Summer Nonsense: NHL Post-Expansion Realignment Plans
That's right, it's a full on blogger v. blogger BONANZA. And it's not even over Twitter. The Summer Nonsense rolls on.
The NHL is facing a real problem. They wanted Seattle to bid for an expansion team, and they didn't. Seattle provided a good excuse not to put a franchise in Quebec City. With an 8th team in the league in Canada, the Canadian Dollar plays an even bigger part into the league's revenue figure. Plus, it's a market the NHL already owns.
Stupid Seattle. This is all their fault.
Because of Seattle not submitting an application, bloggers are beginning to formulate their own re-alignment plans. And yes, these are always fun. Remember last time when no one wanted to move to the Southeast? I bet you wish we could do that one over again.
Let's meet our contestants.
HockeyBuzz.com
Eklund is for an eight division NHL, but still screwing the East/West alignment in favor of a more radical approach.
The Canada East Division
Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, OttawaThe US NorthEast Division
NY Islanders, NY Rangers, NJ Devils, BostonThe US Atlantic Division
Philadelphia, Washington, Pittsburgh, ColumbusThe Canada West Division
Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, VancouverThe US Lakes Division
Buffalo, Detroit, Chicago, MinnesotaThe US South Division
Carolina, Nashville, Florida, TampaThe US Central Division
Dallas, St. Louis, Phoenix (Arizona), ColoradoThe US Western Division
Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose, Las Vegas
- COMPLAINTS:
How can Boston not be in a division with Montreal? - Two All-Canadian divisions?
- The scheduling is a bit weird, and the playoff match ups are a bit odd. /
PRAISES:
- The West looks solid. I especially like the California/Vegas division.
- For real? A division with all "newer" markets? HELLS YEAH.
- Nashville gets a division with awesome vacation spots and decent food. Overdue./
HometownHockey.ca
Chris Savard is in favor of keeping the East/West Alignment.
EAST
The Canada East Division
Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, OttawaThe Atlantic Division
NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Buffalo, BostonThe Metro Division
New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, WashingtonThe Southeast Division
Carolina, Nashville, Florida, TampaWEST
The Central Division
Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, MinnesotaThe Canada West Division
Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, WinnipegThe Southwest Division
Dallas, St. Louis, Phoenix (Arizona), ColoradoThe Pacific Division
Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose, Las Vegas
COMPLAINTS:
- How can Boston not be in a division with Montreal?
- Two All-Canadian divisions?
- That's about it.
- The West looks solid. I especially like the California/Vegas division.
- For real? TWO divisions with all "newer" markets? HELLS YEAH.
- The Central looks very smart, as does the Southeast. We get the chance to show them Carolina folks the error in their ways of barbecue.
- The Metro looks very good, even with the Flyers and Rangers split up.
ProHockeyTalk
Jason Brough is in favor of keeping the East/West Alignment.
West
1. Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg
2. Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose, Las Vegas
3. Arizona, Dallas, Colorado, Nashville
4. Minnesota, Chicago, St. Louis, Columbus
East
5. Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City
6. Carolina, Florida, Tampa Bay, Washington
7. NY Rangers, NY Islanders, New Jersey, Buffalo
8. Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Detroit, Boston
- COMPLAINTS:
How can Boston not be in a division with Montreal? - Two All-Canadian divisions?/
PRAISES:
- The West looks solid. I especially like the California/Vegas division.
- For real? A division with all "newer" markets? HELLS YEAH.
- Washington goes back to the Southeast. Heh.
- Nashville stays in "Conference III"./
OnTheForecheck
Dan Bradley thinks it's time Canada paid the freaking piper.
EAST
The Caribou & Maple Division
Montreal, Boston, Ottawa, QuebecThe Amtrak Division
NY Islanders, NY Rangers, New Jersey, PhiladelphiaThe TV RATINGS!!!! Division
Toronto, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, DetroitThe Fun Division
Carolina, Washington, Florida, TampaWEST
The Bad Weather Division
Chicago, Columbus, Minnesota, WinnipegThe It's Late What's on GameCenter Division
Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, San JoseThe ALL THE GOALS Division
Dallas, St. Louis, Nashville, ColoradoThe Fear and Loathing Division
Los Angeles, Anaheim, Arizona, Las Vegas
COMPLAINTS:
- The Pittsburgh rivalries w/ Washington and Philly were cannibalized. But hey, they'll be on TV more.
- Boston will become America's team again.
