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Leoben · 11-22-2018, 08:52 AM

I was doing the latest point task when I started to think, I need money. This is just a thought and not to be taken seriously.

So the latest point task for SHL players talked about league changes from expansion to media grading to anything in between. I used to be of the mindset that expansion was not sustainable but after the last few successful reddit drafts and the slight uptick in activity, I have changed my mind. Along with expansion though, why not shake things up even more?

Expansion would ideally add one team to both the Eastern and Western Conferences. That makes perfect sense for balancing the league. However, why not split those conferences up into two four team divisions? This has the potential to create better rivalries within the conference as the stronger teams duke it out to establish division dominance. Let’s take the Western Conference to start with. We will add an eighth team and split the conference up into two divisions.

Western Conference

Pacific Division

Los Angeles Panthers
San Francisco Pride
Seattle Riot
Spokane Shitheads (working name)

Other Western Conference Division (working name)

Texas Renegades
Edmonton Blizzard
Calgary Dragons
Winnipeg Jets

Now let’s picture what the Eastern Conference might look like.

Eastern Conference

Eastern Division 1 (working name)

Buffalo Stampede
Toronto North Stars
Manhattan Rage
New England Wolfpack

Eastern Conference 2 (working name)

Quebec Firefighters (working name)
Hamilton Steelhawks
Minnesota Chiefs
West Kendall Platoon

Any of these teams are interchangeable based on particular rivalries. Hell, we could even go one step further and be like the NFL and not discriminate what conference a team could be in based on geographical location. The NFL, or National Football League, has two separate Conferences. The possibilities are virtually endless with how the league would be aligned if we go that way.

So that was where my expansion idea ended but then I was thinking of ways to make the playoffs more interesting. Currently, eight of fourteen teams in the league qualify for the playoffs which is not bad. However, and this will probably be controversial to some, I would increase that number with expansion to make the playoffs more interesting and less predictable. One of the ideas I am about to suggest may also discourage tanking unless your team is utter garbage, then tank away.

The first idea, which might discourage tanking, would be to allow twelve of the now sixteen teams to qualify for the playoffs. The division champions would automatically qualify for the playoffs, no matter what their record is. From there, the top four teams from the conference would qualify for a “wild card” round. This means that an entire division could qualify for the playoffs. While not likely, it is intriguing. The division champions would have a bye for the first round. Here is an example for the Western Conference. A ‘y’ denotes Conference Champion, a ‘z’ denotes ‘Division Champion, and an ‘x’ denotes playoff berth. These letters are by no means set in stone and I welcome a discussion on what others think the letters should be.

Western Conference

Pacific Division

Y - San Francisco Pride
X - Los Angeles Panthers
Seattle Riot
Spokane Shitheads

Other Western Conference Division

Z -Texas Renegades
X -Edmonton Blizzard
X -Calgary Dragons
x- Winnipeg Jets

So your four Wild Card teams are denoted by the X. They would play in the first round based on seed. So 1st seed would play 4th and what have you. The second round would be re-seeded based on the first round victors so no real change there.

So basically only two teams from each conference miss the playoffs. I see this idea as being too controversial for some as it makes everyone special and everyone gets a participation trophy and you are more than entitled to that opinion. So I give you a second idea. One that is much more extreme in the other direction.

Instead of twelve teams making the playoffs, only six do. Both of your division winners automatically qualify for the playoffs, and then just one other team with the best overall record qualifies for the Wild Card Round. Let’s use the Western Conference again here to show what this format would look like. ‘Y’ denotes conference championship, ‘Z’ denotes division championship, and ‘X’ denotes playoff berth. Again, people, I am not dictating what letters are assigned. This can be decided at a later date. This is pure speculation at this point.

Western Conference

Pacific Division

Y - San Francisco Pride
X - Los Angeles Panthers
Seattle Riot
Spokane Shitheads

Other Western Conference Division

Z -Texas Renegades
Edmonton Blizzard
Calgary Dragons
Winnipeg Jets

So in this example, San Francisco would be the overall Conference Champion and get a bye to the Conference Finals. Los Angeles and Texas would face off In the Wild Card round to determine who goes to the Conference Final. The Eastern Conference would mirror this of course.

I am not as big of an advocate for this one as it encourages tanking more. Unless it is a tight race for the wild card, most teams will already know if they are going to suck or not. The bad teams could trade off assets to the already stronger teams for more picks and rebuilding, thus leaving the dominant teams on top more. It is a less forgiving structure and the really good teams could remain dominant for longer.

If the playoff bracket is larger after this imaginary expansion, more teams could stay competitive to fight for those Wild Card spots. And we all know anything can happen in the playoffs once you’re in. I favor the sixteen team format with twelve teams in the playoffs. It would make the later stages of the season more exciting and give the lower teams something to fight for rather than a draft pick. While some might interpret this is my saying “everyone should be a winner and get a participation trophy,” that is not my mindset at all. I encourage everyone to look at the bigger picture here. I am sure there will be no expansion and everything will remain the same, but it’s fun to think about.

Ready for grading, 1000ish words.

King · 11-22-2018, 09:05 AM

Great read my man.

Chris-McZehrl · 11-22-2018, 09:18 AM

like also that here

I see we are nearly same thinking about conference/division making Smile

<3

tweedledunn · 11-22-2018, 09:21 AM

11-22-2018, 08:52 AMMarc Bradford Wrote: So in this example, San Francisco would be the overall Conference Champion and get a bye to the Conference Finals.

S U B S C R I B E

Grapehead · 11-23-2018, 10:46 PM

SFP v good it looks like

Avakael · 11-23-2018, 10:57 PM

If we splintered the divisions, I reckon you'd have to go Buffalo/Hamilton/Toronto in one and West Kendall/Minnesota/New England/Manhattan in the other, just because those are the existing rivalries- even if it makes less geographic sense. Less certain about what the West looks like.

Leoben · 11-23-2018, 11:19 PM

11-23-2018, 10:57 PMAvakael Wrote: If we splintered the divisions, I reckon you'd have to go Buffalo/Hamilton/Toronto in one and West Kendall/Minnesota/New England/Manhattan in the other, just because those are the existing rivalries- even if it makes less geographic sense. Less certain about what the West looks like.

That makes sense. I’m not too up to date on the SHL rivalries yet but everything is interchangeable in my scenario. Geography be damned. The Saint Louis Rams were a part of the NFC West for 20 years before they finally went home. And before the NFL realigned in 2002, teams from Atlanta, New Orleans, and North Carolina (Carolina!!!) were in the NFC West.

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