NHL Standings

[Jasper84 333]

I was just looking at the NHL standings, and I just noticed something that I've never noticed before, and I'm not exactly sure why it's like it is. So I decided, who better to ask then the lets go wings community?

Eastern Conf.:

1. Pittsburgh Penguins - 81pts
2. Montréal Canadiens - 81pts
3. Carolina Hurricanes - 73pts
4. New Jersey Devils - 80pts

Western Conf.:

1. Detroit Red Wings - 92pts
2. Dallas Stars - 87pts
3. Minnesota Wild - 79pts
4. Anaheim Ducks - 83pts

Is there a reason that the 3rd place teams are 3rd place in each conf. even though they have less points then certain teams below them?

[vladdy16 2,154]

Leaders in their respective divisions are seeded third.

[Jasper84 333]

Ah, I didn't know that, thanks

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

It's because Burke insulted Bettman, and no one likes New Jersey.

Edited March 4, 2008 by Never Forget Mac #25

[irishtemper14+25 11]

It's because Burke insulted Bettman, and no one likes New Jersey.

hahhaha thats good enough reason for me

[toby91_ca 620]

I used to have some understanding as to the logic behind seeding the division leaders first before the rest of the teams by points, but I honestly can't remember my logic. I think it makes little sense to do this.

I think I've thought about it before and rationalized that you have to give the benefits of different teams playing different schedules and that's why the division winners have to be there, but that really doesn't make sense to me anymore.

I look at it this way, if you are in a very weak division, you have the advantage of playing a large portion of your games against weak teams, so your total points should reflect that anyway, but you also have a better chance of winning your division and guaranteeing a playoff spot. On the other side of that, if you are in a very tough division, not, you at a disadvantage of having to play tougher teams, which will hurt your overall points and make it difficult to win your division, you could also miss out on the playoffs because of the division winner in a weak division.

Based on the current standings, it's not a huge issue, but it used to be that one of Carolina or Washington could reach the playoffs as the 3rd seed while another team with more points misses the playoffs.

Also, some may think it would be better to finish 6th in the conference than 2nd because they feel the #3 seed is weaker than the #7.

[Bryguy 103]

I still laugh that we are 5 points ahead of dallas with 2 games in hand after that horrible stretch..

[06TJSport 0]

The reason they do it is because the thought is that if you win your division you deserve to have home ice in the first round. So to make it easy, the top 3 spots go to division winners and then the rest fall in after that. Kind of like if baseball had 5 wild card spots.

[pjgj13 30]

I don't like the top 3 teams getting the top 3 seeds (unless they really are the top 3 seeds). The difference a few weeks ago between 3rd & 11th seed was 1 or 2 points. I think the league should get rid of the conference affiliation for the playoffs and seed them 1 thru 16. That way, there would be no guaranteed positions as you are ranked leaguewide.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

The Red Wings have had the 2nd best record in the league but been seeded 4th a few times I believe. Once was when the Blues actually won the Pres trophy (then proceeded to suck in the playoffs). '99 or 00? Anyhow we were seeded 4th and had the play the Avs in the second round and lost.

It always looks bad when there is a weak division (like the South in the EC) that gets a team seeded third over better teams in better overall divisions....

[stormboy 47]

yeah, it's a tough call because, as a previous poster mentioned, if you're in a really tough division, and win it, you should be rewarded because of the unbalanced schedule. (the other teams in the conference only had to play those other very good teams four times where as you had to play them all eight times.) on the other hand, whoever wins the southeast is going to be seeded third but be way behind the fourth (and possibly, fifth, six, and maybe even seventh) seeded teams in points...that's not because their division is tough but because, no matter how bad all the teams are, by default someone has to win the division. *shrug* it can be a bit of an annoyance but i don't see that it's such a huge deal that the system needs to be changed.

i think this year is more the exception than the rule. if the playoffs started right now, none of the south east teams would be in the playoffs at all, but the 'canes are by default. generally, though, i don't think you'd have a situation where a division wouldn't have a single team represented. if that's the case, them being seeded third won't bump another team out of the playoffs who has more points than them. we'll see if that happens by season's end.

[auxlepli 17]

Six divisions = six division champions = six possible banners. Winning a division is important to new teams, or teams that never won a the President's Trophy, a Conference Championship or a Stanley Cup. Banner hanging games usually mean more fannies in seats too. Another money grab for owners! W00t!

[imisssergei 0]

I think division winners should be guaranteed nothing but one of the 8 playoff spots. Why should any of the SEC teams be ranked top 3 in the EC?

[toby91_ca 620]

I think division winners should be guaranteed nothing but one of the 8 playoff spots. Why should any of the SEC teams be ranked top 3 in the EC?

Why should they even be guaranteed a playoff spot? Teams in a weak division already have the advantage of being able to play weak teams more often.

[Opie 308]

IN EVERY SPORT THE DIVISION WINNERS GET A TOP SEED!!!!

Why?

Because before wild card births or extra playoff rounds the only way to make the playoffs was to win your division.

Things have changed.

If the wings were to win the central with 89 points and lets say STL 86, SJ have 91 and ANA 94 and Dal 90 , Van 90 and Cal 92 and Min 93 how many of you here would go ape s*** if the wings were seeded 7th. Most of you, the only reason this bothers you is that it is happening to other teams.

