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Another Look For The Standings
by Paul on 10/13/09 at 12:32 PM ET
Comments (3)
from Jeff Z. Klein of SlapShot,
The N.H.L.’s cockeyed system of awarding standings points has led to all sorts of problems: players not trying that hard at the end of regulation, confusion over what constitutes a “.500 record,” the theft of a playoff spot from deserving teams, and just generally wrecking things.
Most fans hate the 2-2-1-0 system — either they think teams that lose in overtime or shootouts shouldn’t get any points at all, or teams should get 3 points for a regulation win and just 2 for an OT/shootout win, or they think games should just be allowed to end in ties again — yet the league sees nothing wrong with it.
Well, if the N.H.L. is going to persist in stubbornly ignoring the complaints of fans, the least we can do is try to reform the misleading way league standings are listed.
Filed in: NHL Talk | KK Hockey | Permalink
Comments
I liked a suggestion that showed up from some fan a while back (I think in THN, where every issue someone writes in to whine about the points system).
Keep the points awarded as they are now.
However… stage a shootout BEFORE every 1st period. Then, when you’re in 4-on-4 OT, one team has an incentive to play their butts off (the team that lost the shootout) instead of continuing to play for the tie. It also has the added benefit of then guaranteeing a shootout for EVERY SINGLE game, and might make fans show up on time/early, because that shootout MIGHT still mean something. And shoot, they’d play their butts off at the end of regulation rather than risking the shootout they already know they’ve lost.
Or if not before regulation starts, how about doing it before OT? Same idea…
The BoG’s and PA would never go for it of course…. but if competitive spirit and Herm-Edwards-esque “playing to win the game” is really what’s the root of the problem here, that’d solve it.
Posted by Primis on 10/13/09 at 04:07 PM ET
Not a bad idea except for the potential for unnecessary 9 round shootouts.
Posted by mobsky on 10/13/09 at 07:24 PM ET
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It’s kind of cruddy but I’m sure teams that have a lot of overtime and/or losses wins want to keep the system the way it is otherwise the Islanders would have like 30 points all season.
Probably the 3-2-1 system would work better but then again they’d probably make it so that a shootout win is worth 2 points and a loss 1 point, but an overtime win would result in 3 points wherein the hockey purists would throw another hissy fit because they feel that teams like st. louis, carolina, or columbus (teams that have a problem outgunning teams outright) have no right to make the playoffs.
Because there’s cross conference games points aren’t really an indication of how well or poorly you’ll do against the same division opponents. But you don’t hear these guys suggesting that no points be awarded for games against teams in the other conference.
Not like it matters though…if a team on the brink (last year) like Florida made the playoffs instead of the 8th seed last year (was it montreal?) they still would get decimated in the playoffs.
Posted by stoneman from Vegas on 10/13/09 at 03:51 PM ET