Comments on: NHL to vote on realignment this week

By: ussportsfanuk

ussportsfanuk — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:53:32 +0000

Would be a very tough division. As I wrote on the plan on my blog, the option would be there to move Pittsburgh and Philadelphia into the weaker Norris Conference and Columbus in to the Patrick, therefore spreading out the historically stronger teams.

By: smnick

smnick — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:13:20 +0000

I actually really like this breakdown, but HOLY Patrick Division Batman?!!!

12 of the last 21 Cup winners…18 of the last 38!

By: dieseldeej

dieseldeej — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:25 +0000

The good things about it, the return of divisional playoffs, and home-and-home scheduling of the other conference…Both things were something the league got away from while Bettman has been Commissioner

By: ussportsfanuk

ussportsfanuk — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 22:51:02 +0000

They could have split up all the Eastern and Central time zones into three Conferences and cut out virtually all of the North-South divsional travel and would have had to go no more than half way across the country for their divisional road games. I did a four conference set up that evened out travel for all teams and kept all the main current rivalries. It would also easily allow for relocation or expansion. The schedule plan is explained on my blog.

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

Adams: Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Buffalo, Winnipeg, Minnesota

Patrick: NY Rangers, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, NY Islanders, New Jersey, Chicago, St Louis

Norris: Washington, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Florida, Columbus, Nashville, Dallas

By: dieseldeej

dieseldeej — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 21:34:05 +0000

Since this has been approved by the NHLPA, it will be the plan…However most the comments not liking this set-up are 1) The 16-14 split between the conferences, and 2) The Florida teams and Boston being in the “Central” Division…Here’s my ideas to fix both

1) Columbus gets put back in the “Midwest” Division…Why them, and not Detroit?…Senority, and competitiveness…Toil in the WC (like Detroit has had to since 1998) and GET BETTER…Bettman should’ve told them “next” like he did Detroit

2) The league should’ve split the EC by North/South…NYC would’ve been the dividing line, and you’re going to keep those 3 teams together, so whichever division they would be in would be the EC’s 8-team division
NYC teams in a “Northeast” would look like this: NYR, NYI, NJ, OTT, MON, BOS, BUF, TOR…The “Southeast”: DET, PIT, PHI, WAS, CAR, TB, FLA
NYC teams in a “Southeast”: NYR, NYI, NJ, FLA, TB, CAR, WAS, PHI…The “Northeast”: PIT, DET, TOR, BUF, BOS, MON, OTT

As a Detroit fan, I would like the 2nd option

By: dieseldeej

dieseldeej — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 21:14:36 +0000

Here’s an idea for CBJ, the “Midwest” Division instead of the Atlantic…CRYBABIES are coming to the EC on Detroit’s backs

By: dieseldeej

dieseldeej — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 21:10:42 +0000

Detroit would be 5th in the “Central” division if this season’s points were used

By: hrudey

hrudey — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:12:02 +0000

Tens of disappointed fans?

By: comeonnowguys

comeonnowguys — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:04:29 +0000

You pretty much need all of Detroit, Chicago, Minnesota and St. Louis, otherwise, it’s not the Norris. As Detroit will no longer be there, well…

By: comeonnowguys

comeonnowguys — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:03:03 +0000

Correction, there’s going to be a lot of north-south travel for everyone not in the Atlantic.

By: valoisvipers

valoisvipers — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 19:54:09 +0000

You forgot the Blue Jackets, just stuff them in any where? I’m sure their fans would appreciate that. As for the Old conference names they just don’t mean anything to anyone anymore. Anyways it doesn’t matter what you call them, I just wish they would reformat the playoff structure so that the 2 best teams can meet for the Cup. I can not stand this East vs West for the Cup thing. Do the first round as currently formatted(just to keep travel down and reduce the team count) but then do some cross over rounds by over all rankings. This way it is possible to have a Wings,Hawks Cup final or a Pens,Flyer Cup final or who ever is your dream match up.

By: buffalomafia

buffalomafia — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 19:47:25 +0000

What about Phoenix? What happens if they relocate?

By: JoeAvg

JoeAvg — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:56:11 +0000

They’re far less concerned about this than they are about when Detroit plays in San Jose the game out of prime time tv in the east. It’s all about the chee$e dude.

By: smnick

smnick — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:14:54 +0000

PLEASE tell me I’m not the only one longing for the NHL to bring back the old Conference and Division Names?!!!

Prince of Wales Conference
Patrick Division – NYR, NYI, NJ, PHL, PIT, WAS, CAR
Adams Division – MON, OTT, TOR, BUF, BOS, DET, TB, FLA

Campbell Conference
Norris Division – WIN, MIN, CHI, STL, NAS, DAL, COL
Conn Smythe Division – EDM, CAL, VAN, SJ, LA, ANH, PHX

By: tfaltin

tfaltin — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:01:21 +0000

There’s going to be a lot of North-South travel miles regardless. The plan does help the East-West travel though, and will reduce the number of time changes which must be a factor for the most western teams. If the Sharks play at home on Saturday at 7 pm, then need to play Detroit the next night in Detroit, they lose 3 hours in addition to the travel. That’s a huge competitive advantage for the Wings. Extreme example, but plausible.

By: bleedingteal4life

bleedingteal4life — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:52:42 +0000

And by Atlantic looking like a war zone, did you really mean pacific?

By: mclovinhockey

mclovinhockey — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:50:01 +0000

My Main concern is since the only reason this is happenings is so the jets won’t have to travel to Florida for divisional games. How is phx to van, Montreal to sunrise or Dallas to Winn any different? We just increase travel for all teams to help one?

Oh and say goodbye to QC getting a team, the city most worthy of a team is also in the east so if the coyotes move it will be 13-17.

By: hy3rid28

hy3rid28 — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:46:58 +0000

central is definatly the weakest… atlantic looks like a war zone

By: buckyblackhawk

buckyblackhawk — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:41:35 +0000

Which is connected to…the Atlantic Ocean. That really is not my point though, my point is more to JoeAvg’s idea of Patrick, Adams, Norris & Smythe.

By: davebabychreturns

davebabychreturns — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:41:25 +0000

Probably not much more confused than they’ve been for the last several years.. (or the players in Phoenix and Dallas in the Pacific division)..

By: JoeAvg

JoeAvg — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:32:55 +0000

Hey here’s a novel idea! How about naming the conferences Campbell & Prince of Wales, ya know, like the trophies they present for winning them. And the divisions? Well how about naming them after some more of the games greatest builders: maybe Patrick, Adams, Norris & Smythe. What? Your average American basketball fan won’t understand? Who cares?

By: freneticgarfieldfan

freneticgarfieldfan — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:29:36 +0000

Tampa houses/apartments: not so much. Gulf of Mexico, more probably.

By: buckyblackhawk

buckyblackhawk — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:25:32 +0000

The players for Florida and Tampa are a bit confused probably since most of their houses/apartments overlook the Atlantic Ocean.