New NHL schedule change

As voted on today the Nhl schedule changed somewhat it's old format. Although the past couple of seasons the travel aspect has benefitted us the most, as our location in relation to NY, Philly and Pit...

I think its good though to see some Western conference teams more, as I do miss those friday and Saturday late night games playing the west coast teams @ 10 pm. I have to think though Lou was in the minority about changing this, as he was most likely the voice to change it after the lockout, Lou is no dummy less travel did keep us fresh to say the least.

Any thoughts?

Link to story

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=223975&hubname=nhl

*Also here is the breakdown of what it will look like compared to the current format

Current 8x4 division 4x10 conference 1x10 non-conf 0x5 non-conf
Proposed 6x4 division 4x10 conference 1x12 non-conf 2x3 non-conf

Finally, a step in the right direction!!

Man...can't wait for that Phoenix/Devils game at 10pm!

They needed to fix the schedule by taking away 10 games.

As voted on today the Nhl schedule changed somewhat it's old format. Although the past couple of seasons the travel aspect has benefitted us the most, as our location in relation to NY, Philly and Pit...

I think its good though to see some Western conference teams more, as I do miss those friday and Saturday late night games playing the west coast teams @ 10 pm. I have to think though Lou was in the minority about changing this, as he was most likely the voice to change it after the lockout, Lou is no dummy less travel did keep us fresh to say the least.

Any thoughts?

May have more to do with attendance. FLA, Nashvillle, Atlanta, etc. were among our worst attended games last year along with the Isles and Montreal. Seeing the Kings, Coyotes, Columbus more is not going to help JVB get that attendance number to 17,000.

new schedule is fine with me, whatever works.

Man...can't wait for that Phoenix/Devils game at 10pm!

They needed to fix the schedule by taking away 10 games.

Actually wouldn't mind 10pm games some days. Sometimes I have Martial Arts class I skip cause of hockey night, if it was at 10pm then I wouldn't have to skip it.

I'm actually excited we're finally getting to see more of the West Coast teams.

There are some great kids out West (they may not be Sid or AO), but they've got some talent and it's good to expose these young kids so we can get more fans into our game!!

BRING ON THE WEST BABY!!!

And, actually, the way they're doing it now, is kinda stupid. If they added 2 more games to the schedule and made it an 84 game season, everything would be so much easier! (I would rather pay for regular season games and give up going to some of the pre-season games.)

It would be 6 games against each in your division (24 games), 30 games against the other Western Conference (1 home, 1 away), other divisions in your conference 3 games (total 30 games - 1 Division would be 2 home games, 1 away, and then the other Division would be opposite. - then the following season it would change.)

Finally, a step in the right direction!!

Yes indeed.

Inter-conference games generally suck. They have no passion, they draw crappy. I often have no idea what's going on in the Western Conference and I'm fine with that. I have enough on my plate hating my conference rivals, I have no more left for the West. ;) If I want to see West Conference players I'll turn on the games on Center Ice or watch Versus.

If they had to increase the inter-conference play at least they only limited it to five more games a season.

Inter-conference games generally suck. They have no passion, they draw crappy. I often have no idea what's going on in the Western Conference and I'm fine with that. I have enough on my plate hating my conference rivals, I have no more left for the West. ;) If I want to see West Conference players I'll turn on the games on Center Ice or watch Versus.

If they had to increase the inter-conference play at least they only limited it to five more games a season.

For people that don't have Center Ice or can't stop up past 9:30ish, seeing the Western Conference would be nice!

They have some great kids over there (Stastny, Kopitar, Getzlaf, etc), and it's great to watch them! And for those that play fantasy hockey, it would be nice to actually see what the players on your team are doing!

For people that don't have Center Ice or can't stop up past 9:30ish, seeing the Western Conference would be nice!

They have some great kids over there (Stastny, Kopitar, Getzlaf, etc), and it's great to watch them! And for those that play fantasy hockey, it would be nice to actually see what the players on your team are doing!

To me it doesn't matter what talent they have there. There's no hate involved. No passion, no emotion. The interconference games they have now barely keep my interest.

Finally, a step in the right direction!!

It is a step in the right direction, though I can't understand why they can't have a schedule where every team plays home and away against all 29 other teams. But, at least 6 divisional games is much better than 8!

