How do you want the NHL set up?

[TheBeatGoesOn 0]

This has probably been discussion/debate before but I'm kind of new here and don't see anything recently. How do you feel about the way the regular season/playoffs are set up currently? How do you want it set up? Is it likely to happen the way you want it or is it just your own dream theory?

Found this on wikipedia (possibilities for the future):

In November of 2007, NHL Board of Governors announced that the format schedule for 2008-2009 season will be revert to the format used before the lock-out, allowing teams to play at least one game against each team.The format will be as follows:[2]

* Six games against division teams (three home games, three road games, 24 games total)

* Four games against same conference other teams (two home, two road, 40 games total)

* A total of 18 games against other conference teams (nine home, nine road) with at least one game against each of the 15 teams.

However, it is rumored that another major NHL re-alignment is on the way for 2009 or more. Several alternate formats (for the league and the schedule) have been suggested:

* Re-alignment into two conferences of two divisions each instead of the current three, with the divisions roughly aligned on the basis of standard time zones. It has been further proposed that the top two teams in each division would automatically qualify for the playoffs, with the second place teams being awarded the third and fourth seeds. [3]

* Re-alignment into three conferences, with the Eastern Conference staying intact and the Western Conference splitting into two conferences based on time zones. One conference would be aligned to include all the current Western Conference teams from the Eastern and Central time zones (Detroit, Nashville, St. Louis, Columbus, Chicago, Dallas, and Minnesota), while the other would include teams from the Mountain and Pacific time zones (Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Colorado, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Jose).

* Re-alignment into four conferences, with the six Canadian teams placed in one conference and three eight-team conferences created for the U.S. teams. The conferences may or may not be further split into divisions under such a format. Reducing the conferences' size would allow for teams to play home and away against each inter-conference opponent while still allowing for several games against each intra-conference opponent.

[cxo 0]

* Re-alignment into three conferences, with the Eastern Conference staying intact and the Western Conference splitting into two conferences based on time zones. One conference would be aligned to include all the current Western Conference teams from the Eastern and Central time zones (Detroit, Nashville, St. Louis, Columbus, Chicago, Dallas, and Minnesota), while the other would include teams from the Mountain and Pacific time zones (Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Colorado, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Jose).

* Re-alignment into four conferences, with the six Canadian teams placed in one conference and three eight-team conferences created for the U.S. teams. The conferences may or may not be further split into divisions under such a format. Reducing the conferences' size would allow for teams to play home and away against each inter-conference opponent while still allowing for several games against each intra-conference opponent.

If they split into more than two conferences, then how are the playoffs going to be setup? It's mildly interesting, but I would have liked to see read that as well.

[TheBeatGoesOn 0]

If anyone was curious I got that quote from "NHL Playoffs" on wikipedia.

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

I'd like to see the East and West broken down to 4 divisions, the Patrick and Adams for the East and Smythe and Norris for the West. Only the division leaders are guaranteed playoff spot then each playoff seed is based by points.

[joshy207 15]

2 Conferences (Campbell and Wales) with 2 divisions in each conference (Norris, Smythe, Adams, Patrick). Each division would have 7 or 8 teams.

Playoffs--first 2 rounds would be DIVISIONAL. This was the best part of the NHL in the 80s, and it has been lost in the current system. 1st plays 4th, 2nd plays 3rd, then the winners play for the divisional championship. Division winners within each conference meet in the semifinals, then conference champs in the SCF.

My divisions:

Campbell Conference

Smythe Division

Vancouver Canucks

Edmonton Oilers

Calgary Flames

San Jose Sharks

Los Angeles Kings

Anaheim Ducks

Phoenix Coyotes

Colorado Avalanche

Norris Division

Minnesota Wild

St. Louis Blues

Dallas Stars

Chicago Blackhawks

Detroit Red Wings

Columbus Blue Jackets

Nashville Predators

Wales Conference

Adams Division

Montreal Canadiens

Ottawa Senators

Toronto Maple Leafs

Buffalo Sabres

Boston Bruins

New York Rangers

New York Islanders

New Jersey Devils

Patrick Division

Florida Panthers

Tampa Bay Lightning

Atlanta Thrashers

Carolina Hurricanes

Washington Capitals

Philadelphia Flyers

Pittsburgh Penguins

[crazylegs_9 0]

I like joshy's idea, plus detroit wouldnt have to travel west for all 3 rounds if the divisional worked out.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

2 Conferences (Campbell and Wales) with 2 divisions in each conference (Norris, Smythe, Adams, Patrick). Each division would have 7 or 8 teams.

