08/09 Schedule mileage analysis, back to backs, and more.
Now an annual tradition, here in kilometres is how much each team has to travel this year, last year, and the difference.
Big losers are San Jose, Dallas, and Calgary, with lots of other teams just behind. One of the reasons for the old 8 division games was reduced overall travel league wide, and you can really see that here. Time showed that the reduction in travel wasn't worth the loss in games vs certain opponents.
No big winners this year, unlike previous years where some teams had 10,000 or 20,000 km's knocked off their totals. Small winners are Vancouver and Edmonton, but they both are still in the top sixth most travel. It'll help them that other teams have to travel as much as they do.
I haven't counted the European swing for Ott, Pit, NYR, and Tampa. These teams get one ultra massive road trip to start out, but they get 5 and 6 days off afterwards to recover. Ultimately, they play 80 games during the same time everyone else will play 82.
Next, how tough the schedules are, the number of back to back games in the season, as well as the number of times a team has to play 3 games in 4 nights (which includes one back to back, of course).
For the first time in a long time, no team has to endure 4 games in 5 nights.
Finally, what's the longest home stand for each team, and what's the longest road trip. Nothing really stands out at all, it's remarkably balanced. Maybe the NHL is finally getting their software right.
How is it the ducks travel so much more even though they went to London last year? that sucks.
they're in the pacific, get a lot of miles going to dallas from california when most teams have a lot closer divisional opponents, pacific has the most travel followed by northwest
Next, how tough the schedules are, the number of back to back games in the season, as well as the number of times a team has to play 3 games in 4 nights (which includes one back to back, of course).
For the first time in a long time, no team has to endure 4 games in 5 nights.
I'm confused - am I missing something here?
If all 3 games in 4 nights series include, by definition, one set of back to back games, how do teams have more 3-in-4's than b-to-b's??
i.e. I don't understand how Vancouver can have 16 sets of 3-in-4 nights when they only have 11 b-to-b pairs of games...wouldn't they need at least 16 b-to-b games for that to be possible?
If all 3 games in 4 nights series include, by definition, one set of back to back games, how do teams have more 3-in-4's than b-to-b's??
i.e. I don't understand how Vancouver can have 16 sets of 3-in-4 nights when they only have 11 b-to-b pairs of games...wouldn't they need at least 16 b-to-b games for that to be possible?
Expand the window over a 6 day period....
Day 1: game
Day 2: off
Day 3: game
Day 4: game
Day 5: off
Day 6: game
Randall - he doesn't count the overseas trips because the teams get several days off to recover. That's how the mileage went up for the Ducks.
I love that three of the four teams in terms of worst travel are in the Pacific Division and that all five teams are in the top nine in terms of most miles traveled (NW teams have all five teams in the top 11 and three of the top six).
I would bet my socks that the team that has to change time zones the most (which might be harder than the sheer miles in terms of travel when you're used to 7 p.m. games) is also in the Pacific. I'm nearly positive its the only division that spans three time zones, and I am positive it has the only team that lacks a divisional rival in its time zone.
Randall - he doesn't count the overseas trips because the teams get several days off to recover. That's how the mileage went up for the Ducks.
I love that three of the four teams in terms of worst travel are in the Pacific Division and that all five teams are in the top nine in terms of most miles traveled (NW teams have all five teams in the top 11 and three of the top six).
I would bet my socks that the team that has to change time zones the most (which might be harder than the sheer miles in terms of travel when you're used to 7 p.m. games) is also in the Pacific. I'm nearly positive its the only division that spans three time zones, and I am positive it has the only team that lacks a divisional rival in its time zone.
Pac and NW both span three time zones.
This would be solved by a 8-team western division, because it's Dallas and Minnesota - usually the teams with the worst travel and time-zone schedule - that really affect everything.
I bet if you talked to Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Colorado, San Jose, Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, they'd tell you they want a single division of themselves (or two small divisions), and Minnesota and Dallas would probably say the same thing.
I always thought that your longest homestand should be no less than 5 games. Really no reason for there not to be since everyone is guaranteed to have at least a road trip equal or longer than that.
Gillis did his job well
