Re-Alignment Decision Expected Tonight

[Winged_Wheel88]

blah. Oh well, at least there will be a more balanced schedule next season and we'll get at least 1 home and home series against every team.

Our division is going to be lame.

 

[higgyfan4]

Our division is going to be lame.

I know, besides Chicago there is no real rival there. Sucks.

 

[pixburgher66]

@TSNBobMcKenzie: New four conference format gets approval by NHL B of G.

So it's four conferences...not divisions. Now I'm confused. If this is the case, how is the postseason going to work? It's basically the elimination of East and West, right?

 

[guitarmy21b]

Top 4 from each conference?

 

[li0lsh]

Top 4 from each conference?

That's pretty fucked tbh...

 

[The Q stache]

Top 4 from each conference?

If so thats bs for the teams with 8 in their division

 

[li0lsh]

If so thats bs for the teams with 8 in their division

and makes it much easier for shittier conferences

 

[flyersfan4706]

Theyll fuck it up, big time.

So stupid, all they had to do was Jets to the Central and Preds to the SE.

 

[guitarmy21b]

Or you could just go off top points total league wide which would be more fair

 

[higgyfan4]

They discussed how the playoff seedings will work Saturday night:

Video - Hotstove - Hockey Night in Canada - Sports - CBC.ca

 

[pixburgher66]

It's the old school playoff set up then?

 

[pixburgher66]

Important note: the Staals are all in the same "conference"

 

[higgyfan4]

David Shoalts
@dshoalts David Shoalts
First two rounds of playoffs within each conference, then may go to the conference winners with matches seeded by season finish.

 

[IPostedWhat]

Important note: the Staals are all in the same "conference"

Good, that means there's a better chance of awkward moments during the Holiday Seasons.

 

[li0lsh]

Text Size
The NHL's Board of Governors has made a decision on a plan for NHL realignment.

The league has approved a four conference format, subject to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman considering time frame implementation. Bettman will also speak to the NHLPA befor implementing the changes.

Discussion and the vote to approve the new realignment plan at the NHL Board of Governors mettings in Pebble Beach, California took an hour.

The realignment became necessary when the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg and became the Jets.

The plan, finalized on Monday would see four separate conferences established to replace the current two-conference, six division system.

The proposed new conferences would be arranged to accommodate both geographical proximity as well as established rivalries.

The existing Northeast division would be expanded to include the league's two Florida-based teams, making a conference of: Boston, Buffalo, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay and Toronto.

Meanwhile, the existing Atlantic Division would gain two teams for a seven-team conference including: Carolina, New Jersey, the New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington.

The Central Division would be modified to form a conference of Mid-Western teams including: Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, and Winnipeg.

The three Canadian teams from the Northwest Division would join a proposed Western Conference including: Anaheim, Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose and Vancouver.

The realignment is aimed at evening out the travel schedules for all NHL teams with each team playing teams outside their conference twice per year, once at home and on the road.

In the seven-team Conferences, teams would play six times -- three home, three away. In the eight-team Conferences, a bit more manoeuvering would be required.

Teams in the conferences of eight would play either five or six times per season on a rotating basis; three teams would play each other six times and four teams would play each other five times. This process would reverse each season.

The top four teams in each Conference would qualify for the playoffs. The first-place team would play the fourth-place team; the second-place team would play the third-place team. The four respective Conference champions would meet in the third round of the Playoffs, with the survivors playing for the Stanley Cup.

This is a fuck up by the NHL

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

Good, that means there's a better chance of awkward moments during the Holiday Seasons.

Mistletoews?

 

[pixburgher66]

Hearing that the playoffs haven't been set in stone yet, as they'll look to GM input in that regard. However, this is new:
TheFourthPeriod David Pagnotta
Hearing the other confs are: Nyi, nj, nyr, was, tb, fla, car... And then: Bos, buf, mtl, ott, tor, pit, phi

 

[pixburgher66]

Good, that means there's a better chance of awkward moments during the Holiday Seasons.

And many more Staal brother drinking game opportunities. Brace yer livers.

 

[higgyfan4]

The proposed new conferences would be arranged to accommodate both geographical proximity as well as established rivalries.

The Central Division would be modified to form a conference of Mid-Western teams including: Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, and Winnipeg.

Besides Detroit and Chicago, what other "established rivalries" are there? Uhh, none dilholes.

This fuckin blows goats.

 

[pixburgher66]

Nevermind, Pagnotta was wrong.
The blob:
First two rounds of playoffs are strictly within conference -- 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3, winners face each other. Just like old Divisional format.
Four conference winners are seeded on total points, 1 vs 4, 2 vs 3, so an all-East or all-West final is possible.