Calgary and Edmonton only play 3x this season. Is this enough evidence this schedule/division format needs an overhaul?

[Mr Positive]

The easy fix is to just add some more games, like an 84-86 season and put it all to divisional rival games

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Own division 8x 7 = 56
Interconference 2x 8= 16
Outside conference: 1x 8 = 8 (Alternate one conference each year equals 80 games)

Simple but puts emphasis on own division play and rivalries.

That's probably too extreme IMO. I also think the league(And I agree with them) really likes the idea of every team getting to see every team on home ice at least once.


I dont know for sure but I suspect there's analytical evidence done by the league that shows an increase in revenue by having Crosby play in Edmonton every single year. Or having Ovechkin play in Vancouver. Or McDavid in Toronto. etc. etc.

The easy fix is to just add some more games, like an 84-86 season and put it all to divisional rival games

Yeah I think that would be a good solution. I wouldn't be surprised if the league doesn't jump up to 84 games in the next few year. That would be the ideal number to run 4 games against all 7 opponents in your division, 3 games against the other 8 teams in your conference, and then a home/away with the 16 teams in the other conference. 28 + 24 + 32 games for a nice 84 game schedule.

Plus... Every team gets 1 extra home game of revenue. Cant imagine the owners complaining about that. The players maybe would complain but at the same time apparently they aren't happy being paid so much less compared to the other major North American sports, so maybe that additional revenue would be of interest for them for the sake of 1 more game on the road.

 

[CpatainCanuck]

Own division 8x 7 = 56
Interconference 2x 8= 16
Outside conference: 1x 8 = 8 (Alternate one conference each year equals 80 games)

Simple but puts emphasis on own division play and rivalries.

I think this is the worst scheduling proposal I’ve seen.

Let’s keep going though: how about 10x7 in your own division, 1x8 interconference, and play teams outside of your conference once every four years?

 

[Drij]

no, 3 games is fine. Remember when it was 8 games and everyone hated it.