218 replies to this topic

[Triumph]

Careful, despite not making the playoffs since forever they still have a higher average attendance than we do this year according to ESPN's stats. That being said, I do think both Tampa and Florida are yes votes for the exact reason that they can draw a significant amount of away fans in the proposed alignment. It's the same reason the Panthers play the Canadians every year during the Holidays since they know their fans will travel.

Are we going to have this debate again? Florida basically gives tickets away and offers promotions to fans of other teams. Their revenue generated from ticket sales can't be anywhere near what NJ gets.

[adam85491]

Season tickets start at about 300 bucks for florida. Our cheapest, which was only for early renewals and signups in the balcony, was 1k.

Apples to oranges.

[Devils Dose]

Travel costs a lot of money. I think it outweighs any possible ticket sales which are not a sure thing...unlike travel costs which are guaranteed.

I don't think the real problem for the Panthers is being with those northern teams. They already lost Atlanta, that was the only trip besides Tampa that would have been nice and cheap for them. Sure, going to Ottawa is much rougher than Raleigh, but it still beats Winnipeg. It's also not that big of a change, since they already visit all of those places twice a year anyway. The real travel pinch under this proposed set-up is playing in every arena every year. That means two or three big road trips to knock off all of those western teams.

[Colin226]

I don't think the real problem for the Panthers is being with those northern teams. They already lost Atlanta, that was the only trip besides Tampa that would have been nice and cheap for them. Sure, going to Ottawa is much rougher than Raleigh, but it still beats Winnipeg. It's also not that big of a change, since they already visit all of those places twice a year anyway. The real travel pinch under this proposed set-up is playing in every arena every year. That means two or three big road trips to knock off all of those western teams.

True but players are always saying that road trips build team chemistry and I remember hearing that one time the Penguins flew back to Pittsburgh and spent the net in a hotel because they had a 4 win road trip just to preserve the same atmosphere and routines

[Marshall]

Travel costs a lot of money. I think it outweighs any possible ticket sales which are not a sure thing...unlike travel costs which are guaranteed.

(Some) teams are looking at about a million dollars in increased travel costs.

[BlueSkirt]

I'd actually like to see this tried out. also i heard them say that the imbalance of teams (16 "west" vs 14 "east") is temporary, for the reasoning that if phoenix moves to say quebec, they would be placed in one of the "eastern conferences" evening out 15 each

if that PHO--> QUE move happened, then they could move Pitt up with the other 3 Canadian teams, Boston, Buffalo


And move Tampa/Florida into "our" conference of the 3 NY, Philly, Wash, Carolina teams





But what if the Isles then end up moving ?....

[eaglejelly]

I don't mind the new divisions/Conferences too much, but I hate the idea of having the first 2 rounds within the divisions/Conferences. You can beat rivalries to death and if the 80’s Oilers happen to be in your division/Conference, you will never get past the 2^nd round even if you are the 2^nd best team in the NHL

[MadDog2020]

Don't like this at all- its trying to fix what isn't broken imo.As I've said a hundred times- Wiinnipeg to the Northwest, Colorado to the Pacific, Dallas to the Central, and Nashville or Columbus to the East. That's the best solution, so it doesn't surprise me that the NHL is looking to do something like this that makes no sense. That's just how Bettman rolls.

[Devil Dan 56]

I don't mind the new divisions/Conferences too much, but I hate the idea of having the first 2 rounds within the divisions/Conferences. You can beat rivalries to death and if the 80’s Oilers happen to be in your division/Conference, you will never get past the 2^nd round even if you are the 2^nd best team in the NHL

But having to beat the best team is what the playoffs are all about. If you're the second best team, and you upset the best, that makes you the best. That's the beauty of divisional playoffs. I mean Calgary upsetting Edmonton in Game 7 in 86 because of Steve Smith's own goal is still talked about in that rivalry today.

You really can't beat a good rivalry to death if it's real. The Rangers-Isles series of the 70's and early 80's are legendary. As are all of the Boston-Montreal series because they still seem to play each other every year even without divisional playoffs.

[eaglejelly]

But having to beat the best team is what the playoffs are all about. If you're the second best team, and you upset the best, that makes you the best. That's the beauty of divisional playoffs. I mean Calgary upsetting Edmonton in Game 7 in 86 because of Steve Smith's own goal is still talked about in that rivalry today.

