2013 NHL Scheduling Considerations

[Pengwin7]

There hasn't been a new thread or post in the one-year section in a while.
So - I thought I'd look at one team's schedule for the remainder of the year.

If there is a season, here is some things we can assume:
1. 48 games per team. (Typically a team plays 64 games in-conf, 18 out-conf)
2. Play games within conference only.

BLACK = games that will likely remain
RED = conference games that might be rescheduled. (only 48/64 conf games would be played, so some of these games need not be rescheduled)
BLUE = out-of-conference games that will be removed

So, here is the Flyers 2012-2013 schedule:

Thu, Oct 11 Boston
Sat, Oct 13 @NY Islanders
Thu, Oct 18 Pittsburgh
Sat, Oct 20 Winnipeg
Thu, Oct 25 @Montreal
Sat, Oct 27 Toronto
Sun, Oct 28 @Buffalo
Tue, Oct 30 Dallas
Thu, Nov 1 New Jersey
Sat, Nov 3 Anaheim
Sun, Nov 4 @ NY Rangers
Tue, Nov 6 Buffalo
Thu, Nov 8 @ Carolina
Sat, Nov 10 Carolina
Tue, Nov 13 Minnesota
Fri, Nov 16 @ Buffalo
Sat, Nov 17 Buffalo
Wed, Nov 21 Ottawa
Fri, Nov 23 Winnipeg
Sat, Nov 24 @ NY Rangers
Wed, Nov 28 @ Toronto
Thu, Nov 29 @NY Islanders
Sat, Dec 1 @ Florida
Tue, Dec 4 @Tampa Bay
Thu, Dec 6 San Jose
Sat, Dec 8 @ NY Islanders
Sun, Dec 9 NY Islanders
Tue, Dec 11 New Jersey
Thu, Dec 13 @ Washington
Sat, Dec 15 Carolina
Wed, Dec 19 New Jersey
Fri, Dec 21 @ New Jersey
Sun, Dec 23 @ Ottawa
Thu, Dec 27 @ Nashville
Sat, Dec 29 @ St. Louis
Mon, Dec 31 @ Phoenix
Thu, Jan 3 @ Los Angeles
Sat, Jan 5 @ San Jose
Sun, Jan 6 @ Vancouver
Thu, Jan 10 Montreal
Sat, Jan 12 NY Rangers
Tue, Jan 15 @ Winnipeg
Thu, Jan 17 Washington

Sat, Jan 19 Calgary
Sun, Jan 20 @ Chicago
Wed, Jan 23 vs Toronto
Tue, Jan 29 @ Minnesota
Fri, Feb 1 @ Washington
Sat, Feb 2 Detroit
Tue, Feb 5 Tampa Bay
Thu, Feb 7 Florida
Sat, Feb 9 Edmonton
Tue, Feb 12 Pittsburgh
Thu, Feb 14 @ Columbus
Fri, Feb 15 @ New Jersey
Sun, Feb 17@ NY Rangers
Wed, Feb 20 @ Pittsburgh
Thu, Feb 21 Florida
Sat, Feb 23 Colorado
Mon, Feb 25 NY Rangers
Wed, Feb 27 Washington
Fri, Mar 1 NY Islanders
Sat, Mar 2 @ Toronto
Mon, Mar 4 Tampa Bay
Sat, Mar 9 @ Boston
Sun, Mar 10 Chicago
Wed, Mar 13 @ New Jersey
Fri, Mar 15 Montreal
Sun, Mar 17 @ Florida
Mon, Mar 18 @ Tampa Bay
Fri, Mar 22 @ Carolina
Sun, Mar 24 @ Pittsburgh
Tue, Mar 26 Pittsburgh
Thu, Mar 28 NY Islanders
Sat, Mar 30 @ Boston
Sun, Mar 31 Boston
Tue, Apr 2 @ Montreal
Thu, Apr 4 @ Ottawa
Sat, Apr 6 @ Winnipeg
Tue, Apr 9 Pittsburgh
Thu, Apr 11 Ottawa
Sat, Apr 13 NY Rangers

39 GAMES on schedule from Jan.19th-April 13th
31 conference games to remain (likely), 8 non-conference games to be removed (likely) and replaced
+9 conference games to be re-added (likely at end-of-schedule or inserted into current schedule)


There's not really any point to this... fantasy-wise.
Just wanted to take a look at the re-scheduling that the NHL would have to do.

[3rtpaper]

I feel like there is a lot of fantasy relevance to the new schedule versus the old that people should consider.

I already drafted a while ago but if some reports are true (which I don't believe personally) that each team will play their division rivals 7 times and everyone else in the conference twice, you have to look at divisional strength.

Lundqvuist for example: Has to see the Flyers, Penguins, Islanders, Devils 7 times. That makes up 58.3% of Lunqvuist's games.. against better than average offensive teams. It could certainly have an effect on Lundqvuist's numbers. Another thing to consider with Lundqvuist is that he was often given nights off to keep him fresh. The schedule will be much more grueling this year with so many games packed into such a short period of time. If Lundqvuist gets the rest like he did last year he won't be starting nearly as many games as poolies would like. If he starting all of those games will his numbers be able to stay as strong as they were when he got the rest?

Lots to consider if you haven't drafted yet... scheduling should be considered.

[Methodical]

Originally Posted by 3rtpaper

I feel like there is a lot of fantasy relevance to the new schedule versus the old that people should consider.

