Sources say NHL to drop divisional-heavy format

[Ebenezer]

The NHL will never get it...obstruction is up and now this?? They don't want to improve the game for the fans...it was a stunt to bring fans back...as soon as they saw what happened to salaries they turtled...the Sabres better win it all this year - the old NHL is on it's way.

DALLAS -- The NHL's board of governors will meet here Tuesday morning and sources indicate the league will put to bed the thorny of issue of its schedule by returning next season to the pre-lockout format.


That would see teams drop from the current eight divisional games to six, with four games against each conference opponent outside the division. Each team would then play each team in the other conference at least once, more depending on traditional rivalries.


If the schedule issue is indeed resolved, there will be much rejoicing throughout hockey that such a ponderous topic will be put to rest at least until next season, when GMs and coaches complain that all the out-of-conference games are diluting the product.


The schedule issue was debated back in early December, when the board last met in Palm Beach, Fla. It was then believed that 27 teams wanted some change and did not want to see more divisional play. That sentiment was especially strong in the West, where it was believed the East teams enjoyed an easier travel schedule.


The Eastern teams were also perceived to have cornered the market on marketable young stars such as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and Thomas Vanek of the Buffalo Sabres.


Many believed that the pre-lockout format would boost attendance for those West teams who don't get to market such big stars as often as East teams.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2739579

[LtFinFan66]

Re: Sources say NHL to drop divisional-heavy format

If they want interest back in the game they need bra-less cheerleaders skating around the ice

[Mitchy moo]

Re: Sources say NHL to drop divisional-heavy format

If they want interest back in the game they need bra-less cheerleaders skating around the ice

Hockey will end up being the most popular sport on the planet, right after the ice age.

[Earthquake Enyart]

Re: Sources say NHL to drop divisional-heavy format

The Canadians want to see Sidney Crosby.

Problem is that they haven't realized that they are going to see Nashville and Columbus too.

[eyedog]

Re: Sources say NHL to drop divisional-heavy format

If they let the obstruction back into the game the league will head right back into the gutter.

[mchurchfie]

Re: Sources say NHL to drop divisional-heavy format

If they let the obstruction back into the game the league will head right back into the gutter.

It has already eased it's way back into the game. I don't mind them changing the schedule format, I'm getting tired of Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto beating us up lately.

[RockStar36]

Re: Sources say NHL to drop divisional-heavy format

I think they are doing it so everyone gets to see the good teams. You guys can't honestly say you wouldn't want to see Buffalo and Anaheim face off sometime before June.

[Earthquake Enyart]

Re: Sources say NHL to drop divisional-heavy format

I think they are doing it so everyone gets to see the good teams. You guys can't honestly say you wouldn't want to see Buffalo and Anaheim face off sometime before June.

You gonna buy tickets for Nashville or Columbus?

[RockStar36]

Re: Sources say NHL to drop divisional-heavy format

I would for Nashville. Right now they are the best team in the league and a good matchup. Columbus? Probably not. But it goes w/ the territory of this kind of scheduling.

[Michael82]

Re: Sources say NHL to drop divisional-heavy format

I think they are doing it so everyone gets to see the good teams. You guys can't honestly say you wouldn't want to see Buffalo and Anaheim face off sometime before June.

I agree. I think that this schedule would have worked better if they split the games apart a bit. But they have Buffalo playing Carolina all in the beginning of the year and nothing after. It was loaded in some places and not balanced enough. by adding more teams to the mix, we will be able to see a change of pace and see how our team can do against Nashville, or Anaheim.

[RockStar36]

Re: Sources say NHL to drop divisional-heavy format

I think when making a schedule for all the teams there is bound to be screw ups all over the place. Maybe they were a little to excited to have Buffalo and Carolina re-match that they loaded up those games early on.

[Earthquake Enyart]

Re: Sources say NHL to drop divisional-heavy format

I agree. I think that this schedule would have worked better if they split the games apart a bit. But they have Buffalo playing Carolina all in the beginning of the year and nothing after. It was loaded in some places and not balanced enough. by adding more teams to the mix, we will be able to see a change of pace and see how our team can do against Nashville, or Anaheim.

You're going to have home games against teams that you don't want to see.

The way the schedule is now minimizes this.

[RockStar36]

Re: Sources say NHL to drop divisional-heavy format

But you'll also have home games against teams we don't get to see.

[chernobylwraiths]

Re: Sources say NHL to drop divisional-heavy format

I can't post the link, but the NHL decided against changing the schedule. It is on ESPN.

[Earthquake Enyart]

Re: Sources say NHL to drop divisional-heavy format

Good.