NHL realignment on the table again.

[no name]

There is talk the NHL realignment is back on the table, the NHL made some modifications to it though. Right now its hush hush on thoes changes so its hard to know what to think about it. Most of the specualtion is that some teams might get moved around but the 4 confrence idea is still involved. The unbalanced confrences was a concern of the NHLPA, but the NHL changed something to make the players happy (the NHL did submitt a mock schedule with travel info)? Someone is specualting the league made these modifications to make expansion easier but that was some spotty web site writer. ?? Some things i have read has Columbos moving to our division, others have a radical change of our "the pens" confrence being. Pittsburgh, NYR. NYI, NJ, Wash, Carolina, Tampa Bay and Florida. They did say they were hoping its settled by Feb. 25th. Thoughts?? How would you want to see the Pens confrence end up??

[Idoit40fans]

4 divisions would be fine if they add or drop 2 teams.

[Kovy27]

4 divisions would be fine if they add or drop 2 teams.

That's coming. Quebec and Seattle, it sounds like.

[Idoit40fans]

Yeah I definitely heard talk that its probably coming. Would love a Seattle team, good sports town.

[Kovy27]

The most logical to me is:

Conference 1: Fla, TB, Car, Wash, Phi, NJ, NYI, NYR
Conference 2: Bos, Mtl, Ott, TO, Buf, Pit, CBJ, EXPANSION 1
Conference 3: Col, Win, Min, Chi, Det, Nash, StL, Dal
Conference 4: Edm, Cal, Van, SJ, LA, Ana, Phx, EXPANSION 2

Yes, I know it hurts our rivalries, but it makes the most logical sense and gives CBJ a rival that is 2.5 hours away.

[DontToewsMeBro]

Get us away from the Devils and Isles, please.

[no name]

4 divisions would be fine if they add or drop 2 teams.

That's coming. Quebec and Seattle, it sounds like.

I keep hearing a 2nd Toronto team and Quebec. I like the Seattle idea alot better.

[Idoit40fans]

The Leafs would fight a second Toronto team pretty hard.

[Kovy27]

4 divisions would be fine if they add or drop 2 teams.

That's coming. Quebec and Seattle, it sounds like.

I keep hearing a 2nd Toronto team and Quebec. I like the Seattle idea alot better.

I read somewhere last week that TO is 3rd on the list behind Quebec and Seattle.

[slappybrown]

The 2nd Toronto team would be a compromise between Rogers and Bell, who currently co-own the Leafs, with each ending up with 100% of a team. A second Ontario team is inevitable, and I think it is much more likely to be Quebec City over Seattle for the second.

Additionally, I would be stunned if the Pens and Flyers are split up based on the comments last time around when the idea that we'd split was floated:

“We are in 100 percent agreement with the Pittsburgh Penguins,” said Flyers President Peter Luukko, a member of the Board of Governors. “We are in close communication with them on this subject. This is a big rivalry that means a lot not only to us as a franchise, but to our fans, their fans, and the entire state of Pennsylvania.”

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2011 ... =fullstory

[sil]

If I was the all-powerful King of the NHL...I'd subtract the league by two teams (PHX and CBJ)

4 Divisions of 7 teams each. Top-4 in each division make the playoffs.

Gretzky Division
Edmonton Oilers
Calgary Flames
Vancouver Canucks
Colorado Avalanche
San Joes Sharks
Los Angeles Kings
Anaheim Ducks

Howe Division
Winnipeg Jets
Minnesota Wild
Detroit Red Wings
Chicago Blackhawks
St. Louis Blues
Nashville Predators
Dallas Stars

Lemieux Division
Ottawa Senators
Toronto Maple Leafs
Buffalo Sabres
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Washington Capitals
Carolina Hurricanes

Richard Division
Montreal Canadiens
Boston Bruins
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
New Jersey Devils
Tampa Bay Lightning
Florida Panthers

[champeen]

Yeah I definitely heard talk that its probably coming. Would love a Seattle team, good sports town.

