BREAKING: Bettman Set to Make Major Change to NHL's Schedule?

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Skyler Walker
May 28, 2023 (9:20)

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Amidst the financial impact of SARSCOV2 on the 2020-2021 NHL season, the league has been actively seeking ways to bolster revenue for both fans and players. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, in collaboration with the NHL Players' Association (NHLPA), has been diligently exploring alternative avenues to achieve this shared objective. However, the concern lies in how the generated funds will be distributed.

Unfortunately, a proposed plan to increase the number of games from the current 82 to 84 per season seems more like a ploy to evoke sympathy for the owners. This move disregards the health and well-being of the players and could potentially result in increased time away from their families and unnecessary physical strain. While the concept of intensifying competition between teams holds allure in theory, the NHLPA should only endorse this proposition if it proves worthwhile and adequately compensates the players for their efforts.

Let's take a closer look at the differences between the 82 and 84-game seasons:

82 games:

2 games against each team from the opposite conference (32 total games)
3 games against teams in the same conference but different divisions (24 total games)
3 games against two teams from the same division (6 total games)
4 games against the remaining 5 division rivals (20 total games)
84 games:

2 games against each team from the opposite conference (32 total games)
3 games against teams in the same conference but different divisions (24 total games)
4 games against the seven division rivals (28 total games)
These details provide a glimpse into the proposed changes, highlighting the potential impact on the season's structure.