I don't know if this is the answer but I've always thought there was room for improvement in the schedules. How many times does a team fly across the continent to play 2 or 3 road games and then fly home only to do the same thing the next month? Longer road swings out east would make more sense travel-wise and create longer home stands for the teams.
That said, these guys have families and responsibilities outside hockey and that should also be considered. A long road trip just to save on travel may have other unintended negative effects.
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