To the Left or to the Right?

by djzielin on Jun 10, 2011 11:10 AM EDT

Assuming (you know what they say about assume, make an ass out of you and I look good) that Phoenix nor any other financially struggling NHL does not move next season, an obvious move is that Winnipeg will move to the Western Conference. That requires a move by a Western Conference team to the East. Three candidates have emerged as candidates to move Eastward:

Detroit
Columbus
Nashville

Debates will rage on about which team deserves to go and all, but I don't care about the whys.

Let's assume (oh crap!) that the Predators are moved and directly replace the Thrashjets in the Southeast division. What are your feelings on this? Topics to include: Losing a one-side perceived rivalry with the Red Wings, Blackhawks, Blues, etc.; gaining new "rivalries" with Capitals, Hurricanes, Lightning and Panthers; playing in the East; making the Southeast stronger or weaker; more television exposure with increased play against Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos; increasing the possibilities of moving further in the playoffs in a supposedly weaker conference.

Discuss.

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I’m moving back to Central PA next spring, so I’m secretly praying I get to see the Preds twice a year in Pitt, Philly, DC, NY and NJ, and talking more relevant shit to all my Flyers, Pens and Caps fan-friends.

But that’s just one man’s biased desire.

"Wait, where am I? Whose chestnuts are in the fire?" - Terry Crisp...probably.

by TerryCrispisms on Jun 10, 2011 2:27 PM EDT reply actions

Much as I don't like admitting it,

I would hate to lose the guaranteed gate from the $$$ Wings. That being said, the East isn’t exactly short on good gate opportunities with the likes of PHI, PIT, NYR. TOR, MON, WAS, BOS, etc. …and we did sell out 16 last year so…

I just hope it is us or CBJ and not the Wings.

Bring on the EST start times!

"Boom goes the beard."

by Marcus Newman on Jun 10, 2011 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

I really think they take a year to design a real restructuring of the whole conference/division system instead of just doing a single move of a team. I’ve seen a couple of ideas that might work floating around. As for my preference, I don’t know if I have any, as to sticking in the Central or moving East or what. It’d be nice competitively to lose DET and gain WIN, but I want to win the Central while the Wings are still a part of it.

by OddManRush on Jun 10, 2011 2:42 PM EDT reply actions

I understand that that is what is happening; the Winnipeg, uh, whatever-you-call-ems are staying in the Southeast until the 2012-2013 season and nothing else is changing. The Preds’ window of opportunity to win the Central with the Wings is open for one more season.

The Marginal Virtues

by JonathanA on Jun 10, 2011 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

It’ll happen. It was real close this year. We’ll be even better next year, and Detroit will be at least slightly worse.

"My, my, here's one for the (no) neck. Don't relax, 'cause you're next for the check!"

by DonBorvio on Jun 11, 2011 2:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Avg. age of Detroit = 31

Yep.

Every time I step up in the building, everybody's hands go UP..... AND THEY STAY THERE.
-nashvillepredators-

by davisca on Jun 17, 2011 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions

The League might wait two seasons to make a realignment....

Why? Phoenix is on a 25 million dollar 1 year extension to get the deal done. If it isn’t it is possible that the Coyotes could be next looking for a new home.

by jmkiii58 on Jun 13, 2011 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions

move the BLue jackets

they haven’t done much to establish themselves in the west too much like the wings and preds. They could use a change of scenery to reestablish themselves.

Plus i don’t like it when games start at 6. shortens my workout.

Keys to the game: GF>GA

by flyalder on Jun 10, 2011 3:10 PM EDT reply actions

I’d miss beating the Blue Jackets 3 times at home every year, but I don’t know. I think they are the team that probably should move; I’d worry about attendance dropping here. Plus I already have an East team in the Sabres.

"My, my, here's one for the (no) neck. Don't relax, 'cause you're next for the check!"

by DonBorvio on Jun 10, 2011 5:15 PM EDT reply actions

Move the Jackets.

I would personally hate all those EST zone starts, plus the Jackets would benefit from being in the same division as the Pens. I could forsee the Stars moving to the Central division, which I would think they wouldn’t mind doing as it would give them more CST zone games and reduce their travel as well.

by Grizzledbear on Jun 10, 2011 7:10 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

The East would be great

Less 9PM CST games? Bolts, Canes, and Caps to beast out for a division crown? SOLD!

I really could go either way though. I can see positives in either scenario.

I personally think that they will move us to the South, Minnesota to the Central, Avs to the Pacific (call it the Southwest), and then stick the Winnipeg Ninnies and the Seattle Coyotes in the Northwest (and call it the cannabis division).

by DirkDiggler on Jun 11, 2011 11:23 PM EDT reply actions

A move to the Eastern conference would be .....

awesome for the Preds. The chances to be on national tv would increase. An NBC afternoon game as the visitor at Philly, NY or Washington would raise the profile of this team with fans who do not follow all the teams in the league. Plus they might get a home game or two on Versus with one of Eastern Conference big market teams coming to Nashville. I think Detroit is first up to move back to the Eastern Conference. The lure of renewing old Original Six rivalries. Locally it would make the the one home game with the Wings a tough ticket. Right now it isn’t….. Wings fans can buy tickets for Wings games when the single game tickets go on sale in September.

by jmkiii58 on Jun 13, 2011 9:01 AM EDT reply actions

I do not think the league

will move the Wings. I think they are married to Chicago at this point. I could be wrong but moves don’t happen because one team wants it too and I don’t see anyone being on Detroit’s side in that debate.

I am starting to wonder if the schedule might get balanced out a little more so that we get a home and home with almost every team again. I personally would like to see more balance in the schedule and a playoff system that forced teams to play their way out of the division in the first round or 2. Seems like we would need two more or two less teams to really make that work though. Anyway, a gal can dream, right?

The Winnipeg Ninnies. Talk about a classic name. Priceless. Maybe we could get Dirk to start referring to them as the Ninnies for now? Probably not…damn journalistic integrity. :)

"Boom goes the beard."

by Marcus Newman on Jun 13, 2011 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions