Ideas for NHL Changes.......

[30ranfordfan]

There's been a couple of topics that get brought up over and over again, that NHL needs to change. Just thought I'd throw out a couple of ideas that I think make a lot of sense.

First off, is the way they do standings. We're getting down to crunch time for the playoff races, and we keep hearing about how tight the standings are. Realistically, they shouldn't be anywhere near this tight. It's not that teams 5-11 in each conference are all that close to each other - it's that the 3 point game creates the the illusion that they are. I'm also so sick of hearing the standings read as if only 6 teams in the league are below .500, the Columbus Blue Jackets are NOT a .500 hockey club. 32-32-13 means they've lost 13 more than they've won.

First let me say I'd have no problem going back to the tie game, and giving 1 point each for a tie, and 2 for a win. This isn't going to happen though.

I'd also be happy to see nothing but 2 point games. Get rid of the OTL and SOL. Win or Lose, that's it. Also very unlikely to ever happen.

The reason that 3 point games were brought in, in the first place, was because teams started playing for the tie late in the 3rd, and into OT. It made for 10 minutes of exceptionally boring hockey. Giving them the point, and making it a 3 point game was thought to be a way to make them play to win in OT, instead of playing "not to lose". You still see teams do this in the 3rd period, it didn't really change anything.

I've heard lots of suggestion to make all games worth 3 points. (Same as it is now, but give 3 points for a regular win). That doesn't go far enough.

Suggestion #1: Make all games worth FIVE points.

It's simple. 5 points for a Regulation win. 4 points for an OT win (plus 1 to the loser) and 3 points for a Shootout win (plus 2 to the loser). Punish teams for taking longer to win games, and reward them for getting it done sooner. I want to see the Calgary Flames pull their goalie with 90 seconds left in the 3rd period of a tie game, trying desperately to get the regular win... while making a push for the playoffs. *THAT* would be some exciting hockey to watch..... teams trying to end the game sooner, rather than later.

When the season ends, I'm going to come back to this thread, and post what the standings would have been, if this format was used.

Another topic that's been brought up, is that we need more teams in the playoffs. I didn't like the notion right away (because I think the season already takes too long) but I've decided it should be done. Historically this is a league where 16 of 21 teams made the playoffs - so why should we leave it at 16 of 30? Bring it!

To do it right though - there's a couple things that have to happen first.

Suggestion #2.1: Expansion

Expand to 32 teams. I don't care which cities (Canadian or American) but bring two more teams in. 32 is a much cleaner number to work with.

Suggestion #2.2: Realignment / New (more balanced) Schedule

Drop this 6 division thing. It doesn't make any sense, unless you're going to do the NFL thing and have byes & wildcards. Just because the NBA does it, doesn't mean it's good. Go back to having 4. (it would now be four divisions of eight, with the expansion).

We've seen the league try and build rivalries - by pitting divisional opponents against each other more often. This has did nothing, other than make the monthly games between Montreal & Toronto even more boring to watch. I'll address rivalries in a moment, but first I want to balance the schedule. Play your division (7 teams) 4 times each (28 games). Play the other division (same conference) 3 times each. You get an extra home game against half them, an extra road one against the other half. Rotate it each year. (24 games). Then play the other conference twice each, a home and an away (30 games).

Now, I realize that 30+24+28 doesn't equal the current 82 game schedule. Oh wait. It does. No extra games, and it's the perfect balance between playing everyone, and making your own division & conference more important.

Suggestion #2.3: New Playoff Format.

The playoffs is where rivalries are built. Toronto vs Ottawa? Here's the big secret - Nobody cared until they met in the playoffs three years in a row. It's a great (but fading) rivalry now...... but it was the post season that did this. Not the 8 games per season they were playing. How 'bout Edmonton v Dallas? It's another one that has died down in recent years.... but it was a fierce (but one-sided) rivalry for years, because they were always meeting up in the playoffs.

Here is what I would propose for the new playoff format:
- 1st place in each division gets a round one bye.

- Round 1 consists of DIVISIONAL playoffs. 1st place got their bye: 2nd plays 7th, 3rd plays 6th, 4th plays 5th. Best of 3 series, where the higher ranked team gets all 3 games at home. This will eliminate travel times, and ensure that the first round takes less than a week to finish.

- Round 2 takes the 3 winners from each divisional game, and puts them into another divisional pool with the first place that had the bye through round 1. Teams would be re-seeded for this round with the 1st place team getting to play the team with the worst regular season record, and then the other two teams facing off. Best of 5 series. Return to a format where the higher ranked team gets the extra home game (and follow that for all future series)

- Round 3 would be divisional finals. The winners of the above match-ups. Best of 7 series.

- Round 4 would take the divisional winners in each conference, and pit them together for a 7 game series

- Round 5 would take the conference winners, and have the Stanley Cup final (just like it does now). 7 game series again.
I've added an extra round, included all but 4 of the 32 teams, and it only adds 1 extra game to the schedule.

