Here’s what I’d put in each category.
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Like most sports, the most recent National Hockey League season looks much different from usual. We have been lucky enough to get some quality and exciting hockey – and if you are a bettor using the best Canada betting sites – you know that this is a unique year.
The shortened length of the season is only out of necessity, and the aim is to get back to a regular schedule for the 2021-22 season. That said, there are some aspects from this year that the NHL could keep and (likewise) some things that the league should do away with after this season.
Here’s what I’d put in each category.
Take: The Advantages of the Baseball-Style Schedule
To limit travelling and exposure, the NHL adopted a schedule that often mirrors Major League Baseball. Teams would often play each other two, three, four (one time they played seven times) in a row. While seven games are absurd during the regular season, and even four is a bit much, more two-game mini-series would be good.
Another positive that is overlooked when playing consecutive games against the same team in the same city is that it limits air travel. Flying is both expensive and bad for the environment. The less you have to do, the better it is for the air and the bottom line.
It will not always be reasonable to play multiple games against the same team – especially when many arenas are home to other teams and host concerts. But with some effort and coordination, two-game series (for parts of the schedule) is doable, surprisingly fun, and recommended.
Do Not Take: Permanent Divisional Realignment
The NHL switched up their divisions this season – and the results have been relatively good. Obviously, with fans not attending games for most of the seasons (and, in some places, not for the entire season), it is somewhat less important playing every team at least once at home. And that is something that will not stick next year.
Some people may want the divisions to remain the same from now on – but there are a few problems.
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The first is the entry of Seattle into the NHL next year. The only division with seven teams and not eight is the North Division (or the Canadian Division). Unless there is a plan no one knows about to relocate some American franchise to like Halifax or something, it will not work.
The second is the loss of traditional rivalries. The Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens is arguably one of the greatest rivalries in sports. Why? One reason is that these two teams have played against each other in the same division for years, which means they have a rich and fierce history.
Traditional divisions are aligned geographically. The current change is not much different – but it could slow the growth of the impending rivalry between Vancouver and Seattle if they were somehow in different divisions.
Too Soon to Tell: The Revamped Playoff Format
The 2021 NHL playoffs will look different from normal – and we cannot be sure if it will be awesome or a one-year misfire.
The current structure is set up so the top four teams from each division make the playoffs and play each other in the first two rounds. The #1-seed will play the fourth-placed team, and numbers two and three will square off in the other matchup. This setup guarantees at least one team from each division advances to the third round (normally called the East and West Conference Finals).
The setup could further fuel some rivalries – guaranteeing division matchups for the first two rounds. It could also overly reward one division that is not as strong as another division. It also limits the potential playoff matches each year.
We will learn plenty once the NHL playoffs start – which is currently on the calendar to begin in late May (after game delays pushed it back about two weeks).
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What are your thoughts on the current NHL season? Is there anything you love and would like to see carried on in the future? Or are you just hoping for the league to go back to normal in 2021-22? Let me know in Comments!
