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NHL realignment

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5 games vs. division = 15 games
3 games vs. the rest in your conference = 36
2 games against other conference = 32

Total = 83

Then you choose a single same conference team and you play that team only twice, home & away. Basically, I'd layout the schedule as if there were 83 games per team, and then find the extra away game your team has against a same conference team that would help out the most to get rid of in the interest of travel/scheduling.
 
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waitin425 said:
I apologize for the long winded post

I really hope the NHL takes a hard look realignment in the next GM meetings and bargaining with the NHLPA.

This is what I would like to see. I see benefits in this for the fans, as it creates more regional rivalries.

First off, I would start the season with a new starting weekend on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend in Canada. I am sick of pre-season hockey and there is nothing more I would want to see this weekend, then a Saturday night Habs vs Leafs game at 7 pm and a 10 pm Flames vs Oilers game, a Sunday filled with football and then Monday afternoon NHL action with Habs vs Boston at noon, Leafs vs Sens at 3 and westcoast games staggered in the afternoon before 830 NFL kickoff. Teams are ready to start anyways. We don't need any more pre-season action. Leftover turkey sandwiches and a day of sports is what I'm talking about. The season could still end where it does if we just started a few days earlier.

So on to the Divisions.

This would be the schedule for the Habs and shows their total games vs their Division, their Conference and the opposite conference. Substitute your team as necessary and follow the same format. In order to make the numbers work, teams play inter Division rivals the most, and then get matched up with another division within their conference for the second most games. I would match the Northeast/Metro, Southeast/Capital, Great Lakes/Midwest and Southwest/Northwest. Every team arena is visited by each team. Admittedly I struggled with Detroit moving over to Western Conference and away from Leafs and Habs as I see some rivalry history there, but decided this made the most sense for travel.

Another consideration was obviously travel. Poor NE and Metro teams don't get as many southern trips to the nice weather. But the limited travelling makes the most sense.

Eastern Conference

Northeast Division
Habs
Leafs - 6 games
Sens - 6 games
Bruins - 6 games

Southeast Division
Lightning - 2 games
Panthers - 2 games
Carolina - 2 games
Nashville - 2 games

Capital Division
Philly - 2 games
Pitts - 2 games
Columbus - 2 games
Washington - 2 games

Metro Division
Rangers - 4 games
Isles - 4 games
Jersey - 4 games
Sabres - 4 games

Western Conference

Great Lakes Division
Chicago - 2 games
Detroit - 2 games
Minnesota - 2 games
Winnipeg - 2 games

Midwest Division
St Louis - 2 games
Colorado - 2 games
Arizona/Houston - 2 games
Dallas - 2 games

***Sorry writing is on the wall for Arizona at this point. If they end up in Atlanta, Nashville stays in Midwest Division and Atlanta goes over to Southeast.....I like Detroit being matched up with Chicago for rivalry purpose. They also get Colorado for 4 games****

Southwest Division
San Jose - 2 games
LA - 2 games
Anaheim - 2 games
Vegas - 2 games

Northwest Division
Edmonton - 2 games
Calgary - 2 games
Vancouver - 2 games
Seattle - 2 games


Playoffs

Only 2 teams per division make the playoffs and they are ranked within their conference 1-8 based off points. Tie breakers starts with head to head and in case of further tie, goes to Division total points.

Bottom line for me. 3 games against the Laffs truly sucks this year as a Habs fan. The NHL needs to promote the current rivalries that exist within the sport.

Have at it everyone. Rip it apart.
View attachment 749525
Click to expand...

Wings back in West is all I need to say noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Finally got rid of all the extra 10 pm est games we don't want to go back to that.
 
waitin425 said:
I apologize for the long winded post

I really hope the NHL takes a hard look realignment in the next GM meetings and bargaining with the NHLPA.

This is what I would like to see. I see benefits in this for the fans, as it creates more regional rivalries.

