New Schedule for 2008-2009

[topshelf14 1]

Hey I know there is supposed to be a new schedule next year, but I was wondering what the deal was with it? Are we going to still be playing thye Central 8 times each a year???

[seeinred 1,488]

I heard on XM204 that they plan to decrease the number of intra-division games, but they didn't say to what. They did say each team would play all 29 other teams at least once, and there would be a home and home against I think 4 teams from the other conference.

[Jedi 1,865]

Hey I know there is supposed to be a new schedule next year, but I was wondering what the deal was with it? Are we going to still be playing thye Central 8 times each a year???

Thankfully no. The schedule next year will be the same format used in the years prior to the lockout. Six games against your each of your divisional opponents (total of 24 games), 40 games against the remaining teams in the conference, and 18 games against the opposite conference, for a total of 82 games. So, there won't be a home game against some teams every year, but it's at least better than only seeing a home game against that team once every (potentially) six years the way it was.

*edit* Better link found...

Edited March 26, 2008 by Jedi

[Matt 1,049]

IMO, they need to adopt the NBA's scheduling format.

[JayUp88 1]

IMO, they need to adopt the NBA's scheduling format.

Which would be?

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

IMO, they need to adopt the NBA's scheduling format.

What the hell is the NBA?

[detroitdan 0]

IMO, they need to adopt the NBA's scheduling format.

QFT...I'm not sure how the schedule breaks down, but each NBA team plays every other one home and away at least once...I can't understand how the NHL hasn't caught on to this yet.

[wingslogo19 281]

QFT...I'm not sure how the schedule breaks down, but each NBA team plays every other one home and away at least once...I can't understand how the NHL hasn't caught on to this yet.

GARY BETMAN

[Matt 1,049]

Which would be?

If my memory is good here, it breaks down as follows:

- H&H against the other conference: 30 games

- 3 games against each team in the two other divisions in your conference (30 games)*

- 6 games against your divisional opponents (24)

*this would require an alternating 2-for-1 in terms of home/away. For instance, say the Wings play Vancouver. We place twice in GM Place one season (once at home) and then it switches the following year.)

It would mean less play against Western Conference opponents outside of the division, but every team visits the Joe and vice-versa. There's no "we don't play this division this year" talk any more.

[DRW Dominance 255]

The H&H part is correct but I know they play teams in their division only 4 times. I'm not sure about the rest though.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Basketball_Association

Around the middle of the page under the "Regular Season" section...

During the regular season, each team plays 82 games, 41 each home and away. A team faces opponents in its own division four times a year (16 games), teams from the other two divisions in its conference either three or four times (36 games), and teams in the other conference twice apiece (30 games). This asymmetrical structure means the strength of schedule will vary significantly between teams.

I guess you rotate 3 and 4 games b/w your non-divisional conference opponents each year.

I'm all for definitely playing all/most non-conference teams in the NHL twice. Here's how I would break it down if we want to do that, or play divisional teams even less.

4 games against divisional opponents (2 home, 2 road) - 4 x 4 = 16 games

4 games against non-divisional conference opponents (2 home, 2 road) - 10 x 4 = 40 games

2 games against two of the three divisional non-conference opponents (1 home, 1 road) 10 x 2 games = 20 games

1 game against one of the three divisional non-conference opponents - 5 x 1 game = 5 games

Unfortunately this leaves an even amount of games and road/home games a little bit out of whack, but still roughly the same amount of games played in 81.

At least what they seem to be going back to is a good start, playing everybody at least once. If I'm not mistaken, it'll be 6 games vs. division teams, 4 vs. other conference teams, and 1 against non-conference teams (2 in different/unique scenarios).