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Around the League - 2024-2025 Part II

Boston being last in the east is crazy. I know theyve been in free fall since the back half of last season but still... Didnt expect them to end up this low. Might end up with the kid thats playing there locally now.

Probably less likely for any reunion with Marchand too.
 
leafsfan5 said:
? Tampa losing alone makes this a win
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The playoff chase is already tainted and it looks like the playoffs might be as well. Why anyone would want that team out east in the Cup hunt is beyond me. Even a 1 % chance of them winning is too high when zero is an option.
 
William Johnson said:
I'm not sure if this is the right thread for this post, so apologies if I've got it wrong. Also, given the length of my ramblings, obviously feel free to ignore, as it's just my thoughts after watching/reading reports about possible impending NHL expansion. I've had some free time this morning.

As you can see below, I've decided to play NHL Commissioner and reorganise the league's divisions, regular season and playoff formats with a decidely pro-Canadian slant, admittedly.

Thanks in advance for any feedback/critiques!

Canadian Conference:

Montreal
Ottawa
Toronto
Winnipeg
Edmonton
Calgary
Vancouver
New: Quebec City

American East Conference:

Northeast Division:

Boston
Buffalo
NYR
NYI
New Jersey
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia

Southeast Division:

Washington
Carolina
Columbus
Nashville
Florida
Tampa
New: Atlanta

American West Conference:

Mid-West Division:

Detroit
Chicago
Minnesota
St Louis
Colorado
Dallas
New: Houston

Southwest Division:

Colorado
Utah
Seattle
San Jose
Los Angeles
Anaheim
New: Arizona

New format for Regular Season and Playoffs:

Regular Season:

1. 84 games: 42 home/away for each NHL team.

2. Each Canadian team plays the other 7 Canadian teams 8 times (four home and four away) for a total of 56 games. Canadian teams each play one game against each of the 28 American teams, half at home and half in the USA. This gives Canadian teams 42 home/away games. More thought is needed as to how to choose which American teams have to travel to Canada, but is partially worked out below.

3. Firstly, as mentioned above, each American team has one game against each Canadian team (four home and four away). In each of the American divisions, each team plays the other 6 teams in their division 6 times (three at home and three away). Unfortunately, this does not work perfectly to allow each American team to play each of the remaining 21 American teams twice; so to make it more or less balanced, then, each American team plays the other 7 teams in its conference 3 times and the 14 teams in the other conference on a season-to-season rotation: one year, they play twice against each team in one division and once against the other then swapping the next year. This adds up to 84 games and an algorithm can work out the home/away balance.

Playoffs:

1. Byes/Automatic Playoff Entry: The 2 top Canadian teams automatically qualify for the Playoffs. The 4 American Division winners also earn automatic byes.

2. Play-in Tournament: In all 5 divisions, the next 4 seeds compete in a two-round Play-in tournament: the first round is a wildcard style winner-takes-all single game, the second round is best of three. Highest seed plays lowest in round one; in round two, the higher seed has home ice in games 1 and 3 (if needed). Each division will therefore then have 2 teams make it to the Playoffs.

3. 6 Bye teams plus 10 winners from the Play-ins therefore make the 16 teams for the Playoffs, which keeps the current 7-game round structure to determine the Cup winner. Seeding to be determined across all divisions based on regular season point totals etc. rather than retaining any of the division-based seedings we currently have and which most have grown tired of, arguably.

Reasoning:

1. The number one reason for this format is that it is meant to address some of the competitive disadvantages that Canadian teams face. It also would likely be popular in Canada, as arguably proven by the Covid season of the Canadian Division. Also, it's possible that the current political climate would only add to the appeal of having a partially independent Canadian 'league of our own'. In the format listed above, 6 out of 8 Canadian teams are either in or have a shot at the Playoffs, too. Lastly, returning the Nordiques to the league seems like a long overdue move to make and instantly rejuvenates a famous rivalry with the Habs.

2. The NHL needs to create a more exciting playoff format and has eyed some of the gimmicks the other major leagues have been doing, like wildcards, byes, play-ins etc. having already tried the latter a few years ago during Covid. Winner-takes-all wildcard games are like instant Game 7s and short, best-of 3 series are arguably more likely to produce surprises and upsets, too. In the 4 American divisions, 5 out of 7 teams are either in or have a shot at the playoffs. League-wide, only 10 out of 35 teams do not qualify for the Play-in/Playoff rounds.

