NHL Conference Realignment

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by Split98

If this goes through I'll be pissed.

How can people sign off on divisions that don't even have the same amount of teams?

7.5 teams per division it is! Make it so!

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Joborule

There's just too many issues with the current proposal. Save it until 32 teams are in the league. Don't understand why they want to rush it in.

They have to get Winnipeg out of the SE, and as easy as it is for fans to sit around and say "just move this team here, and this team here", there are so many variables at play that it isn't that easy to get something that will pass a vote of the BoG.

[Southside]

Perhaps the realignment can wait, but not the balanced schedule. I was convinced before this year, but, every game is just another game this year. All this inter conference play is boring!

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by calgaryred

Yes the Jets were the Flames 2nd rival, Edmonton was absolutely number one, Vancouver wasn't much of anything until the 1989 Smythe Division Semi Final Round.

Jets were originally in the Norris and then moved to the Smythe. They were promised with expansion they would eventually go back to the Norris, but that promise was never delivered.

The Jets played their last three seasons in the Central Division so they did eventually get their wish following the Anaheim/Florida expansion.

[blender]

Here's an idea:
Realign to 3 conferences, West, Central, East (which could be split into divisions or not), and have the top five from each conference plus the next best record make the playoffs and simply bracket it out as 1vs16, 2vs15...and so on.

Sample breakdown:
WEST
Van
SJ
LA
Ana
Phx
Edm
Cgy
Col
Min
Dal

CENTRAL
Chi
Nsh
Wpg
Stl
Clb
Det
Ott
Tor
Buf
Mon

EAST
Bos
NJ
NYI
NYR
Pitt
Phi
Car
TB
Fla
Wsh

[trew]

Originally Posted by blender

Here's an idea:
Realign to 3 conferences, West, Central, East (which could be split into divisions or not), and have the top five from each conference plus the next best record make the playoffs and simply bracket it out as 1vs16, 2vs15...and so on.

Sample breakdown:
WEST
Van
SJ
LA
Ana
Phx
Edm
Cgy
Col
Min
Dal

CENTRAL
Chi
Nsh
Wpg
Stl
Clb
Det
Ott
Tor
Buf
Mon

EAST
Bos
NJ
NYI
NYR
Pitt
Phi
Car
TB
Fla
Wsh

I've had similar thoughts, although I had Winnipeg in the west and Dallas in the Central.

It also occurred to me that three, 10 team, divisions would also be convenient for a 20 team playoff format, (if they are still considering that).

Here's how it could work:

- Top four teams in each division would playoff down to a division champion, over two, best of seven, series. (eight wins to get to semi's)

- Meanwhile: eight additional teams would play off down to one "Wildcard champion" over three, best of five series. (nine wins to get to semi's).

- The best of five, wildcard series would be slightly condensed in order to end at around the same time as the Division Finals. (Each series would have at least one back to back game).

- Optionally: The wildcard series could also be based on a North vs South format (with the northern four most teams playing off, and the southernmost four teams playing off). This would create all sorts of interesting rivalries and would probably be great for TV ratings.

- Semi finals would be re-seeded with the wildcard team facing the team with the best regular season record. (The other two division champs would then play each other.)

[devo22]

Three Conferences with 10 teams each would actually be a neat idea ... and a PHX move to Quebec City would be quite easy to solve, as you would just have to move them from West to Central and WPG/DAL (whoever would be in the Central originally) could move to the West. Too bad the league won't do that.

[Sainters7]

Not a fan of more teams getting playoff spots, 20's way too high IMO. Frankly you could even argue 16's too much, when compared to other N.A. sports.

[calgaryred]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Not a fan of more teams getting playoff spots, 20's way too high IMO. Frankly you could even argue 16's too much, when compared to other N.A. sports.

Other N.A sports playoffs aren't as exciting as the NHL playoffs, I've even heard US reporters say that, there's a reason. The best rounds are usually the 1st two, so 16 is a good number, I wouldn't mind seeing 20 teams, if its 5th playing 4th in a best of three. With the loser points it's hard to make it to the dance, like to see more chances for teams to have a shot at the 2nd season.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by calgaryred

Other N.A sports playoffs aren't as exciting as the NHL playoffs, I've even heard US reporters say that, there's a reason. The best rounds are usually the 1st two, so 16 is a good number, I wouldn't mind seeing 20 teams, if its 5th playing 4th in a best of three. With the loser points it's hard to make it to the dance, like to see more chances for teams to have a shot at the 2nd season.

But the showcase of a sport shouldn't be the 1st two rounds, it should be the Stanley Cup Final. That's when everyone is focused on those 2 teams, primetime national tv in both countries and perhaps all over the world.

When both teams are dead tired in June for the Final then what is the point? Who's going to watch?

I would propose less playoffs actually. 12 teams maybe.

[calgaryred]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

But the showcase of a sport shouldn't be the 1st two rounds, it should be the Stanley Cup Final. That's when everyone is focused on those 2 teams, primetime national tv in both countries and perhaps all over the world.

When both teams are dead tired in June for the Final then what is the point? Who's going to watch?

I would propose less playoffs actually. 12 teams maybe.

In a sport where most fans live in the northern USA, and in Canada most Stanley Cups that do poorly in ratings are because where the teams are geographically, and how they play (trap style hockey). Not necessarily where the teams are in the standings.

1994 first against the 14th place team great series in many eyes
2004 2nd place team vs 12th place team great series for Calgarians and Canadians starved to see a Canadian team in the finals, elsewhere not so much. If Philadelphia had won maybe a different story.

