NHL/PA Discussing earlier season start

[Mightygoose]

NHL, PA discuss starting season earlier | TSN

The National Hockey League and NHLPA have had very preliminary discussions on what a new calendar could look like, including starting the regular season earlier, according to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun.

www.tsn.ca

If happening won't be in effect until the next CBA. Possible changes.

Start season first week in October.
Award cup in early June
Reduce pre season to 4 games.
Increase regular season to 84 games.

I'm not opposed to either of these changes. Late June to July 1 is too compressed right now.

Click to read more...

 

[DaBadGuy7]

NHL, PA discuss starting season earlier | TSN

The National Hockey League and NHLPA have had very preliminary discussions on what a new calendar could look like, including starting the regular season earlier, according to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun.

www.tsn.ca

If happening won't be in effect until the next CBA. Possible changes.

Start season first week in October.
Award cup in early June
Reduce pre season to 4 games.
Increase regular season to 84 games.

I'm not opposed to either of these changes. Late June to July 1 is too compressed right now.

This is incumbent on whether ESPN opts out of their deal with MLB and if they are ok with SCF starting close to end of the NBA Conference Finals. I could see the season starting earlier, but I imagine ESPN/ABC likes having NBA Finals and SCF in the same time period. So I’m skeptical of this report, this seems more like LeBrun wanting this more than it being a realistic report imo.

 

[rojac]

This is incumbent on whether ESPN opts out of their deal with MLB and if they are ok with SCF starting close to end of the NBA Conference Finals. I could see the season starting earlier, but I imagine ESPN/ABC likes having NBA Finals and SCF in the same time period. So I’m skeptical of this report, this seems more like LeBrun wanting this more than it being a realistic report imo.

What f they started the NHL season a week and a half earlier (the same weekend as the end of the MLB season)?

 

[DaBadGuy7]

What f they started the NHL season a week and a half earlier (the same weekend as the end of the MLB season)?

Wouldn’t work as long as ESPN maintains SNB and Wild Card series after 2025. They wouldn’t have the time slots to air the NHL games. That’s why this report seems more on what LeBrun wants than it being realistic imo. The TV networks have a big hand in the schedule with respect to CBA.

 

[eojsmada]

Only reason to increase games to 84 is if you are expecting expansion. Otherwise, the NHL is just overworking its players for less money. It would be like your favorite brand of peanut butter in a brand new package but instead of the 16oz jar you get a 12oz for the same price.

 

[GKJ]

They should be pushing the off-season back. The final ending when it did was clearly to their benefit. This is a business.

 

[WaW]

These are very underwhelming changes when there bigger fish to fry regarding balancing/fairness. Like I get it, but as a fan it's just irritating that these two parties won't focus on fixing the league structure and balance.

 

[jkrdevil]

This is incumbent on whether ESPN opts out of their deal with MLB and if they are ok with SCF starting close to end of the NBA Conference Finals. I could see the season starting earlier, but I imagine ESPN/ABC likes having NBA Finals and SCF in the same time period. So I’m skeptical of this report, this seems more like LeBrun wanting this more than it being a realistic report imo.

It could happen. This is basically the schedule from the NBC days. Maybe move game 1 of the Final to the Tuesday following Memorial Day (when the calendar falls right) to avoid conflict with the NBA Conference Final given there is no early move up there anymore so that day is available.

But this sounds a lot like ESPN dumping baseball and TNT losing the NBA creating flexibility. But I can’t imagine a Canadian reporter to look past the trees for the forest to see that.

 

[jkrdevil]

I’ll also note that I believe the year this would go into effect (with a new cba) would also be the first year of ESPN opts out of MLB.

Although if ESPN opts out of MLB the network picking up those rights will likely be TNT/TBS expanding their MLB rights as they will need SNB and WC round to help keep their transmission fees.

But given ESPN has the NHL A right and opening Night rights that can probably be worked around with TNT getting a letter start and ESPN getting more opening week games.

 

[rojac]

Only reason to increase games to 84 is if you are expecting expansion. Otherwise, the NHL is just overworking its players for less money. It would be like your favorite brand of peanut butter in a brand new package but instead of the 16oz jar you get a 12oz for the same price.

The proposed idea did cut back preseason games to 4.

One minor thing that 84 games is even out the schedule matrix a bit.

32 (16 x 2) games against the other conference
24 (8 x 3) games against the other division in your conference
28 (7 x 4) games against your own division

Currently, teams only play 3 games against 2 of the teams in their own division.