First off, I would start the season with a new starting weekend on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend in Canada. I am sick of pre-season hockey and there is nothing more I would want to see this weekend, then a Saturday night Habs vs Leafs game at 7 pm and a 10 pm Flames vs Oilers game, a Sunday filled with football and then Monday afternoon NHL action with Habs vs Boston at noon, Leafs vs Sens at 3 and westcoast games staggered in the afternoon before 830 NFL kickoff. Teams are ready to start anyways. We don't need any more pre-season action. Leftover turkey sandwiches and a day of sports is what I'm talking about. The season could still end where it does if we just started a few days earlier.

So on to the Divisions.

This would be the schedule for the Habs and shows their total games vs their Division, their Conference and the opposite conference. Substitute your team as necessary and follow the same format. In order to make the numbers work, teams play inter Division rivals the most, and then get matched up with another division within their conference for the second most games. I would match the Northeast/Metro, Southeast/Capital, Great Lakes/Midwest and Southwest/Northwest. Every team arena is visited by each team. Admittedly I struggled with Detroit moving over to Western Conference and away from Leafs and Habs as I see some rivalry history there, but decided this made the most sense for travel.

Another consideration was obviously travel. Poor NE and Metro teams don't get as many southern trips to the nice weather. But the limited travelling makes the most sense.

Eastern Conference

Northeast Division
Habs
Leafs - 6 games
Sens - 6 games
Bruins - 6 games

Southeast Division
Lightning - 2 games
Panthers - 2 games
Carolina - 2 games
Nashville - 2 games

Capital Division
Philly - 2 games
Pitts - 2 games
Columbus - 2 games
Washington - 2 games

Metro Division
Rangers - 4 games
Isles - 4 games
Jersey - 4 games
Sabres - 4 games

Western Conference

Great Lakes Division
Chicago - 2 games
Detroit - 2 games
Minnesota - 2 games
Winnipeg - 2 games

Midwest Division
St Louis - 2 games
Colorado - 2 games
Arizona/Houston - 2 games
Dallas - 2 games

***Sorry writing is on the wall for Arizona at this point. If they end up in Atlanta, Nashville stays in Midwest Division and Atlanta goes over to Southeast.....I like Detroit being matched up with Chicago for rivalry purpose. They also get Colorado for 4 games****

Southwest Division
San Jose - 2 games
LA - 2 games
Anaheim - 2 games
Vegas - 2 games

Northwest Division
Edmonton - 2 games
Calgary - 2 games
Vancouver - 2 games
Seattle - 2 games


Playoffs

Only 2 teams per division make the playoffs and they are ranked within their conference 1-8 based off points. Tie breakers starts with head to head and in case of further tie, goes to Division total points.

Bottom line for me. 3 games against the Laffs truly sucks this year as a Habs fan. The NHL needs to promote the current rivalries that exist within the sport.

Have at it everyone. Rip it apart.
View attachment 749525
Click to expand...
I don't dislike the divisions/schedule in the OP to be honest. Very well thought out, in terms of who fits where and how many times we play each team.

I actually think our divisions today aren't bad though - but if NHL were to make a change I wouldn't mind this setup.

The biggest issue - and this is 100% a deal breaker - is top 2 per division make playoffs. No, that won't work. People are already upset today that top 3 in divisions make playoffs and no 1-8 re-alignment, having 2 out of every 4 team make playoffs would have some crap teams in, and some good teams out,.

Quick example - Metro, I can see all 4 teams make playoffs this season in reality, and Great Lakes I could see all 4 teams miss. In your setup, we'd still have 2 in/2 out.

At most i'd compromise on #1 in division makes playoffs, and then top 4 teams per conference make it, regardless of division. So, it's a pretty easy fix.
 
