Would a 5-point-scheme change anything?
Posted 1:42 AM ET | Comments 0
<br>For the past several years, there has been a vocal contingent of loyal hockey fans clamouring for a new-and-improved point system. These fans claim that there is an inherent illogic underlying the current system. And it's hard not to agree; the idea that some games are valued at 3 points, while others at 2, is curious at best.<br /><br />Certainly, the most popular suggestion is to use the following point-scheme:<br /><br />-Regulation win: 3 points<br />-Overtime or shootout win: 2 points<br />-Overtime or shootout loss: 1 point<br />-Regulation loss: 0 points<br /><br />As an aside, another popular suggestion -- as recently proposed by fellow HockeyBuzzard <a href="http://my.hockeybuzz.com/...3826">saneopinion </a> -- is to implement the following:<br /><br />-Regulation win: 3 points<br />-Overtime or shootout win: 2 points<br />-Overtime or shootout loss: 1 point<br />-Regulation loss: 0 points<br /><br />The problem with this second point-scheme is that it fails to address the issue of variable game-value. In fact, it makes it worse. In this system, some games are worth 3 points, some are worth 2, and others still are worth 1.<br /><br />Nevertheless, it is an interesting academic exercise to look at the impact such point-schemes would have on the standings. As such, I thought it would be fun to suggest a point-scheme that would all but eliminate the inherent illogic of the current system. All while acknowledging that, perhaps, a regulation win should be worth more than a shootout win.<br /><br />The proposed point scheme:<br /><br />-Regulation win: 5 points<br />-Overtime win: 4 points<br />-Shootout win: 3 points<br />-Shootout loss: 2 points<br />-Overtime loss: 1 point<br />-Regulation loss: 0 points<br /><br />In this point-scheme, all games are equally valued at 5 points. And there is enough nuance to differentiate between different kinds of wins and losses. Of course, such a system would never be considered by the NHL -- nor should it -- as it would make it impossible to compare point totals from different eras. Regardless, it allows us to measure how effective the current point-scheme is at reflecting team performance. So lets take a look at how such a point-scheme would impact standings. Today, the Western Conference. Next time, the East.<br /><br />Real-standings as of this writing (Jan 21, 2015 11:37AM GMT+8)<br /><br /><table border="1" style="width:100%"><th></th><th>GP</th><th>W</th><th>OTW</th><th>SOW</th><th>SOL</th><th>OTL</th><th>L</th><th>POINTS</th></tr><tr><td>Anaheim</td><td>46</td><td>19</td><td>4</td><td>7</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>10</td><td>66</td></tr><tr><td>Nashville</td><td>45</td><td>22</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>10</td><td>65</td></tr> <tr><td>St. Louis</td><td>46</td><td>22</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>13</td><td>62</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago</td><td>45</td><td>21</td><td>2</td><td>5</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>15</td><td>58</td></tr><tr><td>Winnipeg</td><td>47</td><td>18</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>14</td><td>58</td></tr><tr><td>Vancouver</td><td>45</td><td>21</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>16</td><td>55</td></tr> <tr><td>San Jose</td><td>47</td><td>20</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>17</td><td>54</td></tr><tr><td>Calgary</td><td>46</td><td>15</td><td>7</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>18</td><td>53</td></tr> <tr><td>Los Angeles</td><td>46</td><td>18</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>7</td><td>5</td><td>14</td><td>52</td></tr><tr><td>Dallas</td><td>45</td><td>19</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>6</td><td>17</td><td>49</td></tr><tr><td>Colorado</td><td>47</td><td>12</td><td>2</td><td>5</td><td>4</td><td>6</td><td>18</td><td>48</td></tr><tr><td>Minnesota</td><td>46</td><td>16</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>20</td><td>46</td></tr><tr><td>Arizona</td><td>45</td><td>10</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>24</td><td>37</td></tr><tr><td>Edmonton</td><td>47</td><td>9</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>6</td><td>26</td><td>33</td></tr></table><br />New-standings as of this writing (Jan 21, 2015 11:37AM GMT+8)<br /><br /><table border="1" style="width:100%"><th></th><th>GP</th><th>W</th><th>OTW</th><th>SOW</th><th>SOL</th><th>OTL</th><th>L</th><th>Points</th></tr><tr><td>Nashville</td><td>45</td><td>22</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>10</td><td>146</td></tr><tr><td>Anaheim</td><td>46</td><td>19</td><td>4</td><td>7</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>10</td><td>142</td></tr><tr><td>St. Louis</td><td>46</td><td>22</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>13</td><td>140</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago</td><td>45</td><td>21</td><td>2</td><td>5</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>15</td><td>131</td></tr><tr><td>Vancouver</td><td>45</td><td>21</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>16</td><td>127</td></tr><tr><td>Winnipeg</td><td>47</td><td>18</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>14</td><td>126</td></tr><tr><td>San Jose</td><td>47</td><td>20</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>17</td><td>124</td></tr></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles</td><td>46</td><td>18</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>7</td><td>5</td><td>14</td><td>116</td></tr><tr><td>Calgary</td><td>46</td><td>15</td><td>7</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>18</td><td>116</td><tr><td>Dallas</td><td>45</td><td>19</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>6</td><td>17</td><td>109</td></tr><tr><td>Minnesota</td><td>46</td><td>16</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>20</td><td>102</td></tr><tr><td>Colorado</td><td>47</td><td>12</td><td>2</td><td>5</td><td>4</td><td>6</td><td>18</td><td>97</td></tr><tr><td>Arizona</td><td>45</td><td>10</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>24</td><td>79</td></tr><tr><td>Edmonton</td><td>47</td><td>9</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>6</td><td>26</td><td>66</td></tr></table><br /><br />At first glance, there doesn't seem to be much difference. Nashville and Anaheim have swapped positions, as have Minnesota and Colorado, and Vancouver and Winnipeg. For the most part, the top-8 remains unchanged. However, if we consider regulation wins as the first tie-breaker, Los Angeles pushes Calgary out of the playoffs.<br /><br />So what do you think? Does the current point-scheme produce <i>close-enough</i> results, or are the changes in standings significant enough to justify the outcry?