To me it doesn't matter what talent they have there. There's no hate involved. No passion, no emotion. The interconference games they have now barely keep my interest.

So because there's no hate involved, you can't enjoy a great hockey game with awesome talent?!?

That's the problem. The way the schedule is now, nobody has interest in inter-conference games, and it shouldn't be that way!

Sometimes I find the Western Conference games more exciting than the Eastern Conference games and would much rather watch those than watching teams I may not like because of hatred towards them.

It is a step in the right direction, though I can't understand why they can't have a schedule where every team plays home and away against all 29 other teams. But, at least 6 divisional games is much better than 8!

Exactly!!! That's why I think the idea that I had posted is a pretty good one!

It may be a little more costly with travel, but you need to have all the teams playing all the teams to attract more fans!!

Exactly!!! That's why I think the idea that I had posted is a pretty good one!

It may be a little more costly with travel, but you need to have all the teams playing all the teams to attract more fans!!

Yeah. Thats how I'd want it as well.

So because there's no hate involved, you can't enjoy a great hockey game with awesome talent?!?

That's the problem. The way the schedule is now, nobody has interest in inter-conference games, and it shouldn't be that way!

But passion and emotion is what makes a decent hockey game great. Do you not get excited about a Rangers-Devils game? Is the excitement comparable to a Devils-Coyotes game? Without the passion and emotion I just care about the results, not the process. If you're going to go to two games a season, are you going to pick a Devils-Rangers/Flyers/Islanders (or even Toronto/Montreal or someone) to spend your money on, or Devils-Minnesota?

In the past (80's and 90's) the league played much more inter-conference games. These games were by far the worst crowd draw around the league, the least interesting games and the deadest crowds, so having more inter-conference games has historically shown not to increase interest. I actually think you make more interest in the other conference by seeing them rarely, so each time is a treat rather than just another inter-conference game.

But passion and emotion is what makes a decent hockey game great. Do you not get excited about a Rangers-Devils game? Is the excitement comparable to a Devils-Coyotes game? Without the passion and emotion I just care about the results, not the process. If you're going to go to two games a season, are you going to pick a Devils-Rangers/Flyers/Islanders (or even Toronto/Montreal or someone) to spend your money on, or Devils-Minnesota?

In the past (80's and 90's) the league played much more inter-conference games. These games were by far the worst crowd draw around the league, the least interesting games and the deadest crowds, so having more inter-conference games has historically shown not to increase interest. I actually think you make more interest in the other conference by seeing them rarely, so each time is a treat rather than just another inter-conference game.

I get excited by all hockey games I attend now matter who we play!

That's just me though...I understand it's different for everyone else, but since I pay attention to my fantasy players (who are mostly Western Conference players), I'd like to see them more!

I'm tired of Sid...I want to see some new blood!!

I prefer more divisional games. Even a game against a great team like Dallas didn't excite me as much as playing the Flyers, Rangers, Penguins or Islanders would have. Intra-divisional and intra-conference (against non divisional teams) games are very important because it these games are, in essence, worth more than the two points that can be gained. By winning the games, especially in regulation, a team denies an opponent with whom they are competing for a playoff spot or a playoff ranking.

One interesting thing to note is the Player's Union favors an 84-game schedule. NHLPA President Paul Kelly sites that the players think the fans like to see different players, but it could be for another reason. In his autobiography, Brodeur Beyond the Crease, Martin Brodeur writes that he is against reducing the schedule now that the player's salary is linked to league revenues.

From a leauge wide standpoint it's a step in the right direction, but from a Devils standpoint, there's no way you can be happy about this, especially from an attendance/financial standpoint.

That Rangers sellout, and the 15,000-16,000 that we'll bring in for games against Philly, the Isles, and the Pens will be replaced by games with Phoenix, Columbus, and Nashville, which, next year, will bring in 12,000, if that. You may say that we'll get to see Colorado, Anaheim, Detroit, and Vancouver, but those games still wont draw to JVB's liking.

From a leauge wide standpoint it's a step in the right direction, but from a Devils standpoint, there's no way you can be happy about this, especially from an attendance/financial standpoint.

That Rangers sellout, and the 15,000-16,000 that we'll bring in for games against Philly, the Isles, and the Pens will be replaced by games with Phoenix, Columbus, and Nashville, which, next year, will bring in 12,000, if that. You may say that we'll get to see Colorado, Anaheim, Detroit, and Vancouver, but those games still wont draw to JVB's liking.


