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.
Lucan
Guest
NHLPA is unhappy with this realignment. Players in 8 team conferences are at a distinct disadvantage to players competing in 7 team conferences. Fingers crossed this doesn't lead to strike action.
Lucan
Guest
Will be much more sustainable a franchise, and profitible for owners, as Two-ronto. Best rumour I've heard is that the Coyotes make a temporary move to Hamilton OT for the 2012-13 season while the new Toronto stadium is completed and then re-launch in 2013-14.
adam214
Guest
Are they nuts.......that will be the death knell of the coyotes.
Lucan
Guest
Believe it or not, but there's a consortium looking at taking the Coyotes to Toronto.
adam214
Guest
From what i understand kasey is that the divisions and conference as we know it are being abolished in favour of four conferences.I'm not fussed about the names i don't think american sports fans or fans full stop really care and the traditional names would be fine. I don't think hockey in the desert or more correctly put in the sun belt is a failure. The coyotes and the thrashers had the same problems two poorly run franchises and historically teams that have perfomed poorly and i think that transcends geography. Most of the recent expansion teams in non-traditional hockey markets are here to stay two shining examples are the anaheim ducks and the san jose sharks both despite probably it has never snowed in those two areas they are two successful well supported teams. What has to happen in America is a semblance of equity teams are historically bad die as we have seen in the past in all leagues. Therefor more is better and if an odd team with a losing record gets in then so be it. We have seen teams who have had good seasons and deep runs into the playoffs be saved whether a new benefactors comes in or a new stadium is built. On a unrelated note where have you heard about the revival of the nordiques all i've heard is that ownership groups want to keep the coyotes in phoenix it would be interesting to see if it comes to fruition. History is all good and nice but sometimes there was good reasons that a club folded it wasn't an ongoing viable concern and at the end of the day that matters overall.
Lucan
Guest
My understanding is it will remain East and West, but rather than 3 divs in each conference it will only be 2. So we can't have an A v B Cup Finals, nor a C v D.
Fivehole
Guest
+1
Fivehole
Guest
Agree this was flawed - Having the northeast conference join Floridas teams was dumb, but they didn't want to break up the Phi/Pit rivalry, Was/Pit as you mentioned, and the Blueshirts have rivalries with almost all in their division bar carolina
Lucan
Guest
Bettman tried to make the NHL into the NBA on ice, and it has never taken. Under the new playoff setup we'll potentially see more teams with losing records making the playoffs at the expense of better performed teams in other divisions because 4 spots are assigned to each group. (especially when the Eastern groups are only 7 teams to begin with).
Lucan
Guest
The playoff picture is disconcerting: "The top four teams in each Conference will qualify for the playoffs. The first-place team in each conference would play the fourth-place team in the same conference; the second-place team would play the third-place team. The four respective Conference champions would meet in the third round, with the survivors playing for the Stanley Cup" So, after playing conference rivals over and over during the regualr season, come playoff time the first two rounds will be against those same teams, year after year. Can imagine fans and broadcasters getting tired of seeing the same playoff match-ups over time. Happy to go with the 4 new divisions, but would've been better for the playoffs to remain seeding the division champs and assigning spots 3-8 across both divisions. Add some variety to the post-season.
Big Steve
Guest
A good idea overall. The key point is you now play everyone at home and away each season which has been the biggest downside to the current system. A few issues with the conferences though. You can drive from Detroit to Toronto in a couple of hours. They made one conference in the middle of the east coast (NY/NJ/PA/DC) and left the remaining teams Nth and Sth to travel over the top of them. I think its a money thing and the powers in the NHL are obviously keen to see WSH/PIT.
Kasey
Guest
I hope they go with tradition and name the Divisions Norris, Adams, Smythe and Patrick. If they need Conferences, 2 divisions belong in each of the Prince of Wales and the Clarence Campbell Conferences. It was dumbed down in 1993 by new commish Gary Bettman to appeal to the American Audience, but Hockey has a rich tradition and Now that the Jets are back in the 'peg and the Coyotes could be the new-Nordiques soon, why not embrace that rich history again? Hockey in the American desert surely has to be called a failed experiment once the coyotes return North. The winners of the conferences will play for the stanley Cup. I notice that the NHL still hasn't gotten around to announcing how the teams will be selected for the playoffs and what format those playoffs will take. It goes against the capitalist nture of NthAmerica, but I hope they go for less rather than more. Not much in sport annoys me more than teams with losing records 'qualifying' for the post season.
Whites
Guest
It's a field hockey stick and ball. Slightly different sport.
The Truth
Guest
What is that bizarre little golf icon accompanying this hockey story? Anyway, it's great for the sport to get away from more divisions. There is too much sub-grouping in American sport. Winning each group is done to little fanfare and at an arbitrary point late in the season. Now, conferences will be won in the playoffs, not before them. Real rivalries will be fostered through these geographically-focused series. It also opens the door for potential Cup Finals matchups like Sharks and Wings, Rangers and Bruins, Canucks and Blackhawks, etc. I can't wait for it.