Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh Jahrmes
Do Detroit and Columbus have agreements re: conference relegation? Or just assuming it'd be bad optics / a dick move to push either back to the west after recently being moved?
Although the east west numbers disparity may exist today I doubt the league adds a team to each conference and maintains that.. 16/16 has to be the endgame, no?
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Yes, but there are ways to deal with that. I've been banging this drum forever, but one scenario I see as possible is Panthers relocate to Quebec, expand to GTA2, Tampa moves to Central, Avs move to Pacific, Vegas expansion.
Tampa in the Central isn't as bad as seems at first blush, since most of their road games would be at 8PM eastern, for a team that already starts home games at 7:30. Still the same one Pacific trip per year. That only gets problematic in the playoffs if we end up with a crossover situation and Tampa is travelling to and from California or Vancouver for a round 1 series.
And, of course, there is nothing that precludes another wide realignment.