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Oddbob said:
Wings back in West is all I need to say noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Finally got rid of all the extra 10 pm est games we don't want to go back to that.
Click to expand...
Look at how many games played at 10 pm. Under my plan you would have 5. One away game against each of la, Anaheim, San Jose Vancouver and seattle. I think I have Detroit playing 58 games in Eastern Time Zone under my plan. 15 games +1 hours (ie 8 pm start), 5 games at 10 pm and 6 games at 9 pm.

bobholly39 said:
I don't dislike the divisions/schedule in the OP to be honest. Very well thought out, in terms of who fits where and how many times we play each team.

I actually think our divisions today aren't bad though - but if NHL were to make a change I wouldn't mind this setup.

The biggest issue - and this is 100% a deal breaker - is top 2 per division make playoffs. No, that won't work. People are already upset today that top 3 in divisions make playoffs and no 1-8 re-alignment, having 2 out of every 4 team make playoffs would have some crap teams in, and some good teams out,.
G

At most i'd compromise on #1 in division makes playoffs, and then top 4 teams per conference make it, regardless of division. So, it's a pretty easy fix.
Click to expand...
I can live with that for playoffs! Thanks. I was trying to account for difficulty of division. For hard divisioms, they may suffer playing against themselves 6 times. Easy divisions may prosper. This way hard divisions are penalized. I like your compromise though.
 
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waitin425 said:
Look at how many games played at 10 pm. Under my plan you would have 5. One away game against each of la, Anaheim, San Jose Vancouver and seattle. I think I have Detroit playing 58 games in Eastern Time Zone under my plan. 15 games +1 hours (ie 8 pm start), 5 games at 10 pm and 6 games at 9 pm.


I can live with that for playoffs! Thanks. I was trying to account for difficulty of division. For hard divisioms, they may suffer playing against themselves 6 times. Easy divisions may prosper. This way hard divisions are penalized. I like your compromise though.
Click to expand...
The Wings, Columbus and even before that the Leafs all fought tooth and nail to be moved to the East. None of them are going to accepted going back regardless the rationalization you think is valid or if their concerns are unfounded. Their ownerships absolutely do not want to be in the west. This has been stated multiple times and it's the final answer.
 
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Spargon said:
The Wings, Columbus and even before that the Leafs all fought tooth and nail to be moved to the East. None of them are going to accepted going back regardless the rationalization you think is valid or if their concerns are unfounded. Their ownerships absolutely do not want to be in the west. This has been stated multiple times and it's the final answer.
Click to expand...
Hahaha...settle down! If the reason for moving from the west was the time of games....and my suggestions offers better game times, and you just dig in your heels more, than it clearly wasn't the time of games. It's an east/west thing. That's fine too. I am merely offering what I think is a good realignment strategy. No need to get angry.
 
HighNote said:
View attachment 749948


5 games vs. division = 15 games
3 games vs. the rest in your conference = 36
2 games against other conference = 32

Total = 83

Then you choose a single same conference team and you play that team only twice, home & away. Basically, I'd layout the schedule as if there were 83 games per team, and then find the extra away game your team has against a same conference team that would help out the most to get rid of in the interest of travel/scheduling.
Click to expand...
83 games is interesting... so which 16 teams get the extra home game each year, and which get the extra road game? Or is this meant to imply that every team pairs up with one other team for a neutral site game? That could be interesting, especially for shaking up the Winter Classic / Stadium Series, like how WPG/CGY played in Saskatchewan that one time...
 
kvladimir said:
83 games is interesting... so which 16 teams get the extra home game each year, and which get the extra road game? Or is this meant to imply that every team pairs up with one other team for a neutral site game? That could be interesting, especially for shaking up the Winter Classic / Stadium Series, like how WPG/CGY played in Saskatchewan that one time...
Click to expand...
No it would still be 82 games, read the last bit of my post.
 
waitin425 said:
I'll speak for myself. The product is better when it's the Habs vs Leafs or Habs vs Bruins. I have more invested in those games and I do everything I can to see those games. More so than any other Habs games.
Click to expand...
It's totally fine if fans want to invest more in a narrative that they believe in.