Maybe if he lowered prices we might draw more. I don't care what attendance is anymore because I'm tired of discussing it, so bring on the Western Conference!

Playing western conference teams will NOT draw more fans.

If you want to see western teams play get center ice, either online, cable, or satellite... its available for EVERYONE.

I see all the talent and players every night and follow them closely so it doesnt matter....


I go see the DEVILS play at the rock, and I watch the other teams on TV.

I love watching all the other hockey teams and young players all season long.

western concfrernce teams will NOT draw more fans....

Some people don't have the chance to get Center Ice or NHL Network, so we can't watch the Western Conference teams unless they're on Versus or we're playing them!

Maybe if he lowered prices we might draw more. I don't care what attendance is anymore because I'm tired of discussing it, so bring on the Western Conference!

Well believe it or not, attendance is an important issue, not only to this team but to the whole league. Only 17,000 at the Joe last night? Something's gotta get fixed with this league.

Well believe it or not, attendance is an important issue, not only to this team but to the whole league. Only 17,000 at the Joe last night? Something's gotta get fixed with this league.

I know it's a league wide issue, but I'm just tired of discussing it all the time because it's excuse after excuse, people yelling at each other over stupid things, and people complaining constantly.

I know it's a league wide issue, but I'm just tired of discussing it all the time because it's excuse after excuse, people yelling at each other over stupid things, and people complaining constantly.

Then If you don't care about it, then don't post your opinion on the issue. But for the people that do, we don't want to see posts like this.

Playing western conference teams will NOT draw more fans.

If you want to see western teams play get center ice, either online, cable, or satellite... its available for EVERYONE.

I see all the talent and players every night and follow them closely so it doesnt matter....


I go see the DEVILS play at the rock, and I watch the other teams on TV.

I love watching all the other hockey teams and young players all season long.

western concfrernce teams will NOT draw more fans....

Is playing the Islanders and Flyers 8 times at home drawing more fans to the arena?

If the NBA can somehow get away with it so can the NHL. They just need more starpower in the west. Maybe Ovechkin can be traded out there to balance things out a bit.

Is playing the Islanders and Flyers 8 times at home drawing more fans to the arena?

If the NBA can somehow get away with it so can the NHL. They just need more starpower in the west. Maybe Ovechkin can be traded out there to balance things out a bit.

Well 15,000 for Isles and Flyers may not be that bad after all when next year we get 11,000 for Nashville and Columbus.

Well 15,000 for Isles and Flyers may not be that bad after all when next year we get 11,000 for Nashville and Columbus.

or 11,000 for Florida, Ottawa, Carolina, etc., teams that we play 2 times at home as opposed to 1 time for those teams you mentioned.

or 11,000 for Florida, Ottawa, Carolina, etc., teams that we play 2 times at home as opposed to 1 time for those teams you mentioned.

What? How do these teams get into the argument? We are going to play them the same number of times anyway. The only thing that this change effects is the divisional and nonconference games.

Then If you don't care about it, then don't post your opinion on the issue. But for the people that do, we don't want to see posts like this.

So, you like discussing attendance 24/7 and think it's fun to discuss it?!?

This is the only place on hfboards that I have seen such an obsession with attendance.

Well 15,000 for Isles and Flyers may not be that bad after all when next year we get 11,000 for Nashville and Columbus.

Well we would actually get more than 11,000 because our paid attendance has been well over that for all of our home games!

Well we would actually get more than 11,000 because our paid attendance has been well over that for all of our home games!

I'm talking about in the future. If ticket prices continue to be high, do you think that there will be 13,000 STHs? I don't think so.

I'm talking about in the future. If ticket prices continue to be high, do you think that there will be 13,000 STHs? I don't think so.

Nobody can predict the future....they may change the pricing structure, they may do a lot of different things.

So, yes there's a possibility that there may be 13,000 STH's.

Nobody can predict the future....they may change the pricing structure, they may do a lot of different things.

So, yes there's a possibility that there may be 13,000 STH's.

Not to turn this into another attendance thread, because we have another one already, but with an expanding salary cap (why did we waste a season anyway when the team salaries will be the same they were prelockout?), just to make money the pricing structure will have to be the same.

