it pretty simple to me...the more points a team has the higher the seeding...1% more 0r 3% more or 20% more;doesn't matter. All teams will have the peaks and valleys throughout the year, but its irrelevant as you get the best record you can over 82 games and be rewarded for it. You might have bad luck and play a team a white hot team. That's the luck of the draw, but having that situation when a team is also not being rewarded with higher warranted seeding is dumb.I guess you are suggesting that a team that finishes 1% higher points in the regular season is the tougher team... but then why do so many first round upsets occur? in any given year you would expect at least 3 out of 8 upsets.
the final place in the standings might be determined by results in October or November. its far far far more important how a team finishes a season then starts a season.
I know you are concerned that Toronto might end up with more points then islanders... but trust me, the islanders have been the far better team the last 40 games or so. Toronto got off to a great start but their team defense has not improved and Anderson is being worn down with too many starts. I wouldn't be surprised to see them roll over at playoff time. not only that, but they are psyched by us. they will shoot themselves in the foot
they score a lot... but we have the team that can shut them down.
as for whether 1 point determins who makes the playoffs or not... the league wanted that. the league feels that teams that are not in the race cant sell tickets or get tv ratings. the league wanted to create an environment where the regular season is meaningless. teams 8-20 will probably have less than 8 points between them. less than a 10% variation
ultimately, it is what it is... the league wants parity because they run a business
the teams will play geographical rivals because the league wants business
when I was a kid every team played every team 4 times... 2 home/2 away and the playoffs were seeded 1-16 but trust me there was complaints about that. fans saying I don't want to see this garbage team... why cant we play our rival more often?
fans always complain
Just like making, or losing, the playoffs by a point is meaningful; same should be for seeding;no different.
And I remember those days too and I can guarantee I never wished Bruins played Habs over a lower seeded team!
Anyway, agree to disagree and that is ok; don't want to hijack the thread
great win tonight...