games but should cut down on travel. Divisions aren't perfect but they're solid. Could cut 4 games a season by rotating which division in your conference you only play 2x instead of 3x?
Another intriguing option is playing the rest of the conference 4x, and the opposite conference 1x. That cuts things down to the current 82 games, but I don't love only playing the west once.
Playoff scenarios get a bit interesting with 8 divisions. You could do the #1 in each division and 4 wild cards, which I feel like is reasonable, and seed 1-8 based on points. Or you could do the Top 4 as the division winners. Or you could get really crazy and just have the top 2 from each division, no wild cards.
Would love to hear your thoughts!