Not to turn this into another attendance thread, because we have another one already, but with an expanding salary cap (why did we waste a season anyway when the team salaries will be the same they were prelockout?), just to make money the pricing structure will have to be the same.

Well that's a WHOLE other issue!!

I'm sure we can both agree that the salaries lately have been ridiculous!

Well that's a WHOLE other issue!!

I'm sure we can both agree that the salaries lately have been ridiculous!

That we can agree on. I just still can't believe why we gave up a season, maybe a cup winning season for the Devils, for the same situation 3 years later.

That we can agree on. I just still can't believe why we gave up a season, maybe a cup winning season for the Devils, for the same situation 3 years later.

Simple! The management didn't want the Devils to win two cups in a row. We were boring the fans.
:sarcasm:

I like the change, I want to see guys like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews live. You get a true sense of what kind of players they really are. I can't get enough of Devils - Rangers, but other than that, I'm sick of the Flyers, Islanders and Penguins. I see them plenty.

For god's sake, I want to be able to see Joe Sakic atleast once a year! One of the all-time greats, a childhood hero who won't be around much longer (or perhaps he will, he seems ageless at this point). I want Detroit too, ever since '95 we've had a cool rivalry that is now gone because we don't play them anymore. I want to see Joe Thornton, Marian Gaborik, Martin Havlat (if healthy), Jarome Iginla, the Sedin twins, Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Michael Cammalleri....I'm not fortunate enough to have satellite or even versus.

Take away 2 pre-season games, add those 2 games to the regular season schedule and you can play everyone twice - both home and away in a balanced schedule every year.

Pre-season aren't well attended or televised nationally anyways - so why not?

In Conference
In-Division 4 teams @ 6 ea. (3 Home; 3 Away) = 24
Out-of-Division 10 teams @ 3 ea. (2 Home; 1 Away rotating every other year) = 30

Out of Conference
15 teams @ 2 ea. (1 Home; 1 Away)= 30

Total - 84 games instead of existing 82 with no real change as the pre-season is decreased.

Take away 2 pre-season games, add those 2 games to the regular season schedule and you can play everyone twice - both home and away in a balanced schedule every year.

Pre-season aren't well attended or televised nationally anyways - so why not?

In Conference
In-Division 4 teams @ 6 ea. (3 Home; 3 Away) = 24
Out-of-Division 10 teams @ 3 ea. (2 Home; 1 Away rotating every other year) = 30

Out of Conference
15 teams @ 2 ea. (1 Home; 1 Away)= 30

Total - 84 games instead of existing 82 with no real change as the pre-season is decreased.

Hahaha...I posted that earlier!

I totally agree with you!

..It would be 6 games against each in your division (24 games), 30 games against the other Western Conference (1 home, 1 away), other divisions in your conference 3 games (total 30 games - 1 Division would be 2 home games, 1 away, and then the other Division would be opposite. - then the following season it would change.)

oops missed that. :dunce:

I like the change, I want to see guys like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews live. You get a true sense of what kind of players they really are. I can't get enough of Devils - Rangers, but other than that, I'm sick of the Flyers, Islanders and Penguins. I see them plenty.

For god's sake, I want to be able to see Joe Sakic atleast once a year! One of the all-time greats, a childhood hero who won't be around much longer (or perhaps he will, he seems ageless at this point). I want Detroit too, ever since '95 we've had a cool rivalry that is now gone because we don't play them anymore. I want to see Joe Thornton, Marian Gaborik, Martin Havlat (if healthy), Jarome Iginla, the Sedin twins, Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Michael Cammalleri....I'm not fortunate enough to have satellite or even versus.


OK, take that argument and apply it to the last game against Dallas. I'm a big Modano fan - he's one of the best American players and overall NHL players ever. But when he's playing the Devils, did I want to see him excel? Did I want to see him score goals and such? No! I wanted him off the scoreboard so that the Devils could win. When these other talented individuals come in then as a Devils fan I want to see them go through a whole game quietly, not showing any of their talent so that the Devils can win. When Crosby and Malkin come in to play do you ooh and ahh over the talent they show? No - you get pissed when they score, even if it' on a darn nice play.

If you want to see the talented WC players, watch them play some other team - preferably a WC team. Then you can appreciate their talents.

So I just don't get that as an argument.

