That’s better for sure. Would really hope the nhl could make their schedule layout better. Like wrap up all out of conference games by say Feb 1. Out of division by March 1. Then all divisional play for final couple weeks or even sooner then that. Give teams a chance to make a run in the standings
I love thinking about expansion. 6x6 feels right. They can probably get rid of these divisional playoff matchups which lead to huge disparity in the first and even second round.
Each division 5x (30 games)
Rest of conference 3x (36 games)
Out of conference 1x (18 games)
Make the regular season 84 - I don’t like extending the season because I love stats and this ruins it but 82 is by no means a sacred number and 2 games on 82 barely moves the needle.
Let’s say expansion ends up being Quebec, Atlanta, Houston, and Phoenix
Atlantic: NJ, NYR, NYI, PHI, PIT, CBJ
Southeast: CAR, ATL, FLA, TBL, WAS, NSH
Northeast: BOS, BUF, QBC, MTL, TOR, OTT
Central: STL, CHI, MIN, DET, WIN, COL
Southwest: PHX, DAL, HOU, LAK, ANA, VEG
Northwest: CGY, VAN, SEA, UTA, EDM, SJS
I wish I could’ve fit Colorado and Utah in the same division but it was too tricky. Also weird that San Jose is not in the division with the rest of California but given it’s a 6 hour drive away I think it’s reasonable.