Newest Re-Alignment Look

[pixburgher66]

I don't like Columbus not being in the East with Buffalo, Pitt and Toronto (Geographic rivalries).

But I LOVE Detroit not being in the East with teams they will mop up for easy points.

I'm conflicted.

Honestly the easy fix geographically is to move Columbus East, not Detroit, but it would many think it would "dilute" the talent in the East. I just want to get to play in CBus a few times a year...I can get there pretty easily.

 

[quoipourquoi]

I don't mind the four Conferences approach (though it means the Wales and Campbell Trophies will have to pick which parent gets custody), but just by eye-balling it, they could've done a better job of dividing the teams. Carolina looks out of place in the new Atlantic when they could've added Boston.

 

[pixburgher66]

I don't mind the four Conferences approach (though it means the Wales and Campbell Trophies will have to pick which parent gets custody), but just by eye-balling it, they could've done a better job of dividing the teams. Carolina looks out of place in the new Atlantic when they could've added Boston.

Removing Boston from it's current rivalries would be horrible though.

 

[quoipourquoi]

Removing Boston from it's current rivalries would be horrible though.

But by being in a different Conference than Montreal, it would mean that they could meet in the Stanley Cup Finals.

 

[beantownmaniac]

Latest NHL radical realignment plan breaks up Southeast Div. - Puck Daddy - NHLBlog - Yahoo! Sports

Not bad. I actually like this. Breaks up the SouthEast, but...it's not like there are really big rivalries in that division. Puts Washington up with some of their bigger rivals as well.

Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Boston, Buffalo,..............Florida, Tampa Bay, ROLMFAO!!! If that's not the dumbest realignment division, I don't know what would be?

 

[pixburgher66]

But by being in a different Conference than Montreal, it would mean that they could meet in the Stanley Cup Finals.

True, although that is a complaint of many people with this alignment. Teams like those two could meet in the Finals. Regardless I think the re-alignment comes down to two types of fans; old school v. the younger generation. The old school doesn't want a major change in general, doesn't want current or building rivalries to be squelched, and just wants the easiest fix possible. The younger fans are more game for change because it will be something they can identify with in the future (ie "Yeah, I remember following *insert team* when they first got into that conference, those were fun times"), and younger fans won't feel as much discourse for the cutting of ties with other divisional foes. I'm sort of stuck between the two. I don't want to lose certain rivalries (really just the Flyers for the Pens), but I think that an overhaul of sorts could be really beneficial to the league. Like others have said, getting snow birds to go to those away games in Florida. When opposing teams take over your barn you get defensive, creates a good atmosphere and encourages more fans to come and "protect your turf" (ex. I went to the Pirates/Phillies series this summer, and the Phillies fans likely outnumbered us, but it was a blast; led to higher attendance until the Buccos fell off later in the summer).

 

[pixburgher66]

Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Boston, Buffalo,..............Florida, Tampa Bay, ROLMFAO!!! If that's not the dumbest realignment division, I don't know what would be?

I know people are noting this because of the mileage it would force these teams to go, but with bigger divisions the number of times you'd face each team would go down, likely only 2 or 3 trips down a season, which isn't half bad, especially if condensed a bit. Now it'd be rough trips for those teams, but come on...outside of ICW, who cares right?

 

[juliansteed]

I don't like it for the simple reason that you have 2 divisions of 7 and 2 divisions of 8. Unless this is part of a bigger plan by the NHL to expand or contract (the latter being extremely unlikely) by 2 teams, I'd rather they stick with the 6 division format or get rid of divisions and just have 2 conferences. I agree with Destoy in that I don't see why the need to completely overhaul everything. It would be so simple to just put Nashville or Columbus in the SE and then the west could be sorted out a number of ways easily enough.

 

[juliansteed]

They were saying on CBC hot stove yesterday that a lot of the east teams don't like it and want to keep it the way it is now. Too bad for them. Their free ride is just about over

Not sure why teams in the East would be so opposed. Their long-term projected playoff revenue increases by 7% whereas it decreases by about 7% for teams in the west. I can see the Florida teams and the current northeast teams opposing it a bit but can't understand why the other teams would.

 

[Vadered]

I don't like it for the simple reason that you have 2 divisions of 7 and 2 divisions of 8. Unless this is part of a bigger plan by the NHL to expand or contract (the latter being extremely unlikely) by 2 teams, I'd rather they stick with the 6 division format or get rid of divisions and just have 2 conferences. I agree with Destoy in that I don't see why the need to completely overhaul everything. It would be so simple to just put Nashville or Columbus in the SE and then the west could be sorted out a number of ways easily enough.

I don't know that those solutions are necessarily that great, because they still screw over western teams no matter how you divide them up. That said, I agree that uneven divisions are just idiotic. The whole idea is to give every team as equal a chance to make the playoffs as possible and let them fight it out, but you pretty much throw that out the window at the start when you give one division fewer teams meaning they each have better odds.

 

[SLY]

I wonder if we will have a better idea of whats to come after this week.

What realignment scenarios will be on table this week at BOG meetings - ESPN

Should be interesting. I really hope they just swap teams. I dont like this 4 conference bullshit. Detroit/Nashville to the East for Winnipeg. Done.