Playoffs--first 2 rounds would be DIVISIONAL. This was the best part of the NHL in the 80s, and it has been lost in the current system. 1st plays 4th, 2nd plays 3rd, then the winners play for the divisional championship. Division winners within each conference meet in the semifinals, then conference champs in the SCF.

My divisions:

Campbell Conference

Smythe Division

Vancouver Canucks

Edmonton Oilers

Calgary Flames

San Jose Sharks

Los Angeles Kings

Anaheim Ducks

Phoenix Coyotes

Colorado Avalanche

Norris Division

Minnesota Wild

St. Louis Blues

Dallas Stars

Chicago Blackhawks

Detroit Red Wings

Columbus Blue Jackets

Nashville Predators

Wales Conference

Adams Division

Montreal Canadiens

Ottawa Senators

Toronto Maple Leafs

Buffalo Sabres

Boston Bruins

New York Rangers

New York Islanders

New Jersey Devils

Patrick Division

Florida Panthers

Tampa Bay Lightning

Atlanta Thrashers

Carolina Hurricanes

Washington Capitals

Philadelphia Flyers

Pittsburgh Penguins

Rangers belong in the Patrick. Sacrilege.

[kosydar 0]

Judging by the past few years, the Patrick Division weak. I'm still in favor of cutting at least six teams. I don't care how the conferences are named as long as there is an East and a West. Two six team divisions in each conference. Inter-division playoffs, 1 plays 4, 2 plays 3. Winner of that plays each other. Winner of that division plays the winner of the other division in the same conference. Conference champs play for Cup. So basically what Joshy suggested, except six fewer teams.

Going off of http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/31/biz_07...ions_Value.html and my personal biases, eliminate Nashville, Columbus, and Phoenix from the West, Florida, Atlanta, and Islanders from the East.

That leaves you with

West-

Pacific-

Vancouver

Anaheim

Los Angeles

San Jose

Colorado

Dallas

Mountain-

Detroit

St Louis

Calgary

Edmonton

Chicago

Minnesota

East-

Mideast-

Carolina

Philadelphia

New York

New Jersey

Tampa Bay

Washington

Northwest-

Boston

Ottawa

Toronto

Montreal

Buffalo

Pittsburgh

Each one of those divisions today would have some great playoff match ups. Also, each division would be very competitive, especially because the marginal third and fourth line/5th and 6th defensemen on most teams would be replaced by better players from the absorbed teams.

[chippa13 1844]

That would be a real tough sell dumping the Isles.

[kosydar 0]

I know it would given their history, but if they're losing money it'll happen eventually. Besides, I'm sure the Rangers and Devils wouldn't mind one less team in their market. My plan won't happen, it would just be for the best if it did.

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

If you wanted to drop any teams it should be Florida, Nashville, Columbus, and Atlanta. Keep the Islanders, Blues, and Caps. Once Ovechkin and company start stringing together playoff seasons then I'm pretty sure their market will start to rise. As for the teams I'd be in favor of cutting they really don't have anything going for them right now and no real history apart from Florida making the cup run in 95.

[adam14 182]

every team plys to games against every team in the opposite conference, 2 games against every team in their conference and 4 games against the teams in their division, they play 4 games more and they play every team, at least then people can stop bitching about old rivalries dying out, and something needs to be done about the south east devision, because this season, it was either u finish first in that division or u dont make the playoffs, which is kinda crappy, ok atl and tbl didnt deserve to make it, but i think the caps do as do the canes, what they should do, to make it more competitive is the top 2 teams from each division make tha playoffs. but that would be kinda lame for the west.

