NHL Realignment...4 conferences

[FargoBison]

This looks like a pretty good idea...

ANA, LAK, SJS, PHX, COL, VAN, CGY, EDM in one 8-team conference.

DAL, STL, CHI, MIN, WPG, NSH, DET, CBJ in other 8-team conference.

TOR, MTL, OTT, BUF, BOS, FLA, TB in one 7-team conference.

NYR, NYI, NJD, PHI, PIT, WSH, CAR in other 7-team conference.

first two rounds of the playoffs are within conferences...should make for some awesome hockey.

Some more info....

Under the format, every team would play every other team outside its conference twice -- once home, once away.

In the seven-team Conferences, teams would play six times -- three home, three away. In the eight-team Conferences, teams would play either five or six times in a season on a rotating basis; three teams would play each other six times and four teams would play each other five times. This process would reverse each season: An eight-team Conference member that plays an opponent six times in one season would play it five times the following season.

The top four teams in each Conference qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The first-place team would play the fourth-place team; the second-place team would play the third-place team. The four respective Conference champions would meet in the third round of the Playoffs, with the survivors playing for the Stanley Cup.

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[SuperHornet]

That doesn't make much sense.

I'd MUCH rather contract NSH/CBJ/FLA/TB, send CAR back to HAR and COL back to QUE, and go back to the old Wales (Adams/Patrick)/Campbell (Norris/Smythe) set-up.

Another intriguing idea I've had over the years would be to set up a NHC/AHC concept, so that one could see East/West/Central divisions in both conferences. That could set up some interesting playoff scenarios as well. For example, while I can never remember exactly how I had it the last time I did this, I know for sure that I put the Mighty Ducks in the NHC West and the LA Kings in the AHC West. Back East, I think I put PHI in the NHC East and PIT in the AHC East. In other words, I followed the six-division NFL as an example as far as the analogy worked and fit the remaining teams in as best as I could.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

I'm a BIG fan of this realignment.

With a return to divisional playoffs - so much the better.

Next year - when the Yotes move - they'll just be flexed in to whatever division.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

That doesn't make much sense.

I'd MUCH rather contract NSH/CBJ/FLA/TB, send CAR back to HAR and COL back to QUE, and go back to the old Wales (Adams/Patrick)/Campbell (Norris/Smythe) set-up.

Another intriguing idea I've had over the years would be to set up a NHC/AHC concept, so that one could see East/West/Central divisions in both conferences. That could set up some interesting playoff scenarios as well. For example, while I can never remember exactly how I had it the last time I did this, I know for sure that I put the Mighty Ducks in the NHC West and the LA Kings in the AHC West. Back East, I think I put PHI in the NHC East and PIT in the AHC East. In other words, I followed the six-division NFL as an example as far as the analogy worked and fit the remaining teams in as best as I could.

[T-Dog]

Here's a map. Basically the NHL said "fuck you Florida".

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Here's a map. Basically the NHL said "fuck you Florida".

Not really... when the Canadian teams come to visit, it's really good for ticket sales in the Florida markets... and they get Boston - which has a HUGE fan base in both Western and Southeastern Florida... this alignment gives them 3-4 games/year against the B's in their arenas... those will be sellouts - something neither team has seen in a LONG ass time.

As for travel... Florida was already FUBAR - with Atlanta moving to Winnipeg, they are on an island down there...

I really hope they go back to the Smyth/Norris/Adams/Patrick names.

[dbackjon]

Western teams get screwed, again - have to fight one more team to make the playoffs vs the eastern conferences.

[Gil Dobie]

Western teams get screwed, again - have to fight one more team to make the playoffs vs the eastern conferences.

One of them is moving east in the near future............

[Gil Dobie]

Finally most of the Wild games will start at a decent time.

[Rob Iola]

Here's a map. Basically the NHL said "fuck you Florida".

C'mon, it's not like they'd hop on a bus if they were placed geographically in a conference with Dallas, Nashville, and Carolina - like the FCS playoffs, once on a plane they can be sent pretty much anywhere. As stated above the Canadian teams sell tix in Florida, plus I'm sure those are popular winter roadtrips for the players...

[DSUrocks07]

That doesn't make much sense.

I'd MUCH rather contract NSH/CBJ/FLA/TB, send CAR back to HAR and COL back to QUE, and go back to the old Wales (Adams/Patrick)/Campbell (Norris/Smythe) set-up.


Another intriguing idea I've had over the years would be to set up a NHC/AHC concept, so that one could see East/West/Central divisions in both conferences. That could set up some interesting playoff scenarios as well. For example, while I can never remember exactly how I had it the last time I did this, I know for sure that I put the Mighty Ducks in the NHC West and the LA Kings in the AHC West. Back East, I think I put PHI in the NHC East and PIT in the AHC East. In other words, I followed the six-division NFL as an example as far as the analogy worked and fit the remaining teams in as best as I could.

Yeah, because THAT makes so much sense...

[89Hen]

Wait, this is real?

[89Hen]

NYR, NYI, NJD, PHI, PIT, WSH, CAR in other 7-team conference

I've been trying to figure out a way to get the Caps back with the Flyers and Pens.

[89Hen]

Western teams get screwed, again - have to fight one more team to make the playoffs vs the eastern conferences.

It's a man's world.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Western teams get screwed, again - have to fight one more team to make the playoffs vs the eastern conferences.

One of them is moving east in the near future............

THIS. When they are in Kansas City or Quebec the conferences will just adjust...

Also - as a fan of one of the teams in an 8 team conference - I still prefer it - it really fosters local rivalries, amplified by the return to the classic playoff structure - and I now get to see the entire league come trough town...

very savvy move by NHL

[bluehenbillk]

Good move for Flyers long-term, but not short-term, means just to get to the Final 4 they have to go thru the Pens & Caps.

[89Hen]

Good move for Flyers long-term, but not short-term, means just to get to the Final 4 they have to go thru the Pens & Caps.

Caps? You mean the Rangers.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Good move for Flyers long-term, but not short-term, means just to get to the Final 4 they have to go thru the Pens & Caps.

somewhere in the league office - they are rubbing their hands together at the prospect of those Patrick Conference playoff ratings...

[UNHWildCats]

I love that it now opens up the chance of a Bruins vs Rangers Stanley Cup Final

[TwinTownBisonFan]

I love that it now opens up the chance of a Bruins vs Rangers Stanley Cup Final

Almost certainly not...

The league hasn't said how the playoffs are going to work - but I'd be hard pressed to figure they wont pit the two western most conferences against the two eastern most...

Though... I'd love the thing to be seeded with the remaining team with the most points playing the one with the least... which, in theory would give you the matchup you are talking about...

but I suspect the league will push for the east/west thing to continue...

[TheDancinMonarch]

Let me know when the playoffs start. Anything else they do is meaningless.

[89Hen]

Let me know when the playoffs start. Anything else they do is meaningless.

Just like your posts.

[UNHWildCats]

I love that it now opens up the chance of a Bruins vs Rangers Stanley Cup Final

Almost certainly not...

The league hasn't said how the playoffs are going to work - but I'd be hard pressed to figure they wont pit the two western most conferences against the two eastern most...

Though... I'd love the thing to be seeded with the remaining team with the most points playing the one with the least... which, in theory would give you the matchup you are talking about...

but I suspect the league will push for the east/west thing to continue...

From what I heard last nite its likely the 4 conference champions would be seeded based on regular season record.

[89Hen]

From what I heard last nite its likely the 4 conference champions would be seeded based on regular season record.

Speculation at best.