3 The driver for NHL expansion, it appears, is the desire to greatly increase revenues and market share in the USA, along with the billions that come with an expansion franchise. There's much justifiable cynicism about a third attempt at a franchise in Atlanta but reports make it seem inevitable, along with Houston and a return to Arizona at some point, so those have been chosen as the likely expansion sites (along with the nostalgic choice of Quebec). Adding big American markets seems unavoidable but perhaps a new system like this could regenerate interest rather than simply diluting a product which is arguably already spread a bit thin.

4. Lastly, if this realignment is not deemed enough to rebalance the competitive disadvantage that Canadian teams have, perhaps there could be an adjustment to the salary cap/floor for Canadian teams, allowing them to pay their players a bit more than American teams overall, if they wished. I don't have a very good grasp of the intricacies of the tax landscape league-wide and the impact on salaries but would like to think this could be worked out by some big brains.
Click to expand...
What competitive disadvantage do the Canadian teams have?

Under this system they might have a disadvantage attracting FAs.
 
William Johnson said:
I'm not sure if this is the right thread for this post, so apologies if I've got it wrong. Also, given the length of my ramblings, obviously feel free to ignore, as it's just my thoughts after watching/reading reports about possible impending NHL expansion. I've had some free time this morning.

As you can see below, I've decided to play NHL Commissioner and reorganise the league's divisions, regular season and playoff formats with a decidely pro-Canadian slant, admittedly.

Thanks in advance for any feedback/critiques!

Canadian Conference:

Montreal
Ottawa
Toronto
Winnipeg
Edmonton
Calgary
Vancouver
New: Quebec City

American East Conference:

Northeast Division:

Boston
Buffalo
NYR
NYI
New Jersey
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia

Southeast Division:

Washington
Carolina
Columbus
Nashville
Florida
Tampa
New: Atlanta

American West Conference:

Mid-West Division:

Detroit
Chicago
Minnesota
St Louis
Colorado
Dallas
New: Houston

Southwest Division:

Colorado
Utah
Seattle
San Jose
Los Angeles
Anaheim
New: Arizona

New format for Regular Season and Playoffs:

Regular Season:

1. 84 games: 42 home/away for each NHL team.

2. Each Canadian team plays the other 7 Canadian teams 8 times (four home and four away) for a total of 56 games. Canadian teams each play one game against each of the 28 American teams, half at home and half in the USA. This gives Canadian teams 42 home/away games. More thought is needed as to how to choose which American teams have to travel to Canada, but is partially worked out below.

3. Firstly, as mentioned above, each American team has one game against each Canadian team (four home and four away). In each of the American divisions, each team plays the other 6 teams in their division 6 times (three at home and three away). Unfortunately, this does not work perfectly to allow each American team to play each of the remaining 21 American teams twice; so to make it more or less balanced, then, each American team plays the other 7 teams in its conference 3 times and the 14 teams in the other conference on a season-to-season rotation: one year, they play twice against each team in one division and once against the other then swapping the next year. This adds up to 84 games and an algorithm can work out the home/away balance.

Playoffs:

1. Byes/Automatic Playoff Entry: The 2 top Canadian teams automatically qualify for the Playoffs. The 4 American Division winners also earn automatic byes.

2. Play-in Tournament: In all 5 divisions, the next 4 seeds compete in a two-round Play-in tournament: the first round is a wildcard style winner-takes-all single game, the second round is best of three. Highest seed plays lowest in round one; in round two, the higher seed has home ice in games 1 and 3 (if needed). Each division will therefore then have 2 teams make it to the Playoffs.

3. 6 Bye teams plus 10 winners from the Play-ins therefore make the 16 teams for the Playoffs, which keeps the current 7-game round structure to determine the Cup winner. Seeding to be determined across all divisions based on regular season point totals etc. rather than retaining any of the division-based seedings we currently have and which most have grown tired of, arguably.

Reasoning:

1. The number one reason for this format is that it is meant to address some of the competitive disadvantages that Canadian teams face. It also would likely be popular in Canada, as arguably proven by the Covid season of the Canadian Division. Also, it's possible that the current political climate would only add to the appeal of having a partially independent Canadian 'league of our own'. In the format listed above, 6 out of 8 Canadian teams are either in or have a shot at the Playoffs, too. Lastly, returning the Nordiques to the league seems like a long overdue move to make and instantly rejuvenates a famous rivalry with the Habs.

