The realignment cometh

**mercalnd** · 06-27-2011, 12:49 PM

Re: The realignment cometh

Originally posted by slickdtc

Who cares? There will still be Conference standings.

Actually it's been said that in the 4 division format they were considering having 4 teams per division make the playoffs rather than the current 8 per conference regardless of division.

**Money99** · 06-27-2011, 01:28 PM

Re: The realignment cometh

Originally posted by mercalnd

Actually it's been said that in the 4 division format they were considering having 4 teams per division make the playoffs rather than the current 8 per conference regardless of division.

I'm down with that. Especially if they reseed to overall point totals after the first round.

**DrJones** · 06-27-2011, 02:29 PM

Re: The realignment cometh

Originally posted by Money99

Speculated realignment ala Puck Daddy:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puc...urn=nhl-wp8068

That doesn't make any sense to me. Why go to the trouble of going from 6 to 4 divisions if you're keeping Detroit and Columbus in the West?

Also, please tell me those won't be the division names. An East Division within the Eastern Conference?

**DrJones** · 06-27-2011, 02:39 PM

Re: The realignment cometh

Originally posted by Psyblast

Positives:

-Playing Toronto, Boston and Montreal six times a year

Can't imagine division opponents would play each other 6x per year if they go to 7 or 8-team divisions.

**ImTellinTim** · 06-27-2011, 04:59 PM

Re: The realignment cometh

I don't mind that new division from Puck Daddy at all for the Wild. Cuts down on those trips to Western Canada where the games start at about 9PM.

**Money99** · 06-28-2011, 07:17 AM

Re: The realignment cometh

Originally posted by DrJones

That doesn't make any sense to me. Why go to the trouble of going from 6 to 4 divisions if you're keeping Detroit and Columbus in the West?

Also, please tell me those won't be the division names. An East Division within the Eastern Conference?

I think 'Conferences' will basically work as a bucket used to put two divisions in for playoff purposes only.
My understanding is that you play 6x against division opponents and then twice against every other team in the league.

For Detroit, they would play 36 games against division rivals, then play 2x against the other 23 teams for a perfect 82 games.
For teams in 8-team divisions, they'd have to miss a couple of games against all teams in the league, but it would be pretty even.

For a team like Detroit, even though they're playing a few CST teams, a great majority of their games will be in the EST. They would only have to play in the PST or MST time zones a total of 8 times a year.
For a Wings fan like myself, this is a dream come true. No more red-eye nights staying up to catch games.
Now if only the NHL would make sure the first 2 rounds were played against their division, then we'd be set. We'd only have to endure one playoff round against a team in the MST or PST time zone. Awesome!

**Money99** · 07-12-2011, 08:31 AM

Re: The realignment cometh

Possible evidence that the Wings are indeed moving to the East?

Minnesota owner might have revealed NHL's realignment plans for 2012-13

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2011/07/minnesota_owner_might_have_rev.html

Wild owner reveals potential new realignment for Central Division, which doesn't include Red Wings.

Several reports in recent weeks have indicated the NHL will have some form of radical realignment in 2012-13, when the Winnipeg Jets will shift from the Eastern Conference to the West, where they belong.
It is widely assumed the Detroit Red Wings would move to the Eastern Conference.
And while nothing is official, as the Board of Governors will continue to discuss possible scenarios when they meet in December, Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold might have let the cat out of the bag during a radio interview. He told KFAN of Minneapolis that the Wild would be in the Central Division along with Winnipeg, Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, Dallas and possibly Columbus.

He didn't mention Detroit, which leads one to assume the Red Wings would in fact be in the East.
Leipold didn't say this was a done deal, but by the tone of his remarks, he seems fairly certain it will happen.

If speculation is correct that each team will play their inter-division teams 6x and then every other team 2x, then losing Detroit in the West won't matter.
The Northwest and Pacific saw Detroit come into town twice a year. So even though the Wings won't be there for that additional game, they'll get Pitt, Tor, Mtl, Philly, Wash, Bos, NY, etc to compensate.

I think that's the best scenario for everyone.

**OSUFan_88** · 07-12-2011, 11:46 AM

Re: The realignment cometh

Originally posted by Money99

I think that's the best scenario for everyone.

Sure, if you are a Detroit fan.

If you are a Columbus fan, that realignment sucks. Stay in the west, and replace the closest team to us in the division with ****ing Winnipeg?

I'd be so pissed if that actually happened.

