|
elvis77
(Loves To Post!)
1435 Posts |
 Posted - 02/22/2015 : 11:26:54 AM
|
@cycfan -Alaska doesn't make sense, but it seems the absortion of the former WCHL and keeping it alive is to McKenna what the Southern (Florida, Arizona, and until moved, Atlanta, and even Tampa) expansion is to Gary Bettman; they just won't let things run their natural course.
Luckily, from a financial standpoint, the Cyclones probably won't be forced to travel all they way to the West Division; it's been hinted (mostly by the Aces ownership) the League will bias the schedule, first by Division, the regionally and then finally Conference. It's already been determined that the Cyclones will play 27 times within their division, leaving 45 games. I'd venture that at least 20, if not 25 of those remaining games will be played against Eastern Conference teams, Wheeling, Toledo and Kalamazoo in particular. That leaves 20 or 25 games which would be played against the other Western teams, primarily the Central division, which makes sense since a bus trip to Texas isn't that much different than one to Florida. I highly doubt teams from te West Division will come East and vice versa. It all makes sense from a financial perspective.
My issue is from a hockey perspective. The Cyclones will likely play at least 1/3 of their schedule against the East. The West Division teams will likely play all of their games against other Western Conference teams. As the stretch run for the playoffs happen, the Cyclones could find themselves at big disadvantage it 6 of their last 10 games come against Wheeling, Toledo and Kalamazoo while the Western Conference teams they're fighting for playoff position play almost entirely within the conference; it makes for a difficult time for the 'Clones if they have to gain ground. Hopefully the League will take the imbalance that will likely occure most of the Midwestern Division teams (Quad City will likely see more Central division action while the Cyclones head East to play the North) and back load the Division and Western conference games into the 2nd half of the season. While the imbalance in the schedule would still exist, the games being played during the late season stretch would have a lot more meaning and impact on the standings. |
"PBR can do that to you....1,2,3,12 beers and you're f**ked"
-oscar
"and i don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation" - joan jett
"beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy." - benjamin franklin
"is that a pulled pork sandwich i smell?"
"some things are just better without pants...."
www.cycwords.wordpress.com |
 |
|
Western conference bound