- We'll see a lot of Buffalo on national broadcasts.
- And OH BOY MORE CHICAGO v. MINNESOTA!/
PRAISES:
- Arizona isn't going anywhere immediately. So why not give them an instant rival with Las Vegas?
- St. Louis is the rival we've never appreciated. That'll change.
- Washington goes back to the Southeast. Heh.
- The Canadian teams are split up to force CBC/Rogers to leave Canada on Saturdays. I don't grasp why everyone wanted to split up Winnipeg and Minnesota? Does that border w/ Manitoba even exist? /
OnTheForecheck
Kristopher Martel took the carefully thought out current alignment, laid it neatly on his desk and lit it on fire.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Northern Atlantic Division
Boston, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec
Great Lakes Division
Buffalo, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Toronto
Subway Division
New Jersey, New York Islanders (of Brooklyn), New York Rangers, Philadelphia
Southern Atlantic Division
Carolina, Florida, Tampa Bay, Washington
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Ring Division
Chicago, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis
Great Northern Division
Calgary, Edmonton, Minnesota, Winnipeg
Little Pacific Division
Anaheim, Arizona, Los Angeles, San Jose
Big Pacific Division
Colorado, Dallas, Las Vegas, Vancouver
COMPLAINTS:
- The Pittsburgh rivalries w/ Washington and Philly were cannibalized. But hey, they'll be on TV more.
- Boston will become America's team again.
- We'll see a lot of Buffalo on national broadcasts.
- The Big Pacific looks a lot like the old Pacific Division, except now features three time zones. Dallas and Vancouver? That's a helluva flight. /
PRAISES:
- California HATE.
- St. Louis is the rival we've never appreciated. That'll change.
- Washington goes back to the Southeast. Heh.
- The Canadian teams are split up to force CBC/Rogers to leave Canada on Saturdays. I don't grasp why everyone wanted to split up Winnipeg and Minnesota? Does that border w/ Manitoba even exist?/
OnTheForecheck
JAAWWWN originally wanted no divisions or conferences for ALL OUT WAR, but that's too organized. Even for the NHL
EASTERN CONFERENCE
The We'll Show You We're Viable Markets! Division
Columbus, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Florida
The NBC Division
Washington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Detroit
The Rude, Dirty, and Downright Unpleasant Division
New Jersey, New York, Brooklyn, Boston
The Molson Division
Buffalo, Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto
WESTERN CONFERENCE
The Best Time Zone Division
Nashville, Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas
The Oh God Why Does Anyone Live Here?! Division
Minnesota, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton
The Mostly Hipsters Who Think They're Better Than You Division
Vancouver, Seattle, San Jose, Colorado
The Dry Heat Division
Los Angeles, Anaheim, Arizona, Las Vegas
COMPLAINTS:
- Great. That Nashville-Chicago-STL-Scum division will be a [censored] bloodbath.
- Meanwhile the cold dirt division will bore everyone to death, with our only joy coming from Edmonton's continued failure.
- The SMUG division exists./
PRAISES:
- Quebec finally gets its date with the NHL its wanted for so long, but gets stood up and realizes it ran off and got hitched with its first choice, instead.
- Columbus vs. the South? *grabs popcorn*
- Buffalo cements it's claim to being the Tijuana of Canada. /
No One
Screw divisions. Screw Conferences. Everyone plays everyone 2 or 3 times a year, determined and balanced by last year's overall standings. After an 87 game schedule, the top 6 teams make the playoffs, with the top two getting a first round bye.
All the teams go here.
COMPLAINTS:
- Not sure what to do with the the Campbell Bowl and Prince of Wales Trophy.
- Whole lotta travel.
- Teams that need that divisional rivalry to generate the care level? Tough. /
PRAISES:
- No one will ever complain about their division again.
- No one will have a right to complain about travel.
- EVERY GAME MATTERS.
- Strength of schedule will be balanced. /
More plans are coming, as they appear we'll keep collecting them. But for now, what do you think about these? Most of these involve Nashville leaving the Central, which was an idea I felt all alone on back in 2011. (I wrote about this on another site back in 2011, but they deleted it)
Your thoughts? Feel free to vote below.
Which plan do you like the best?
HockeyBuzz's | 32 |
HometownHockey's | 31 |
ProHockeyTalk's | 3 |
Dan's | 12 |
Kris's | 15 |
Jon's | 18 |
No One's | 64 |