**DrJones** · 07-12-2011, 04:50 PM

Re: The realignment cometh

Originally posted by OSUFan_88

Sure, if you are a Detroit fan.

If you are a Columbus fan, that realignment sucks. Stay in the west, and replace the closest team to us in the division with ****ing Winnipeg?

I'd be so pissed if that actually happened.

Look at it this way, though. Let's say the NHL adopts the old "top 4 in each division make playoffs" postseason format, as has been rumoured. If you're Columbus, what division do you want to be a part of?

Central: Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg
East: Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Toronto

Stay in the Central, you've got Chicago and a bunch of question marks to deal with. Move to the East, you've got three playoff locks (Wings, Pens, Bruins). You'd have to beat out Buffalo and Montreal for the last spot every year. How many more seasons can the Jackets miss the playoffs before the franchise is in serious trouble?

BTW, if the NHL goes this route, good luck on the Leafs or Sens making the playoffs before 2020.

**slickdtc** · 07-12-2011, 05:35 PM

Re: The realignment cometh

I sure hope they still do the Top 8 in the Conference. I think it's just setting yourself up for a lot of heat if you do Top 4 in the division, because every year some teams are going to get robbed. I guess the rules are in place from the beginning but if a division is down and you're in the East with DET, PIT, etc... doesn't seem fair.

**IlliniM1ke** · 07-12-2011, 06:13 PM

Re: The realignment cometh

Originally posted by Money99

I think that's the best scenario for everyone.

As a Blackhawks fan I like and hate it.

Our path to a deep playoff run each year (and everyone else in the Western Conference) is far easier without Detroit.

As much as I hate Detroit it is going to suck not playing them 6x a year (well it won't suck since they are a good team), will really miss that rivalry and while the 2 games a year will be great it won't be the same.

I've really grown to hate the Wings over the years, it just won't seem right with them in the Eastern Conference although I do fully understand why they want to make the move.

**Greenevol** · 07-12-2011, 09:54 PM

Re: The realignment cometh

I don't see why any of this is necessary.

Just swap Nashville to the southeast and Winnepeg to the central.

Nashville fits in the geographic footprint of the southeast, you don't have to break up Chicago-Detroit rivalry, Winnepeg fits right in the central.

**Money99** · 07-13-2011, 09:03 AM

Re: The realignment cometh

Originally posted by Greenevol

I don't see why any of this is necessary.

Just swap Nashville to the southeast and Winnepeg to the central.

Nashville fits in the geographic footprint of the southeast, you don't have to break up Chicago-Detroit rivalry, Winnepeg fits right in the central.

But teams like Detroit and Columbus don't feel it's fair to be in the West.
Both are EST teams and are forced to travel more in a month than Philly, NJ or Buffalo will all season.

And breaking up the Chi-Det rivalry is nothing compared to when they destroyed the Tor-Det rivalry which was 1000x more intense and entertaining.

I like the idea of breaking the league into 4 divisions, play your divisional rivals 6x and everyone else twice.
Done.

**mercalnd** · 07-13-2011, 01:35 PM

Re: The realignment cometh

Originally posted by Money99

I like the idea of breaking the league into 4 divisions, play your divisional rivals 6x and everyone else twice.
Done.

This would result in teams that are in a 7 team division playing 82 games and teams in 8 team divisions playing 86.

**Greenevol** · 07-13-2011, 01:59 PM

Re: The realignment cometh

Originally posted by Money99

But teams like Detroit and Columbus don't feel it's fair to be in the West.
Both are EST teams and are forced to travel more in a month than Philly, NJ or Buffalo will all season.

And breaking up the Chi-Det rivalry is nothing compared to when they destroyed the Tor-Det rivalry which was 1000x more intense and entertaining.

I like the idea of breaking the league into 4 divisions, play your divisional rivals 6x and everyone else twice.
Done.

That sucks for Detroit, but someone is going to have to travel out there.

If you move Detroit, then you have to move Columbus b/c their the only EST team left in the west. Moving 2 teams makes no sense when you can just stick Nashville right in the Southeast with similar teams like Tampa/Carolina.

Swap Minnesota to the central and Winnepeg to the NW, and the new central looks like Detroit, Chicago, St.Lou, Columbus, and Minnesota. Tell me that doesn't just seem natural (kind of looks like the AL Central in baseball).

I hate watching the Preds go out to Vancouver and San Jose too (Tennessee and British Columbia in the same conference?), but this makes more sense than moving teams between conferences wholesale and ending up with 16 in the east and 14 in the west.

The realignment cometh

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