the alignment shuffle

[puckhead]

McKenzie: Realignment ignites passionate debate

good (long) read

 

[beantownmaniac]

McKenzie: Realignment ignites passionate debate

good (long) read

Care to summarize?

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I heard McKenzie talk about realignment last night on NHL on the Fly. Detroit really wants to move into the Eastern Conference. The Jets & Wings would simply switch places.

If it happens it would definately strengthen the East. There would be some great playoff matchup possibilities that's for sure. Washington & Detroit would play 6 times per year. The Datsyuk vs Sid vs Ovie debates will heat up again.

 

[SLY]

I would love for Detroit to be in the East. But they should not be in the SE.

 

[Slimpikins]

If not a straight swap with the Jets, where would Detroit go? And who would get moved to the SE to make room for them?

 

[higgyfan4]

I would love for Detroit to be in the East. But they should not be in the SE.

Same here. Would love less 10:30 pm start times. The only thing I will suck though is less games versus the Blacksucks, but more with the Leafs, Habs, Bruins, Rangers, Flyers, Pens, et al will more than make up for it.

One more day....

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

SEC!

SEC!

SEC!

 

[jstewismybastardson]

i was gonna make 2 points but thought hey maybe i should read the story first and lol Bob makes both the points that show this is gonna be very contentious ... too many western conference teams want detroit to stay where they are

1)
And in order to get a realignment passed at a board meeting, any new configuration requires a two-thirds majority -- or 20 of 30 votes. So any like-minded group of 11 clubs can put the kaibosh on any plan.
2)
Ilitch, of course, is the venerable owner of the Detroit Red Wings and a couple of weeks ago he went public, suggesting that NHL commissioner Bettman years ago promised, when Detroit was put in the Western Conference, that if in the future a Western Conference team had to relocate to the Eastern side it would be the Red Wings.

 

[puckhead]

Care to summarize?

everyone wants to be in the east, where it's easier :eek2:


also, everyone's got something to hide, except for me and my monkey.

 

[SLY]

If not a straight swap with the Jets, where would Detroit go? And who would get moved to the SE to make room for them?

It'd have to be Philly or Jersey I guess.

 

[mooger_35]

Sorry Detroit but I like this (you can move CBJ instead of NAS... doesn't really matter)

 

[4thstreet]

i was gonna make 2 points but thought hey maybe i should read the story first and lol Bob makes both the points that show this is gonna be very contentious ... too many western conference teams want detroit to stay where they are

1)
And in order to get a realignment passed at a board meeting, any new configuration requires a two-thirds majority -- or 20 of 30 votes. So any like-minded group of 11 clubs can put the kaibosh on any plan.
2)
Ilitch, of course, is the venerable owner of the Detroit Red Wings and a couple of weeks ago he went public, suggesting that NHL commissioner Bettman years ago promised, when Detroit was put in the Western Conference, that if in the future a Western Conference team had to relocate to the Eastern side it would be the Red Wings.

And therein lies the problem.Even though Ilitch says he has a verbal promise from the little dwarf,2/3 of the gm's have to approve the move.

I can't see these guys letting a meal ticket like Detroit go.

 

[davnlaguna]

Ok but what do we do when Phx becomes Quebec?

I think that the league is holding off until the Yotes have an owner. Heck the Jets may travel less of they stay in the SE

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Ok but what do we do when Phx becomes Quebec?
I think that the league is holding off until the Yotes have an owner. Heck the Jets may travel less of they stay in the SE

toronto goes back to the west

 

[puckhead]

Ok but what do we do when Phx becomes Quebec?

I think that the league is holding off until the Yotes have an owner. Heck the Jets may travel less of they stay in the SE

I'd agree with that. Florida may also be in the shuffle before too long.
tough to keep WPG in the S.E. until that shakes down though.

it ain't easy..

 

[DChero]

With all of the complaining about travel times, why not just go with the approach that the NFL and MLB have? Rather than stressing about East vs. West, make the conferences non-regional. That would give a lot more freedom to the teams that move.

 

[awaz]

With all of the complaining about travel times, why not just go with the approach that the NFL and MLB have? Rather than stressing about East vs. West, make the conferences non-regional. That would give a lot more freedom to the teams that move.

ya.. i think they should just go to having no conferences.. just divisions.. try to get everyone in a division to be in the same time zone, or 1 zone different tops, which is manageable if i recall.. then call it a day

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Supposedly Dallas wants to move to the Central division which makes sense, but it's probably unlikely. Winnipeg wants to be in the same division as Vancouver, Calgary & Edmonton, but Minnesota doesn't want to be the only US team in the division so it's doubtful that happens.

This is more complicated than it seems. Just because Illitch had a so called agreement with Bettman years ago doesn't mean it's a lock to happen. I agree with those who say this is going to be a really tough debate.

The Eastern conference already has the New York, Philly, D.C markets. The Red Wings are a HUGE draw for a lot of teams in the Western conference. How many times per year do the Blue Jackets sell out?

I think Illitch will eventually get what he wants, but not without some serious debate.

 

[naslundfan19]

SEC!

SEC!

SEC!

Ha!

 

[forty_three]

Care to summarize?

1) Everyone wants to move in a way that will benefit them personally with no regard for the good of the game
2) Bettman may or may not have (inappropriately) promised the Red Wings whatever they want
3) Professional athletes bitch about travel
4) Vancouver is on the Pacific