OK, take that argument and apply it to the last game against Dallas. I'm a big Modano fan - he's one of the best American players and overall NHL players ever. But when he's playing the Devils, did I want to see him excel? Did I want to see him score goals and such? No! I wanted him off the scoreboard so that the Devils could win. When these other talented individuals come in then as a Devils fan I want to see them go through a whole game quietly, not showing any of their talent so that the Devils can win. When Crosby and Malkin come in to play do you ooh and ahh over the talent they show? No - you get pissed when they score, even if it' on a darn nice play.

If you want to see the talented WC players, watch them play some other team - preferably a WC team. Then you can appreciate their talents.

So I just don't get that as an argument.

I agree. I want to see games with juice in them. As much as I like to watch, Kane and Toews, a Hawks-Devils matchup does not really get me too excited as a Devils-Rangers game. But I guess the change was best for the league, but it was not good for the Devils.

I agree. I want to see games with juice in them. As much as I like to watch, Kane and Toews, a Hawks-Devils matchup does not really get me too excited as a Devils-Rangers game. But I guess the change was best for the league, but it was not good for the Devils.

Nothing is ever good for the Devils according to our fans! :shakehead

Some of us are fans of the game in addition to our favorite team. I like seeing good hockey even if it results in a Devils loss. I just like seeing us win in a great game all around.

I'm also tired of seeing nothing but our division rivals all the time. I get sick if seeing Sid the kid. Sometimes less is more. Give the division some breathing room and let other rivalries flame up too. We have a great battle against Toronto whenever we meet - why not a good new battle against Anaheim other than just seeing them once and maybe in the playoffs?

Out with the old incestuous schedule, in with the travel rewards one!

Some of us are fans of the game in addition to our favorite team. I like seeing good hockey even if it results in a Devils loss. I just like seeing us win in a great game all around.

I'm also tired of seeing nothing but our division rivals all the time. I get sick if seeing Sid the kid. Sometimes less is more. Give the division some breathing room and let other rivalries flame up too. We have a great battle against Toronto whenever we meet - why not a good new battle against Anaheim other than just seeing them once and maybe in the playoffs?

Out with the old incestuous schedule, in with the travel rewards one!

Yay...finally someone that agrees with me!! That's so refreshing to see...

Some of us are fans of the game in addition to our favorite team. I like seeing good hockey even if it results in a Devils loss. I just like seeing us win in a great game all around.

I'm also tired of seeing nothing but our division rivals all the time. I get sick if seeing Sid the kid. Sometimes less is more. Give the division some breathing room and let other rivalries flame up too. We have a great battle against Toronto whenever we meet - why not a good new battle against Anaheim other than just seeing them once and maybe in the playoffs?

Out with the old incestuous schedule, in with the travel rewards one!

Well according to your format, we'll only be playing other East teams 3 times. How are rivalries supposed to spring up by playing one less game? We're not making any rivalries with West teams in the regular season that's for damn sure.

I like the change. I'm sick of seeing rangers, Flyers and all them 8 times a season. I don't have Center Ice or anything, so I'm looking forward to seeing the talent I'm always reading about play more.

Well believe it or not, attendance is an important issue, not only to this team but to the whole league. Only 17,000 at the Joe last night? Something's gotta get fixed with this league.

that is more of an indication of the michigan economy, that place is hurting bad and the lack of hockey attendance is a direct result

Give the division some breathing room and let other rivalries flame up too. We have a great battle against Toronto whenever we meet - why not a good new battle against Anaheim other than just seeing them once and maybe in the playoffs?

Because the rivalry just won't happen. There's no rivalry there because you're not competing against each other in the standings. I couldn't care less how the West Conf. standings end up because it doesn't affect the Devils. The only time anything in the West affects the Devils is if they go to the Stanley Cup Finals.

People say now that they want to see the other conference come around more often so they can see the great talent in that conference. But I've lived through that 20 years ago when the inter-conference play was more regular and believe me, no matter how much you have great talent coming in from the other conference, the games still draw very low crowds and are traditionally the least exciting games of the season. You'll see. There's a reason they went away from inter-conference scheduling.

I mean, I got to see Gretzky and Kurri come in with the Oilers and believe me, I wasn't all that appreciative of their great talents when they were beating the Devils 11-2.

