56-Game Season?

[RGM81]

Mr. Bettman spoke to the media today. The key takeaway:

"We're probably going to have a Canadian division and realign in the US"

Things are still very much in play, but momentum is definitely building.

[30ranfordfan]

Mr. Bettman spoke to the media today. The key takeaway:

"We're probably going to have a Canadian division and realign in the US"

Things are still very much in play, but momentum is definitely building.

This is what it seems like, yes. The fact that there will be a Canadian Division (to me) means that there will be issues (at least in Canada) with travel and / or quarantines for players coming from the USA. That tells me that the Canadian division will only play each other.... so it's reasonable to expect that other divisions will operate the same way (which will greatly reduce travel costs).

So is the schedule going to look like this?

3 divisions of 8: Play each of your 7 opponents 8 times (4 home, 4 away) and that's 56 games.
1 division of 7 (Canadian): Please each of your 6 opponents 9 times (4 in each building. You'll host half of the teams a 5th time, visit the other half a 5th time). That's 54 games. You'll have to play 2 teams 10 times.

Not sure how you pick which teams you play the 10th time, but I'm guessing it will be geographical based. VAN, CGY, EDM... and TOR, MTL, OTT..... with WIN going on one side or the other (probably west?)

TOR, MTL, OTT play each other 10 times
EDM plays vs WIN & CGY 10 times
CGY plays vs EDM & VAN 10 times
VAN plays vs CGY & WIN 10 times
WIN plays vs EDM & VAN 10 times

(and against the other 4 teams 9 times each)
Something like that?

[RGM81]

An updated classic, now also available in Reverse Retro thanks to @Pheebs888

[RGM81]

Friends we are one month away from every night being Hockey Night in Canada.