Quote:
Originally Posted by blankall
Switching Winnipeg and Detroit seems like a simpler solution than conference realignment.
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The problem is that they have to come up with something that will actually pass a vote, and there are a bunch of teams that want to move around, and even teams that won't be moving have alignments that better serve their own best interests.
Detroit would rather be in the East. Columbus would rather be in the East. Winnipeg wants to be in the West, and the Central Division. Minnesota hates being the travel associated with being in the NW. Dallas hates the travel associated with being in the Pacific.
Swapping Detroit and Winnipeg would be welcomed by the Jets and Wings, but the western teams would hate losing the draw of an original six team. The Hawks would hate losing a long-time rival.
The Stars and Wild would complain about being forced to stay in their bad alignments, while the new team gets into the Central Division.
So, let's start the conversation where everyone can agree:
Winnipeg should be in the Western Conference. For that to happen, a team from the West has to move into the Eastern Conference.
Detroit has seniority. Columbus is slightly further east than Detroit (although, they basically overlap). If you move either the Wings or Jackets, they don't really fit into the SE Division, and they can't really re-align the NE or Atlantic Divisions. Nashville actually makes the most sense to be in the SE Division even though it's west of Detroit and Columbus.
Then, you move to the West, and Minnesota, Dallas, and Winnipeg all want the new open spot in the Central Division. Minnesota is the easternmost of those teams. Dallas currently has the worst Divisional alignment in the League. Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton would probably gladly swap Winnipeg for Minnesota as a Divisional rival, but Colorado would be opposed, and Winnipeg would rather not have to have all that western travel (and late road games).
The chances of getting 16 teams to all agree on one alignment while maintaining the 6 divisions will be virtually impossible.
I bet we'll get exactly the alignment we were supposed to get this year. They could possibly have Detroit and Columbus in the NE instead of the Florida teams and put the Florida teams into the Central...
WEST: Anaheim, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, Colorado, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton
CENTRAL: Winnipeg, Minnesota, Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, Nashville, Tampa Bay, Florida
NORTHEAST: Detroit, Columbus, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Buffalo, Boston
ATLANTIC: New York, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, Carolina
No matter what, the Flames will likely be in a Conference with 8 teams, unless Phoenix moves to Quebec City.