I know that this topic has been discussed in the past and if I'm not mistaken the current number of games was actually decided on per vote about 2-3 seasons ago. But I would like to re-open this matter for discussion, because I think a change of the number of games we have in a season could be beneficial for the league.

I also know that for some people the regular season might be a bit boring, because they are just waiting for the post-season, when the really important stuff happens. But keep in mind that about 40% of the league don't make the playoffs, so for them the regular season is their whole season.

And this becomes of a concern if you look at the league-schedule: Right now, we have 50 games per season and they usually take about 4-6 weeks to be simmed. Then there is 3 weeks of Play-Offs and the Offseason which usually takes another 3 weeks at least.
So for a team that doesn't make the Playoffs, the season is over after about 5 weeks and they have to wait at least 5-6 weeks until the next season starts. For them, less than 50% of the time in this league is actually filled with games. And keep in mind that this group consists of about 40% of all SHL-players. And the situation looks even worse if you also take those teams into it that lost in the first round of the playoffs, now it's almost 60% of the league that has nothing to do here for about 50% of the time.

It's not just about the numbers though, it's also my personal experience/feeling. For me it always seems like the seasons are flying by too fast. We have a (necessary) waiting period where not a lof happens during the off-season, teams that don't make the playoffs or lose in the first rounds have some additional time off before that... And when the waiting is finally over and the next season starts, it only takes 4 or 5 weeks (or maybe 6 if you make the Playoffs and don't go deep) and then it's over again.
My main point is: The time-filled-with-games vs. times-where-there-are-no-games ratio is way off. And there are essentially two ways to fix this: Make the time where not a lot happens shorter, or make the season longer. And since we can't really make the off-season any shorter and the Playoffs can't be changed as well (it's normal that teams that lose early have some time off), I think option two would be best.

So to sum it up I think it would be better for the league if we had a longer regular season. An 82 games schedule would be really cool, but that's probably unrealistic and a bit too long. But something in the 60-70 games range could be really good for the league in my opinion.

Looking forward to your opinions on this

Evan Winter
Edmonton Blizzard
Player Page - Update Page

I really dont want to see longer seasons, I find 2+ months per season is already way too long.

Originally posted by Abdeezy@Jul 21 2012, 08:39 AM
I really dont want to see longer seasons, I find 2+ months per season is already way too long.

Originally posted by Abdeezy@Jul 21 2012, 03:39 PM
I really dont want to see longer seasons, I find 2+ months per season is already way too long.

But that's the whole point, the season itself is just 4-6 weeks long for most people. Only the waiting periods in between drive it up to 3 months in total, while only about 50% of the time is actually filled with games for most people.

And a season that goes for 2-3 months (including Playoffs, Pre-Season etc.) is really too long for you guys? If that's the case then wow, looks like our opinions are really far apart on that matter, because I think flying through the regular season in a little more than 4 weeks is way too fast.

Evan Winter
Edmonton Blizzard
Player Page - Update Page

We have a good thing going right now, I would not mess with it

In my opinion season+playoffs should take just over 2 months, say 6 weeks for the season then 3-4 weeks for playoffs. No need to have a extremley long season.

Nah.

Tried this for one season don't know if you were around or not most people hated it.

We have IHF/Olympics/All Star Game/ to fill the offseason. Thats about 2 weeks where nearly everyone has games. And then you have the draft in the offseason, which is more exciting then the games anyways in my opinion. Plus Award Show and stuff like that, which is fine to fill some time.

If you combine that then the offseason isn´t that boring and long.
But if you don´t care about Olympics/IHF/Draft then I agree that the offseason could be very long and boring.

I won´t have any problems with a longer reg. season, but I am not sure if it is nessasary.

Originally posted by joecool37@Jul 21 2012, 09:41 AM
We have IHF/Olympics/All Star Game/ to fill the offseason. Thats about 2 weeks where nearly everyone has games. And then you have the draft in the offseason, which is more exciting then the games anyways in my opinion. Plus Award Show and stuff like that, which is fine to fill some time.

If you combine that then the offseason isn´t that boring and long.
But if you don´t care about Olympics/IHF/Draft then I agree that the offseason could be very long and boring.

I won´t have any problems with a longer reg. season, but I am not sure if it is nessasary.

Originally posted by lightningbolt444@Jul 21 2012, 04:30 PM
Tried this for one season don't know if you were around or not most people hated it.

I was in the NWJHL during that time and I know that we changed back to 50 after that season IIRC. Don't know why most people hated it though because I didn't really follow the discussion back then. Care to explain some more?

We have IHF/Olympics/All Star Game/ to fill the offseason. Thats about 2 weeks where nearly everyone has games. And then you have the draft in the offseason, which is more exciting then the games anyways in my opinion. Plus Award Show and stuff like that, which is fine to fill some time.

If you combine that then the offseason isn´t that boring and long.
But if you don´t care about Olympics/IHF/Draft then I agree that the offseason could be very long and boring.

I won´t have any problems with a longer reg. season, but I am not sure if it is nessasary.

Don't get me wrong, my issue isn't the off-season. I know we are doing our best to fill the off-season with interesting things and maybe you'll remember that I was one of the members lobbying for a longer off-season a few months ago too.
But in the end, all that is just filler stuff and I think the actual season should be the most important thing. The draft is only exciting for the people directly involved with it like draftees or scouts, awards are mainly just a gimmick, as is the ASG etc... The IHF is a lot of fun though, you are right on that.
I just think it's weird that in a league like this, the actual season where hockey is played only amounts for like 50% of the time.

Evan Winter
Edmonton Blizzard
Player Page - Update Page

Nwjhl should be longer imo

Originally posted by giova65@Jul 21 2012, 11:06 AM
Nwjhl should be longer imo

I like that idea, another 15 games or so would be cool

There was to many games not enough people to pbp teams. 50 is an increase over what we ran before. There was some who liked it many didn't so we split the difference. The offseasons now are super quick before they used to last longer than the seasons. With all the different leagues we have I think the length of everything is perfect. Remember we tried the eel to help people pass time and it did not work at all.

I must say I'm a bit surprised by the answers this suggestion got and that nobody seemed to like it, but well, time to move on then

Evan Winter
Edmonton Blizzard
Player Page - Update Page