I just think it's a mistake to increase the inter-conference scheduling. If anything, I'd prefer to see the division schedule be reduced in favor of the conference scheduling. I mean, other than competing for your division #1 spot, every team is competing agasint the rest of the conference for playoff spots. Those games mean something, probably as much as (or more than) division games.

You mean next season Crash and I might get to go to a Devils game out here in Chicago? No way!

OK, take that argument and apply it to the last game against Dallas. I'm a big Modano fan - he's one of the best American players and overall NHL players ever. But when he's playing the Devils, did I want to see him excel? Did I want to see him score goals and such? No! I wanted him off the scoreboard so that the Devils could win. When these other talented individuals come in then as a Devils fan I want to see them go through a whole game quietly, not showing any of their talent so that the Devils can win. When Crosby and Malkin come in to play do you ooh and ahh over the talent they show? No - you get pissed when they score, even if it' on a darn nice play.

If you want to see the talented WC players, watch them play some other team - preferably a WC team. Then you can appreciate their talents.

So I just don't get that as an argument.

I understand your point. I don't want to see them score on the Devils either, and if thats the case, then I can notice something in the Devils defense thats stopping them. Obviously something is going very right if they're stopping a world-class player.

I'm also starved for national hockey, which is probably why my argument is skewed and specific for myself, because I don't ever get to watch two teams play when one isn't the Devils, Islanders or Rangers.

Well according to your format, we'll only be playing other East teams 3 times. How are rivalries supposed to spring up by playing one less game? We're not making any rivalries with West teams in the regular season that's for damn sure.

Because we hate teams like Detroit, Anaheim, etc... from previous playoffs. How the heck are we supposed to hate any other team if we don't play them twice a year? You gotta start somewhere - not just previous playoffs. I want to be able to go see the Devils every year at Detroit, Columbus, even Nashville - but with the current crap system - I only get to see them once every 6 years at those locations since they play once every 3 and then the Home/Away bumps it another 3 before they cycle back. That's retarded.

Because the rivalry just won't happen. There's no rivalry there because you're not competing against each other in the standings. I couldn't care less how the West Conf. standings end up because it doesn't affect the Devils. The only time anything in the West affects the Devils is if they go to the Stanley Cup Finals.


It does effect them - they either get 2 pts or they don't. There's not 2 sets of standings - one for your conference and one for out of conf. The points all count the same and the divisional games will still have the double-impact factor for the Divisional title seedings.

How can you not want to see new lineups, new offenses, goaltenders etc... instead of just seeing your local rivals most of the time? You know why those games like Dallas the other night aren't well attended? Nobody cares about them because it's a once every few years thing. IF you play them every year twice - you get incidents and history that creates a reason to go see them the next time they're in town. You can't start something without some history and once every 3 years doesn't allow for that as the team has completely changed by the time they roll back in town again - especially under the new CBA with free agency.

Even MLB and NFL mix up the schedule to ensure out of conference games happen. I simply don't understand why you wouldn't want to be able to see every team at least once at home. :shakehead

It also makes sense from a playoff standpoint that you at least have played all potential matchups at least twice and have some idea how to game plan for them based on your own experience - not just video.

It is about time they went back to the old format. Well almost the old format. It is too many games vs. the same team in the division. It should be 5 or the 6 that is mentioned. It will be nice to play the Western Conference teams next year home and away. SOME of the Western Conference teams WILL draw more fans as there are Devils fans who want to see some teams they never seen before play the Devils and especially in a new arena like the Devils. It will be good and good for the NHL. It is a step in the RIGHT direction.

You know why those games like Dallas the other night aren't well attended? Nobody cares about them because it's a once every few years thing. IF you play them every year twice - you get incidents and history that creates a reason to go see them the next time they're in town.

And I can absolutely guarantee you that no one will care any more about games like that Dallas game if you play twice a year either. How can I say that with such confidence? Because the league used to have it so you played each team in the other conference home-and-home each season and nobody cared about those games then, after years of doing it that way.

And two points being on the line is all that those games will have for them. But since they won't be competing for playoff position against each other, you just won't get exciting games. The fans won't care, the TV audience won't care, and -worst of all - the players will have a hard time getting excited for such games. Again, I can say that with confidence becuase I've seen it happen all before, 15 to 20 years ago.

EDIT: By the way, I mentioned a few posts back that I would like to see the number of division games lessened and the conference games increased. The teams play conference teams in the playoffs, so those games mean the most, IMO.