The reason the "8 divisional games a year" thing failed to create rivalries is because the regular season sucks at making rivalries.
Well, I think there's something to be said for the fact that sometimes you just get bored playing the same teams all the time. Even in the playoffs. Canucks/Blackhawks isn't a great rivalry just because they played a lot, it's because of how the games went and how the series were dramatic and how there was a compelling storyline and such. I mean, I dunno, I think one of the positives of the playoffs the way they are now is that you can create rivalries with teams you otherwise would not be able to.
Like, under this new system, it'll be a lot easier to create a rivalry between say, the Senators and the Canadiens, but it will be that much more difficult to create a rivalry between, say, the Sabres and the Capitals.
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