NHL Realignment Proposal

[Vadered]

On the one hand, I sympathize with the Western teams and their travel woes. It is truly much harder to head out East and play games at 4 PM your time than it is to head out West and play games at 10 PM your time (OH WAIT NO IT FUCKING ISN'T) and I understand that they have to travel more because there are more Eastern teams.

On the other hand, wrecking several incredible rivalries that have developed (especially for a Flyers fan, the Atlantic rivalries) is not the way to do it. And unbalanced divisions are straight up moronic. Don't like baseball having them, and won't like hockey having them. Stay at six divisions, or go to five or three or two or one, but you know what you get when you divide thirty by four? Communism.

The end.

 

[awaz]

On the one hand, I sympathize with the Western teams and their travel woes. It is truly much harder to head out East and play games at 4 PM your time than it is to head out West and play games at 10 PM your time (OH WAIT NO IT FUCKING ISN'T) and I understand that they have to travel more because there are more Eastern teams.

On the other hand, wrecking several incredible rivalries that have developed (especially for a Flyers fan, the Atlantic rivalries) is not the way to do it. And unbalanced divisions are straight up moronic. Don't like baseball having them, and won't like hockey having them. Stay at six divisions, or go to five or three or two or one, but you know what you get when you divide thirty by four? Communism.

The end.

the problem isn't the cross conference games.. those are fair for both conferences.. but in the western conference there are 2 teams in the eastern time zone, a bunch in the central, a couple in the mountain, and a bunch in the pacific.. its annoying as hell.. i've started to semi-follow the sharks out here cause a couple of my friends follow them.. and the only thing worse than having all your teams' game start at 4pm (like the flyers) is having games that start at different times, pretty much every night.. and that's just from a fan's perspective.. the travel on the players has got to be awful

i understand the desire for change, but unbalancing the divisions and wrecking rivalries like they do in that proposal is just ridiculous.. is that really the best solution they could come up with?

 

[elocomotive]

if they want to go with a massive realignment to ease the travel, why not do this?

5 divisions of 6 teams

Some good ideas there and great post, awaz.

Personally, I still like the East/West format and the split until the SC Finals. I'm not sure why, so maybe it's just years of conditioning with that approach in every major professional sport. Although I do think the divide (where the one conference is your primary opponents and also the teams you have to beat to reach the Finals) does help breed and continue rivalries.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

My solution:

1) Move Nashville to the Southeast
2) Move Winnipeg to the Northwest
3) Move Minny to the Central

Here is where my idea differs from others presented.

4) Play series. If you are playing an inner division team you visit them for a 3 game series, and they visit you for a 3 game series. If it's a conference game; 2 game sets. Nothing changes for out of conference games.

Benefits:
A) Teams like Detroit, CBJ have way less travel. Only one trip out to Western Canada and maybe only one out to Cali.

B) Back-to-backs against the same team are usually more intense games. A 3 game series could only amplify that. ie. better product.

C) It's a great showcase for the league and media. Can you imagine the Penguins in Philly for a 3 game series in April with the division on the line? Awesome. The fans get a hate on. The media laps up personal rivalries. Coaches can jabber back and forth. Only thing better would be the playoffs.


Make it happen Gary.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

My solution:

1) Move Nashville to the Southeast
2) Move Winnipeg to the Northwest
3) Move Minny to the Central

Here is where my idea differs from others presented.

4) Play series. If you are playing an inner division team you visit them for a 3 game series, and they visit you for a 3 game series. If it's a conference game; 2 game sets. Nothing changes for out of conference games.

Benefits:
A) Teams like Detroit, CBJ have way less travel. Only one trip out to Western Canada and maybe only one out to Cali.

B) Back-to-backs against the same team are usually more intense games. A 3 game series could only amplify that. ie. better product.

C) It's a great showcase for the league and media. Can you imagine the Penguins in Philly for a 3 game series in April with the division on the line? Awesome. The fans get a hate on. The media laps up personal rivalries. Coaches can jabber back and forth. Only thing better would be the playoffs.


Make it happen Gary.

Only one problem. If it makes sense it's beyond Gary's thought process.

 

[beantownmaniac]

I don't know why the NHL doesn't just do this. Pretty sure it would make a lot more sense than what they are proposing here.

Eastern Conference

Northeast Division

Montreal
Toronto
Ottawa
Washington
New York Ranger
New York Islanders
New Jersey Devils

Southwest Division

Philly
Pittsburgh
Buffalo
Carolina
TB
Florida

Western Conference

Western Canada Division

Winnipeg
Calgary
Edmonton
Vancouver

California Division

San Jose
Anaheim
LA

Everyone Else Division

Detroit
Minnesota
Dallas
Colorado
Phoenix
St Louis
Nashville
Boston
Columbus
Chicago

I guess this would just be too perfect.

I prefer:

Legends Division (FUCK THE RAGS)

Boston
Chicago
Detroit
Montreal
Toronto


Underachievers Division

Buffalo
St Louis
Vancouver
Washington
Los Angeles

Stolen Teams Division (Winnipeg gets a pass)

Dallas
Phoenix
Colorado
Carolina
Calgary


Teams You Love To Hate Division (Don't even have to change it, LOL)

Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
NY Rangers
NY Islanders
New Jersey

Why Don't We Get Any respect Division

San Jose
Edmonton
Anaheim
Tampa Bay
Ottawa

The NHL Needs you to even out the League Division

Florida
Minnesota
Winnipeg
Nashville
Columbus

 

[dare2be]

I've got it!

Carnivore Division:
Bruins
Panthers
Predators
Coyotes
Wild

Things That Fly Division:
Blue Jackets
Jets
Red Wings
Flyers
Hawks

Aquatic Division:
Canucks
Sharks
Penguins
Islanders
Ducks

Imperial Division:
Kings
Senators
Capitals
Canadiens
Rangers

Disaster Division:
Avalanche
Hurricanes
Lightning
Flames
Devils

Nature Division:
Maple Leafs
Sabres
Oilers
Stars
Blues (well, the sky is blue)

 

[mooger_35]

I've posted this in another thread but I'm sure we'll have multiple threads on the topic for awhile.