Future Scheduling and Playoff Format

[oldredbarnman 13]

With the season half over, I thought I'd bring up the subject of the NHL schedule and playoff format.

Even though the league has done a little better job with the schedule, I believe it can be better. I personally would like to have the opportunity to see each team every year.

I would propose that outside of the division, you play a home and road game against each team, a total of 50 games. That would ensure that the East would have to make some trips to the West coast. ( The Wings would only play once in L.A., S.J., etc.) You would then play each team in your division 8 times, 32 games. I know seeing Nashville and Columbus 4 times at home isn't the greatest, but at least we'd see all of the East teams, and still have some "rivalries". It would also even out the schedule for the playoff format I would like to see.

Back in the late 70s and early 80s, the league went to a tournament style playoff format. The #1 seed would play #16, #2/#15 and so on. In the new format, the 6 division winners would get the top 6 spots, so the division would still mean something. Again, some east coast teams would play west coast teams.

As of this morning, the first round would look like this: #1 Boston vs. #16 Florida, #2 San Jose vs. #15 Phoenix, #3 Detroit vs. #14 Buffalo, #4 Washington vs. #13 Carolina, #5 Calgary vs. #12 Anaheim, #6 Philadelphia vs. #11 Vancouver, #7 Montreal vs. #10 New Jersey, #8 Chicago vs. #9 New York Rangers. Assuming the Wings beat Buffalo, they may play Montreal in Rd. 2, or Philadelphia, or maybe Vancouver.

As a hockey fan, I think this would add more excitement and anticipation to the playoffs.

[CdnWingsFanEh 2]

With the season half over, I thought I'd bring up the subject of the NHL schedule and playoff format.

Even though the league has done a little better job with the schedule, I believe it can be better. I personally would like to have the opportunity to see each team every year.

I would propose that outside of the division, you play a home and road game against each team, a total of 50 games. That would ensure that the East would have to make some trips to the West coast. ( The Wings would only play once in L.A., S.J., etc.) You would then play each team in your division 8 times, 32 games. I know seeing Nashville and Columbus 4 times at home isn't the greatest, but at least we'd see all of the East teams, and still have some "rivalries". It would also even out the schedule for the playoff format I would like to see.

Back in the late 70s and early 80s, the league went to a tournament style playoff format. The #1 seed would play #16, #2/#15 and so on. In the new format, the 6 division winners would get the top 6 spots, so the division would still mean something. Again, some east coast teams would play west coast teams.

As of this morning, the first round would look like this: #1 Boston vs. #16 Florida, #2 San Jose vs. #15 Phoenix, #3 Detroit vs. #14 Buffalo, #4 Washington vs. #13 Carolina, #5 Calgary vs. #12 Anaheim, #6 Philadelphia vs. #11 Vancouver, #7 Montreal vs. #10 New Jersey, #8 Chicago vs. #9 New York Rangers. Assuming the Wings beat Buffalo, they may play Montreal in Rd. 2, or Philadelphia, or maybe Vancouver.

As a hockey fan, I think this would add more excitement and anticipation to the playoffs.

Interesting ideas.

Here's my thoughts on the schedule format:

At least 1 set of home and home games with every team (not necessarily back to back) in the league, for a total of 58 games (29 teams X2).

In addition to this, 1 extra game against every intra-conference team for a total of 14 extra games (rotate from back and forth, from year to year the home team for these).

In addition to this, 3 extra games against divisional opponents for a total of 12 extra games (4 teams X3).

58 league-wide games

14 additional conference games to the league games

12 additional divisional games to the conference games

-----------------------------

84 game schedule.

This would mean 6 games against divisional opponents, 3 games against the other teams in your conference, outside your division, and 2 games against the teams in the other conference.

I think this woud keep the higher number of divisonal teams, like the league wants, but give a home and home series for every team, which nearly every fan would want...

As far as playoffs, I really don't have a huge preference, but I don't like the current format. I would like to go to some form of divisonal format. Make a bye if needed i order to work things out...

edit: clarity

Edited January 9, 2009 by CdnWingsFanEh

[VM1138 1,921]

I don't really care to see any Eastern teams except for a select few. The West is where the best hockey is played, and let the rivalries develop there. Basically, I'd only really want to see the Wings play Original Six teams, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Philadelphia, the Islanders (always had a soft spot for them, even though they're terrible), and Washington.

I think instead of "each team plays such and such x number of times" we should go to a system where whoever picks the schedule aims for holding the best games. For example, Chicago-Detroit games are starting to awaken the old rivalry. So let's play 8 games versus them. Nashville, on the other hand, sucks: 1 or 2 games.

Sadly, I guess that can't happen because everything has to be fair and balanced.

[CenterIce 83]

Interesting ideas.

Here's my thoughts on the schedule format:

At least 1 set of home and home games with every team (not necessarily back to back) in the league, for a total of 58 games (29 teams X2).

In addition to this, 1 extra game against every intra-conference team for a total of 14 extra games (rotate from back and forth, from year to year the home team for these).

In addition to this, 3 extra games against divisional opponents for a total of 12 extra games (4 teams X3).

58 league-wide games

14 additional conference games to the league games

12 additional divisional games to the conference games

-----------------------------

84 game schedule.

