Hipster Doofus
Registered User
- Sep 1, 2006
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Think it was a Grantland article. It wasnt much, just confirmed that Hartford still wants a team and and the league still is favorable to a return because of the market size and no compeition.
The National Hockey League will move forward with its proposed realignment plan after receiving consent from the National Hockey League Players' Association on Thursday.
The next step for the NHL is to bring the proposed plan to its Board of Governors for a vote. If approved, the League's new realignment plan will go into effect starting with the 2013-14 season.
Western Conference
Pacific Division: Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose and Vancouver.
Mid-West Division: Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis and Winnipeg.
Eastern Conference
Central Division: Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Toronto.
Atlantic Division: Carolina, Columbus, New Jersey, N.Y. Islanders, N.Y. Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington.
The top three teams in each division would make the playoffs, along with the four wild-card teams - the best two non-division winners in each conference.
Thanks for moving this for me. i couldn't remember what the thread was called/couldn't find it
I realize it's only temporary with a team likely moving to seattle. but i don't like how there's 16 teams in the east and 14 in the west. it's harder for east teams to make the playoffs. not fair
That "Central" division is a mess. You have the northern-most (Ottawa/Toronto), southern-most (Tampa Bay & Florida), eastern-most (Boston) and Western-most (Detroit) teams in the Conference all in one division.
How did they come up with this?
This is pretty dumb with Tampa and Boston in the same division, and the east gets completely screwed in general as each eastern division has 8 teams yet only the top three go to the playoffs. The east owners need to say no to this as it is crap.
Totally agree. Rangers, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, Carolina, Islanders, Columbus... Really ? We're screwed. 5 of these teams won't make it to the playoffs...we are certainly one of them. This better be tweaked. If 4 teams from each division make it then 2 wild cards I'd be much more okay with this.
Meh, I'm not a fan of these new divisions, but I guess I'll eventually get used to it.
I love it. I'm a huge fan of the new format and I think people are over reacting saying it will be harder to make the playoffs. I think this will amp up some rivalries and it should be sweet!
You're right. Quebec wouldnt be great for the NHL. It would be great for Quebec City, but wouldnt do all too much for the league especially if it's a relocation of a bigger potential growth market. It would automatically be the smallest market in the league and the area is already hockey saturated, there's little growth potential there. There's more to success than just having people in the seats every night. Not to mention, if (more like when) the economy shifts back to an early 90's paradigm between the US and Canada, the same issues that killed the Nordiques and Jets the first time will likely crop up again.
While I agree Seattle is probably ideal for the NHL at this point (under-served market, hockey history, west coast, natural rival in waiting), I think Milwaukee is an utterly AWFUL idea. No prospects of an arena whatsoever, they may not even be able to keep the Bucks. They barely draw for the Admirals there. I just don't see it as an area clamoring for an NHL franchise.
NHL would get much more bang for their buck if they could find potential owners in Houston or in Portland. Houston is the 4th biggest city in the country now, and you'd have a natural rivalry with the Stars. Teams in Seattle and Portland could set up a cool Northwest "bloc" with Vancouver similar to what they have in the MLS.
Portland and Houston are not getting teams any time soon. No ownership and no demand.
You go where there is demand. There's demand for NHL hockey in Seattle, Hamilton and Quebec.
Milwaukee would be a good market if it had an arena and owner. Hockey would easily thrive there. But it will have to shape up before getting consideration. Just like Hartford.
My one complaint is the 16/14 split - though with the greater density of teams in the Eastern Conference, I kinda get it.
How soon until we hear of Seattle and another western city getting teams? I'd assume they plan on it soon enough, as the lopsided conferences are a tad strange.
I got Pens, Rag$, and Philly/Wash/NJD as locks for the foreseeable future in the playoffs. Unless our Isles get better in a hurry, they won't be in the playoffs for a LONGGGG While, IMO... I liked top four in each division like is was back in the old days but I also liked ties too...