My NHL Realignment Plan
Because the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg to become the Jets 2.0 this past offseason, there will be a new alignment the NHL to start the 2012-2013 season. Above is my proposed alignment for the divisions.
The Jets currently remain in the Eastern Conference’s Southeast Division, but they are migrating to the Western Conference next year (that much is certain). However there is some debate as to who will go the other way to the East. The three contenders to move are Detroit, Columbus, and Nashville.
Also a point of contention is which division the Jets will land (pun intended). Many are saying the Central Division, but I think that is ridiculous given how much closer Minnesota (currently in the Northwest Division) is to the Central. I firmly believe the Jets should go to the Northwest, and the Wild can migrate to the Central.
That is probably the only change I believe will work perfectly. I don’t know which team should head east, but I think Nashville would be the most ideal as they are close to the Southeast division. This leaves the Central, Atlantic, and Northeast Divisions arranged in tidy clusters of close-proximity teams.
Columbus could easily work for the Southeast too, whereas Detroit would wreak havoc on the Atlantic or Northeast, as both divisions are home of many long-standing rivalries. I say give in to Detroit’s request to limit their trips out west and to Canada, and provide Columbus with this benefit as well.
BONUS IDEAS (some are old ideas from previous posts):
1. 80-game season schedule: 6 games against division opponents (24 games), 4 games against conference opponents (40 games), with 10 games against teams from the opposing conference (play 2 divisions every year), for a running total of 74 games. The remaining 6 games would be wildcard matches, determined by standings at the time. 1st would play 14th, all the way to 7th against 8th. The two 15th place teams would play against each other.
Wildcard games would occur at six intervals of the season, and would have a few days off before and after each game to ensure travel and ticket sales. Teams with the better records would host, a reward for doing better in the season. This would help overall attendance in the NHL, as bottom-ranked teams do not draw as well, especially near the end of the season.
Also if your team appears in a bottom-feeder game (15th vs 15th), you lose one ball from the draft lottery.
2. Two Nomadic Teams could be formed. One nomadic team per conference, creating a 32-team NHL which allows for 8 divisions of 4 teams each. Would be easier to align with 32 teams, I tell you what. These teams could then be adopted by expansion franchises down the road.
3. Bring back the back-to-back games. When the NHL came back from the lockout to start the 05-06 season, they had scheduled many back-to-back games. For example: Calgary would play in Vancouver on two consecutive nights. It was awesome! Like a mini playoff series. This move also helps the environment with less air-travel being used. I’m sure the players also liked it.
4. Adopt the CFL’s crossover system for the 8th seed playoff spots. In the CFL, the top 3 teams in each division make the playoffs (there are 4 teams in each division). Where it gets interesting: if the 4th place team in one division has a better record than the 3rd place team in the other division, then that team gets to crossover and take that playoff spot.
For the NHL, if the 9th seed in one conference is better than the 8th side in the opposing conference, then that 9th seed team would crossover and to take the 8th spot. This would ensure all the top teams make it in, and provide for some rare post-season matches in the playoffs.
If this scenario was applied last year’s final standings, the St. Louis Blues would crossover to the east, stealing the 8th seed from the Montreal Canadiens.
But if this was expanded to ensure all teams with the most points get in, then Calgary would have earned Montreal’s playoff spot, and St. Louis would taken Philadelphia’s playoff spot. Dare to dream.
Posted on November 24, 2011, in Hockey and tagged Hockey, NHL. Bookmark the permalink. 8 Comments.
I like it.
My only concern would be this: I’m a Wild fan and my main concern is that right now, with the Wild in the NW Division, they have NO division opponents in their own time-zone. That’s a joke. This, though, would become the problem for Winnepeg.
I know there is no perfect plan, and I know that Winnepeg would get the short end of the stick, but I think that the Jets fans would prefer to see more Canadian opponents than the Wild. So, call Bettman and let’s do this plan!
Fortunately for Winnipeg, this was also the norm. They used to be in the Smythe Division, which had CGY, EDM, VAN, and LA. ‘Peggers are used to the time zone difference.
The Wild in the Central/Jets in the Northwest seems like a win for both MIN and WPG. Also, doesn’t Minnesota have a rivalry with Chicago in the NFL?
This might infuriate you: often when the Maple Leafs visit for Saturday games in VAN or CGY or EDM, the start time would be 4 or 5PM local, allowing Toronto to watch at 7PM. I don’t see why there can’t be more concessions like this for Eastern teams. We in the west love it when our teams are playing in the east. Games are early!
I do agree that Winnipeg would prefer playing in the NW rather than the Central for good Canadian rivalries.
Minny doesn’t really have an NFL rivalry with Chicago. However, the North Stars HATED the Blackhawks. That was an awesome rivalries (and fights before the game even started http://bit.ly/u6GoS5 )
I do agree that I don’t mind games starting earlier. I can still get some things done. My big complaint is when the Wild is on the WEST coast. Ugh. Games don’t start locally until 9:30pm (lousy LA)
Oops, I must’ve been thinking of the Packers instead of the Vikings.
Also it seems like the Wild haven’t really established any rivalries within the NW division for their whole existence. They’ve just been so…conservative. Some regional foes in Chicago and Detroit should liven things up for the team and fans.
True that there are no really good rivalries. The best we have is with Vancouver. After the 2003 playoff run, and beating them after being down 3 games to 1, but beyond that there isn’t that strong hated team. Proximity would help a bunch. The North Stars also had a good rivalry with the Blues. So I do like your plan. Go Wild!
I lIke your realignment plan, works out best in my mind for all the cities. But your bonus ideas are crap.
1- I have nothing against the number of games but the wildcard games wouldn’t work very good. The only way is if you had a set date ahead of time to arrange for example the last place teams on jan 1 play on feb 1. You need lot of time to plan and promote the game. Taking out the lottery ball is idiotic because the last place teams need those better picks.
2- nomadic tam would never ever work. No player would want to sign on, never home to see family as well as constant travel fatigue. Would be a waste. Not to mention the league doesn’t need more teams, if any it needs less.
3- This idea I do like. Less travel, less expense, heat up rivalries and better for the players
4- I don’t like the crossover purely because of added travel. There’s already enough complaining about travelling in the playoffs as it is, no need to add more. Imagine an Edmonton vs Florida in the first round. Extreme travel, and a huge disadvantage to whomever goes to round 2. Plus, the playoffs are where rivalries are born. You can’t build on these If you play against teams you only see once a year at most.
It would be nice if the NHL would mix the conferences like the MLB and NFL. It wold mean the Rangers and Islanders would be in opposite conferences as would the Ducks and Kings. Like the Jets and Giants in the NFL and the Yankees and Mets in the MLB.
I can see your point, but fans in just about every NHL city want to see every other team at least once a season. And the 82 game schedule makes that next to impossible as-is.
As for baseball, I’d like to see them go the NHL route. 29 opponents over 162 games would add a lot more variety for fans. But to each their own.
The NFL works great because they play so few games. It truly is an event every week, regardless of opponent (even if it is someone you haven’t played in several years).