The NHL preseason appears to have develop into extra about survival than preparation. For a lot of gamers, significantly star athletes, the purpose has shifted from sharpening their abilities to easily making it via the preseason unscathed. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, as for different groups, accidents have develop into an rising concern, and with a lot at stake for groups and their high gamers, it might be time to rethink how the preseason and common season schedules are structured.
The Preseason Drawback of Threat
The NHL preseason has all the time been a time for gamers to get again into sport form, nevertheless it’s additionally develop into dangerous, particularly for high-profile gamers. Groups just like the Toronto Maple Leafs have skilled a number of accidents or near-injuries throughout coaching camp. Three of their core gamers—Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and William Nylander—have all confronted well being scares this preseason. A number of different gamers have suffered minor or extra important accidents.
In a current preseason sport between the Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens, newly acquired Patrik Laine and promising younger prospect David Reinbacher sustained knee accidents. These accidents spotlight the hazards of preseason video games for star gamers who haven’t confronted sport depth for months.
A Lopsided Strategy to NHL Lineups
One main challenge is the best way groups construction their lineups throughout preseason video games. To promote tickets, groups usually play their high gamers in residence video games whereas fielding prospects and fringe gamers in away video games. This mismatch can put star gamers in danger. Whereas skilled gamers intention to ease again into sport kind, they usually face opponents combating for roster spots. These gamers are giving the whole lot they’ve, turning what must be a light-weight tune-up into an all-out battle.
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The result’s a harmful dynamic the place one group performs at scrimmage depth whereas the opposite is in playoff mode. This will increase the possibility of damage, particularly when prospects and fringe gamers are enjoying for his or her NHL careers and are extra keen to take bodily dangers.
The NHL’s Common Season Imbalance
Past the preseason, the common season schedule additionally has its flaws. With 32 groups within the NHL, the present 82-game schedule creates an unbalanced construction. Ideally, groups would play each opponent of their division and convention the identical variety of occasions. Nevertheless, that’s not possible below the present setup. Consequently, some groups face their division rivals solely 3 times, whereas others meet 4 occasions, resulting in imbalances that may frustrate followers and groups alike.
For instance, through the 2024-25 season, the Maple Leafs will solely play the Ottawa Senators 3 times, with two video games in Toronto. This deprives followers in Ottawa—the place Maple Leafs video games are an enormous draw—of a further alternative to see their group face off in opposition to a serious rival. From a enterprise perspective, this additionally impacts ticket gross sales, as Senators video games in opposition to Toronto are likely to command greater costs and promote out.
A Radical Proposal to Enhance the Common Season: Add Two Video games
The NHL might add two extra video games to the common season schedule to deal with this imbalance. Right here’s the way it might work:
- Every group would play its divisional opponents 4 occasions (28 video games complete).
- Every group would play the groups within the different division inside their convention 3 times (24 video games complete).
- Every group would face groups within the different convention twice (32 video games complete).
This is able to end in a balanced, 84-game common season schedule. Not solely would this be certain that groups play their divisional and convention opponents an equal variety of occasions, however it will additionally present followers with extra alternatives to see their favourite gamers.
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The league might minimize two preseason video games to accommodate these extra video games. Preseason video games are, in some ways, pointless dangers. By shortening the preseason, gamers would nonetheless have time to organize for the season, however the total danger of damage could be lowered. Eradicating two video games would additionally remove some “meaningless” matchups that supply little worth to groups or gamers.
The NHL Wants a Safer, Extra Structured Preseason
The NHL might restructure how groups method the preseason to scale back the chance of damage additional. Groups usually maintain rookie and prospect tournaments earlier than the principle coaching camp begins. These early video games give youthful gamers and fringe roster hopefuls an opportunity to showcase their abilities.
The NHL might undertake a system the place the preseason is split into levels:
- Rookie Video games: The primary two video games would contain drafted gamers and prospects. These could be lower-stakes alternatives for younger gamers to show themselves.
- Roster Competitions: The subsequent two video games function the perfect prospects alongside gamers vying for roster spots. NHL regulars wouldn’t take part, lowering the possibilities of damage.
- Principal Roster Tune-Up: The core NHL roster would play the ultimate two preseason video games, giving the group’s stars an opportunity to fine-tune their abilities earlier than the common season begins.
This tiered method would offer a safer atmosphere for star gamers whereas permitting youthful and extra depth gamers to earn their spots. Moreover, it will allow all gamers to steadily enhance their depth as they put together for the common season.
The Backside Line: A Change Is Wanted to Repair Some Key Issues
A revamped NHL preseason and common season schedule might tackle a number of key points. Including two video games to the common season might create a extra balanced schedule whereas lowering the dangers related to meaningless preseason video games. Implementing a structured preseason format would additional shield star gamers from damage whereas giving prospects and fringe gamers an opportunity to show themselves.
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In the end, these modifications would profit the gamers and the followers, making a safer, extra thrilling lead-up to the common season whereas making certain a good and balanced schedule all through the season. These recommendations would require negotiation between the NHL and the gamers’ union, however with cautious planning, a revamped system might make hockey safer and extra aggressive for everybody concerned.
[Note: I want to thank long-time Maple Leafs fan Stan Smith for collaborating with me on this post. Stan’s Facebook profile can be found here.]
