Anyone else sick and tired of the unbalanced NHL schedule?

Question

I'd like to see ALL the teams a couple times, not some of the same ones 8 times, and others not at all.

Answer 1

I'm with you. Playing division rivals 8 times is a little much. I think they should cut it to 4 times each then use those extra 16 games to play teams from the opposite conference. In the end it's western conf. vs. eastern conf. for the cup anyway. There is a lot of talent in this league that people don't get to see and this might help ease that problem. Being in Dallas, we have had Jagr and Crosby here this season (and I am not counting the All Star game) but with the way things are they may not come back for many seasons. I think if the NHL would allow big name players to play in many more cities, attendance would go up, tv viewing would go up, and make the NHL more popular. Your average hockey fan is more into this than seeing the same people 8 times a season.

Answer 2

I'm tired of hearing the Sabres have played Boston. Sure, there are great rivalries, but 8 times against certain 4 teams stinks. How about they go a little something like this -

6 games in division = 24 games
3 games against the rest of the conference = 30 games
2 games against other conference = 30 games

Not only are we back to an 84 game schedule like it was not too long ago, but you can still preserve the rivalries, and rejuvenate/create some geographical rivalries like Detroit with Toronto, Buffalo, Montreal, and Ottawa.

And every year, you would flip who played the 2 conference/non division games at home and on the road.

Answer 3

just two more years to go and the schedule will be changed again. they just had a vote like 3 weeks ago to see if the schedule would be changed for next season and the votes came in that they want to finish the existing schedule first which will be done in two more years.

The schedule needs to change that for sure. well i live in Kingston in between Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa and in the first month of the season in October the Leafs faced the Sens 4 times that's in like 20 days and the NHL wants to make rivalries bigger well right there they make the rivalries boring to watch I'm not a Leafs or Sens fan I'm a Habs fan but there is 7 months in a season spread it out at lest.


TFoley500...>>>>Baseballl needs to play these teams many times they have a 162 game season thats diferent, and in american football well they only play 16 games a season and have a buy week so its nothing to get use to.


GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Answer 4

I like your thought process clueless, But division and conference games are important and a schedule should reflect that. Having said that there is absolutely no reason to face a team 8 times. Personally I like this schedule:

6 x division = 24 games
4 x conference = 40 games
1 x opposite conference = 15 games
three remaining games are played against the team in the opposite conference that finished in the same spot as you last year. 1v1 2v2 3v3 etc.

= 82 games.

Fans & teams get to see other teams at least once each year and end up seeing equal talent from the opposite conference. And we don't go years with out seeing a team.

Answer 5

I agree. Gotta hate the schedule. We are right to demand 2 games against the other conference, 1 home 1 away. Plus I think canadian teams should face eathother more than that, either 3 or four times. It is our national sport and great rivalries can be continued by doing so. I don't mind the 8 games against division story though...never can get tired of playing against those leafs :P

Answer 6

The NHL thinks that the inter branch contention is greater significant than advertising its youthful stars. no person cares if Florida and Washington play 7 circumstances a season. Get Ovechkin over to the west coast. so a procedures as unique 6 is going, Chicago and Detroit go through reason they are in the Campbell convention. the different 4 play sufficient being in the Wales with the Rangers being the mind-blowing team out. i think of they shoudl make the unique 6 one branch. How mind-blowing might that be!!!

Answer 7

It's annoying that the league is promoting young and coming Stars that fans in several cities will not get to see.

But I do like the idea of having divisional rivalries and seeing your neighbors several times a year.

My Solution?

8 games against your division....4 X 8 = 32
2 games against all others .........2 X 25 = 50
= 82 games AND they are evenly divided Home and away

Answer 8

I'm totally bumming on it right now. I'm a big Blues fan, and we're playing the Leafs tonight for the only time in three years. To rub salt in my wounds, the game's not going to be televised here. It was even blacked out on NHL Center Ice (but they lifted it). For me though, I'd rather shell out $200 on game tickets, not to the cable company. But I'm not feeling the love tonight from the NHL or the TV, that's for sure.

Answer 9

Yes and I believe Betteman should be fired. He is an idiot. Each team should play every other team twice (one home/one away). That means 30 games against the other conference. That leaves 52 games. If they play 5 against teams in their own division and 3 against teams in the other divisions (same conference) - that gives them 50 games total within their conference. That leaves 2 games - which I think should just be dropped.

One other note - unrelated to schedule - all games broadcast in HD on any channel that carries the game. People complained about not seeing the puck etc. but in HD - it really is much easier to follow the action.

Answer 10

It's terrible. Here in St. Louis we won't see Crosby or Oveckin for 3 years. The NHL wants to market their league? Over the all-star break all I hear about is the new uniforms that will be less absorbent. What a joke.