the alignment shuffle

[DaBoltsNIsles]

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

What do people think about moving Vancouver to the Pacific Division? Then Winnipeg could be put in Vancouver's spot, while Dallas moves to the Central?

 

[jstewismybastardson]

What do people think about moving Vancouver to the Pacific Division?

great idea ... increase Vancouver travel ... this makes alot of sense ... nhl sense

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

great idea ... increase Vancouver travel ... this makes alot of sense ... nhl sense

How does it increase the travel for the Canucks in a severe way? The Canucks, Sharks, Kings, Ducks & Yotes aren't that far from each other.

 

[davnlaguna]

How does it increase the travel for the Canucks in a severe way? The Canucks, Sharks, Kings, Ducks & Yotes aren't that far from each other.

It is not a matter of just miles. The cost of checking all the stuff associated with the team across the border has gone way up since 9-11. Having the Canadian teams in the same division save a bit of money and time. Not a lot but I think they think of things like that.

I would love to hear the Canadian National Anthem more. It makes me feel like I'm at a hockey game.

 

[Automattic]

An unfortunate, yet powerful paragraph...

That's the thing about realignment. Every fan thinks he has it figured out. Every team in the NHL is much the same. The only problem is they're almost never on the same page.

 

[juliansteed]

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?

I really don't think there is any eastern team from the other 2 divisions that could be bumped west which is why I don't think under this format Detroit should even be a consideration.

Of all the options he mentioned, I'm surprised he didn't consider scrapping divisions altogether and just going with 2 conferences. If for no other reason than to show why it wouldn't work. I haven't thought long and hard about it, but to me it seems to be the only logical way Detroit would have a chance to move East. You also wouldn't have to worry about excluding 1 Canadian team from a division in order to not have 1 American team in a division of 4 Canadian teams. The big problem with one would be scheduling I think.

 

[juliansteed]

"Ilitch believes the Red Wings are "owed" a return to the Eastern Conference and he'd like to collect on that IOU."

When was Detroit ever in the Eastern Conference and how many teams were there at the time? Before they were in what is not known as the Eastern Conference, they were in the Campbell Conference. It was the exact same fucking thing only different name and a few different teams thanks to expansion and relocation. Maybe they never should have changed the names of the conferences and then people in Detroit, Toronto at the time, and Columbus now wouldn't realize they were in the Western Conference and wouldn't have a problem with it.

 

[sherbert1421]

moving the wings to the SE makes no geographical sense but makes perfect business sense. as everyone knows the wings drive up the ticket sales to every visiting arena. surely this will help some of the SE teams who were ranked 18th, 20th, 22nd in attendance last season

 

[jstewismybastardson]

How does it increase the travel for the Canucks in a severe way? The Canucks, Sharks, Kings, Ducks & Yotes aren't that far from each other.

u go from having your closest division opponent being 400 miles away (calgary) to your closest division opponent being 850 miles away (san jose)

yah makes alot of sense

 

[Slimpikins]

u go from having your closest division opponent being 400 miles away (calgary) to your closest division opponent being 850 miles away (san jose)

yah makes alot of sense

Easy solution, move the Canucks to Portland so they will be closer.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Easy solution, move the Canucks to Portland so they will be closer.

/do we add cbj to the list of teams that might be going somewhere

8986 to watch the Avs last night ... 2 straight games hovering around 50% capacity ... thats with a bunch of season ticket packs selling for the equivalent of $15 per game

 

[Comeds]

Two game series! Two game series!

To reduce travel I still have no idea why some of a teams cannot be played in a row. Why can't Vancouver play two games in Colorado on the same trip? Then Dallas does the same thing later in the season in Vancouver? It would be great for fans.

I may not want to got to Carolina just to see one Habs game, but if they were playing two games there either back to back or a day in between it might be worth the trip.

 

[Slimpikins]

I like that idea. A two game series can also provide great theater for fans. I am visualizing a two game series with a division rival late in the year with a playoff spot on the line. The first game gets nice and chippy.

Game two would be must watch hockey.

 

[Comeds]

I like that idea. A two game series can also provide great theater for fans. I am visualizing a two game series with a division rival late in the year with a playoff spot on the line. The first game gets nice and chippy.

Game two would be must watch hockey.

I think they should, in my imaginary two game series scenario, make it a rule that if you play in another city for two consecutive games they have to play in your city for two consecutive. If you did that with every team in your division think of the cost and travel time saved.

 

[awaz]

I think they should, in my imaginary two game series scenario, make it a rule that if you play in another city for two consecutive games they have to play in your city for two consecutive. If you did that with every team in your division think of the cost and travel time saved.

i assume this is not for every game? just a handful here and there to save some travel?

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Two game series! Two game series!

To reduce travel I still have no idea why some of a teams cannot be played in a row. Why can't Vancouver play two games in Colorado on the same trip? Then Dallas does the same thing later in the season in Vancouver? It would be great for fans.

I may not want to got to Carolina just to see one Habs game, but if they were playing two games there either back to back or a day in between it might be worth the trip.

I like that idea. A two game series can also provide great theater for fans. I am visualizing a two game series with a division rival late in the year with a playoff spot on the line. The first game gets nice and chippy.
Game two would be must watch hockey.

I think the NHL probably wants to avoid this ... they probably think the second game would be filled with donnybrooks, brouhahas and fisticuffs

 

[Comeds]

i assume this is not for every game? just a handful here and there to save some travel?

I was thinking mainly for teams in your division. Instead of three separate trips to the other location you could do it in two.

I think the NHL probably wants to avoid this ... they probably think the second game would be filled with donnybrooks, brouhahas and fisticuffs

You're probably right, though they do have a number of home and home series each year.

 

[awaz]

good article, i like it

plan G with some wildcard options seems like a good idea to me, and the pens and flyers gotta be in the same division.. but those are details that can be worked out

 

[dash]

Everytime I read the thread title, I see Walter Payton and Jim McMahon dancing.

Hard to believe Sweetness is no longer with us.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Everytime I read the thread title, I see Walter Payton and Jim McMahon dancing.

Hard to believe Sweetness is no longer with us.

Hard to believe Sweetness wasnt so sweet afterall