 

[rojac]

Wouldn’t work as long as ESPN maintains SNB and Wild Card series after 2025. They wouldn’t have the time slots to air the NHL games. That’s why this report seems more on what LeBrun wants than it being realistic imo. The TV networks have a big hand in the schedule with respect to CBA.

I think ESPN cares more about making a big deal about opening night than having lots of games opening week.

If you moved the NHL opening day to the last Saturday of the MLB season, ESPN could do 4 NHL games that day. Does ESPN do a Sunday night game on the last weekend? If they do, it's 3pm ET start because that's when all games on the last day start. So they could also do a Sunday night NHL game if they wanted, but more likely, you would see TNT doing a 2 or 3 game day on the Sunday. And since the Wild Card games don't start until Tuesday, ESPN could also do an NHL game on Monday night. The following Saturday would be the next slot available on ESPN proper but they could do an ESPN+ exclusive game on Wednesday or something but even if they went from Monday until Saturday without an NHL game, that's not too bad.

 

[DaBadGuy7]

I think ESPN cares more about making a big deal about opening night than having lots of games opening week.

If you moved the NHL opening day to the last Saturday of the MLB season, ESPN could do 4 NHL games that day. Does ESPN do a Sunday night game on the last weekend? If they do, it's 3pm ET start because that's when all games on the last day start. So they could also do a Sunday night NHL game if they wanted, but more likely, you would see TNT doing a 2 or 3 game day on the Sunday. And since the Wild Card games don't start until Tuesday, ESPN could also do an NHL game on Monday night. The following Saturday would be the next slot available on ESPN proper but they could do an ESPN+ exclusive game on Wednesday or something but even if they went from Monday until Saturday without an NHL game, that's not too bad.

There is no chance ESPN is putting any NHL
games on Saturday during the college football season in the fall.

 

[rojac]

There is no chance ESPN is putting any NHL
games on Saturday during the college football season in the fall.

Fair enough. I wasn't thinking about College Football.

 

[StreetHawk]

Fair enough. I wasn't thinking about College Football.

NCAAF is also a challenge for the NHL. That's why there are basically no afternoon NHL games in the fall. That starts up after NCAAF is completed their regular seasons by like early Dec.

NHL doesn't factor it in, but an earlier start and finish helps the on ice product with regards to ice quality. You have southern markets where June gets really hot and the ice machines can only do so much with high 20's Celsius or 90 F outside and 18K fans in the building. Even the NE US experienced a heat wave near what would have been the final couple of games of the finals so even up north, wouldn't get much better. Saw in that SB with KC/Phi, a wet field impacted part of the game. Limits passing and makes getting a lead more valuable.

 

[coolboarder]

If the NHLPA wants to push the season starting earlier, they would have to agree that scrapping the 5-days rest in February of 2026 or February of 2027 in order for the season to end earlier at a reasonable timeframe and have the league starting their season at end of September by 2 weeks of current start date. Or reduce the season from 82 games to 78 games. Then the year after, they can have their own 5 days of rest and SCF game 7 would have been on Memorial Day weekend and maintain their 82-game schedule. Right now, there is no way for any earlier start of the season with the way the schedule has been released. The earlier they can start is in 2027-28 season due to the participation of Olympic in 2025-26 season and no way they'd agree to push the start in 2026-27 unless they implement a 78 game schedule and/or scrap the 5 days/all star in 2026-27 season. We are stuck in this type of schedule for at least 3 more seasons for one following reason, they need a proper off-season for the Cup Champion and the finalist as well.

 

[voyageur]

NCAAF is also a challenge for the NHL. That's why there are basically no afternoon NHL games in the fall. That starts up after NCAAF is completed their regular seasons by like early Dec.

NHL doesn't factor it in, but an earlier start and finish helps the on ice product with regards to ice quality. You have southern markets where June gets really hot and the ice machines can only do so much with high 20's Celsius or 90 F outside and 18K fans in the building. Even the NE US experienced a heat wave near what would have been the final couple of games of the finals so even up north, wouldn't get much better. Saw in that SB with KC/Phi, a wet field impacted part of the game. Limits passing and makes getting a lead more valuable.

The 2nd paragraph is bang on...Realistically the Panthers could have lost game 7 because Tkachuk lost an edge on awful ice, took out a player as a consequence...that had to be the worst ice conditions I have ever seen in a Stanley Cup final. More Southern teams more likely the ice becomes a factor in the playoffs. Even Edmonton as summer approaches started to show signs of bad ice, and Edmonton is notoriously the best ice in hockey. I mean the actual product you are putting out should be important, that can easily become a player safety issue, not just network schedules... How hard is it to work around them...Big American networks forever wouldn't touch hockey until NFL regular season was over.

