NHL Realignment Explained

[RGM81]

https://www.sportscardforum.com/artic...ent-explained/

by RGM81 aka Richard McAdam
Late in the evening on December 5th, the National Hockey League’s Board of Governors announced its plan for what it calls “radical realignment.” The East/West Conference alignment we have known for the past several years will fall by the wayside after the 2011-12 season once the new plan is formally approved by the Board, the NHL, and the NHL Players Association. Instead of two conferences divided by geography, we will see next year four conferences.

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Discuss!

[edthesandwich]

Love the innovation here. The league has done the best it can to please as many owners as possible, while retaining a lot of the elements that make divisional play so appealing.

And I may be in the minority here, but I don't see a problem with a perceived lack of potential fairness in the playoff seedings. For one, all of the third- fourth- and fifth-place teams are going to be a few points apart in most instances, so it won't be like the days of the North Stars making the playoffs with 29 fewer points than the New York Rangers. Secondly, as we've learned time and time again since the NHL lockout, playoff seeding is virtually worthless when the playoffs roll around. Teams are so evenly-matched nowadays that just about any series has the potential for an upset. Couldn't say that 20 years ago.

I want to give this a chance, because it deserves that much. I hope others agree.

[Wickabee]

I love the playoff format, I'm satisfied with the alignment.
What I do like, and Bettman has said this as well, is the alignment allows for movement/expansion much easier than the current one does.

[wild4life]

All hail the Norris! Man, having Dallas, Chicago and Detroit (and Nashville, the Wild can't seem to get the puck by Pekka Rinne) in the same division is going to be intense! But, if we can weather the storm of Chicago and Detroit, we'll have a good shot at the Cup. Go Wild, in Fletcher and Yeo we trust!

Dakota

[bojohnson]

All hail the Norris! Man, having Dallas, Chicago and Detroit (and Nashville, the Wild can't seem to get the puck by Pekka Rinne) in the same division is going to be intense! But, if we can weather the storm of Chicago and Detroit, we'll have a good shot at the Cup. Go Wild, in Fletcher and Yeo we trust!

Dakota

ad winnipeg.
detroits getting old, winnipeg is close to being developed,
get ready to see lots of blue at xcel energy center

see the jets game in minnesota, then catch a vikes or twins game.

before the jets we used to go down once a year for a wild game and a vikes game, as well as a twins game in august.
hopefully they schedule a jets game suring football season

[30ranfordfan]

To me it would have made more sense to drop the FLA teams from the 'adams' group, and put them in with the 'patrick' group. Then either replace them with the two PA teams, or all three NY area teams. If you go the route of the 3 NYs, then you have to bring Nashville down into that division to replace them.

Overall though, big fan of it. The 8 vs 7 doesn't bother me so much..... and it leaves obvious room for expansion / re-location (32 teams, IMO, is the ideal number).

And bringing back divisional playoffs? GREAT move. They never should have gone away from that format.

[Japold2]

To add here a ideal for the name of the conferences to replace A/B/C/D...
... Tim Horton /Maurice Richard / Willie O'Ree / Derek Boogaard

[howethegreat]

yeah why are the Florida teams in the same conference with the canadian teams?

[Japold2]

yeah why are the Florida teams in the same conference with the canadian teams?

Because in 1 to 2 years the Panther's will be the Nordique...

[howethegreat]

Because in 1 to 2 years the Panther's will be the Nordique...

are you sure it won't be the coyotes?