The National Hockey League, unlike any other American league, has been thinking outside the box. While the NFL and NBA have being squabbling over money and hanging on to what they have got, the NHL has being trying to reform its division/conference system.
For the outside observer that might not seem much, but when you have 30-odd teams in your league it becomes crucial.
The current system makes little sense. Some traditional rivals don’t play each other nearly as much as they should, and divisions fail to make sense geographically due to the relocation of teams and attempts to make each division even.
In a welcome change to this rather confused system, the NHL board of governors have announced a realignment. They will eliminate the current six-division, two-conference system; eliminating divisions altogether, and just having four conferences. Two will have eight teams and two will have seven.
The four conferences comprise teams as follows:
Conference A
Anaheim
Calgary
Colorado
Edmonton
Los Angeles
Phoenix
San Jose
Vancouver
Conference B
Chicago
Columbus
Dallas
Detroit
Minnesota
Nashville
St. Louis
Winnipeg
Conference C
Boston
Buffalo
Florida
Montreal
Ottawa
Tampa Bay
Toronto
Conference D
Carolina
New Jersey
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Washington
I think this is great for all concerned. Travel times are reduced, and historical rivalries are maintained and even rekindled. It pretty much eliminates the divisions that currently make no sense, especially that which sees the Washington Capitals play Tampa Bay, Florida, Winnipeg, and Carolina, in what was obviously a slapped-together division to make things even.
On a sadder note, it provides flexibility to move the Phoenix Coyotes, which like some A-League clubs in the past have been, are currently run by the league.
They are far more cutthroat in the NHL with the Coyotes on life support until the end of the season.
The Atlanta Thrashers have continued this disconcerting tradition of moving teams from place to place with no regard for tradition.
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