[JJ Thompson94 0]

2 Conferences (Campbell and Wales) with 2 divisions in each conference (Norris, Smythe, Adams, Patrick). Each division would have 7 or 8 teams.

Playoffs--first 2 rounds would be DIVISIONAL. This was the best part of the NHL in the 80s, and it has been lost in the current system. 1st plays 4th, 2nd plays 3rd, then the winners play for the divisional championship. Division winners within each conference meet in the semifinals, then conference champs in the SCF.

My divisions:

Campbell Conference

Smythe Division

Vancouver Canucks

Edmonton Oilers

Calgary Flames

San Jose Sharks

Los Angeles Kings

Anaheim Ducks

Phoenix Coyotes

Colorado Avalanche

Norris Division

Minnesota Wild

St. Louis Blues

Dallas Stars

Chicago Blackhawks

Detroit Red Wings

Columbus Blue Jackets

Nashville Predators

Wales Conference

Adams Division

Montreal Canadiens

Ottawa Senators

Toronto Maple Leafs

Buffalo Sabres

Boston Bruins

New York Rangers

New York Islanders

New Jersey Devils

Patrick Division

Florida Panthers

Tampa Bay Lightning

Atlanta Thrashers

Carolina Hurricanes

Washington Capitals

Philadelphia Flyers

Pittsburgh Penguins

I like that, thats pretty good. We should totally do that. But...we should take out two teams, one from the west one from the east. I say Atlanta and pheonix. Maybe, only top 2 teams from each division make the playoffs and take out one playoff round. Make the season count more.

Also, I really like the idea of giving a regulation win three points, no points for a loss. Two points for overtime winner, one point for an overtime loss. Why not reward a team for winning in 60 minutes.

[adam14 182]

Also, I really like the idea of giving a regulation win three points, no points for a loss. Two points for overtime winner, one point for an overtime loss. Why not reward a team for winning in 60 minutes.

trust me, u wont. in the swiss league they had the 3 point win rule and it was a joke, the teams with the biggest budget, that had the best players pulled away, and the league got really spread apart, there was no close standings in the league and by xmas, the standings were pretty much set. it will be the same in the nhl, the bugger budget teams will be more likely to succeed, and the lower budget teams will be left behind. i like the two points, keeps the league close and competitive

[ubitsa 0]

2 Conferences (Campbell and Wales) with 2 divisions in each conference (Norris, Smythe, Adams, Patrick). Each division would have 7 or 8 teams.

Playoffs--first 2 rounds would be DIVISIONAL. This was the best part of the NHL in the 80s, and it has been lost in the current system. 1st plays 4th, 2nd plays 3rd, then the winners play for the divisional championship. Division winners within each conference meet in the semifinals, then conference champs in the SCF.

My divisions:

Campbell Conference

Smythe Division

Vancouver Canucks

Edmonton Oilers

Calgary Flames

San Jose Sharks

Los Angeles Kings

Anaheim Ducks

Phoenix Coyotes

Colorado Avalanche

Norris Division

Minnesota Wild

St. Louis Blues

Dallas Stars

Chicago Blackhawks

Detroit Red Wings

Columbus Blue Jackets

Nashville Predators

Wales Conference

Adams Division

Montreal Canadiens

Ottawa Senators

Toronto Maple Leafs

Buffalo Sabres

Boston Bruins

New York Rangers

New York Islanders

New Jersey Devils

Patrick Division

Florida Panthers

Tampa Bay Lightning

Atlanta Thrashers

Carolina Hurricanes

Washington Capitals

Philadelphia Flyers

Pittsburgh Penguins

I like that, thats pretty good. We should totally do that. But...we should take out two teams, one from the west one from the east. I say Atlanta and pheonix. Maybe, only top 2 teams from each division make the playoffs and take out one playoff round. Make the season count more.

Also, I really like the idea of giving a regulation win three points, no points for a loss. Two points for overtime winner, one point for an overtime loss. Why not reward a team for winning in 60 minutes.

As a Pens fan, this blows. There are only 2 teams in the division that have any history with the Penguins at all. The the prospect of having to play all those southern teams is sickening. I can guarantee you almost all the Pens fans would agree with me. I'm glad the Capitals and Flyers are in there, but the rest is junk for us. I like the proposal that included the Pens in a division with the Senators, Leafs and Canadiens...even though that would never happen. That would make for a much more exciting season.

