What teams might be (dis)advantaged by a short season?
For example if, after the lockout, the season is somehow salvaged but only 45 games with a short training camp, wouldn't a team that generally starts strong but fades later in a normal season (for example due to players who are markedly older and/or more prone to injury, due to inexperience, etc...) be advantaged? What teams could therefore perform better in such a short season, either by advancing further in the playoffs or even just making the playoffs if they tend to miss them?
Also what teams might be markedly disadvantaged by a short season and shortened training camp? For example a team that just hired a new coach and will need time to learn his system or signed/lost a bunch of free agents and needs time for chemistry to be re-established.
Also would the type of system employed (e.g. trap vs run & gun) have much of a different effect in a short season? Would a team composed of smaller, more nimble players be advantaged or disadvantaged compared to a team with bigger but slower, more positionally-emphasized, less creative players?
If you don't want to name specific teams, feel free to talk in terms of generalities with regard to system, player types, etc...
Good teams, essentially. Small samples help bad teams that get lucky and harm good teams that get unlucky, as there might not be enough time for either to regress.
Teams that tend to play "playoff hockey" in the regular season could have an advantage because they won't be as burnt out come playoff time. I know there was a widespread belief in NJ after a couple of upset first round losses that Jacques Lemaire burnt his team out in the regular season by playing intense playoff hockey from day 1. And there was some speculation that the 1994-95 team might have suffered the same fate if that season was the full 82 games.
Might be tough for the Preds; we're typically fairly consistent through the regular season, but we're starting a ton of young guys, especially on defense, and we don't have that Suter / Weber pairing to fall back on. Blum / Ellis / Josi can be solid starters on the blue line, but I'd rather have a full 82 game season for them to develop a groove. Forwards like Smith and Wilson also have high ceilings, but are young and streaky. Bourque is young as well, but he plays a Darren Helm-esque game and I think he'd be fine regardless how long the season goes.
It would be worse for teams with multiple new acquisitions, such as Dallas (Roy, Jagr, Whitney) because the new guys won't have as much time to adjust to the new system and teammates.
The islanders because they usually have a really slow November which usually ruins there year. Basically a shortened season gives them less of a chance to **** up
I don't know of a specific team but any team that has a bad start is probably screwed. If they play only 40-50 games...you can't play poorly in the first 10-15 and expect to make the playoffs. And a hot start can definitely go a long way.
The other factor would be if they just go with intra-conference play...teams that obviously play well within their conference will benefit from that format. The top 5 against the West last year...Vancouver, Nashville, Detroit, St. Louis and Phoenix. The top 5 against the East last year...Rangers, New Jersey, Boston/Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
the leafs (i mean this), they are usually quick starters. haven't they been one of the best teams in the 1st month or 2 of the seasons the past few years?
edmonton if they can start like they did last season
minny same thing.
avs same thing.
basically any team that jumps the start, but fail at the end.
a shortened season helps the sprinter in a marathon, while a full season helps the jogger in a marathon.
-Toews and Hossa won't be rushed back from injuries
-Keith and Seabrook won't be burned out from playing the most minutes in the NHL
-a lot of the young guys are getting plenty of practice in the AHL this year
Edmonton is the most advantaged team. They have 4/5ths of their powerplay playing together on the same team and have guys like Yakupov transitioning into pro in Russia and have every injured player recouping. Their entire top line is just building more chemistry.
Most disadvantaged team is probably Anaheim because Getzlaf and Perry are on contract years and their organization is kind of a mess.
Might be an advantage to Dallas as they're known to collapse near the end of the season so a shortened season may help.
Kings started slow and got hot late into the season. Maybe they could be at a disadvantage.
Leafs started hot last year and faltered severely at the end of the season so that could be an advantage, but they also have a new coach and it's hard to say if the losses under Carlyle were a result of still needing time to adjust to a new system or if they were simply too defeated at that point. But the new coach could be a disadvantage. To be honest though, Leafs always find some new way to lose so the odds are in their favour that either way, it's a disadvantage for them.
Edmonton could be at an advantage with having all of their star players playing hockey right now. Though I don't know if any of their defense are playing right now.
Edmonton is the most advantaged team. They have 4/5ths of their powerplay playing together on the same team and have guys like Yakupov transitioning into pro in Russia and have every injured player recouping. Their entire top line is just building more chemistry.
Most disadvantaged team is probably Anaheim because Getzlaf and Perry are on contract years and their organization is kind of a mess.
I agree with everything but why is the team disadvantage this year if Getz and Perry are on contract years? Don't players usually play better when on contract years? Now I can see us being screwed next year if they dont sign.
I agree with everything but why is the team disadvantage this year if Getz and Perry are on contract years? Don't players usually play better when on contract years? Now I can see us being screwed next year if they dont sign.
I agree with you. It should be an advantage. If they're ever going to be motivated to kick butt, this is the year.
for sure