This would mean 6 games against divisional opponents, 3 games against the other teams in your conference, outside your division, and 2 games against the teams in the other conference.

I think this woud keep the higher number of divisonal teams, like the league wants, but give a home and home series for every team, which nearly every fan would want...

As far as playoffs, I really don't have a huge preference, but I don't like the current format. I would like to go to some form of divisonal format. Make a bye if needed i order to work things out...

edit: clarity

Ken Holland tried to get an 84 game schedule, during the GM meetings last year, but they didn't want the extra games played.

[joshy207 156]

I'd rather see the league go back to 4 divisions and have divisional playoffs like they did in the mid-80s thru early-90s. Divisional playoff hockey was the best, and that's where the best rivalries were cemented. Plus, what's the point of even having divisions if you can go through the whole playoff without seeing a divisional opponent?

Here are my 4 divisions:

Smythe: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Phoenix, Colorado.

Norris: Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Toronto.

Patrick: Ottawa, Montreal, Boston, NY Rangers, NY Islanders, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington.

Adams: Florida, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Atlanta, Nashville, St Louis, Dallas.

The format for the Norris and Adams would be:

6x vs. own division (36 games)

2x vs. all other divisions (46 games)

82 game total

The format for the Smythe and Patrick would be:

2x vs. all other divisions (44 games)

5x vs. own division, plus 3 additional games inside division* (38 games)

82 game total

*Opponents for extra 3 games would be rotated evenly over a 7-year period.

Playoffs would then consist of, within each division, 1st vs. 4th and 2nd vs. 3rd, with the winners advancing to the Division Finals. Division winners would then be seeded 1-4 for Cup semifinal, winners advancing to the final.

[pjgj13 30]

My idea would be to have a home and home against each team in the east (30 games), 3 games against the 10 other teams in the conference (30 games) and 6 games against each team in division (24 games) This would give us 84 games.

The playoffs would be done similar to the NCAA bracket for March Madness (off last season's final standings):

#1 DET vs. #16 NAS

#8 DAL vs. #9 NYR

#5 ANA vs. #12 OTT

#4 PIT vs. #13 BOS

#6 NJ vs. #11 PHI

#3 MON vs. #14 CAL

#7 MIN vs. #10 COL

#2 SJ vs. #15 CAR

So the winner of #1-#16 would play the winner of #8-#9. The winner of #5-#12 would play the winner of #4-#13 and so on. This way, the top 4 teams could not play one another until the "conference finals". There would be no reseeding either. Also, winning you division does not guarantee a top 6 spot as many years, the worst division winner would barely make it in (SE division almost every year). This would make it a better chance of seeing the top 2 teams in the finals vs in the conference finals.

[Hank 0]

With the season half over, I thought I'd bring up the subject of the NHL schedule and playoff format.

Even though the league has done a little better job with the schedule, I believe it can be better. I personally would like to have the opportunity to see each team every year.

I would propose that outside of the division, you play a home and road game against each team, a total of 50 games. That would ensure that the East would have to make some trips to the West coast. ( The Wings would only play once in L.A., S.J., etc.) You would then play each team in your division 8 times, 32 games. I know seeing Nashville and Columbus 4 times at home isn't the greatest, but at least we'd see all of the East teams, and still have some "rivalries". It would also even out the schedule for the playoff format I would like to see.

Back in the late 70s and early 80s, the league went to a tournament style playoff format. The #1 seed would play #16, #2/#15 and so on. In the new format, the 6 division winners would get the top 6 spots, so the division would still mean something. Again, some east coast teams would play west coast teams.

As of this morning, the first round would look like this: #1 Boston vs. #16 Florida, #2 San Jose vs. #15 Phoenix, #3 Detroit vs. #14 Buffalo, #4 Washington vs. #13 Carolina, #5 Calgary vs. #12 Anaheim, #6 Philadelphia vs. #11 Vancouver, #7 Montreal vs. #10 New Jersey, #8 Chicago vs. #9 New York Rangers. Assuming the Wings beat Buffalo, they may play Montreal in Rd. 2, or Philadelphia, or maybe Vancouver.

As a hockey fan, I think this would add more excitement and anticipation to the playoffs.

I've always liked this format. The simple reason why it won't happen is because of travel expenses. It's for that same reason we have the divisional format we have now.

If anything I'd love to go back to 2 divisions per conference with the top 4 making the playoffs in each.

But I love the 1-16 seeding. It would give a lot more weight to winning the President's Trophy that's for sure.

Detroit-Buffalo? How fun would that look? Awesome!

[CdnWingsFanEh 2]

Ken Holland tried to get an 84 game schedule, during the GM meetings last year, but they didn't want the extra games played.

Aw crap! Why do I always get it stuck in my head there are 84 games, when there is 82? I think it's b/c that's what I think would make it work better...

[TheOwl 77]

I like the East-West format for the first 2 play off rounds. But it would be good to see the top surviving team in the West play the lowest ranked team in the East, and vis versa, in the final four. It wouldn't be a huge radical change.

Also to take into account, if the finals were between two Eastern teams, would West fans even watch? I wouldn't watch Boston play Buffalo in the finals. I always cheer for the Western team, unless Washington somehow makes it through. The system now is pretty solid and doesn't really disclude an entire conference.