2. The NHL needs to create a more exciting playoff format and has eyed some of the gimmicks the other major leagues have been doing, like wildcards, byes, play-ins etc. having already tried the latter a few years ago during Covid. Winner-takes-all wildcard games are like instant Game 7s and short, best-of 3 series are arguably more likely to produce surprises and upsets, too. In the 4 American divisions, 5 out of 7 teams are either in or have a shot at the playoffs. League-wide, only 10 out of 35 teams do not qualify for the Play-in/Playoff rounds.

3 The driver for NHL expansion, it appears, is the desire to greatly increase revenues and market share in the USA, along with the billions that come with an expansion franchise. There's much justifiable cynicism about a third attempt at a franchise in Atlanta but reports make it seem inevitable, along with Houston and a return to Arizona at some point, so those have been chosen as the likely expansion sites (along with the nostalgic choice of Quebec). Adding big American markets seems unavoidable but perhaps a new system like this could regenerate interest rather than simply diluting a product which is arguably already spread a bit thin.

4. Lastly, if this realignment is not deemed enough to rebalance the competitive disadvantage that Canadian teams have, perhaps there could be an adjustment to the salary cap/floor for Canadian teams, allowing them to pay their players a bit more than American teams overall, if they wished. I don't have a very good grasp of the intricacies of the tax landscape league-wide and the impact on salaries but would like to think this could be worked out by some big brains.
Click to expand...
I feel kind of bad for being so dismissive of an idea that you clearly put some time and thought into, but honestly, any alignment with a division covering four time zones simply sucks. And my favourite team playing in such a division would only make it suck even more.

That alone would already offset any advantage over the current alignment IMO.
 
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Nineteen67 said:
What competitive disadvantage do the Canadian teams have?

Under this system they might have a disadvantage attracting FAs.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. Fair enough: I guess I shouldn't have sounded like I assumed that everyone would agree with (or even know about) the concept that Canadian teams are at a competitive disadvantage.

I'm far from an expert, obviously, but I do think it's probably fair to say that there's some consensus among pundits/journalists I'm aware of that Canadian teams are disadvantaged comparatively by the financial constraints in Canadian markets such as higher taxes, cost of living (not sure about exchange rates given players are paid in US dollars?) etc.

As for your second point, I guess I don't really see how it would make it more unappealing for potential free agents? If they're already less likely to sign with Canadian teams, I mean, what about this new system makes signing MORE unlikely? I'm not saying it doesn't...these are all just fanciful musings, of course.
 
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DarkKnight said:
We really control our own destiny now. Love it.
Click to expand...
They have two challenges that they need to overcome, one much more important than the other, to prove to themselves they can win.
1. Win the division. Not because of 1st round opponent, but to achieve something rather than falling just short.
2. Get Marner to 100 points if he’s close enough. This is secondary by a mile, but we saw how important it was to them the last time he was close and how important 70 was last year. The important thing is not to change how they play, but like winning the division they need positive results.
Chase the demons, so to speak.
 
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One of the reasons I like a matchup against OTT is their lack of playoff experience amongst their young players.
McCabe made a great point after his first playoff series with us, in that he was shocked at the overall intensity and physicality of the playoffs, Saying that you hear about it all the time but until you actually play in it, you just don't fully understand the level of desperation. I actually rate their young players pretty well but it wouldn't be shocking to see them struggle their first time.
 
William Johnson said:
As for your second point, I guess I don't really see how it would make it more unappealing for potential free agents?
Click to expand...

Players would be extremely reluctant to sign with a club that plays in a division that requires that level of travel.

It would be a huge disadvantage to have teams in your division spanning so many different time zones. Clubs in your proposed "Canadian Division" would have a nightmare travel schedule compared to the other clubs and players would absolutely want to avoid that kind of situation if they could.
 
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William Johnson said:
Thanks for the reply. Fair enough: I guess I shouldn't have sounded like I assumed that everyone would agree with (or even know about) the concept that Canadian teams are at a competitive disadvantage.

I'm far from an expert, obviously, but I do think it's probably fair to say that there's some consensus among pundits/journalists I'm aware of that Canadian teams are disadvantaged comparatively by the financial constraints in Canadian markets such as higher taxes, cost of living (not sure about exchange rates given players are paid in US dollars?) etc.

