I usually am excited to get going too, and send out multiple requests to coaches, but the turnaround is so quick that there's not much time to get them accepted. Scheduling a sim is always an option, but I just like playing better teams.
And I know it's just exhibition and it doesn't mean anything in the record books, but it does help work out some questions going forward.
It seems like a lot of off-season stuff has become one thing at a time since the overhaul and it takes forever... but exhibition scheduling was cut way short. Just one thing that's always stood out to me.