Whiskeypete
Registered User
The regular season needs to be cut back to around 72 games. These guys are playing too much hockey, and a reduction from 82 to 72 games would give them an additional 3 weeks off in the off season.
It's not likely to happen though because the owners and the players won't give up the money that comes with the extra 10 games.
i've been an advocate for a shorter season for quite some time. take it down to 70-72 so the math works.
keep the 1 and 1 cross conference games. to me this isn't debatable, it helps grow the game by allowing fans in every city see every team
play the 3 or 4 games cross divisional within the conference. the remainder is played in division.
i wouldn't be opposed to seeing them also change the travel, so teams make less trips so the players get better rest. they seem to have improved on this the past few seasons. schedule teams in blocks of teams, ie - LA, ANH, SJ and PHX is a trip. VAN, CAL, EDM and COL are a trip. it won't always be perfect, but its better than a roadie that would be a trip to say BOS, NJ, NSH and MIN.
as you point out though the owners and players likely won't walk away from the money. the only way this possibly works is the reduced cost to the owners in salary, remains in line with current profit-ROI. for the players, the per game salary remains consistent. it still means the players and owners make less.