Schedule Draw Done; Let the Games Begin
On Sunday afternoon the league held the NSHL25 Schedule Draw to determine team assignments within its brand-new, custom 28-team team schedule.
The draw itself is nothing exciting for most with "just tell me where I end up.." being a unified sentiment. But the meaning behind the process (not to mention the effort that goes into it) is where the value is.
Transparency.
The league office is making its best effort to open up as many doors as it can to let all teams in on how the sausage is made. This applies not just for the schedule, but will be a growing theme moving forward and comes completely from GM feedback.
The Commissioner is in the process of modernizing the Rulebook to create as much transparency as possible and also provide as much clarity as possible by a format re-design.
"For so long we had the same cast of characters and for the most part, they all just knew how things worked and what things meant. Over the past couple of seasons we have had significant (and extremely positive) growth which means not everyone knows where to find the milk, bread and coffee in the morning. Hopefully the time I'm investing right now will help everyone in all aspects of our league." The Commissioner told reporters gathered outside his favourite exclusive dessert spot Let's Mangia Cake.
A Bit About the New Look Schedule
A 28-team schedule is a bit of a tricky one in terms of finding balance. 7 teams per division means you can't have "just" division games, ever. Not when the NSHL strives for games played balance: you always have to have a team playing someone outside the division.
Upon review you'll see teams have to play crossover games while their division mates are playing one another, it is what it is and we'll learn to live with it.
There is some familiarity as NSHL and MSHL teams will play on the same day - a feature introduced several seasons ago to prevent a player playing an entire season in both leagues.
Teams play a maximum of three games at home or on the road and while the balance across all teams is not perfect, the league intends to bring the amount of home "streaks" and road "streaks" to identical levels in the future.
One change the league will be monitoring this year is fewer rest days. There are a total of 10 across the entire 80 game schedule with three of those applied during the three sets of home and home series teams have to close out the season. We'll learn how this impacts goalies and skater health, which when combined with a change this season to goalie recovery time (TBA), depth at goaltending will play a big part as the league moves forward.
Days 11-22 will host the PSC and feature entirely inner-conference match-ups. We lose the fun division v division PSC brackets that matched the schedule and created some interesting outcomes, but with 28 teams, changes had to come (to the schedule and PSC entries!).
We're really close to being ready to go with the Rulebook release coming soon. ALL teams should be getting their rosters and lines submitted so the league knows you're ready to roll.
Pitter-patter...
$1,000,000 was removed to Boston Bruins bank account.
$6,500,000 was added to Carolina Hurricanes bank account.
$1,500,000 was removed to Florida Panthers bank account.
$4,500,000 was removed to New Jersey Devils bank account.
$500,000 was added to New York Islanders bank account.
$1,500,000 was removed to New York Rangers bank account.
$1,000,000 was added to Tampa Bay Lightning bank account.
$7,500,000 was added to Hamilton Mustangs bank account.
$13,500,000 was added to Montreal Canadiens bank account.
$2,500,000 was added to Ottawa Senators bank account.
$3,500,000 was added to Philadelphia Flyers bank account.
$4,500,000 was removed to Quebec Nordiques bank account.
$3,000,000 was added to Toronto Maple Leafs bank account.
$1,500,000 was added to Chicago Blackhawks bank account.
$500,000 was removed to Colorado Avalanche bank account.
$1,500,000 was removed to Columbus Blue Jackets bank account.
$1,500,000 was removed to Detroit Red Wings bank account.
$4,500,000 was added to St Louis Blues bank account.
$1,500,000 was removed to Winnipeg Jets bank account.
$500,000 was removed to Anaheim Mighty Ducks bank account.
$1,500,000 was removed to California Golden Seals bank account.
$1,500,000 was removed to Los Angeles Kings bank account.
$1,500,000 was removed to San Jose Sharks bank account.
$7,500,000 was added to Seattle Kraken bank account.
$500,000 was added to Vancouver Canucks bank account.
$1,500,000 was added to Vegas Golden Knights bank account.
With every season we change the way we have X and this season's no different. All teams had the opportunity to enter a group against whom they would play their pre-season games.
Ottawa
Anaheim
Vancouver
San Jose
Toronto
Detroit
Boston
Tampa Bay
Montreal
Hamilton
New Jersey
Quebec
St Louis
Los Angeles
Columbus
Winnipeg
Seattle
Colorado
California
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
NY Islanders
Chicago
NY Rangers
Carolina
Edmonton
Florida
Vegas
Bloomington
San Diego
Greensboro
Milwaukee
Orlando
Savannah
Providence
Grand Rapids
Wheeling
Laval
Utica
Trois Rivieres
Macon
Cleveland
Reading
Pee Dee
Coachella Valley
Rochester
Colorado
Abbotsford
Rockford
Bridgeport
Lehigh Valley
Iowa
Henderson
Bakersfield
Greenville
Athens