Suggestion #2.4: What to do about the non-Playoff teams.

While the first round is going on, I'd also like to create a round robin tournament for the 4 last place teams. Everyone plays everyone once. If teams are tied after the round robin, regular season records are used as the tie breaker.

The reward for winning? 1st pick overall. This way throwing in the towel will not guarantee you anything. Picks 1-4 will be given to the teams in this pool, but awarded based on how they finished.

I really hope GB, or someone from the competition committee and / or NHL board of governors reads this.... though I can't see that happening. I guess comments from the membership here is all I can ask for :)

[HammerHawks]

I like some of it and don't like some of it. I'm going to go through it again and then edit this post with what I like and don't like.

EDIT:

LIKE:
Suggestion #2.1: Expansion
Wouldn't hurt...more hockey in more places.

Suggestion #2.2: Realignment / New (more balanced) Schedule
Someone tell this to the AHL too, I have a friend on the Portland Pirates, but I never get a chance to see him play out here in Chicago.

Suggestion #2.4: What to do about the non-Playoff teams
PERFECT, I really like this. Make the team earn that pick.

DON'T LIKE:
Suggestion #1: Make all games worth FIVE points
We don't need teams with 400+ points in a season, though I do like the idea of the point loss type thing.

Suggestion #2.3: New Playoff Format
Just seems a bit weird. If the top teams have a bye, they'll get rusty and won't be as good as they would if they were playing.

[bfyler]

I like some of it and don't like some of it. I'm going to go through it again and then edit this post with what I like and don't like.

EDIT:

LIKE:
Suggestion #2.1: Expansion
Wouldn't hurt...more hockey in more places.

Suggestion #2.2: Realignment / New (more balanced) Schedule
Someone tell this to the AHL too, I have a friend on the Portland Pirates, but I never get a chance to see him play out here in Chicago.

Suggestion #2.4: What to do about the non-Playoff teams
PERFECT, I really like this. Make the team earn that pick.

DON'T LIKE:
Suggestion #1: Make all games worth FIVE points
We don't need teams with 400+ points in a season, though I do like the idea of the point loss type thing.

Suggestion #2.3: New Playoff Format
Just seems a bit weird. If the top teams have a bye, they'll get rusty and won't be as good as they would if they were playing.

As a season ticket holder to the Pirates I would love to see more teams come to Portland.. It is not the AHL it is the owners.. Prov. travels because they want to Portland does not go anywhere they can not drive a bus.. Petrovick has not left this area in a while.. He has not even crossed the border into Canada.. Toronto and Hamilton are close but nope not even there... I wished they would.. BTW fi you dont mind saying who is your buddy?? This is a great team.. Can not think of a bad egg on the team. All have been more than awesome with my kids at the skates and events.. My youngest even formed a cool friendship with Mike Kostka..

Bill

[30ranfordfan]

Well, I like that I got a little bit of a response :)

I'll just respond to the two "don't likes".

I just don't see what the problem with a 400 point season would be. The number would mean nothing when comparing it to 2009-10, just like the 2009-10 'points' totals mean nothing when comparing them to 1992-93, whose point totals meant nothing when compared to 1966-67.

I'll admit seeing the number jump so much higher would be a little strange to look at, right away..... but I think it's the only unfair way to continue to reward teams for playing well in regulation, but still losing..... and prevent what they're doing now: inflating everyone's point total. What are there..... 26 teams 'above .500' ??

I get your other point point, with what I suggested for a playoff format. I'm just not so sure that a week off would hurt any of those teams. By making the new first round a best of 3 series.... it would take less than a week to complete. It's not like they'd be sitting around for that long of a time. The few days off would probably give a few guys a chance to heal some small, nagging injuries.

Both are very valid points though.

[rufus``]

there should be 32 teams, preferrably a team in Winnipeg and one in Halifax, both markets where teams would probably be successful. with this 32 team league, there can be 4 divisions, the Smythe, Norris, Adams, and Patrick divisions in the Clarence Campbell and Prince of Wales conferences, each division with 8 teams spread east-west across the continent in order to reduce disparity in travel time for teams in the current system. in this new system there can be a Canadian division, with 8 Canadian teams and a stronger south division with LA, Anaheim, Dallas, tampa, florida, phoenix, nashville, atlanta. here, we would not see a case like the SE division this year where washington gets 32 "free points" by playing terrible teams a bunch of times and finishing 32 points ahead of 2nd place in the division.

the 7 game series should stay, its what makes the Stanley Cup the hardest trophy to win in professional sport. there shouldn't be a bye for any team in the tournament, ever. the first round upsets are what make the playoffs great, especially if its in 7 games!

I like the idea of the relegation draft tournament. but lets make it a round robin where there are 2 points for a win and 0 for a loss, with sudden death overtime. It would also be a bonus source of income for bottom feeding teams. *cough, florida, cough*. this can be a one week tournament held in one city where the bottom teams all play and profits for the tournament are split evenly through the participants.