Comments on: Today’s must-click link: Realignment debate runs really deep

By: quizguy66

quizguy66 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:21:02 +0000

The 4 conference plan is still the most sensible. The playoffs would have the top 4 from each conference qualify. In the first round of the playoffs you play within your conference (1 v 4, 2 v 3) and then those final 8 are reseeded. This would both minimize playoff travel (since the first round will be within your conference) and spread the hazard of long travel equally amongst all teams. The team(s) in the most peril of moving (i.e. Phoenix) can be put in one of the two 8-team conference to minimize the chance of disruption).

All teams will play 2 games (home and home) against each team from the other conference. For the 8-team conferences this is 44 out of 82 games, for the 7-team conferences this is 46 out of 82 games.

All teams in the 7-team conferences will play 6 games (3 home and 3 away) against each team from their own conference (36 total games)

All teams in the 8-team conferences will play 6 games against 3 teams in their conference and 5 games against the other 4 teams in their conference. I would suggest that they be grouped each year by standings by Odd and Even finish to determine who they play the 6th game against. (For example, the 1st place team would play the 3rd, 5th and 7th place finishers 6 times each and play the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th place finishers 5 times each).

Patrick Conference: New Jersey, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Philadelphia, Washington, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Florida

Adams Conference: Montreal, Boston, Buffalo, Toronto, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Columbus

Norris Conference: Detroit, Chicago, St Louis, Minnesota, Nashville, Winnipeg, Dallas

Smythe Conference: Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose, Vancouver, Colorado, Calgary, Edmonton, Phoenix

So there you go. Problem solved.

-QG

By: contraryguy

contraryguy — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:39:04 +0000

Columbus has a pretty easy travel schedule in its current division, not sure how mgmt would want to give that up. But what would be much more popular here is to have more home and home series with teams that are nearby: Pens, Buffalo, the Caps. If plan ‘G’ from outer space or some other realignment makes that happen, hockey here in Cbus would be supported even more than it is now.

By: donttouchthedirtypenny

donttouchthedirtypenny — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 23:01:26 +0000

2 conferences, 4 divisions

Carolina, Florida, Tampa Bay, Nashville, Washington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia

Boston, Buffalo, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, NYR, NYI, New Jersey

Detroit, Chicago, Winnipeg, Dallas, Columbus, St. Louis, Minnesota, Colorado

Phoenix, LA, Anaheim, San Jose, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton

By: ready4jets

ready4jets — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:59:53 +0000

I think what makes most sense is to move nashville to the SE, Minnesota to the Central, and drop Winnipeg into where Minnesota is now, but then again I’ve studied geography.

As for Minnesota having the toughest travel schedule, the worst one this year is Florida. PHT had an article about this around a week ago.

By: sknut

sknut — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:17:17 +0000

I like your thought process but wouldn’t Philly fit better in the Atlantic versus Pittsburgh.

The fact is that one team will not be happy and thats the bottom line. I sort of feel for the franchise’s sake Columbus should move east, Detroit will do no matter where they are and while they probably deserve the move it might help Columbus gain more of a foothold.

By: vondoomtmc

vondoomtmc — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:34:34 +0000

Here’s a map for my proposed realignment, which includes a very tough “Original 6″ division.

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae253/NicksPS/realignmentmap.jpg

By: kopy

kopy — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:24:46 +0000

I’d do a lot of things to get the Minnesota Wild out of the harshest traveling schedule in professional sports and into a division with Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, etc. If Winnipeg and Detroit switch places, then Winnipeg should switch with Minnesota.