NHL likely to bring back old schedule format

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:41 am

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=193261&hubname=

One game against the other conference is good enough for me. It doesn't have to be home and home with everyone although you'll get 3 extra games after you play each team. 6 division games instead of 8 is much better as well. The one thing I liked about last year was that for the last several weeks, it was strictly interconference games. Those were exciting games to watch because they better decided playoff position.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 5:52 pm

I guess it'll stay the same...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2740152

Joey Moss · Post by **Joey Moss** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 5:07 am

When Lemieux moves Sidney and the rest of the team to the western conference, do you think that we will get a new schedule?

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:12 pm

Joey Moss wrote:When Lemieux moves Sidney and the rest of the team to the western conference, do you think that we will get a new schedule?

During an interview on Versus during the second intermission, Bettman claims the league will look at the schedule format again if the Pens do move to a Western city. Early rumors have the Wings moving to the East. I posted an article in the Pens-Houston thread where the Wings will campaign to switch conferences.

Let's say the Pens move to Houston or Kansas City...I think it would only make sense for them to play in the Central Division in place of the Wings. I'd put the Wings in the Northeast Division with Boston moving to the Atlantic Division to take the place of the Pens. 5 of the Original 6 would then reside in the East.

Cross Traffic · Post by **Cross Traffic** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:21 pm

Can't move Boston from the Atlantic, their biggest rival is Montreal.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 2:27 pm

Geographically, they're the only team from the Northeast could move to the Atlantic. It would be tricky to do anything to that division the way it is. Buffalo has a huge rivalry with Toronto. Toronto is rivals with every team in that division. Montreal has rivarlies with the other two Canadian clubs plus the Bruins, like you mentioned. Boston has their rivalries with the other two Original 6 clubs. Ottawa has their Canadian rivalries.

Maybe they need to look at going to the old four division format. Have North and South Divisions in both conferences.

Eastern Conference North (7) -- Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Toronto
Eastern Conference South (8) -- Atlanta, Carolina, Florida, New Jersey, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Tampa Bay, Washington
Western Conference North (8) -- Calgary, Chicago, Columbus, Edmonton, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Vancouver
Western Conference South (7) -- Anaheim, Colorado, Dallas, Houston/Kansas City, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose