Originally posted by OliverI don't like conferences, personally. To be honest, I would ditch everything and merely have the top eight or sixteen teams regardless of where they play involved in one pool, 1 vs. 16, 2 vs 15, 3/14, etc. and then go from there.
As it stands, we will never get to see some dream matchups in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Edmonton/Calgary, Toronto/Montreal (hold your jokes on how back either team is, I was speaking rhetorically), or LA vs. San Jose, or whatever else.
I may be getting old, but I really don't understand the new set up. It seems too complicated.
(edited by Oliver on 26.2.13 1938)
I'm with you. They will never do away with conferences, but I would love a single table. They will never do away with divisions, so a bunch of conference-less divisions (or division-less conferences) is a happy medium. Five six-team divisions and the best eight get in (division winners + three wildcard) 5 division foes x 6 games = 30 24 other teams x 2 games = 48 Total games played: 78
My five divisions if I had any say:
Hull Division (It was a toss up between him or Gretzky for naming the 5th division) Colorado Dallas Florida Nashville Phoenix Tampa Bay
Adams Division Boston Buffalo Carolina Columbus Montreal Ottawa
Patrick Division New Jersey New York Islanders New York Rangers Philadelphia Pittsburgh Washington
Norris Division Chicago Detroit Minnesota St. Louis Toronto Winnipeg
Smythe Division Anaheim Calgary Edmonton Los Angeles San Jose Vancouver
Speaking of division names, Boston and Montreal would be in the "Central" division in this new format. Really?
"I like this Ray Lewis fellow. He would do well in my era. Men who killed other men were an integral part of 1880s base ball." - Old Hoss Radbourn
Originally posted by OliverAs it stands, we will never get to see some dream matchups in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Edmonton/Calgary, Toronto/Montreal (hold your jokes on how back either team is, I was speaking rhetorically), or LA vs. San Jose, or whatever else.
I may be getting old, but I really don't understand the new set up. It seems too complicated.
(edited by Oliver on 26.2.13 1938)
Huh? Each of those matchups is possible, just not in the Finals. As divisional rivals, they could meet in any round prior to the Conference Finals (unless one advances by way of "cross over" wild card opportunities, in which case Conference Finals is also possible). I don't see the problem in that.
I do. I want to see rivals fight for the Stanley Cup. I want to see the Islanders/Rangers. Leafs/Canadiens. Flames/Oilers. Flyers/Penguins. For the Stanley Cup. Not in the conference finals, for the Cup.
But rivals can't play for the championship in any pro sport. Because they're rivals from proximity, and the championships are always one side's winner vs. the other.Then get rid of the "sides".