NHL Realignment, Playoffs to include three teams from each conference plus wildcards

[DetDannyWilliams]

per Bob McKenzie,

three teams in each of the four conferences would make up the playoffs the rest of the playoff field would be made up of wildcards

The proposed conferences:

I: Carolina, Columbus, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington
II: Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Toronto
III: Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg
IV: Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2013-02-25/nhl-realignment-plan-playoff-teams-three-division-winners-wildcards

I understand the time zone and travel but how can the NHL breakup two great rivalries and original six teams in Chicago and Detroit?

[Skooby]

Credit to Bob's brother Doug for the beer after he took off, what a poser.

[OpIv37]

I don't like playing Detroit more, but I suppose they could have given us Pittsburgh and/ or Chicago. More games against Florida is a plus.

[gebobs]

More games against Florida is a plus.
Egad...why?

[OpIv37]

Egad...why?

Because more often than not, they suck.

[gebobs]

Because more often than not, they suck.

LOL...I suppose they look at us the same way eh? :-)

[OpIv37]

Sad but true. Anyway, it's better than getting stuck with Pittsburgh or Chicago.

[gebobs]

Sad but true. Anyway, it's better than getting stuck with Pittsburgh or Chicago.
The competition in the Southeast has done nothing for the Crapitals. :-)

[SkateZilla]

per Bob McKenzie,

three teams in each of the four conferences would make up the playoffs the rest of the playoff field would be made up of wildcards

The proposed conferences:

I: Carolina, Columbus, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington
II: Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Toronto
III: Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg
IV: Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2013-02-25/nhl-realignment-plan-playoff-teams-three-division-winners-wildcards

I understand the time zone and travel but how can the NHL breakup two great rivalries and original six teams in Chicago and Detroit?

Schedule more Games vs those two (meaning more InterDivsional Play)

[DetDannyWilliams]

NHL gets its divisions back; wild-card plan flawed

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2013-02-26/nhl-realignment-divisions-wild-card-plan-playoff-postseason-atlantic-northeast

[clumping platelets]

Moved Florida to Quebec :nod:

[Mski]

Moved Florida to Quebec :nod:there's been grumbling from CT that they want the whalers back

[SabreEleven]

I won't be surprised if they expand by 2 to make both conferences even.

[Mski]

too bad the answer is that they should probably contract by two

[JATMtheJATM]

there's been grumbling from CT that they want the whalers back

i dont think hartford is large enough to support a team in todays age. but i thought the same about winnipeg. i think seattle and quebec will get teams shortly.

[ckg927]

Credit to Bob's brother Doug for the beer after he took off, what a poser.

You mean hoser, eh?

So you may now feel free to take off. :D

[ckg927]

If we're going to go with this stupid idea, I propose this realignment:

Prince of Wales/Eastern Conference

Patrick/Atlantic Division

Boston
Carolina
Florida
New Jersey
N.Y Islanders
N.Y. Rangers
Philly
Washington

Adams/Central Division

Buffalo
Columbus
Detroit
Montreal
Ottawa
Pittsburgh
Tampa Bay
Toronto

Campbell/Western Conference

Norris/Midwest Division

Chicago
Colorado
Dallas
Minnesota
Nashville
St. Louis
Winnipeg

Smythe/Pacific Division

Anaheim
Calgary
Edmonton
Los Angeles
Phoenix
San Jose
Vancouver

[DetDannyWilliams]

Board of Governors vote next for realignment plan

The National Hockey League will move forward with its proposed realignment plan after receiving consent from the National Hockey League Players' Association on Thursday.

According to various reports, in the NHL's proposed plan the League will be broken into a two-conference, four-division set up with 16 teams in the Eastern Conference and 14 teams in the Western Conference. The Detroit Red Wings (http://redwings.nhl.com/) and Columbus Blue Jackets (http://bluejackets.nhl.com/) would move to the Eastern Conference and the Winnipeg Jets (http://jets.nhl.com/) would move to the Western Conference.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs will reportedly still consist of 16 teams, eight in each conference, but the League is proposing a wildcard system in which the top three teams in each division make the playoffs and the remaining spots are filled by the two teams in each conference with the next best record.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=659069&navid=DL|NHL|home

[mightysimi]

Going back to Divisional playoffs. I like it. Lots of rivalries year in and year out.