Does the NHL have a scheduling problem?

[Zary's-Mustache]

Feels like every year there are some teams who get the short end of the stick with travel and B2B games and some teams get the benefit of playing tired teams on a b2b more often.

These scheduling perks can greatly benefit some teams. Does the NHL need to tighten up these scheduling advantages and make it more fair for all teams?

Maybe have a maximum and minimum for all teams playing b2b and playing teams on a b2b. Keep it between a certain number for all teams and make that number very close. No team should get a big advantage because of scheduling and IMO NHL needs to do a better job. These points can be the difference between missing and making playoffs.

[shadowlord]

The challenging part is that the schedule-makers also have to align it with arena availability as well as the different travel demands (ie Western Confernece vs Eastern Conference).

[transplant99]

Yeah....every team in the league is in a multi-use facility i believe.

As such there will always be glitches in schedules like B2B and 5 games in 7 nights type things.

[Zary's-Mustache]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Yeah....every team in the league is in a multi-use facility i believe.

As such there will always be glitches in schedules like B2B and 5 games in 7 nights type things.

Yeah I understand that but I think the NHL needs to do a better job of making it more fair and even if it means adding an extra week to the schedule.

There is no way New Jersey should have to play 16 games on a b2b while seatte only has to play 7. That's a major advantage for some teams and unfair to other teams.

[curves2000]

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.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Zary's-Mustache

Yeah I understand that but I think the NHL needs to do a better job of making it more fair and even if it means adding an extra week to the schedule.

There is no way New Jersey should have to play 16 games on a b2b while seatte only has to play 7. That's a major advantage for some teams and unfair to other teams.

Would be hard for the NHL to do a better job if they have to work around New Jersey arena scheduling. Not to mention the opposing team schedule as well.

[FlamesAddiction]

I remember a few years ago reading an article about scheduling in professional sports leagues and how difficult it is because of all of the constraints involved. They couldn't even develop computer programs to do it and not end up having some teams completely boned. A group of human beings had to do it and it was a very difficult and time consuming process to try and come up with something balanced for every team. That was a few years back and maybe things have progressed since then, especially with AI advancements.

Just think of all the constraints involved. You have 41 home games for 32 different teams, some of which have really busy arenas. Then you have to try and line up games for road trips and not just a bunch of one-off trips. Teams can't play more than twice in a row or 4 games in 5 nights. And you have to fit it all in between October and April. Probably more that I can't even think of right now.

It sounds like a nightmare to work out.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Zary's-Mustache

Yeah I understand that but I think the NHL needs to do a better job of making it more fair and even if it means adding an extra week to the schedule.

There is no way New Jersey should have to play 16 games on a b2b while seatte only has to play 7. That's a major advantage for some teams and unfair to other teams.

A major advantage?

It adds up to less than 1 expected point per season in the most extreme example, so, no.

https://www.nhltips.ca/back-to-back-...-betting-tips/

[troutman]

I blame the Flames management for not fighting for a more balanced schedule. They are too locked in for tues - thurs and sat and this if costing us 5-10 points in the standings compared to Edmonton.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by troutman

I blame the Flames management for not fighting for a more balanced schedule. They are too locked in for tues - thurs and sat and this if costing us 5-10 points in the standings compared to Edmonton.

The schedule does not cost any team 10 points at the expense of any other. That's simply dreamland.

[Eric Vail]

I find the complaining about schedules the most tiring topic on CP.

[MrMike]

I’m all for this as long as we never play a Saturday morning game again unless it’s in Philly.

And can we stop playing early games at home because the visiting team has more “pull” on hockey night it Canada and the poor fans can’t stay awake?

[lazypucker]

I still can't fathom how the league still insist of having teams play on back-to-back days. Extend the regular season for 2 weeks will eliminate such scheduling problems.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

I still can't fathom how the league still insist of having teams play on back-to-back days. Extend the regular season for 2 weeks will eliminate such scheduling problems.

Please no.
The season is way too long/late already.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Eric Vail

I find the complaining about schedules the most tiring topic on CP.

Not the top but maybe top 10. I wish I could put threads on ignore.

[Reggie Dunlop]

I blame Bettman.

[EVERLAST]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

I blame Bettman.

Poor Gary

Its all your fault , it's all you fault, you suck GB....boohoo hisssss!!

He is a big part of the issue
.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

I still can't fathom how the league still insist of having teams play on back-to-back days. Extend the regular season for 2 weeks will eliminate such scheduling problems.

The crazy part is how teams seemingly would rather play back-to-back games than fill their calendar in October and November. A lot of American teams don't like to have games in those months because attendance is generally less due to NFL and probably some other factors.

Look at New Jersey's schedule in October and November. You can't tell me that they couldn't have squeezed in some more games to reduce the back-to-back situation if they really wanted to:

https://www.nhl.com/devils/schedule/2023-10-02
https://www.nhl.com/devils/schedule/2023-11-02

[Erick Estrada]

One thing about the schedule I never really noticed until I got into fantasy hockey leagues is that the league schedules the bulk of weekly games on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights by choice leaving Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday where they fit other games in. I assume history has shown those nights as more favorable for attendance?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

One thing about the schedule I never really noticed until I got into fantasy hockey leagues is that the league schedules the bulk of weekly games on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights by choice leaving Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday where they fit other games in. I assume history has shown those nights as more favorable for attendance?

I think it's more an artifact of trying to load up Saturday games. That means fridays and Sundays are automatically light due to les b2b games being less likely, which then loads up Thursday and Monday somewhat, which then means less games on Monday and Wednesday due to less b2b's.