NHL rivalries between teams in different divisions

[Big Z Man 1990]

Alright, NHL rivalries are not limited to teams that share a division. There's lots of rivalries where the teams are not in the same division, sometimes not even the same conference.

The Capitals-Penguins rivalry was cross-division for 20 years. Another famous example is Avalanche-Red Wings. And then there's Bruins-Rangers, which has the Boston-NYC element to it.

These cross-division rivalries are defined mainly by frequent meetings in the postseason.

So therefore, though the Coyotes will be in a separate division from the Golden Knights beginning next season, they still could develop a rivalry based on proximity, and maybe if they meet in the playoffs frequent enough.

 

[1Dimensional2WayFrwd]

Okay.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

Buffalo VS Winning
NJ VS Scoring

 

[Chips]

Real rivalries probably need nastiness in the playoffs, which the league instructs refs to suffocate as quickly as possible because it turns on potential new fans


Really, playing the same 2-3 teams every years playoffs for 10+ years is just irritating. I’d rather see at least 1-8, even 1-16 (across conferences) would have been cool in the bubble with less travel

 

[tarheelhockey]

Is there a question in the OP?

Clearly if two teams meet repeatedly in high-stakes playoff series (as has been the case in all three examples mentioned) they will develop a rivalry. Otherwise, geography and divisional alignments are the main drivers of rivalries.

The only legitimate cross-conference rivalry I can think of would be Detroit/Chicago, and they were in the same division for like 85 years.

 

[King K Rool]

There was a time when Oilers fans' most hated team was the Dallas Stars.

1997: Oilers beat Stars 4-3
1998: Stars beat Oilers 4-1
1999: Stars beat Oilers 4-0
2000: Stars beat Oilers 4-1
2001: Stars beat Oilers 4-2
2003: Stars beat Oilers 4-2

By 2003 we were like "enough already!" lol

 

[Big Z Man 1990]

Is there a question in the OP?

Clearly if two teams meet repeatedly in high-stakes playoff series (as has been the case in all three examples mentioned) they will develop a rivalry. Otherwise, geography and divisional alignments are the main drivers of rivalries.

The only legitimate cross-conference rivalry I can think of would be Detroit/Chicago, and they were in the same division for like 85 years.

The normal playoff format allows teams to cross over into the other division in their conference if they are a wild card team.

So, a Coyotes-Knights series could happen at any point during the Stanley Cup playoffs, prior to the finals.

Speaking of geography, the Canadian teams, usually spread across three divisions, have rivalries with one another, which were intensified by the temporary realignment.

Edmonton-Winnipeg is probably one of the stronger cross-division rivalries involving Canadian teams, given that the old Jets met the Oilers in the playoffs frequently (but of course I think the old Jets' history should be transferred to the new Jets, but that's another conversation).

 

[c9777666]

Blackhawks/Canucks was brief but INTENSE for 3.5 years