There's just no rivalry on the ice.
 
waitin425 said:
I apologize for the long winded post

I really hope the NHL takes a hard look realignment in the next GM meetings and bargaining with the NHLPA.

This is what I would like to see. I see benefits in this for the fans, as it creates more regional rivalries.

First off, I would start the season with a new starting weekend on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend in Canada. I am sick of pre-season hockey and there is nothing more I would want to see this weekend, then a Saturday night Habs vs Leafs game at 7 pm and a 10 pm Flames vs Oilers game, a Sunday filled with football and then Monday afternoon NHL action with Habs vs Boston at noon, Leafs vs Sens at 3 and westcoast games staggered in the afternoon before 830 NFL kickoff. Teams are ready to start anyways. We don't need any more pre-season action. Leftover turkey sandwiches and a day of sports is what I'm talking about. The season could still end where it does if we just started a few days earlier.

So on to the Divisions.

This would be the schedule for the Habs and shows their total games vs their Division, their Conference and the opposite conference. Substitute your team as necessary and follow the same format. In order to make the numbers work, teams play inter Division rivals the most, and then get matched up with another division within their conference for the second most games. I would match the Northeast/Metro, Southeast/Capital, Great Lakes/Midwest and Southwest/Northwest. Every team arena is visited by each team. Admittedly I struggled with Detroit moving over to Western Conference and away from Leafs and Habs as I see some rivalry history there, but decided this made the most sense for travel.

Another consideration was obviously travel. Poor NE and Metro teams don't get as many southern trips to the nice weather. But the limited travelling makes the most sense.

Eastern Conference

Northeast Division
Habs
Leafs - 6 games
Sens - 6 games
Bruins - 6 games

Southeast Division
Lightning - 2 games
Panthers - 2 games
Carolina - 2 games
Nashville - 2 games

Capital Division
Philly - 2 games
Pitts - 2 games
Columbus - 2 games
Washington - 2 games

Metro Division
Rangers - 4 games
Isles - 4 games
Jersey - 4 games
Sabres - 4 games

Western Conference

Great Lakes Division
Chicago - 2 games
Detroit - 2 games
Minnesota - 2 games
Winnipeg - 2 games

Midwest Division
St Louis - 2 games
Colorado - 2 games
Arizona/Houston - 2 games
Dallas - 2 games

***Sorry writing is on the wall for Arizona at this point. If they end up in Atlanta, Nashville stays in Midwest Division and Atlanta goes over to Southeast.....I like Detroit being matched up with Chicago for rivalry purpose. They also get Colorado for 4 games****

Southwest Division
San Jose - 2 games
LA - 2 games
Anaheim - 2 games
Vegas - 2 games

Northwest Division
Edmonton - 2 games
Calgary - 2 games
Vancouver - 2 games
Seattle - 2 games


Playoffs

Only 2 teams per division make the playoffs and they are ranked within their conference 1-8 based off points. Tie breakers starts with head to head and in case of further tie, goes to Division total points.

Bottom line for me. 3 games against the Laffs truly sucks this year as a Habs fan. The NHL needs to promote the current rivalries that exist within the sport.

Have at it everyone. Rip it apart.
View attachment 749525
Click to expand...
Canadians and their fans that snowbird in Florida are not in favor of the reduced games against Tampa and FL.
 
I'd like a realignment as well. New York and Boston should be in the same division. New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers all in one division would be fantastic for the game.
 
Mattilaus said:
I am not a fan of the need for every team to play in every arena every year. Want to help deal with travel? Eastern teams only play western teams once per year. Buffalo travels to edmonton to play them once this year, next year edmonton travels to Buffalo to play them for the one game. Use those extra games to increase the divisional games. Nobody cares if Ottawa plays San Jose twice in the regular season, but everyone wants to see inter divisional games as much as possible. The NFL does fine not forcing every team to play in every arena every year. This will also help viewers by having less games at awkward times due to the time zones. It will also help rivalries.
Click to expand...
If the NHL went to a 6-3-1 format the division rivalries would start to heat up and have real meaning behind them.

