Reallignment big topic this weekend - my 4 options

[Wickabee]

A Pit/Philly rivalry could easily be replaced by a Pit/Columbus rivalry.

I like option 3 but instead of splitting East/West maybe split North/South so timezones become a problem for everyone instead of just a few (since that will always be a "problem")

[centrehice]

When you want to set up new rivalries, you are playing right into Bettman's hands.

He wants everyone to concentrate on rivalries, that way nobody gets angry when they find out that the Habs and Leafs can never meet in a Stanley Cup Final.

It's Balderdash.

[Wickabee]

When you want to set up new rivalries, you are playing right into Bettman's hands.

He wants everyone to concentrate on rivalries, that way nobody gets angry when they find out that the Habs and Leafs can never meet in a Stanley Cup Final.

It's Balderdash.

Who cares if Toronto and Montreal can't meet in the finals? If they meet in the first round the intensity is the same as if they met in the finals.

History is a major part of hockey, but too many people want to keep things they way they have always been, which gets you the CFL at best. Hockey holds onto history WAY too much. Let's look at the future instead of continually getting mired down in the past.

[bojohnson]

Who cares if Toronto and Montreal can't meet in the finals? If they meet in the first round the intensity is the same as if they met in the finals.

History is a major part of hockey, but too many people want to keep things they way they have always been, which gets you the CFL at best. Hockey holds onto history WAY too much. Let's look at the future instead of continually getting mired down in the past.

please dont compare the nhl to the cfl.
cfl is bush league at its very finest.

fighting and hitting need to stay, no futureizing that.

we arent like baseball, that is a game of the past, i mean they wont get video replay, because they want to stay traditional.

[centrehice]

It's easy for people who were not alive to watch the Original 6 to say who cares if a few of those teams cannot meet in the finals.

Show me how wanting a fully Interlocking Play-off schedule is a move backwards, I dare you.

That is the most true concise way to showcase any Sport, especially in the NHL where 16 teams compose the Playoff format.

There simply is no excuse.

[dmaksymyshyn]

It's easy for people who were not alive to watch the Original 6 to say who cares if a few of those teams cannot meet in the finals.

Show me how wanting a fully Interlocking Play-off schedule is a move backwards, I dare you.

That is the most true concise way to showcase any Sport, especially in the NHL where 16 teams compose the Playoff format.

There simply is no excuse.

Yes...and this is why I particularly care for option 1...a 3 division format, where the best 16 are in. You can have anyone play anyone in the finals, not just east vs west. as far as who plays who...not sure...you should get something for winning your division...I think Scotkoz had something similar to this plan blogged...

[Wickabee]

I wouldn't say backwards, but sideways. Of course, if you're not moving forward, you're moving backward.
To say we need a certain alignment so that 6 teams can possibly meet one another in the finals is pretty arrogant. It's on the same level of saying "Detroit deserves to be in the East because they've been around so long and want it."
Take the entire league into consideration and not just 6 teams. Just because an organization is older than others doesn't make it more important in the current scheme of things.
It's holding onto history for the sake of history regardless of reality, and no other reason.
I'll put it this way. As a Canucks fan, the last thing I want to see is Vancouver have a playoff that goes:
Round 1 - VAN vs NYI
Round 2 - VAN vs NYR
Round 3 - VAN vs BOS
Round 4 - VAN vs FLA
The travel on that would be ridiculous, and the potential travel to other teams would be insane both for cost and wear on the teams. But hey, as long as Toronto, Montreal, Boston, Chicago, Detroit and the Rangers are happy, the rest of the league can take a flying leap, right?

[centrehice]

What is NHL Hockey all about?

Showcasing the Playoffs with the two best teams or Travel worries? Make up your mind.

Again No excuse, other than the NHL Commissioner again displaying NBA behaviour.

[Wickabee]

Ok, league semi-finals are Philly v Pittsburgh and Edmonton v Tampa Bay. Once you get to the finals is Edmonton/Tampa at their best the way Philly/Pittsburgh is. You potentially have a final against a team that's gone from one coast to the other every few days for 2 months versus a team who's barely left their state. That's definitely going to get you the best hockey in a final. A well rested team against a team worn to the bone.

Maybe Detroit, Chicago, Montreal, Toronto, Boston and the Rangers should start their own league. Then everyone else can get on with their lives without constantly hearing "WE'RE MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HERE LONGER!"
I truly believe anyone saying this wants what's best for them and MAYBE their team. No consideration for the league as a whole or the reality of what's being dealt with.
You can badmouth Bettman all you want, but your argument only benefits those teams in close proximity to each other. It would be detrimental to teams like Vancouver, Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg, etc.
But hey, as long as the Original 6 are happy and always playing each other in the final all is good, right? The league exists solely for those 6 teams to play each other, right?
Right.

[centrehice]

If your were a Winnipeg fan you wouldn't even be making this argument. I'm a Red Wing Fan and nobody in the West travels more than them Period !!

I don't give a damn if they have to live in an Airport to win the Stanley Cup.