New NHL changes

[Fire Lindy Ruff NOW]

Well, the big argument against having a division-biased schedule, but choosing the the top eight teams in the conference is that teams in a weak division have an inflated record from playing bad teams. For example, during the past couple of years, Washington was good, but the remaining four teams in the SW were bad. The Caps would have gotten in anyway, but one of the other four could have gotten in due to easy points from the remaining three, beating out a second or third-best team in a strong division, which was actually a better team. In other words, the best records aren't necessarily the best teams, if the schedules aren't the same. So, the benefit isn't really that great unless you go back to each team playing each other team the same number of times. Of course, that would mean a 116 game schedule if teams are to have even home/away splits (87, if they don't.)

yeah or they could just get rid of divisions and just have 2 conferences, ya know?

[bob_sauve28]

Do rivalries really matter as much now? Seems like free agency sort of took the fun out of that

[Weave]

Do rivalries really matter as much now? Seems like free agency sort of took the fun out of that

 

IMO rivalries are built in the playoffs, not the regular season. Look at all the ill-will with Ottawa over the last decade. If it weren't for all those playoff series against Ottawa, would there be as much animosity there? Same with the Bruins and Canadiens in the 80's. Or Philly in the 70's and 90's.

 

That's why I prefer a division playoff seeding in the 1st round. It accentuates rivalries and it will carry over into regualar season play.