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

Also, I really like the idea of giving a regulation win three points, no points for a loss. Two points for overtime winner, one point for an overtime loss. Why not reward a team for winning in 60 minutes.

trust me, u wont. in the swiss league they had the 3 point win rule and it was a joke, the teams with the biggest budget, that had the best players pulled away, and the league got really spread apart, there was no close standings in the league and by xmas, the standings were pretty much set. it will be the same in the nhl, the bugger budget teams will be more likely to succeed, and the lower budget teams will be left behind. i like the two points, keeps the league close and competitive

Salary cap? <_<

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

It should just be two for a win and absolutely no points for any kind of loss, the NHL really needs to get rid of these 3 point nights.

[adam14 182]

Also, I really like the idea of giving a regulation win three points, no points for a loss. Two points for overtime winner, one point for an overtime loss. Why not reward a team for winning in 60 minutes.

trust me, u wont. in the swiss league they had the 3 point win rule and it was a joke, the teams with the biggest budget, that had the best players pulled away, and the league got really spread apart, there was no close standings in the league and by xmas, the standings were pretty much set. it will be the same in the nhl, the bugger budget teams will be more likely to succeed, and the lower budget teams will be left behind. i like the two points, keeps the league close and competitive

Salary cap? <_<

yeah, but with the salary cap going up AGAIN, at the end of this season, the small budget teams will be left behind again, which brings the nhl back to the same spot it was in before the lockout, teams like columbus and nashville will lose out to teams who have the 50 million budget like the rangers and the red wings.

[JJ Thompson94 0]

Also, I really like the idea of giving a regulation win three points, no points for a loss. Two points for overtime winner, one point for an overtime loss. Why not reward a team for winning in 60 minutes.

trust me, u wont. in the swiss league they had the 3 point win rule and it was a joke, the teams with the biggest budget, that had the best players pulled away, and the league got really spread apart, there was no close standings in the league and by xmas, the standings were pretty much set. it will be the same in the nhl, the bugger budget teams will be more likely to succeed, and the lower budget teams will be left behind. i like the two points, keeps the league close and competitive

Salary cap? <_<

yeah, but with the salary cap going up AGAIN, at the end of this season, the small budget teams will be left behind again, which brings the nhl back to the same spot it was in before the lockout, teams like columbus and nashville will lose out to teams who have the 50 million budget like the rangers and the red wings.

I hate how small market teams complain that they can't spend money. Every team is owned by Multi millionaires or billionares. They complain that they can't get people into the seats, and then put out a crap product. If they spent the money to put out a good product, they'll make more money. I hate the Yankees but they are a good example of how to do it. They spend crazy money but they are the most profitable team in american sports. The only teams that would sell for more than the yanks are some euro soccer teams. All these cheap owners spend no money, just to make some quick money. I understand it's a buisness but if you invest more money, they can make more money.

Stop complaining about the Wings and Rangers spending money, complain that your teams owner is a cheapass and won't spend the money.

[joshy207 15]

I eliminated the conferences and reconfigured my divisions.

Smythe (west) Division:

Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Colorado, San Jose, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Phoenix.

Norris (great lakes) Division:

Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Toronto.

Patrick (northeast) Division:

Ottawa, Montreal, Boston, NY Rangers, NY Islanders, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington.

Adams (south) Division:

Dallas, St Louis, Nashville, Atlanta, Carolina, Tampa, Florida.

Divisional playoff champs would be seeded 1-4 based on regular season records. 1st would play 4th and 2nd would play 3rd in the semis, winners meet for the Cup final.

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

joshy207 your divisions would seem that they would be pretty strong all the way through without a real weak one. I kinda like it

[joshy207 15]

And they all make sense travel-wise. You do have some more crossing of time zones than the current set-up, but the travel wouldn't be real crazy.

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

Thats what I thought too about the travel too and some of the time differences for the divisions would be minimal if any, the only way time would be a real factor is out of division play