[News] NHL to have bye weeks next season

[sureLoss]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/i...asons-schedule

It has been well publicized that as part of accepting the 3-on-3 format proposed by the NHL, the players wanted the Friday night player draft axed.

But another key item gained by the players in these negotiations was some extra time off in the grinding regular-season schedule, a source told ESPN.com.

The league and the NHLPA have committed to building a "five-day bye week" for each team into the schedule next season. The league will schedule one for each club between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28 next season.

Players won’t have to report for practice until after 4 p.m. on the fifth day if they have a game on the sixth day, a source said. If the players don't have a game on the sixth day, they would have the entire fifth day off.

[taco.vidal]

I wonder how the byes are going to be spread over the season. Edit: Read that the weeks will be in the second half of the season. You'd still probably want to get it later rather than earlier in the second half. I wonder how the week off will be determined for each team. Past season standings? Random?

Timing will be everything. Don't want it too early, and don't want it too late depending how late they go. Like in the NFL, it sux if you have a bye week early in the season. Its nice if you get it mid to late of the weeks its available so that you guys can rest up and recoup injuries.

[hockey.modern]

Ah, that's good for the players to get mentally prepared for the last half of the season.

[btimbit]

I like it, especially if it means less 3-4 day breaks between games other than the bye week

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

I wonder how the byes are going to be spread over the season. Edit: Read that the weeks will be in the second half of the season. You'd still probably want to get it later rather than earlier in the second half. I wonder how the week off will be determined for each team. Past season standings? Random?

Timing will be everything. Don't want it too early, and don't want it too late depending how late they go. Like in the NFL, it sux if you have a bye week early in the season. Its nice if you get it mid to late of the weeks its available so that you guys can rest up and recoup injuries.

Haha, c'mon man, it's right in the quoted text in the OP.

The league and the NHLPA have committed to building a "five-day bye week" for each team into the schedule next season. The league will schedule one for each club between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28 next season.

EDIT: nm, saw your edit.

[sureLoss]

One thing that is unclear is if this means the regular season will be extended even longer or if the schedule makers can make it work within the same time frame.

[Max Cow Disease]

Seems like a good idea. Training camp, pre-season, 82 game regular season, potentially some playoffs. It seems like quite the grind that can take its toll on some players (especially younger rookies and whatnot). A week to nurse some minor wounds and get refreshed for the home stretch should only improve the product for fans, in my opinion.

[calgaryblood]

Good idea since the start of the season is always so messed up with teams getting 2-5 days off between games and the schedule starts getting real congested after about the 25 game mark.

[corporatejay]

As long as it doesn't extend the season i think it's great but man if this thing goes into July that's ridiculous. Season is long enough.

[sharkov]

very football like. This will be beneficial to those suffering from concussions

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

As long as it doesn't extend the season i think it's great but man if this thing goes into July that's ridiculous. Season is long enough.

Very doubtful as teams are already getting 4 -5 day breaks now but I think it means that they don't have to practice? And an actual break?

[Armchair Quarterback]

Dumb. Why don't they just shorten the season if the players find it to be too rigorous.

[CubicleGeek]

So the 2-4 months over the summer (or in the Oilers case, the 11 months not called October) is not enough time off?

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Armchair Quarterback

Dumb. Why don't they just shorten the season if the players find it too be too rigorous.

Money. The money they make and how much players are paid.

I don't think the teams want to lose out on potential profits and I don't think the players want to take any kind of pay cut.

[Finger Cookin]

Good for the players. The season is a grind, and other than a few days around Christmas they can be on the road or practicing while playing 3-4 times a week on average for 6 months. I'm sure they'll all enjoy the 5 day break when it comes up. Hopefully they're already busy practicing the cliches about whether the break is coming at a good or bad time for the team.

[dammage79]

It's going to be a major momentum killer for teams. Long breaks tend to let things slip away.

Adds a new dynamic that teams need to account for and plan their season strategies around.

It will help manage injuries a bit more though. That will be useful.

[Lil Pedro]

Legitimately thought the OP was an Onion article

[bubbsy]

personally i don't like it.

watching my team play every other day is one of the things i love most about winter. the long haul of the season already seems long enough, but adding a week, or even just a week where your team is off the grid seems weak.

[T@T]

More than one NHL player have told me they wished the league would take a week off over christmas, for those who have time to watch hockey could still watch the WJ's

[Flames89]

Makes sense, but not at the expense of extending the season.