Starting one week earlier and finishing two weeks earlier in a condensed schedule is attainable. Even with 84 games...NBA starts later, finishes earlier now. Longer playoffs too.

 

[GKJ]

Discourse around ice conditions is overrated. That’s not going to change by moving the finals up 2 weeks. It always has more to do with other events going on.

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

NHL, PA discuss starting season earlier | TSN

The National Hockey League and NHLPA have had very preliminary discussions on what a new calendar could look like, including starting the regular season earlier, according to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun.

www.tsn.ca

If happening won't be in effect until the next CBA. Possible changes.

Start season first week in October.
Award cup in early June
Reduce pre season to 4 games.
Increase regular season to 84 games.

I'm not opposed to either of these changes. Late June to July 1 is too compressed right now.

I'd go for Sept 25 start date for games same as some Junior Leagues in Canada...the rest I agree with you 100%

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

That Florida ice was pathetic and really factored in the game coming to a grinding halt after an exciting and wide open first period...should have ended up 6-5 Edmonton on good ice not the bore it turned out to be because of the pathetic ice conditions

 

[Albatros]

82 games sucks quality-wise, 84 will suck even more. Should be no more than one game against each team home and away. Or alternatively two within conference only.

 

[x Tame Impala]

These are very underwhelming changes when there bigger fish to fry regarding balancing/fairness. Like I get it, but as a fan it's just irritating that these two parties won't focus on fixing the league structure and balance.

To each their own but I think when the season stars and stops is a big deal. Also lessening the amount of preseason games is a big move as well.

What are these bigger fish that need frying in your eyes?

 

[StreetHawk]

Discourse around ice conditions is overrated. That’s not going to change by moving the finals up 2 weeks. It always has more to do with other events going on.

Each building will be different based on their event schedule. Panthers, for example, per their arena website had a total of 3 other events during their 4 round cup run (excluding their watch parties). Others, had like 3 other events going on during round 1. So, it does vary a lot between clubs.

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

82 games sucks quality-wise, 84 will suck even more. Should be no more than one game against each team home and away. Or alternatively two within conference only.

And lets start the season Sept 15th and be over by May 15th...and I'd like more outdoor games in Winter locales with 3/4 of the tickets being given away to low income families and kids...sorry I went off on a tangent

 

[varsaku]

82 games sucks quality-wise, 84 will suck even more. Should be no more than one game against each team home and away. Or alternatively two within conference only.

That would be the ideal scheduling having a home and away against each team for 62 game season. That way the president's trophy will truly be awarded to the best regular season team and not sometimes the ones with an easier schedule. Unfortunately that will never happen due to a huge drop in revenue with such a drastic schedule change.

 

[WaW]

To each their own but I think when the season stars and stops is a big deal. Also lessening the amount of preseason games is a big move as well.

What are these bigger fish that need frying in your eyes?

Need to do something about the pretty bad lack of parity and it being functionally way too hard to rebuild/retool with the restrictive systems in place (I.e. low and hard salary cap, uncompetitive free agency rules, the draft lottery being way too powerful combined with it being entirely luck based) compared to the other major leagues.

There are 9 teams with playoff droughts of 4+ seasons, that is *really* bad, regardless of how much blame you want to give to the franchises themselves (and either way, you have to admit it's WAY harder to rebuild in this sport) Baseball, a league with no cap at all and a complete crapshoot of a draft, only has 6 teams with 4+ year droughts. NFL and NBA only 4 teams each, with far less restrictive cap options and less powerful drafting systems...resulting in far fewer teams/fanbases in bleak, seemingly eternally painful situations

Only having those 16 spots occupied by merely 23 teams over 4 seasons is not a good thing, particularly when the league's models are based on gate revenues and you need to encourage people to pay to come to the games.

The NHL is the only league in the world the caters to the needs of its "small markets" (understanding that the context of what a small market is in hockey is different from what a small market may mean in different sports) ahead of its juggernauts. I fully understand why this is the case, as the growth the game has seen down south is astonishing, however at some point you need to reassess things to make sure the system is working for everyone, because it really isn't right now.

I'm not just complaining for the sake of complaining, I have some ideas myself, but you didn't ask so I'm not going to get into all of that lol.