Eklund: How about 8 divisions of 4 teams? Drouin to StL/Dallas? Buzzcast @1

Don't like it

Don't like it
- LeftCoaster

explain....

this one makes my head hurt.

Eklund: How about 8 divisions of 4 teams? Drouin to StL/Dallas? Buzzcast @1
- Eklund

There has been zero talk of this.

explain....
- Eklund

I guess I'm a traditionalist in that I like the current format and its rivalries; they just need to find a way to get two more teams in the West.

The thing is the Lightning have no glaring needs. It doesn't make sense to trade our best offensive prospect the way the team is constructed right now. I don't see who we would want from the Stars. Maybe we would be going after Shattenkirk in St. Louis but I Just don't see anything happening.

I guess I'm a traditionalist in that I like the current format and its rivalries; they just need to find a way to get two more teams in the West.
- LeftCoaster

This is a format you should love then...8 games each year against each of your chief rivals...

Sounds awesome, totally on board

A system where I don't get to watch the Sabres and Leafs play as division rivals... would need to tinker with that.

I like it, there would be some country division rivalries. The Carolina thing was a head scratcher but this, I like

Not a fan. Can't separate MTL and Boston. It seems wrong. Also, 8 games against the division would get monotonous, IMHO.

As for Drouin, I can't see them moving him until Stamkos is locked into a contract extension.

Boston's bigger rivalries are with Montreal and Toronto, Not NJ and the Islanders....yet Philly, who is a rival of both the Rangers and Devils only play them twice a year. I get the Philly/Pittsburgh rivalry or Philly/Washington but this just seems a bit too watered down...

Also, since each conference has 4 divisions, how would the playoffs work? The 4 division winners get home ice 1st round against 4 wild cards made up from the next best 4 team across in the conference?

Have to admit, I like t and it makes sense to me

A system where I don't get to watch the Sabres and Leafs play as division rivals... would need to tinker with that.
- Havic3814

Yes... Sabres and Leafs separated makes no sense. Like I said about MTL and BOS being in different divisions.

8 is too much against the teams in your division. Your creating new rivalries while breaking up old ones. Play the caps 8 times and the rangers only 4?

This is a format you should love then...8 games each year against each of your chief rivals...
- Eklund

This would not only eliminate Buffalo's greatest rivalries but also put them in the toughest division proposed. Hate it.

I absolutely adore this format.

Only change I would make is to have Canada East meet Canada West in a playoff round to ensure a Canadian club champion is declared each year. Don't care if it is a semi final or quarter final round.

I would switch Colorado and Las Vegas. Vegas is much closer to California and Colorado fits in better with St. Louis, Dallas and Arizona.

Is this different than just having 4 divisions of 8 teams because of the difficulty of deciding which teams would have to change conferences?

Doesn't seem like there would be much difference other than that?

42 Games:
Teams would play all 24 teams NOT in their Conference that year home and away 42 Games.

so 24 x 2 = 42?

Yes... Sabres and Leafs separated makes no sense. Like I said about MTL and BOS being in different divisions.
- mlindsay

Agreed, and although Ek mentioned the sister divisions if you switch em around you are going to miss out on too many great match ups... if you keep em the same you might as well just have 8 team divisions like its currently set up (cept out west)

I actually don't think this idea is crazy. However, the schedule needs a tweak. Two games vs. each of the other 24 teams is 48 games, not 42. Four against each team in the "sister division" is 16. You'd then have to go six against your division for 18. 48 + 16 + 18 = 82.

I wouldn't like the playoff format if it's strictly two teams from each division. Perhaps you can take four from each "conference" (two division winners and two wild cards).

This idea will never happen, but it actually makes a little sense.

I would switch Colorado and Las Vegas. Vegas is much closer to California and Colorado fits in better with St. Louis, Dallas and Arizona.
- Judeman5000

I agree. I am making that change

I like the idea BUT The time zones aren't thought really out

Buffalo & Detroit = EST
Chicago & Min = CST

then you got St Louis, who is 300 miles from the Hawks and Dallas playing against teams in the Pacific & Mountain Time zones in Vegas & Phoenix...

Just put both teams in the West to balance.
Vegas goes to Pacific Division
Columbus goes back to the Central

Quebec can go back to the Eastern Conference

Done.

I do like Detroit back with the Hawks. Those were always fun games, I missed that this year.. But I get the fact they wanted to be Eastern Conf because of travel to California etc