You really can't beat a good rivalry to death if it's real. The Rangers-Isles series of the 70's and early 80's are legendary. As are all of the Boston-Montreal series because they still seem to play each other every year even without divisional playoffs.

There was a reason they didn’t continue the format where you played 8 games against the division teams. Its starts getting old very quick.

[Triumph]

I don't mind the new divisions/Conferences too much, but I hate the idea of having the first 2 rounds within the divisions/Conferences. You can beat rivalries to death and if the 80’s Oilers happen to be in your division/Conference, you will never get past the 2^nd round even if you are the 2^nd best team in the NHL

There won't be another 80's Oilers so I don't think this is a concern. Nor do I think a playoff rivalry can be beaten to death.

Don't like this at all- its trying to fix what isn't broken imo.As I've said a hundred times- Wiinnipeg to the Northwest, Colorado to the Pacific, Dallas to the Central, and Nashville or Columbus to the East. That's the best solution, so it doesn't surprise me that the NHL is looking to do something like this that makes no sense. That's just how Bettman rolls.

If every team in the West votes for this, it's clear that they think something is wrong with the current system.

There was a reason they didn’t continue the format where you played 8 games against the division teams. Its starts getting old very quick.

They discontinued this because under that system, teams would not play each other even once some years. Western teams were upset at the East hogging Crosby and Ovechkin.

[eaglejelly]

I guess I am the only who enjoys games against teams from outside the tristate area every once in a while

[Devil Dan 56]

I guess I am the only who enjoys games against teams from outside the tristate area every once in a while

There will be more games outside the tri-state area. The playoffs will just start with divisional playoffs before moving to conferences and Stanley Cup Finals.

[eaglejelly]

There will be more games outside the tri-state area. The playoffs will just start with divisional playoffs before moving to conferences and Stanley Cup Finals.

But only one team from the division will make it there, no matter how dominant the division is.

[eldon]

This is so messed up since we don't know if Phoenix has a team next year or not. And Buttman doesn't want that city to know it until the season is over, not after these meetings.

[Devil Dan 56]

But only one team from the division will make it there, no matter how dominant the division is.

So what's wrong with that? It means more games outside of the tri-state are if the Devils made it out of the division.

For example, using last year's standings, we'd have Wash-NYR and Phi-Pit, Bos-TB and Mon-Buf, Det-Dal and Nash-Chi, Van-Phx and SJ-Ana coming out of the divisions and playing in the 1st round.

Assuming top seeds make it, we have Wash-Phi, Bos-Mon, Det-Nash, and Van-SJ in round 2.

After round 2, there's a re-seeding. Assuming top seed makes it in each series, the 3rd round would be Van-Bos and Wash-Det, followed by a Van-Wash final.

This way you have your divisional playoffs in rounds 1 and 2, and then there's variety in rounds 3 and 4. You could have a final involving 2 eastern teams, for example. Basically, you could play anyone in the finals EXCEPT a division rival.

Edited by Devil Dan 56, 05 December 2011 - 01:53 PM.

[eaglejelly]

So what's wrong with that? It means more games outside of the tri-state are if the Devils made it out of the division.

Statistically you only make the 3^rd round once every 7-8 years

[Devil Dan 56]

Statistically you only make the 3^rd round once every 7-8 years

I still don't understand the issue. This new alignment allows for divisional playoffs and rivalries in the first 2 rounds. Are you saying you'd prefer to keep the right to play Tampa or Florida or Ottawa in the first or second round over the idea of divisional playoffs?

[eaglejelly]

I still don't understand the issue. This new alignment allows for divisional playoffs and rivalries in the first 2 rounds. Are you saying you'd prefer to keep the right to play Tampa or Florida or Ottawa in the first or second round over the idea of divisional playoffs?

I just believe in the long run it’s more interesting having also series against teams like Montreal, Boston, and Toronto, not just to a limited pool of teams. A series against the Flyers or Rangers is great, but if it happens every year, it loses its magic.

[devilsfan26]

I'm not sure if I like the divisional playoff idea, I feel like it doesn't accurately represent who the best four teams are. If one division is much better than another division, then the teams in the easier division have an easier road to the final four or league semifinals or whatever it would be called. Of course you could say the same now comparing the East to the West, but at least with only two groups it is less of a problem than with four groups. I also hate that some divisions would have more teams than others. I prefer to keep it the same and just move a team to the East.