[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Reign of Fire

I don't usually create threads. There are others' with much better contributions than I can provide. But something has been bugging me for a while so I figure I'll bring it up. As the race for the Pacific gets tight between San Jose and Calgary, I hear people say how much they hate San Jose or even Vegas. It probably because we are competing for the first place with these teams. Personally, I hate the Oilers and the Canucks and nothing comes close for me. I only hated the Ducks, cause we couldn't win there and cause of Kesler and Bieksa (ex-Canucks). But I don't really care enough about Vegas or San Jose to use the word hate.

So I was wondering with Seattle joining the league and the league going to 32 teams; why not adopt the NFL divisional system? Use those natural rivalries.

So I would have Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Seattle in one division. San Jose, Anaheim, Los Angeles and Vegas in another and so on...

As for scheduling, you play your division rivals 6 times each (18 games total), conference rivals 4 times each (48 games total) and remaining 16 games are for teams in the other conference (8 home games against 2 divisions, 8 away games against other 2 divisions), alternating home/away every other season. With this method, I would assume there would be a reduction in the miles western teams travel throughout the year as well.

As for playoffs, 4 divisional leaders from each conference get in, with 4 wild card spots. With the wild card teams getting in due to their records, you rearrange the seeding to get much closer to 1 playing 8 then you do now.

Just my two cents...thoughts?

This format would see a guy like Crosby in Calgary once every 4 years.

Likely not appealing to the league and its marketing arm.