The realignment cometh

[Psyblast]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_yl...ignment_062511

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=6706113

[Kobalt]

Hate the idea of having uneven divisions. In two of the divisions, you have 4/8 chance to make the playoffs but in the other two 4/7?

[OSUFan_88]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kobalt

Hate the idea of having uneven divisions. In two of the divisions, you have 4/8 chance to make the playoffs but in the other two 4/7?

Well, unless your are proposing expansion, I don't see any way that you can avoid it.

You can still have 8 playoff teams, but it's just one conference has less overall teams.

Let's not even dance around the issue: The Jackets and Wings both deserve to be in the East. The travel time is ridiculous for both teams. Perhaps it is unfair to the Western conference, or the Eastern conference, but it is what it is.

[Kobalt]

Quote: Originally Posted by OSUFan_88

Well, unless your are proposing expansion, I don't see any way that you can avoid it.

Yea I don't see expansion happening soon. If an expansion is coming, I'll be guessing KC for sure and maybe another Canadian team.

Quote: Originally Posted by OSUFan_88

You can still have 8 playoff teams, but it's just one conference has less overall teams.

I actually warmed up to an idea of 8 teams in a division and 7 in other as long as each conference have 15teams each, but I doubt that's going to happen. I'm guessing it's going to be 16teams(8 per division) on the Eastern Conference and 14teams on the Western Conference since there is more travel from the teams in Western Conference.

Quote: Originally Posted by OSUFan_88

Let's not even dance around the issue: The Jackets and Wings both deserve to be in the East. The travel time is ridiculous for both teams. Perhaps it is unfair to the Western conference, or the Eastern conference, but it is what it is.

I read this on other forums and I actually like this.

Spoiler

Northeast:
Boston, Buffalo, Columbus, Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Toronto

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

Central:
Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg

Pacific:
Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix , San Jose, Vancouver

[SPTO]

Kobalt if that ends up being reality the Leafs will never make the playoffs again! (well at least not for another 10 years!)

[Psyblast]

Positives:

-Playing Toronto, Boston and Montreal six times a year
-No more BS trips 2500 miles away
-Me and Matrix talking **** six times a year

Negatives:

-Playing Pittsburgh

[SPTO]

BTW i've heard that with the realignment there'll be a balanced schedule of sort where every team is guaranteed to play each other home and away at least once.

[BlueNGold]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kobalt

Yea I don't see expansion happening soon. If an expansion is coming, I'll be guessing KC for sure and maybe another Canadian team. I actually warmed up to an idea of 8 teams in a division and 7 in other as long as each conference have 15teams each, but I doubt that's going to happen. I'm guessing it's going to be 16teams(8 per division) on the Eastern Conference and 14teams on the Western Conference since there is more travel from the teams in Western Conference. I read this on other forums and I actually like this. Spoiler Northeast: Boston, Buffalo, Columbus, Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Toronto Atlantic: Carolina, Florida, New Jersey, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Washington Central: Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg Pacific: Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix , San Jose, Vancouver

This isn't bad but I'd prefer the Jets to be in the same division as the Canucks, Flames, Oilers and maybe Wild, and I'd also prefer Pittsburgh in the same division as Philly and/or Washington.

So basically take Colorado, Dallas and St. Louis and flip them with Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.

And then for the East take Pittsburgh, Detroit and Columbus and flip them with the Rangers, Islanders and Devils.

[daflyboys]

It would make no sense for Winnipeg to be in the Central before Phoenix. Move Winnipeg to the Pacific and, hell, move Phoenix to Minnesota!

[crayzman]

The issue I see is look at how weak the Central division would be. Chicago would never miss the playoffs again and none of the other teams in it have any consistency year after year. Most years 5th in the Pacific would kill the 3rd in the Central, if not 2nd.