I have a concern about the NHL's new Schedule and Canada

[HEyHEY]

I think this new schedule will deal a serious blow to Canadian sportsfans and to Canadian culture.

This new schedule, though many like the idea, if put in effect will make the NHL like the NFL. The East will not play the west in regular season play. Now, this may work well in the USA. However it does not take the consideration of Canada's dynamic into play.

For instance, when the Toronto Maple Leafs come to Vancouver - it is a big deal, because so many Vancouverites come from Ontario..in Toronto it is the same thing. And in Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Montreal...all these cities look forward to ANY Canadian team coming to town. It bring sout great rivalries and fun. Now however, it is possible the Vancouver Canucks won't play the Montreal Canadians EVER again. The chances of a Montreal/Vancouver final are so slim it just won't happen. The Chances of an all Canadian final are slim. Which means basically, if this schedule is adopted, I will never again see the Canucks play Ottawa, Montreal,or Toronto. That is the shits, as these are HUGE games when they come to town.

Such a change can severely alter the state of hockey in Canada. I mean really, I couldn't care less about when the Canucks play half of the teams in their conference...Phoenix, Annahiem, LA, Dalls.... mena nothing to me... But when the knuckleheads play Ottawa, I get excited. My prediction is this entire thing will severly kill the passion many Canadians feel for the NHL.

It's just another example of US influence bastardizing (not meant to be an insult) Canadian culture...I'm never gonna see great Canadian Rivalries again because the NHL thinks people in Arizona wouold rather see the coyotes play dallas ten times instead of six.

Just a terrible turn of events.

[tritsofme]

1. I haven't heard about this proposed change.

It sounds rather ridiculous to me.

I think a better solution would be to dump all the expansion teams and go back to 10-15, get some real competition and get rid of the diluted talent.

[HEyHEY]

4. I agree

The proposal is to reduce the schedule to 72 games and have no interconference play

[Senjutsu]

2. You are aware...

That those changes are simply one proposal, and have not been accepted, yes?

I wouldn't waste my time worrying about nutty changes that probably won't go through, were I you.

[HEyHEY]

3. This will probably happen

The only problem I see is the owners being pissed about lost revenue

[Senjutsu]

6. THe owners are the ones who'd have to vote to accept it

So your title and the contents of your post are rather contradictory.

The Leafs (and habs) are a huge crowd draw here, and there are some East coast teams that are a huge draw for the west. The owners don't want to lose that revenue, so they'll nix it.

What we may well see (and what I think will be a good thing) is reduced interleague play. The travel costs are insane for divisions like the Northwest. vs fat-cat teams like new york in the east who don't need to travel nearly as far to a number of their opponents.

[strategery blunder]

5. Please allow me to say

:wtf:

I knew they were considering rule changes to increase scoring, but this is RIDICULOUS.

[Frederic Bastiat]

7. I also think they should reduce the number of teams n/t

[Forkboy]

8. The league needs about 10 less teams

and 20 less games a year.

It wont happen though.

[THUNDER HANDS]

9. hockey has to do something

It's a dying sport.

I say in addition to the schedule change, which i like because I could care less about seeing my Islanders take on Calgary, I want to see more games vs. the Rangers, Flyers and Devils - I would also like to see them:

1. Get rid of the red line.
2. Get rid of the second referee.
3. Increase the width of the ice.
4. Increase the height of the goalmouth.
5. Get rid of the netting behind the glass.
6. Subtract a player and play constant four on four.
7. Ban the trap.

[Tripper11]

10. I hadn't heard this proposal yet...

I hope the owners are smart and let it go by.
I agree with above posters...scale down the amount of teams to 15 or so. Higher quality of hockey with the talent not so spread out.
I mean seriously, Columbus? Nashville? Pheonix? It's just too much.

[frylock]

11. actually, there is interconference\interdivisional play in the nfl..

you're probably thinking of MLB, but even they have interleague play now. :shrug: