NHL finally coming to their senses?

Question

I see that they have agreed to a schedule change and now all teams will play each other, starting next year. You will probably see division rivals cut from 8 to 6, which is plenty.
It is a good move and better late than never.

Like I'm Telling You- Even with a few hold-outs (I expect that Anaheim voted no as well), it doesn't have to be unnaminous (50 or 75% I think?? Can't remember).
Anyway, these appear to be the options:

Option #1 - 82 games (pre-lockout schedule)
15 games vs other conference (1 vs each team)
24 games vs division rivals (6 vs each team)
40 games vs rest of conference (4 vs each team)
3 games v wild card (rivalry games)

Option #2 - 82 games
30 games vs other conference (2 vs each team)
32 games vs division rivals (8 vs each team)
20 games vs rest of conference (2 vs each team)

Option #3 - 84 games
30 games vs other conference (2 vs each team)
24 games vs division rivals (6 vs each team)
30 games vs rest of conference (3 vs each team)

Also, I thought (if I recall correctly) that one of Bettman's first orders of business when he took over was renaming the divisions to the geographical types. Not positive, but I was pretty sure.

In fact, didn't the divisional name changes happen in 93' or 94'? Ziegler was only there until 92'.

Answer 1

I tend to agree with your logic: "Better late than never" and yet.... I don't understand Bettman not wanting to flog Crosby and Alex all over the NHL especially in the US.

The Canucks have had a really long sell out streak going and yet it is nice to see a flashy new kid (like of Ovechkin last year). Seeing these guys every year (preferrably twice [once at home and once away]) makes the injuries less of a worry. Ovechkin getting a puck in the foot made front page headlines last year as people were worried he wouldn't play. What if Sidney catches a cold or something and sits out the western swing.... or worse gets injured or something. Fans will be screaming for bettman's head (more so than they already are) and you will have some unhappy and angry fans in Western Canada.

PS. The eastern teams should suck it up and get used to the travel it is part of sports......

Answer 2

I like this option the best:
Option #3 - 84 games
30 games vs other conference (2 vs each team)
24 games vs division rivals (6 vs each team)
30 games vs rest of conference (3 vs each team)

I think the owners might like the 2 extra games as well (more revenue). I am not a fan of the 8 division games. It just gets a little dull, especially if you add a playoff series to it.

Life would still be easier if there were 2-6 less teams in the league, but that is another issue entirely.

Answer 3

Don't expect a reduction in division games, most teams would not support that. Expect it to be similar to the pre-lockout with 8 within division, 1 against the opposition conference, and the rest divided against their own conference.

Several teams including Vancouver, Edmonton, Montreal and Calgary won't vote for a reduction in divisional games as these are the biggest draws.

Apology Note: This was written based on reports from the meetings yesterday, apparently Harley Hotchkiss has had a change of heart and will consider a decrease of 8 to 6

However, Edmonton and Calgary won't support any schedule that doesn't involve Eastern Canadian teams (this year those teams took a hit in TV money because the Northeast and Northwest don't meet).


And People, Bettman has nothing to do with the rival games, teams have played teams in their own division 8x each since 1981-82 (7x in the Smythe). Nor did he have anything to do with the divisional name changes (Ziegler was the President then, I was on the committee!)

Glen Greene,
The instigator rule was out into place in 1977 under Clarence Campbell (Rule 56). It was amended in 2005 at the request of Brian Burke and Dean Lombardi (he was still with Philly at the time).


Bob
The committee to look at the changing of the division names was convened in late 1991 and early 1992, the actual change was announced during Ziegler's presidency in June 1992 when they announced that Florida and Anaheim would be joining the NHL (the announcemant mainly created public outcry because the panthers paid $50MM to the NHL and the Ducks paid $25MM to the leagfue and $25MM to McNall)

Answer 4

It's about time. As much as I enjoyed the Penguins beating up on the Flyers last season, I always wondered how they would fare against teams like Colorado, Vancouver, Calgary, etc. Hopefully us Penguins fans will finally know.

Note- Bob, "NHL" and "coming to their senses" somehow do not belong in the same sentence...they kid of contradict each other in the Bettman era.

Answer 5

Well seeing as bettman screwed it up in the first place....
I liked it better when the conferences and divisions had names and everyone played in each other's barn AND when the commish was not a shifty rat man
I would say that the NHL is coming to their senses

Answer 6

i think it is a good idea becase then they can spread games out more as far as when you play another team in your division i know for Buffalo this season we play Boston 3 times in less than 10 days that can get pretty boring for the players and for the fans although i do like it when teams play a home and home sometimes so i still hope that they somehow work it out so that every team is still able to do that at least once

Answer 7

Sounds good.

However I find it interesting all of the "Bettman must go" comments. I don't stroke it for Gary B., but it appears that all people want to do pile on Bettman -- even when he makes things "better".

Now here come the comments that he had nothing to do with it. You can't pose that argument when in the previous breath you say he is to blame. ('you' being a general term, mind you)

Anyway -- good to see it mixing up again.

Answer 8

Silly Av's fans, Detroit wont be worse......Besides Detroit voted for the schedule change every time it has come up. They must have some kind of confidance with there team.

It'll be nice seeing some more eastern Conference teams, who knows how much more though.

Answer 9

Thank God. I love seeing Flyers rival games but come on, 8 times a year!

Answer 10

Hope springs eternal, and is indiscriminatory. As they continue to "throw punches with their eyes closed" even the NHL manages to connect once in a while.

It did seem ludicrous how an entity that is trying to grow the sport, voluntarily restricts market exposure by rotating divisional exclusion from year to year.