Correct me if I am wrong, but I am assuming that this decision came under vote by all NHL teams, at least I would assume that every team would get a vote in such an important decision.
I ask this because every day on here there are people who moan and whine about Detroit playing in an easy division, as if they somehow planned it that way. I admit that Detroit's division is currently the worst in hockey and provides them with a healthy point cushion in the west, but you only have the greedy owners (of your favorite team) who don't want to pay the travel expenses of a balanced schedule for that.
Also, It seems to me that Detroit playing in a "soft" division is not near the advantage that most claim that it is, coasting into the playoffs is clearly not the way you want to enter the SCP..... Thoughts?
2007-09-26 08:16:34 · 9 answers · asked by Zam 5 in Sports ➔ Hockey
I think the Detroit-Edmonton series 2 years ago is a direct indication of what can happen when a team that has been comfortable for weeks runs into a team that has been fighting it out just to make the playoffs. I think that Detroit's playoff success last year had a great deal to do with Nashville's strong push to overtake the division lead all the way to seasons end. The Wings had something to play for and not just the President's Trophy.
Mike- it, unfortunately, is not just you. I just wanted to point out that, 1.) I don't think playing in a weak division is an overall adavntage when it comes playoff time and 2.) If you want to be mad about it, blame your team and others in the west who don't want to pay for the travel to even out the schedule. 3.) Detroit may not have been as high of a seed, but there is no way that they would struggle to make the playoffs in ANY division in hockey.
2007-09-26 09:19:53 · update #1
The owners and players association both agreed to the current schedule and current divisions.
While it may be an easy division now, it may not always be that way. 6-7 years ago, the Southeast division was ridiculed because whomever won that division was basically being boosted by the fact that winning it meant you were 3rd seed whether your record was that good or not.
Well guess what? The Southeast division boasts 2 of the last 3 Stanley Cup winners in Carolina and Tampa Bay and an exciting young team in Atlanta. Washington looks like they are re-loading as well..
So, while Detroit DOES have an easy schedule today. 3-5 years from now, it may not.
As far as coasting into the playoffs? It has it's advantages and its disadvantages. We all want to go into the playoffs relatively unharmed. But getting into the playoffs without really being tested can also mean you aren't ready.
I think the road to the playoffs is easier for Detroit than it is for Dallas/San Jose/Anaheim and Calgary/Colorado/Vancouver/Minnesota. They don't have the bruising that goes along with those battles. However, they also haven't played with the intensity those other teams have had either. I think this has been evident the last couple of years for Detroit, but Babcock can get them through this. Once St. Louis and Chicago get the young kids in gear (and maybe Columbus), it won't be so easy anymore.
Wildmick
Bettman has no say in the schedule. Each team provides the league with 'desired' home dates. The league then does it's best to accomodate each teams home games.
As far as geography.............the divisions have been geographically based since 1981. The 8 games against division opponents has been around since 1981 as well (7 if you were in the Smythe in 81 and Patrick from 82 onwards).
I think Zamdriver's issue is that Detroit plays 8 games a year against some weak teams...and Detroit fans didn't ask for that (but they aren't going to apologize for it either)
2007-09-26 08:52:21 · answer #1 · answered by Like I'm Telling You Who I A 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The shootout is a lousy way to decide a game which could make or break a teams playoff chances. How many times has a team missed the playoffs by one point or missed out because they had a tie rather than a win? I think they should have a full 20 minute, standard period length overtime. If no winner after that... grant the tie. Allowing the shootout awards the team with the better individual top line scorers or a hot goalie. Hockey is a team game and should be decided as a team. The NFL who has a similar sudden death OT doesn't go for a 5 minute extra quarter, they grant the whole 15 minute OT for deciding a game. Baseball goes by full additional innings (of course that situation is different since only one team has a chance to score at once.) I agree with a previous poster. Deciding the game with a shootout would be the same as a home run derby, 3 point competition or ugh... a pass, punt and kick competition.
2016-04-06 02:21:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I Don't know who initially suggested the Division Heavy schedule currently in place but the owners and the commisioner voted for it (mostly) and approved it. From what I understand it was mostly about traveling expenses for the Western Teams. Which is the same reason they gave for swapping what is considered Home jersey's and Away jersey's since most 3rd jersey's at the time would cause the opposing team to have to transport not only their away jersey's with them but also their home jersey's when they played against teams with dark 3rd jerseys. So know that Bettman and friends (the owners) have realized what a mistake the unbalanced schedule is, most of them seem to support going back to a schedule that allows every team to play each other at least once.
2007-09-26 08:30:15 · answer #3 · answered by deltaflotfan 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The teams are in divisions for geographic reasons, not because one team is better than the other. The old division system (Adams, Patrick, etc) clearly worked better schedule wise and made NHL rivalries more special. Example - Boston/Montreal or St. Louis/Chicago. I think most NHL fans (those who remember the old system) are inclined to agree with this.
As far as who decides the schedule, the teams and owners do NOT get much (if any) say in it. The schedule is produced by the league office, and they try to cater to the geographic travelling and to the TV schedules, in particular CBC and The Food Network. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has the final say in the schedule, and either approves it or they make slight modifications to it if needed before making it public.
2007-09-26 08:32:24 · answer #4 · answered by wildmick21 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
"people who moan and whine about Detroit playing in an easy division" What people???? I'm the only one damnit! I want some recongnition!!! lol, seriously, even "like I'm telling you..." agrees with me. I did hear that the Wings are very much against this current schedule format. So that means they don't like beating up on easy teams anymore, and I do respect that. They're kind of asking for competition, and that's good. So kudos to them for that, if it's true.... I don't remember where I heard this.
2007-09-26 08:59:55 · answer #5 · answered by N/A 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually Like I'm Telling You, Im pretty sure the NHL had played div ooponents 6 times a year before the lockout.
To what point? I dont know, but I remember they increased it from 6 to 8 after the other changes.
2007-09-26 11:55:56 · answer #6 · answered by xtrabigs 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think it is all about expenses. i live in western canada but support an eastern team. now in the last two seasons montreal has stopped their visits to Edm, Cal, and Van, which makes seeing my favorite team out west impossible. they need to listen to the paying fans and develope a schedule partially based on that.
2007-09-26 08:24:37 · answer #7 · answered by GOHABSGO!! 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The NHL commish and the NHL board of Governors vote on the schedule.
2007-09-26 08:54:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gary Bettman.
2007-09-26 08:23:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