6 games against each division rival would put weight behind those games, and mean more in how the division standings pan out at the end. 42 games total.

3 games against each same-conference team, switching the home-away advantage every season. 24 games total.

1 game against other-conference teams, switching home vs away every season. 16 games total.

Oh look...that's 82 games every season with a predictable format every year, and a focus on divisional rivalries. Win-win to me.
 
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Sabresfansince1980 said:
If the NHL went to a 6-3-1 format the division rivalries would start to heat up and have real meaning behind them.

6 games against each division rival would put weight behind those games, and mean more in how the division standings pan out at the end. 42 games total.

3 games against each same-conference team, switching the home-away advantage every season. 24 games total.

1 game against other-conference teams, switching home vs away every season. 16 games total.

Oh look...that's 82 games every season with a predictable format every year, and a focus on divisional rivalries. Win-win to me.
Click to expand...
Had that format before, wasn’t liked and NHL switched to the current one, as fans voiced their opinion, they wanted to see all teams each year.
 
waitin425 said:
Look at how many games played at 10 pm. Under my plan you would have 5. One away game against each of la, Anaheim, San Jose Vancouver and seattle. I think I have Detroit playing 58 games in Eastern Time Zone under my plan. 15 games +1 hours (ie 8 pm start), 5 games at 10 pm and 6 games at 9 pm.
Click to expand...
But what's the logic in putting Detroit in the west and Nashville in the east? The former is in the eastern time zone, and the latter is in the central time zone. It's completely unnecessary. There are exactly 16 NHL teams in the eastern time zone. They should all be in the eastern conference.
 
waitin425 said:
First off, I would start the season with a new starting weekend on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend in Canada. I am sick of pre-season hockey and there is nothing more I would want to see this weekend, then a Saturday night Habs vs Leafs game at 7 pm and a 10 pm Flames vs Oilers game, a Sunday filled with football and then Monday afternoon NHL action with Habs vs Boston at noon, Leafs vs Sens at 3 and westcoast games staggered in the afternoon before 830 NFL kickoff. Teams are ready to start anyways. We don't need any more pre-season action. Leftover turkey sandwiches and a day of sports is what I'm talking about. The season could still end where it does if we just started a few days earlier.
Click to expand...

I don't really care about reallignment but hard agree with this. All weekend I was thinking what a wasted opportunity the holiday was while the league played meaningless pre-season games. It's the perfect opening weekend but Bettman cringes at the thought anything Canada-related.
 
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Love the regional divisions
Hate being in the West as a Detroit fan although it wouldn't impact me personally as I would still get to watch all the games
Appreciate your effort, better than most alignment/changes to the format that are presented.
 
Anything that means more games against the old Atlantic Division gets my vote. If the league isn't going to do anything to promote the importance of the regular season as a competition (aka it's just for playoff seeding and no bragging rights whatsoever), then it needs to be driven by rivalries to make the games interesting.
 
Mattilaus said:
I am not a fan of the need for every team to play in every arena every year. Want to help deal with travel? Eastern teams only play western teams once per year. Buffalo travels to edmonton to play them once this year, next year edmonton travels to Buffalo to play them for the one game. Use those extra games to increase the divisional games. Nobody cares if Ottawa plays San Jose twice in the regular season, but everyone wants to see inter divisional games as much as possible. The NFL does fine not forcing every team to play in every arena every year. This will also help viewers by having less games at awkward times due to the time zones. It will also help rivalries.
Click to expand...
I care if the schedule is balanced for every team and it makes sense to me to have 1 home and 1 away against each other so the home/away points potential is the same for each team with as little variance as possible. Conferences should play pretty much the same schedules if we're doing things "fair"
 
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