NHL Division Re-Alignment 2012

[killgod]

Anyone seen any information about it?

I can't recall where I read the article but apparently the owners/league do not like the current setup and are looking at this Winnipeg opportunity for some serious change.

I did read that it's been proposed to switch from 6 divisions to 4 as well as moving both Detroit and Columbus to the East. Although the article didn't suggest who would be the 2nd team (Winnipeg) moving East to West.

Either way, we might be in for more of a shakeup than just shuffling a couple teams around.

 

[Ravin]

I think they should because the system now has holes in it. LIke the days on Washington always making the playoffs because they won the division, yet would have been like 7th in the standings.

Only thing three does is make it easy. 3 divisions of 5 teams in each. So going to two would mean one division of 7 and one of 8 on each side. BUT at the end of the day, it still just comes down to overal rank, and divisions mean basically shit. 1 & 2 get the two first spots, 3-8 are conference.

 

[Sharkweather]

Nashville should be switched before Detroit imo.

 

[Obst]

Nashville should be switched before Detroit imo.

Detroit has always complained about playing in the western time zone and have wanted to come to the East. They apparently have first dibs on if a team gets moved to the East

 

[leaffan]

I believe the idea being thrown around is two divisions per conference just like he old days.

Honestly I think they should do it. Would build more bigger and better rivarlies.

 

[Ravin]

So the first idea out is to have the east be a 16 team conference and the west be 14 teams. Would be a pacific, Midwest, East and South division. So probably break something like this.

Pacific
Vancouver
San Jose
LA
Phoenix
Calgary
Edmonton
Anaheim

Midwest
Winnipeg
St. Louis
Colorado
Dallas
Minnesota
Chicago
Nashville

East
Montreal
Ottawa
Toronto
Boston
Detroit
New York
Buffalo
New York

South
Florida
Tampa Bay
Carolina
Washington
Pittsburgh
New Jersey
Philadelphia
Columbus

In this layout, Columbus and Detroit both move over. You can play around with the South/East to make anything work really. Can't really complain about Columbus having to fly to Tampa to play a game when Vancouver has to fly to Nashville to play conference games now. Nashville doesn't get moved to the east, but they do get a better division with the midwest and having teams in their time zone. It isn't perfect, but without adding new teams, only 2 of the 3 teams wanting to move will be able to do so. And if you look west, I don't know to many cities that will support an NHL club. Nashville needs another east team to fold up shop, and then three new west cities.

 

[Fappin Raptor]

Bringing back the Original 6 rivalries would be awesome. :fap: :fap: :fap:

 

[Ravin]

It's to bad Chicago isnt further east to get an Original 6 division, but 5 of 6 isn't bad. NHL needs to run an Original 6 weekend and make a deal of it. Toronto/Det, Bos/Mtl, Chi/NYR. Great day of hockey.

 

[wr50l]

Naw can we play Toronto in Original Six week instead?

 

[Sharkweather]

Unless Columbus is definitely switching to the East, I still think they should change places with Nashville in the setup Ravin posted.

Tennessee is further south than Ohio.

 

[FirstTimer]

Just saw they plan on doing it by timezones

 

[Ravin]

Unless Columbus is definitely switching to the East, I still think they should change places with Nashville in the setup Ravin posted.

Tennessee is further south than Ohio.

But you could also say Columbus is more east then Nashville, so they should be in the "eastern conference" and Nashville be more in the 'midwest'. Either way, I don't care. Either or will get screwed and either or will get pissed when they don't get moved. Detroit is obviously moving, so it is one of the two if they do this system. This is, this is only if they go 16-14 conferences. If they do 15-15, then I'd say move Columbus to the east as they are the most east. Sorry detroit, I know you want to move, but why have a western team further east then an eastern team.

 

[killgod]

It appears the Winnipeg Jets may be playing in the Central Division of the Wesern Conference after next season.

According to the Grand Rapids Press, Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold said as much on Monday, telling Minneapolis radion station, KFAN that the Wild would be playing in the Central Division against the Jets, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Dallas Stars and possibly the Columbus Blue Jackets. He made no mention of the Detroit Red Wings, which is the team most likely to move the Eastern Conference to accomodate the Jets' move.

The NHL Board of Governors are scheduled to meet in December to resume talks of realignment. The Jets will play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference this season, joining the Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers.

If that's true, they really are going to change shit up.

 

[Obst]

Bob McKenzie was on NHL Network saying the Wings to the Southeast and the Jets to the Central is what we are most likely going to see.

 

[Fappin Raptor]

They would have to rename the divisions. Detroit in anything that says South is terribly incorrect.

 

[Ravin]

I know Detroit wants over to the east, but seriously, Nashville to Southeast and Jets to Central. Divisions fixed. No issue at all. Sorry Red Wings.

 

[EmpireWF]

They would have to rename the divisions. Detroit in anything that says South is terribly incorrect.

Southern Canada perhaps? :lol:

 

[Ravin]

They would need to move teams around and down. Detroit into the Northeast, then move like Boston/Buffalo down to Atlantic, then move like Flyers/Pens down to Southeast.

It just seems like to much of a move just so the wings can get into the East. Boston has to much history with all the other teams in the Northeast, and the Atlantic has rivals with everyone, so moving that around is dumb. Nashville over to east seems best idea and most logical. Just don't think it is right for the Wings to get put above everyone else, even when the two other teams (columbus/Nashville) are both farther east and south then the Wings.

 

[dave]

The NHL should just drop the divisions and move to East and West conferences.

New Jersey not being in the same division as Philly, Islanders and Rangers is just strange.

Divisions simply don't work anymore.

14 teams in the West, 16 in the East.

Top 7 in both conferences make the playoffs. 15 and 16 seeds are conference free and decided by points.

 

[Ravin]

Or they could make it 16-16 if they added two teams. Throw a team Portland/Seattle, one in Vegas or something, and bam you got West rebuilding.

Obviously that is just random thoughts, but they are not going to get rid of the three division system as long as they have 30 teams. And doing 15-15, or any two divisions won't happen. I doubt the NHL is the first to start doing that kind of thing, that is more of a baseball thing.

Keeping it simple is best. Detroit in the division they are in has tons of history with Chicago, St. Louis, and even the Jets. Nashville doesn't have much since they are the new guy.