from Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic,
About once a year, I put on my commissioner-for-a-day hat and lay out changes I would love to see. I encourage our readers to add some ideas of their own in the comments section below.
In the spirit of the holidays, here’s a six-pack of changes I would love to see:
1. Fix the points system
One of the reasons I constantly remind people of the difference between losing streaks (all losses in regulation) and winless streaks (overtime/shootout points gained) is to point out that the NHL is not a win-loss league when it comes to tabling its standings. It’s a points-accumulation league.
As I like to say, a team could lose 82 games in overtime or a shootout, and while it wouldn’t make the playoffs, those 82 points would have been good enough for 21st overall in a 32-team league last season. That’s for 82 games without a win!
This is why I’ve long maintained the need for the NHL to reconsider its points system. I reminded our readers in April, that the NHL actually did consider a 3-2-1 points system almost 19 years ago at a rather famous meeting of general managers in Henderson, Nevada — a meeting that pushed for a number of rule changes that changed the game.
much more ($)
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Since we have to have a winner and a loser every game, the point system is archaic and serves no purpose other than to prop up bad teams. Just count up the W's at the end of the season, and that's your standings. No need for all this 3-2-1-0 or loser point nonsense. It would also get rid of the skate-around-til-OT problem. If you win the game, you get a W. If you don't you get a L.
This isn't complicated.
Create an Account
In order to leave a comment, please create an account.