NHL Realignment

[stop__dreaming]

With the impending move from Atlanta to Winnipeg, the Divisions are going to have to be realigned.

The easiest move would be Nashville to the South-East, move the Wild into the Central and stick Winnipeg into the North-West. One thing I am concerned about would be the number of Canadian franchises (4) in one division. Would that be good for TV and Winnipeg's finances do you think?

How do you see the realignment?

[StanChad]

Wasn't there a thing on tsn that said Winnipeg/Manitoba would stay in the South East Division...Only the 2 different schedules were being printed. Divisions will be the same for 11-12 and adjusted for 12-13.

[RGM81]

With the impending move from Atlanta to Winnipeg, the Divisions are going to have to be realigned.

The easiest move would be Nashville to the South-East, move the Wild into the Central and stick Winnipeg into the North-West. One thing I am concerned about would be the number of Canadian franchises (4) in one division. Would that be good for TV and Winnipeg's finances do you think?

How do you see the realignment?

Re: bolded - it'll be awesome for Hockey Night in Canada and TSN. And it's not like the Winnipeg team will be on The NHL on NBC less than the Thrashers were. LOL

While realignment won't be happening for 2011-12, making for a very unpleasant travel year, it must happen for the 2012-13 season.

I'd love to see the Red Wings in the East, but there's too much money involved for the Western teams to ever allow that to happen. I see the Predators moving to the Southeast, with some other tinkering along the way. Should be fun.

[dtab316]

How I see it, Winnipeg will be in the northwest, Minnesota to the central and Nashville to the southeast.

[stop__dreaming]

Ah, I wasn't aware the realignment was not happening until 2012-13. My bad.

It is very exciting!!

I've heard Detroit and Columbus both want to move to the East but for money reasons (they've been losing a lot) they have to think about travel costs. I wouldn't want to see the Wings in the East. Keep the balance of 'power' in the Conferences.

[flemingc04]

Keeping in mind that a realignment wouldn't happen until 12/13, I wouldn't mind seeing a shake-up of divisions and maybe how they are structured. As it currently stands, I hate seeing all 6 Canadian teams within just 2 divisions. This means that at max, only 2 Canadian teams can win a division. If Winnipeg were given a team, then it would make sense to lump them in the Northwest Division, which means 4/5 teams in that division would be Canadian. Therefore, it would be tougher than it already is for Canadian teams to make it to the playoffs since roughly 2-3 teams from each division don't make the playoffs each year.

In addition, teams like Detroit, Columbus are geographically in the east, but are part of the Western Conference which forces them spend more time travelling than probably more than any other team. To me it seems kind of funny to see Columbus and Pittsburgh in separate conferences when they are closer in proximity to each other than Toronto and Ottawa who in the same division.

Sure, the rivalries are great: Edmonton/Calgary, Toronto/Ottawa, Chicago/Detroit, LA/San Jose, but I wouldn't mind seeing some sort of shake-up that sees Canadian teams spread out beyond more than 2 divisions so that there’s a better opportunity for Canadians to have more teams make the playoffs.

[sholi2000]

Oh I hope that Wpg will be in the East some how. I much rather watch the East than the Western teams. Plus there are a ton of original 6 fans in Winnipeg and that would help keep the MTS center sold out.

[30ranfordfan]

I'm still a skeptic on this whole "moving to Winnipeg" thing (yes, it looks like it's a sure thing - but in my mind it's not a sure thing until the league announces it Tuesday).

that aside.....


I heard talk on FAN 590 today that for next season, Winnipeg will remain in the South East. After that - there is serious talk of realignment and going with 3 divisions of 10, and expanding the playoffs.

Take it for what it's worth.

[Wickabee]

Sportsnet reported the following:
Winnipeg/Manitoba to the Northwest
Vancouver to the Pacific
Dallas to the Central
Nashville to the Southeast

[howethegreat]

Ah, I wasn't aware the realignment was not happening until 2012-13. My bad.

It is very exciting!!

I've heard Detroit and Columbus both want to move to the East but for money reasons (they've been losing a lot) they have to think about travel costs. I wouldn't want to see the Wings in the East. Keep the balance of 'power' in the Conferences.

is detroit really losing money? they always sell out and its not like they have huge contract to pay