I already drafted a while ago but if some reports are true (which I don't believe personally) that each team will play their division rivals 7 times and everyone else in the conference twice, you have to look at divisional strength.

Lundqvuist for example: Has to see the Flyers, Penguins, Islanders, Devils 7 times. That makes up 58.3% of Lunqvuist's games.. against better than average offensive teams. It could certainly have an effect on Lundqvuist's numbers. Another thing to consider with Lundqvuist is that he was often given nights off to keep him fresh. The schedule will be much more grueling this year with so many games packed into such a short period of time. If Lundqvuist gets the rest like he did last year he won't be starting nearly as many games as poolies would like. If he starting all of those games will his numbers be able to stay as strong as they were when he got the rest?

Lots to consider if you haven't drafted yet... scheduling should be considered.

That is really good analysis. With so many games in each week, I wonder if sometimes it would make more sense to draft and start 1a + 1b combos.

E.G. Would it make more sense to draft and start in a weekly league Elliot and Halak over a Lunqvuist and a Smith given that you are guarenteed at least one start per game the Blues play as oppsed to possibly getting only 60% of the games of the others. I could see in the shortened grueling schedule every team trying to work in a 1a and 1b situation.

Not arguing this position, more it is just a thought...

[Pengwin7]

I'd bet on a 50-game schedule.

4 Division Opponents x 5 games each = 20 games.
10 Conf Opponents x 3 games each = 30 games.
-----------------------------------------------------
50 games.

I really doubt it will be 7 games per divisional opponent, too many... considering playoff seeds are conference-based.

[niconasr]

Originally Posted by 3rtpaper

I feel like there is a lot of fantasy relevance to the new schedule versus the old that people should consider.

I already drafted a while ago but if some reports are true (which I don't believe personally) that each team will play their division rivals 7 times and everyone else in the conference twice, you have to look at divisional strength.

Lundqvuist for example: Has to see the Flyers, Penguins, Islanders, Devils 7 times. That makes up 58.3% of Lunqvuist's games.. against better than average offensive teams. It could certainly have an effect on Lundqvuist's numbers. Another thing to consider with Lundqvuist is that he was often given nights off to keep him fresh. The schedule will be much more grueling this year with so many games packed into such a short period of time. If Lundqvuist gets the rest like he did last year he won't be starting nearly as many games as poolies would like. If he starting all of those games will his numbers be able to stay as strong as they were when he got the rest?

Lots to consider if you haven't drafted yet... scheduling should be considered.

I'm obviously still keeping Lundy in my league but I admit he might struggle this year considering the schedule. Well, struggle is a big word for Lundqvist. He simply might not be his glorious self as much this year.

I agree that I'll look at schedule a little more this year when I draft. The Southeast division is pretty weak defensively but filled with potent offenses. I might look to stack up on Caps, Canes, Bolts, Jets and maybe even Panthers...

[lucifer316]

Originally Posted by 3rtpaper

Lundqvuist for example: Has to see the Flyers, Penguins, Islanders, Devils 7 times. That makes up 58.3% of Lunqvuist's games.. against better than average offensive teams. It could certainly have an effect on Lundqvuist's numbers. Another thing to consider with Lundqvuist is that he was often given nights off to keep him fresh. The schedule will be much more grueling this year with so many games packed into such a short period of time. If Lundqvuist gets the rest like he did last year he won't be starting nearly as many games as poolies would like. If he starting all of those games will his numbers be able to stay as strong as they were when he got the rest?

i read this at work and it nearly ruins my day especially after realizing earlier in the week that i drafted hiller for the anaheim schedule and now that will not matter

however i just ran the numbers and last season lundqvist won 74% of his divisional games with a 1.93 gaa and .936 sv%

his averages for the season were 63% 1.97 gaa and .930 sv%

believe it or not if you take out the isles his win % drops a point to 73% however his gaa improves to 1.90 and his sv% improves to .937 so there isnt even an argument that a weak isles helped inflate his numbers

he chewed through his divisional opponents last season

also 23% of his games were in division but 38% of his shutouts came within the division

now my day isnt nearly as ruined

[3rtpaper]

Originally Posted by lucifer316

i read this at work and it nearly ruins my day especially after realizing earlier in the week that i drafted hiller for the anaheim schedule and now that will not matter

however i just ran the numbers and last season lundqvist won 74% of his divisional games with a 1.93 gaa and .936 sv%

his averages for the season were 63% 1.97 gaa and .930 sv%

believe it or not if you take out the isles his win % drops a point to 73% however his gaa improves to 1.90 and his sv% improves to .937 so there isnt even an argument that a weak isles helped inflate his numbers

he chewed through his divisional opponents last season

also 23% of his games were in division but 38% of his shutouts came within the division

now my day isnt nearly as ruined

Haha well I didn't go through all those numbers but it is just something everyone should highly consider given the circumstances of it all. Out west should be very intersting how the schedule plays out.. 4 games a week with a potential for a ton of travel... never know what that can do to players.

[Pengwin7]

Originally Posted by 3rtpaper

4 games a week with a potential for a ton of travel... never know what that can do to players.

I've always thought travel was overrated.
You have to get on a plane to go almost anywhere... 2hours on a plane vs. 4hours on a plane, meh - it's all downtime.

I speculated it might eat at the Winnipeg players last year because they had housing situations that weren't established... but when a player becomes settled in his home city - travel is just getting on & off the airplane.