2020-21 NHL

Oct 28, 2020 22:54:59 GMT twothousandonemark said:

Oct 28, 2020 5:16:54 GMT OrsonSwelles said:

So the NHL season ended before the NBA season yet they plan to restart it after? I'm expecting a 48 game season, which they've done twice since the 90s, and then a regular 16 team playoff.

NHL doesn't have the same influence over media & marketing decisions the NBA has.  I'm still not certain how they'll treat COVID-19, the Canadian division/schedule thing is a consideration, as is having 2-3 game season series like baseball schedule.  

Seems obvious to me what the NHL should do for a 48 game schedule:

-- 7 team Canadian division with each team playing the other 6 teams 8 times, 4 each home and away all done in one shot to reduce travel time/costs and allowing road teams to isolate in one city before returning home.

-- 24 American teams divided into 4 6 team divisions, 2 east and 2 west. Each team plays the other 5 teams in their division 6 times, 3 home and away and play the other 6 teams in their conference 3 times, half all at home and half all on the road.

-- Top 4 Canadian teams play 2 rounds allowing one in the semi-final.

-- Each American conference will have top 2 teams in each division as well as next 2 best in the conference make the playoffs. The 6 teams will play each other in the first round and the 3 winners will pair up with the 3 winners from the other conference in the second round sending those 3 winners to the semis.

-- Hopefully by this point an allowance can be made for cross border travel and we'll then see the Leafs playing for the Cup on home ice early in June, around when the season normally would've ended and we can be back on schedule <fingers crossed> for 2021/22.