NHL Approves New Schedule Format

[Herr Hockey 0]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=223975&hubname=nhl

Just in time for the strengthening of our division

[auxlepli 17]

I like the Wings' proposed schedule better than this pre-lockout schedule.

However I like my idea even better.

2 other conference = 30

5 intra division = 20

3 intra conference, non division = 30

2 rivalry games = 2

Total = 82

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Reading that article further proves what a mess the current format is. Thankfully it's being changed.

[BeeRYCE 2]

For those not interested in opening the link, it's...

24 divisional games

40 in-conference games

15 non-conference games

3 wild card games against non-conference teams

26-4 in favour of the change.

Excellent, excellent.

[Dabura 12,232]

Good changes. Not terribly substantial, but certainly better than the current setup.

[Barrie 900]

It'll be nice to atleast play every team once. Finally a NHL change for the good.

[hardcoretom21 71]

so who do you think the Wings will choose for the "wild card" games?

[vangvace 12]

Can I say almost called it depending on how the extra three games pans out? Now to go and find that thread

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Wow! The league actually did something right for a change. Eight games vs. the division was an idiotic idea to begin with. Hell, I think that even 6 games against the division is still too much.

[Shockwave180 0]

Wow! The league actually did something right for a change. Eight games vs. the division was an idiotic idea to begin with. Hell, I think that even 6 games against the division is still too much.

I agree, but at least this will be more palatable.

8 games against each opponent really dampened rivalries instead of igniting them. This will at least make each divisional game a bit more meaningful.

[wingschamps 0]

Nice!

[Duck Guy 86]

very glad to see this happen. So now we have a better chance of seeing more eastern conference talent in action. I have never seen Ovechkin, Crosby, or Koval on the ice in the flesh so this should give me a better chance to see players like them.

Edited November 30, 2007 by Duck Guy

[irishtemper14+25 11]

WOOOOOOT

[wingslogo19 281]

Good to see that there will be changes for next year

[Viperar 16]

thank god, this is the best news ive heard in a while

[German Red Wing 0]

so who do you think the Wings will choose for the "wild card" games?

It would be very good to pick three teams from the following:

Toronto Maple Leafs

Montreal Canadiens

New York Rangers

Boston Bruins

Philadelphia Flyers

Pittsburgh Penguins

Buffalo Sabres

Washington Capitals (if Ovechkin stays on that team for a prolonged period)

Ottawa Senators

However, I would guess that teams will change on an annual basis, with all 15 Eastern teams getting an extra game during a 5-year span. Note that there are three extra games and three divisions per conference. Thus, my guesses for next year are TOR (can you say home-and-home here? ), one out of NJ, NYI or NYR and FLA.

Edited November 30, 2007 by German Red Wing

[German Red Wing 0]

Interesting passage on the bottom of the tsn.ca article:

New NHL Players' Association executive director Paul Kelly met with the league's owners on Thursday, and added that the players preferred going to an 84-game schedule with 24 divisional games, 30 against the rest of the conference and 30 against the other conference.

"The reason the players feel this is one; they're tired of seeing the same guys week after week," Kelly explained to reporters on Thursday. "(And) two; they believe the fans in their buildings want to see the star players in other teams and they themselves would like to like to see other cities."

That would be

6 times vs. Central

3 times vs. Pacific/Northwest

twice vs. Eastern Conference

Edited November 30, 2007 by German Red Wing

[schulzte 18]

The 24 intradivision games is much better than the current 40. I would rather see the schedule split more evenly between Eastern and Western Conference teams. I think 30 games between the 10 other Western Conference teams would be plenty, and then the last 28 games against the 15 Eastern teams would be best, then at least your seeing just about every team in the NHL at home at least once.

Wild Card Games Should be Colorado, Toronto and New York Rangers or Minnesota. But those extra games against the original six teams are going to be spread out, so I wouldn't count on them.

[Icer 0]

6 times vs. Central

3 times vs. Pacific/Northwest

twice vs. Eastern Conference

I would love this schedule but the one they approved is definitely a step in the right direction.

[johnnyoski 0]

Did anyone raise their eyebrows at this Bettman quote?

"And we did it notwithstanding that this is likely to be the third year in a row with record attendance and the fact that divisional games are better attended than any others we did want to be responsive to the fans."

3rd year in a row with record attendance? Divisional games well attended? I might buy that for the Northeast division but not across the league.

[StevieY9802 6]

All it is is the old schedule. But it will be nice. And yeah the central is finally get stronger but it's getting boring when you see the same teams. What was it 9 straight against central teams and they played the Blue Jackets twice in 6 days? I don't remember it being that bad last year. Anyways its 2004 again. And it also sounds like the cap might go up again. Thats gonna hurt the small market teams and could cause trouble down the line.

[Zetterberg5150 0]

All it is is the old schedule. But it will be nice. And yeah the central is finally get stronger but it's getting boring when you see the same teams. What was it 9 straight against central teams and they played the Blue Jackets twice in 6 days? I don't remember it being that bad last year. Anyways its 2004 again. And it also sounds like the cap might go up again. Thats gonna hurt the small market teams and could cause trouble down the line.

I am def in the minority here but I really don't mind the schedule the last few years. Maybe it does get a little dull to watch the same matchups but as a former hockey player who watches every Red Wings game you can really see how the teams get to know eachother over the year and watch the adjustments that both teams make. 2 games in 6 days against the Jackets. Remember last year when they played the Wild in 3 straight games, now that was weird against a non-divisonal opponent. Plus i think this year we might want to play 10 divisonal games or we might now get a win against the damn Blackhawks. Our ex-Wings and Kane have just smoked us this year.

[auxlepli 17]

It's a step back in the right direction, and I'm glad for the change. Still I think the schedule could be better. When teams play like three games in a row against the same team, that's boring and tedious. It works in baseball, and the playoffs, but not in hockey during the regular season. Spread the match-ups around and the schedule won't appear to be so bad.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

This quote is the crap that makes me hate Gary Bettman. It seems like pretty much everyone wanted to go back to the old schedule (which is exactly what they just did) except for a handful of cheap owners. Yet he once again invents "facts" to justify his move and basically insult the fans.

"And we did it notwithstanding that this is likely to be the third year in a row with record attendance and the fact that divisional games are better attended than any others we did want to be responsive to the fans."

It's like he's saying "I'm still right, but in spite of that I was nice enough to change it for the fans."

Edited November 30, 2007 by haroldsnepsts

[Guest jaytan]

This is an improvement, but I still want more non-conference games and fewer divisional matchups. We should get to play every team in the league at least twice - once at home and once on the road.