The Realignment: Say Bye To The Wings and Jackets

[Jntg4]

NHL to vote on realignment as soon as tomorrow.

Conference 1: Carolina, Columbus, New Jersey, New York, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington
Conference 2: Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa bay, Toronto
Conference 3: Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg
Conference 4: Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver

 

[Diehardfan]

Just crazy having a team that's driving distance away, heading to the other conference. Although, having a good franchise heading east is probably good for league balance, as there currently is an overload of strong teams in the West.

 

[Anno Catuli]

dont like it. hope it fails

 

[DewsSox79]

5 original 6 teams in one conf? lame


Sent from Hawkwriters "I was at the game and family dayzz with teh energyzzz" scouting report using Tapatalk.

 

[Anno Catuli]

I don't like that they are taking our biggest rivals out of our division.

If they are going to reallign, they should put the original 6 all in ONE division. and separate the others into the other three

six teams
eight teams
eight teams
eight teams

just as good as
eight teams
eight teams
seven teams
seven teams

 

[ClydeLee]

I liked the last proposal better

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[Jntg4]

I liked the last proposal better

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Blame the players. Still think Florida teams being with NE division teams (and now Detroit) is moronic.

 

[DMelt36]

One positive of this realignment would be the Hawks appearing to be in the weakest group of the four.

 

[Jntg4]

One positive of this realignment would be the Hawks appearing to be in the weakest group of the four.

Ya but that is short term, you don't know who the best teams will be five years from now

 

[whitesoxman77]

Well Detroit still fuckin sucks

 

[Rice Cube]

Couple of really nifty articles about optimum realignment:

Six-division -- http://www.hockeyprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1458

Four-conference -- http://www.hockeyprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1460

It's a bit of a mess-up with all that empty space in the West though. Never gonna be optimal.

 

[tbo41fan]

Having the Hawks alienated as the only O6 team in the west is lame

 

[nwfisch]

Well Detroit still fuckin sucks

So does Minnesota and Wisconsin

 

[Jntg4]

Was writing an article for ScoSports (http://scosports.wordpress.com/) and decided to check current and theoretical post-season matchups after covering the realignment and new post-season system. With current standings, almost all teams in playoffs would be the same, except with Detroit in the East, Tampa Bay is out and San Jose is in.

Current matchups:
Eastern Conference: #8 Tampa Bay @ #1 Montreal, #7 Toronto @ #2 Pittsburgh, #6 New Jersey @ #3 Carolina, #5 Ottawa @ #4 Boston
Western Conference: #8 Los Angeles @ #1 Chicago, #7 Detroit @ #2 Anaheim, #6 Dallas @ #3 Vancouver, #5 St. Louis @ #4 Nashville

Would-be matchups:
Atlantic Division: #4 Detroit (Central Division) @ #1 Pittsburgh, #3 Carolina @ #2 New Jersey
Central Division: #4 Toronto (Central Division) @ #1 Montreal, #3 Ottawa @ #2 Boston
Mid-West Division: #4 San Jose (Pacific Division) @ #1 Chicago, #3 St. Louis @ #2 Nashville
Pacific Division: #4 Dallas (Mid-West Division) @ #1 Anaheim, #3 Los Angeles @ #2 Vancouver

 

[Capt. Serious]

So does Iowa.

fixed.

 

[Crystallas]

The playoff structure is a good idea IMO. It adds more hardware, and that helps sell tickets.

But the realignment is rough, considering the NHL has a few teams that might move in the next few years. Phoenix to Quebec REALLY goofs up the map.

I like this suggestion the best. While Pittsburgh gets boned with their rivalries the most, everyone else remains stable.

Just reading some Detroit sites, the team wants to move to the east to cut down on travel. So I highly doubt the Hawks and Wings will be in the same division for the first time ever.

 

[Jntg4]

That bullshit Hockey Insiderr guy says Seattle, Quebec, Markham, Memphis, and Kansas City are under consideration for the expansion. I didn't realize it was his site I found on Google until later, but four of those five are ones that we have obviously heard of, but I take it he made Memphis up completely, right? Doesn't make much sense: southern market, near Nashville, etc. Or has anybody heard Memphis mentioned elsewhere (since the other four we have)?

 

[Jntg4]

"Nick Kypreos via twitter: The NHL and NHLPA may soon announce an agreement in principle on realignment for next season. The new realignment agreement may give the players a window to revisit the agreement after the NHL moves on possible relocation and expansion."

It's clear the expansion issue must have at least been brought up to the PA

 

[Jntg4]

Players consented, going to the Board of Governors as early as next week.

To be "re-evaluated" in off-season between the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.

So if there is the expansion, it may be for 2015-16 as was speculated in the past.