Just curious- what makes Seattle a good sports town? I'd like to see a team there as well, but I don't think of it as being much of a sports town.

[Steve Dave]

Create 2 new Teams (Seattle and Quebec). Move Florida to Toronto (2 NY teams, why not?).

Northeast:
Tor
Tor (Fla)
Qbc*
Bos
Mtl
Ott
Buf
Det (want to move back to East)

Atlantic:
Pit
Phi
Nyr
Nyi
NJ
Wsh
Car
TB

Central:
Win
Min
Col
Chi
Stl
Dal
Clb
Nsh

Pacific:
Sea*
Van
Edm
Cal
SJ
LA
Ana
Pho

[Krom]

^ That would be really tough on the Jets.

[Steve Dave]

^ That would be really tough on the Jets.

True.

[NashvilleCat]

4 divisions would be fine if they add or drop 2 teams.

That's coming. Quebec and Seattle, it sounds like.

I keep hearing a 2nd Toronto team and Quebec. I like the Seattle idea alot better.

I read somewhere last week that TO is 3rd on the list behind Quebec and Seattle.

The last thing this league needs is two more teams.

[no name]

I think the league isn't going to move teams around to much. The NHLPA had a problem with the 2 confences having 8 teams which made it harder for thoes teams to get a playoff spot. I think they will go with a 2 confrence one 8 team and one 7 team division per confrence. This takes that out of the equation. Then as the playoffs goes the top 4 from each division make the playoffs, BUT!!!!! if the 5th place team from one division has more points then the 4th from the other. That team will make the playoffs. I think it will be something like this. This makes it fair if your division has 8 teams. It sounds confusing but you will only have to put up with ti for 2 years until expanision happens and the league goes with the 4 confrence 8 team set up. Top 4 making the playoffs from each.

Pitts, NYI, NYR, PHI, NJ, Carolina, Washington, Columbus
Boston, Ottawa, Toronto, Buffalo, TB, Florida, MTL,

Minn, Dallas, Detroit, St Louis, Nashville, Winnipeg, Detroit
Pho, SJ, ANA, LA, Col,Edm, Van, Calgary

This is just my guess.

[Steve Dave]

Seems right

[C4 Row E]

Create 2 new Teams (Seattle and Quebec). Move Florida to Toronto (2 NY teams, why not?).

Buffalo says, "HI!"

[CERV96]

I don't like the whole 4 conference idea. How do they determine who wins the Prince of Wales and Cambell Cup every year? I wouldn't want them to mess with tradition more than they already have. Yeah, you could add two more but to me it defeats the purpose. That trophy(pow) is just as hard to win in itself let alone the Stanley Cup.

[Idoit40fans]

Yeah I definitely heard talk that its probably coming. Would love a Seattle team, good sports town.

Just curious- what makes Seattle a good sports town? I'd like to see a team there as well, but I don't think of it as being much of a sports town.

Northern American city with rabid support of a soccer team. Ideal place to move another niche sport.

[newarenanow]

I'm torn on this. I kind of like the current setup.

I did like the setup in the 80s/early 90s, but the league has grown since then, and with more teams, if you want to keep rivalries while still playing everyone, smaller/more divisions is the better option IMO.

[newarenanow]

I don't like the whole 4 conference idea. How do they determine who wins the Prince of Wales and Cambell Cup every year? I wouldn't want them to mess with tradition more than they already have. Yeah, you could add two more but to me it defeats the purpose. That trophy(pow) is just as hard to win in itself let alone the Stanley Cup.

Yeah, I'd be fine if they kept the East/West setup and put two of the conferences into each, but if it's just rotating, you are going to kill a lot of tradition.

[Steve Dave]

Create 2 new Teams (Seattle and Quebec). Move Florida to Toronto (2 NY teams, why not?).

New York City teams.
Buffalo says, "HI!" :fist:

2 New York City teams!

[Idoit40fans]

New york is the name of the city as well.