December 20, 2007 -- Garden Grove, CA -- The NHL recently changed the schedule of games which will be in effect next season. During the 2008-2009 season, each team will play six games against each team in their division, four games against each in-conference teams, one game against each team in the opposite conference and three wild card games against the other conference teams.

I attended the game of Anaheim Ducks versus Vancouver Canucks on December 12. I wanted to see how aware the fans were of the recent change and if they liked it. I asked 20 people the following questions: are you aware of the recent NHL schedule change, do you like the change, which players in the Eastern Conference are you most excited to see, and which Eastern Conference teams are you most interested in seeing. Here are the results:

Aware of the Recent NHL schedule change:
Yes: 65%
No: 35%

Like the New Change:
Yes: 75%
No: 10%
No Preference: 15%

Eastern Conference Players Most Excited to See:
Sidney Crosby: 45%
Vincent Lecavalier: 5%
Alex Ovechkin: 5%
Jarmior Jagr: 0%
Daniel Briere: 0%
Daniel Alfredsson: 0%
Other Player: 20%
No Preference: 25%

Eastern Conference Teams Most Interested in Seeing:
Rangers: 25%
Penguins: 20%
Canadiens: 15%
Maple Leafs: 15%
Senators: 0%
Islanders: 0%
No Preference: 5%
All Eastern Conference Teams: 5%
Other Team: 15%

Ralph of Long Beach, California said, “I am really happy with the new change. I like the old school hockey.”

“I like the new change, but I would rather have a home and home with every team in the other conference,” says Francine of Edmonton, Alberta.

In opposition, Lloyd of Corona, California is unhappy with the change and likes seeing the division rivals more often.

Marilyn Banks of Yorba Linda, California said, “I just love seeing the Eastern Conference teams.”

Abel of Garden Grove, California said, “This is great for the fans, but unfortunately it might affect West Coast teams with longer travel, which will negatively affect their play.” Numerous Ducks fans were excited to see Scott Niedermayer coming back to the Ducks lineup.

Paul Kelly, NHL players’ association director, said that the players would like to see even more of a change. “Quite frankly, they would like to see those teams twice – home and home – as opposed to just once,” Kelly told Yahoo sports. “The players are tired of seeing the same guys week after week, they believe fans in their buildings want to see star players from other teams and they themselves would like to visit other cities.”

“As a player, I kind of liked playing against the other conference (more),” Luc Robitaille told Yahoo. “And I know in L.A. our teams love to see the teams from the East. The bottom line is, sure, everyone wants to see Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, but from year to year that changes.”

Robitaille, the highest-scoring left wing in NHL history, now serves as president of business operations for the Los Angeles Kings.

Top

Home

EMAIL HOCKEYTALK!