Quote:
Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher
I understand all that. My argument was not solely about division though. The entire Western Conference is stronger right now then it was a few years back.
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No, it isn't. This year, the Western Conference was significantly weaker than the East, as measured by the standings from inter-conference games. Ignoring loser points, Eastern teams won 233 games against Western opponents; Western teams won 215 games against Eastern opponents. Even if you exclude Colorado's inter-conference games, the West still won fewer than the East – 203 to 213. In some recent seasons, the ratio ran as high as 5 to 4 in favour of the West. No longer.
The Avs played 32 games against Eastern opponents and 50 in the West. If they had played in the Eastern Conference this season, they would have had 54 in the East and 28 against the West. If they had the same winning percentage against each conference, that would have given them 55 points. Their truly putrid record against the Pacific Division would have mattered less, but they would still be comfortably last overall.
No matter how much lipstick you put on it, it's still a pig.