If the re-alignment happens, it will be 2 trips a year to one of Chicago, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville or St.Louis. For the first couple of years I'm sure they'll have Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg all play 4 times to keep the travel more palatable. Seems like 34 teams could be coming sooner than later which is likely back to 3 Divisions per side.
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Let’s hope it’s not true. It’s really one of the dumbest things to do.
The NHLPA needs to ratify it and that could take years. Usually they’ll use it as leverage in negotiations and with this agreement up in 2026, I’d be surprised to see realignment before then.
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The NHLPA needs to ratify it and that could take years. Usually they’ll use it as leverage in negotiations and with this agreement up in 2026, I’d be surprised to see realignment before then.
Winnipeg’s 1st year they still played in the old south least division, mainly because the move was so late.
The NHLPA needs to ratify it and that could take years. Usually they’ll use it as leverage in negotiations and with this agreement up in 2026, I’d be surprised to see realignment before then.
We are headed towards another lockout.
This CBA and an Arizona expansion is probably Gary’s last hurrah as commissioner.
We already had to play in that nasty Northwest with the Wild can’t do that again.
I'll lose some interest if the Flames go to the Central Division. Your mileage might vary, but personally, I can't get excited about watching the Flames play extra games against teams like St. Louis, Nashville, Chicago, or Minnesota. At least compared to playing against more regionally significant teams like Vancouver or Seattle.
Winnipeg is somewhat interesting just being a another Western Canadian team, but I'd rather be in the same division as Vancouver. Winnipeg isn't really close either. SLC is actually closer to Calgary than Winnipeg.
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Last edited by FlamesAddiction; 04-12-2024 at 09:59 PM.
Location: Chicago Native relocated to the stinking desert of Utah
Exp:
Addiction, Bettman had no problem ripping the Wings/'Hawks rivalry apart, because Detroit complained about time zone nightmares with West Coast travel. There is a precedent for ignoring regional rivalries.
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The Flames played in the East Division their first season in Calgary.
Not that it mattered, because that was the last year they tried having a perfectly balanced schedule. Every team played every other team 4 times, and the travel was insane.
Quote:
Originally Posted by thefoss1957
Addiction, Bettman had no problem ripping the Wings/'Hawks rivalry apart, because Detroit complained about time zone nightmares with West Coast travel. There is a precedent for ignoring regional rivalries.
Oh, that kind of shenanigans have been around a lot longer than Bettman.
John Ziegler ripped the Leafs/Habs rivalry apart, because Harold Ballard wanted the Leafs to be in the sad-sack Norris Division where they could have the easiest possible path to the playoffs.
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Dude, chill out. I just like the team. Or, more appropriately, liked. Not everything in sports needs to have a rational explanation. I like underdogs and I like cheering for players who are overlooked.
I guess I have never viewed them as underdogs. That franchise had every chance to succeed and is in a large market. They pissed it all away. The major hurdle in their way, was always themselves.
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