This is a money driven league they will never go to 12 teams, 16 or 20 are more likely

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I would propose less playoffs actually. 12 teams maybe.

I know it'll never happen because of lost revenue, but a 60-72 game season with 12 teams in the playoffs is perfect to me. I just think it should be pretty difficult to make the playoffs, so I'm not a fan when the majority of the league qualifies. 16 isn't terrible, but 20's way too much IMO.

2/3rds of teams shouldn't make the playoffs, you're going to start seeing teams with losing records getting in again. Not a fan.

[Zarley]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

But the showcase of a sport shouldn't be the 1st two rounds, it should be the Stanley Cup Final. That's when everyone is focused on those 2 teams, primetime national tv in both countries and perhaps all over the world.

When both teams are dead tired in June for the Final then what is the point? Who's going to watch?

I would propose less playoffs actually. 12 teams maybe.

Agreed. I think that the first round of the NHL playoffs is the best 2 weeks in pro sports, but I usually lose interest by the SCF unless it's a matchup that really interests me. I was pleasantly surprised that the league's proposal didn't include expanded playoffs.

I think that MLB has the best setup overall. The postseason concludes quickly, it's easy for the casual fan to get into even if they haven't watched the regular season, and fewer teams making the playoffs adds excitement and importance to the regular season.

[Hockeyguy15]

Didn't read the whole thread, but here is what I would do.

West
Sharks, LA, Ducks, Coyotes, Dallas

North West
Canucks, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Colorado

Central
Wild, Chicago, Blues, Detroit, Nashville

North East
Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Buffalo, Boston

Atlantic
Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Pens, Columbus

South
Tampa, Florida, Carolina, Washington, Philly

You lose some rivalries, but I think it balances the divisions a little better.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

But the showcase of a sport shouldn't be the 1st two rounds, it should be the Stanley Cup Final. That's when everyone is focused on those 2 teams, primetime national tv in both countries and perhaps all over the world.

When both teams are dead tired in June for the Final then what is the point? Who's going to watch?

I would propose less playoffs actually. 12 teams maybe.

How would 12 teams work? Can't do 6 matchups at once, so it'll have to be 4. But then 4 teams get to skip a whole round. Don't think that works for a sport like hockey where it can in football. 16 is most ideal since it's balanced and all teams will be playing at the same time.

Here's my hope for how the NHL looks in 10 or so years from now with some new teams involved. Phoenix has moved, as well as Anaheim. I think the California/LA region is too saturated for a third/second team. LA and San Jose is good enough. Florida teams don't move since Tampa Bay does get attendance and has an owner that is really investing into the team. Miami would be ideal to keep for both the league's and Tampa Bay's interest.

Seattle gets a team, as well Kansas City, and Hartford gets a NHL team back. A second Toronto team and Quebec City is also added to the fold. And lastly, Milwaukee brings an NHL team to the state of Wisconsin. This brings the NHL team total to 34. The divisions will be unbalanced, with 2 of them containing nine teams, and the other two containing 8.



All Canadian teams play within the same division. After mapping it out, it's better to have Winnipeg in the 'Pacific' vision than it is for Dallas to be. Travel will be an issue for Winnipeg anywhere you place them since they're fairly isolated, and it isn't any worse than the Florida teams will have to deal with in any eastern division. But being a Canadian team, can afford it more than Dallas may be able to. Also helps Winnipeg to have divisional rivalries against each of the Western Canadian teams. This is probably what they would prefer now.

The fun division in the 'Atlantic', where you have all teams within the NE metropolitan portion of the US in the same division. Partically the same as NHL's new proposal, but with Boston in it instead of the Carolina. That'll be NBCs lovechild right there.

[GirlySports]

12 teams, the 4 division winners would get a bye and the other 8 would play a best of 5 but only 4 games played (I give the higher seed a 1-0 lead). Then it's 3 rounds of best of 7 the rest of the way (I may give the division winners a 1-0 lead in this round as well).

And I don't believe that teams get rusty after 5 days off, that's just an excuse for losers.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

12 teams, the 4 division winners would get a bye and the other 8 would play a best of 5 but only 4 games played (I give the higher seed a 1-0 lead). Then it's 3 rounds of best of 7 the rest of the way (I may give the division winners a 1-0 lead in this round as well).

And I don't believe that teams get rusty after 5 days off, that's just an excuse for losers.

It would be more like +10 days off. Otherwise you're taxing the advancing team too much since you're asking them to play 4 games for 4 days straight, or 4 games in 6 days. That's way to unfair.

I think bye's only work for football because it's only one game that's skipped and the team that played does get a week to recover.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Joborule

It would be more like +10 days off. Otherwise you're taxing the advancing team too much since you're asking them to play 4 games for 4 days straight, or 4 games in 6 days. That's way to unfair.

I think bye's only work for football because it's only one game that's skipped and the team that played does get a week to recover.

4 games in 6 days might work.. but then the division winner would still get 8 days off. But I'm giving them a 1-0 start!

I'll have to think about this

[Zarley]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

12 teams, the 4 division winners would get a bye and the other 8 would play a best of 5 but only 4 games played (I give the higher seed a 1-0 lead). Then it's 3 rounds of best of 7 the rest of the way (I may give the division winners a 1-0 lead in this round as well).

And I don't believe that teams get rusty after 5 days off, that's just an excuse for losers.

I'd like this if you had a straight best-of-five rather than a head start.

[getbak]

They will never reduce the number of teams who make the playoffs. It's been 16 since there were 21 teams in the League. It sure won't go down now.