Should the wings be penalized because other divisions are better than theirs? No. That would be like saying well screw it lets just take the top 16 seeds point wise in the NHL and go after the cup. Or saying well the East is a worse division so you only get 4 teams this year, and the southleast you get nobody because you suck!

Analogy time:

It is like the guy in fantasy football who complains about keepers because he can't imagine some one having exclusive rights to Tom Brady. If said person has TB on his team he wants keepers, wants them badly!!

Of course you reward division winners, just because the southleast is a bad division doesn't mean they should get punished. Hey they won their division they deserve home ice, there is only one way to guarantee that they get home ice, to give division winners the top 3 spots, because as we have proved you can win a division and still be a 5 or even 6 spot.

Edited March 5, 2008 by Opie

[imisssergei 0]

Why should they even be guaranteed a playoff spot? Teams in a weak division already have the advantage of being able to play weak teams more often.

True, but how often does a division winner than plays in a weak division not have enough points to make the playoffs?

I won't argue, but offer this question, what then would be the point of having divisions?

[imisssergei 0]

IN EVERY SPORT THE DIVISION WINNERS GET A TOP SEED!!!!

Why?

Because before wild card births or extra playoff rounds the only way to make the playoffs was to win your division.

Things have changed.

If the wings were to win the central with 89 points and lets say STL 86, SJ have 91 and ANA 94 and Dal 90 , Van 90 and Cal 92 and Min 93 how many of you here would go ape s*** if the wings were seeded 7th. Most of you, the only reason this bothers you is that it is happening to other teams.

Should the wings be penalized because other divisions are better than theirs? No. That would be like saying well screw it lets just take the top 16 seeds point wise in the NHL and go after the cup. Or saying well the East is a worse division so you only get 4 teams this year, and the southleast you get nobody because you suck!

Analogy time:

It is like the guy in fantasy football who complains about keepers because he can't imagine some one having exclusive rights to Tom Brady. If said person has TB on his team he wants keepers, wants them badly!!

Of course you reward division winners, just because the southleast is a bad division doesn't mean they should get punished. Hey they won their division they deserve home ice, there is only one way to guarantee that they get home ice, to give division winners the top 3 spots, because as we have proved you can win a division and still be a 5 or even 6 spot.

Regardless is people would go 'ape s***' in that scenario or not, how would it hurt the game? It would make playoff seeding more relevant.

[toby91_ca 620]

True, but how often does a division winner than plays in a weak division not have enough points to make the playoffs?

I won't argue, but offer this question, what then would be the point of having divisions?

If a division winner would never have less points than needed, then you'd never have to guarantee a playoff spot for them.

I'm more against them being seeded 3rd, but if a team ever made the playoffs, seeded 3rd and actually only had the 9th highest points, I would certainly be pissed being that team with the 8th most points.

In terms of why have divisions......for scheduling purposes.

[imisssergei 0]

If a division winner would never have less points than needed, then you'd never have to guarantee a playoff spot for them.

I'm more against them being seeded 3rd, but if a team ever made the playoffs, seeded 3rd and actually only had the 9th highest points, I would certainly be pissed being that team with the 8th most points.

In terms of why have divisions......for scheduling purposes.

Just look at the standings right now, EC.

Carolina has 75 points, leading the SED, thus seeded 3rd. They have played 69 games.

Both Buffalo and Philly sit close enough that they could end up out of the playoffs, but have more points than Carolina. This would take a good run by a few other teams, but it is mathematically possible.

As for as scheduling, wouldn't conferences be enough separation for scheduling?

[thedisappearer 291]

I say they get a first round home playoff. If it's 4th, so be it. After then, it gets seeded by points.

You need divisions- it builds rivalries. Face it, we were a year or two away from actually having Nashville as a rival because we had to battle them for playoff position.

And to get away from conferences is not cheap... you have to travel to play everyone 3 times.

Reality blows.

[Rice 42]

Division winners should be guaranteed a playoff spot but not a top three seed, IMO.

Edited March 6, 2008 by ARice89

[Barrie 900]

I don't have a problem with the Divison winners getting the top 3 seeds in the Conference. A team should get some reward for winning their Division.

Sports, like many things in life, works in cycles. Who know's in 5 years time, the Southeast Division could be one of the strongest in the League, and one of the current strong ones will be the weakest.

I'll also point out in the mid to late 80's we were winning the Norris Division with a .500 record.

[ilmickeyli 40]

in good standings news, dallas lost! we stay at 7pts

[imisssergei 0]

I don't have a problem with the Divison winners getting the top 3 seeds in the Conference. A team should get some reward for winning their Division.

Sports, like many things in life, works in cycles. Who know's in 5 years time, the Southeast Division could be one of the strongest in the League, and one of the current strong ones will be the weakest.

I'll also point out in the mid to late 80's we were winning the Norris Division with a .500 record.

It's an off year for the SED. 2 of the last 3 Cups have come from the SED.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

Division winners should be guaranteed a playoff spot but not a top three seed, IMO.

I actually think it should be the other way around...

Top 16, division winners get home ice, if not all divisions are included in the playoffs then top seeded (2nd in division) gets home ice. It gives a division winner an advantage, but you still have to be a good team to get in.