I've always felt that the game gets watered down with the 82 game schedule. Less games would lead to less injuries, higher intensity, and faster pace hockey. Not to mention the fans would be more into it because each home game would feel more like an event. It becomes most apparent at the start of playoffs where each team has been resting for close to a week leading up to it and the pace picks up significantly.
The NFL has done a great job with this, giving players a week to rest up between games and getting every home game to feel like a big local event. Fortunately for them they have the TV contracts to support the 16 game season whereas the NHL relies more heavily on the ticket sales from 82 games.
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