84 game season a possibility?

[glen a richter]

I just read they’re tossing this idea around that there may be an added 2 games for scheduling balance purposes. Got me to thinking back to the early 90’s when they played neutral site games. I’m probably in the very minority on this but I’d like to see those come back. Opinions?

[gaijin]

I just read they’re tossing this idea around that there may be an added 2 games for scheduling balance purposes. Got me to thinking back to the early 90’s when they played neutral site games. I’m probably in the very minority on this but I’d like to see those come back. Opinions?

I'd be for neutral site games. I know they've been doing overseas games for a while, but I wouldn't mind seeing more, whether overseas or stateside.

As for an 84-game season, I'm not so sure. The NHL already has a reputation for being the longest season among the 4 major team sports. I mean, I'm always for more hockey, but the season is about the same duration as a school year as it is.

[theohall]

84 games would require the NHLPA signing off on something. Unless the owners give back on this current escrow stuff to balance the cap sooner, I don't see this happening at all. Bettman reversed his cap comments from earlier this season saying the cap would likely stay flat for 2 more seasons....

Dave Bernstein commented on this over the weekend while also discussing the "play-in" round nonsense, which apparently wasn't even mentioned at the Board of Governor's meetings. (the play-in stuff was talking heads making crap up). But, if there is a worry about divisional play and playoff standings - just eliminate two of the non-divisional games from your same conference and add them back as divisional games.

[glen a richter]

In the 90s I enjoyed watching the Knicks. Basketball wasn't the complete clusterfukk it is now but I still follow the Knicks here and there and wish them well. Where the NBA almost lost me entirely was the stupid play in. Either you're playoff material or you're not. The difference with basketball is that it's an understood who'll be the last two teams standing and the play in doesn't do anything other than determine a sacrificial lamb for the top seeds.

In the NHL a play in would just make the season longer than it already is, which is too damn long. Like Gaijin said, it runs the course of an entire school year from pre season to the Cup. How much longer do we need to make it already? Sweet jeebus, cut the season to 70 games and finish before Memorial Day, dammit.