NHL Teams Voice Opinions About Division-Centric Schedule

Burke Taking Democratic Approach With NHL’s Scheduling Questionnaire

The NHL has sent every team a questionnaire about its “controversial decision to emphasize division play in the league schedule,” and Ducks Exec VP & GM Brian Burke has “turned it into a referendum issue within his organization,” according to Kevin Allen of USA TODAY. Burke said, “We intend to consult our fans. We want season ticketholders to have some input on this. We have put our whole staff to work on this, and I’m meeting with senior players over the next few days to see what they think.” Burke: “My sense is that fans would like to see Eastern Conference teams with more frequency.” He added that he “wouldn’t support reducing divisional games but he could support reducing games vs. conference foes to allow teams to play every NHL team once a season” (USA TODAY, 11/7).

SURVEY SAYS: In Toronto, Paul Hunter notes Maple Leafs GM John Ferguson is an “exception to the suggestion that Eastern Conference teams want status quo” with regards to the schedule. Ferguson has been “vocal in his desire to see a change in the schedule to ensure more variety and more games against Canadian rivals,” and he “thinks there might be enough support to get the necessary 20 votes to pass a recommendation along” to the NHL’s BOG. But Hurricanes President & GM Jim Rutherford said that he “wouldn’t mind seeing a schedule that had no crossover games between conferences.” Rutherford: “There’s enough good players in both conferences and the game is good enough, you can certainly promote your own conference. I don’t see where it’s necessary to have more games out of conference” (TORONTO STAR, 11/7).