Some teams may prioritize scheduling more than others. I remember reading that the Canucks ownership group, a team that is considered to have the worst travel in the NHL, tries and makes it a point to work with the NHL for the best options. They refuse to book events at the arena until they can maximize things for the Canucks, and that is a busy arena.
I do think the western Canada teams have it worse. Not a lot of close flights, a lot of cross border travel for divisions and probably the most challenging weather.
You see stupid anomalies though. When teams like Toronto, Montreal, Boston come out west they play Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver almost always. When the Canadian teams head out they sometimes play the NY based teams and another club but you never see NY teams, Boston, Buffalo and Montreal etc. They always haver to go back a few times.
|