Proposal to divide KHL into Strong teams and Weak teams Divisions

[alko]

Bis News Everyone

KHL is splitting into KHL A and KHL B: Read here

FHR proposes to divide the teams into two conferences. The first will be played by 12 teams that took the first 12 places at the end of the 2021/22 season: CSKA, Metallurg, Traktor, SKA, Salavat Yulaev, Dynamo M, Avangard, Spartak, Ak Bars ”, Severstal, Lokomotiv and Dynamo Mn. 10 teams will play in the second conference: Sibir, Neftekhimik, Torpedo, Barys, Avtomobilist, Amur, Vityaz, Sochi, Admiral and Kunlun. The proposed name of the conferences is the Yurzinov Conference and the Yakushev Conference.

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[Exarz]

The initial idea sounded good but with that many cross-divisional games I really don't see the benefit of even splitting it up into a strong and weak division. Plus with all teams in the top division reaching the playoffs, and adding additional games, what is there even to play for?

 

[Caser]

So far it is only a proposal, also I kind of doubt it will happen at least in the coming season.

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

The Scottish Premier League does this in the second half of their season based on how teams performed for the first half of the season, so this is not entirely without precedence.

But the SPFL is based on promotion, relegation, and qualification for Europe. I don't see this KHL situation being similar.

 

[SoundAndFury]

The Scottish Premier League does this in the second half of their season based on how teams performed for the first half of the season, so this is not entirely without precedence.

Or the Belarussian hockey league. Which, as irrelevant as it is, might be more relevant in this situation than SPL.

 

[Caser]

So yeah, it is officially announced it isn't happening at least for now. Instead it might be that the playoff format will be changed in terms of somehow making teams from different conferences play against each other there.

 

[Yellow and the green]

But what is the point of this?

 

[Caser]

But what is the point of this?

Short term the idea was/is to increase the number of games between top teams and so the weaker team still wouldn't lose the playoff hopes too soon. Long term I have an impression that they are hoping that this kind of format would make it easier for the new teams to enter the league.