As for your second point, I guess I don't really see how it would make it more unappealing for potential free agents? If they're already less likely to sign with Canadian teams, I mean, what about this new system makes signing MORE unlikely? I'm not saying it doesn't...these are all just fanciful musings, of course.
Click to expand...
I’m still not sure how this balances any perceived competitive disadvantage, but what about Cal, NY, NJ, DC with over 10% state income tax, not too mention the other taxes? With the 25% difference in the dollar getting paid n US dollars and spending in Canadian should offset any perceived tax advantage.

I wonder what effect it would have on the the US born players spending the majority of their time in Canada consistently travelling in three time zones and only playing in their home state just once per year?

Would it make trading players between the division more difficult?

It’s all moot if the cap rises as expected, because there will be a lot of teams not able to hit the ceiling.
 
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weems said:
One of the reasons I like a matchup against OTT is their lack of playoff experience amongst their young players.
McCabe made a great point after his first playoff series with us, in that he was shocked at the overall intensity and physicality of the playoffs, Saying that you hear about it all the time but until you actually play in it, you just don't fully understand the level of desperation. I actually rate their young players pretty well but it wouldn't be shocking to see them struggle their first time.
Click to expand...
From my perspective, this is the reason the Leafs will beat ottawa pretty easily. Similar to what happened to Washington last year against the Rangers (and why Washington should be a better playoff team this year).
 
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Evilhomer said:
From my perspective, this is the reason the Leafs will beat ottawa pretty easily. Similar to what happened to Washington last year against the Rangers (and why Washington should be a better playoff team this year).
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I’m not convinced Washington will be a good playoff team because of the energy they’re spending on the Ovie chase.
 
FerrisRox said:
Players would be extremely reluctant to sign with a club that plays in a division that requires that level of travel.

It would be a huge disadvantage to have teams in your division spanning so many different time zones. Clubs in your proposed "Canadian Division" would have a nightmare travel schedule compared to the other clubs and players would absolutely want to avoid that kind of situation if they could.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. That's a pretty good point and something I completely overlooked.
 
Nineteen67 said:
I’m still not sure how this balances any perceived competitive disadvantage, but what about Cal, NY, NJ, DC with over 10% state income tax, not too mention the other taxes? With the 25% difference in the dollar getting paid n US dollars and spending in Canadian should offset any perceived tax advantage.

I wonder what effect it would have on the the US born players spending the majority of their time in Canada consistently travelling in three time zones and only playing in their home state just once per year?

Would it make trading players between the division more difficult?

It’s all moot if the cap rises as expected, because there will be a lot of teams not able to hit the ceiling.
Click to expand...
Some more good points. I still think I'd like to see some sort of consideration given to Canadian teams hamstrung by the tax disparities, but as you say, perhaps the proposed big rises in the salary cap over the next few years might lessen the pain somewhat at least for big spending teams like the Leafs.

Thanks for the civil conversation!
 
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555Upstairs said:
I feel kind of bad for being so dismissive of an idea that you clearly put some time and thought into, but honestly, any alignment with a division covering four time zones simply sucks. And my favourite team playing in such a division would only make it suck even more.

That alone would already offset any advantage over the current alignment IMO.
Click to expand...

It would be interesting to see how many games would be played in each time zone compared to the current schedule.

Adding Quebec adds another "local" timezone.
Winnipeg same as Dallas, St. Louis.
Edmonton, Calgary same as Nevada, Colorado, ...
End up with Vancouver same as San Jose, Anaheim, LA, Seattle

Curious about the facts here, not the first impression.

Do we care if we see San Jose, Anaheim, Seattle and LA every year?
 
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ULF_55 said:
It would be interesting to see how many games would be played in each time zone compared to the current schedule.

Adding Quebec adds another "local" timezone.
Winnipeg same as Dallas, St. Louis.
Edmonton, Calgary same as Nevada, Colorado, ...
End up with Vancouver same as San Jose, Anaheim, LA, Seattle

Curious about the facts here, not the first impression.

Do we care if we see San Jose, Anaheim, Seattle and LA every year?
Click to expand...
Quebec does not add another “local” time zone to Winnipeg, Vancouver, Edmonton, or Calgary.
 
Pretty wild that literally everything is working out for the Leafs right now. Detroit beating Carolina would allow the Leafs to stay ahead of Carolina, which will be important for home ice purposes if Carolina ends up in the conference final.
 
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