71 replies to this topic

[Shoreline]

I can see some bitter rivalries shaking up the division if the Wings move out east or even with a division lineup like the national post's. I love it.

Will be a skeptic that this happens, however, until I see it officially announced. Then I will party.

[GMRwings1983]

If Florida and Tampa moved, it would make things a lot easier on the eye when looking at that map.

Then we could just have two Eastern divisions, instead of putting a city like New York or Washington in something called the South Division.

[eva unit zero]

Add Columbus to the "East" division. Move Philadelphia to the "South" division; it should be "Atlantic" or something. Move Colorado to the "Midwest" division.

That puts 7 in each Western division and 8 in each Eastern, but it keeps rivals such as Philly/NYR together.

[Never_Retire_Steve]

The following would only make too much sense:

Vancouver
LA
Phoenix
SJ
Anaheim
-------------

Edmonton
Calgary
Colorado
Winnipeg
Dallas
--------------

Minnesota
Chicago
Nashville
St. Louis
Columbus
-------------

Detroit
Toronto
Montreal
Ottawa
Buffalo
--------------

Philly
NJ
Boston
NYR
NYI
--------------

Pittsburgh
Washington
Carolina
Tampa
Florida


I'd like to see a better map in terms of proximity than this

[Datsyerberger]

If Florida and Tampa moved, it would make things a lot easier on the eye when looking at that map.

Then we could just have two Eastern divisions, instead of putting a city like New York or Washington in something called the South Division.

Yea, but why would they move Tampa at all? Or even Florida for that matter. The former isn't moving at all, the latter would take an Atlanta-esque situation and has less likely a chance of happening than Atlanta.

[bogeygolfer]

Detroit will fill the arenas in the east just like they did in the west, this is a moot point. Also with a more balanced schedule westerns are going from 2 home games vs detroit to 1 home game vs Detroit plus 1 home game vs philly, pits, Washington, NYR etc.

Leopold is part of bettmans inner circle. If he saying it, then there is a lot of validity to it. The schedule has been extremely unfair to Dallas and Minnesota. Two central time zone teams whose entire divisions play in a different time zone.

I know people would like to see Vancouver and Winnipeg playing in the same division, but how many people are going to stay up and watch that?

local TV deals are becoming huge money this is all about the $$$, not about trying to get all the Canadian teams together

[eva unit zero]

For all of those who want to get all of the Canadian teams together, I have your solution.

Western: Anaheim, Colorado, Dallas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Phoenix, St. Louis, San Jose

Central: Buffalo, Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Florida, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay

Eastern: Boston, Carolina, New Jersey, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Philadelphia, Washington

Canadian: Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg

Top four teams in a division make playoffs. Divisional playoffs, division champs are then seeded by regular season record.

That way, those of you who don't like watching American teams play don't have to.

[thedisappearer]

For all of those who want to get all of the Canadian teams together, I have your solution.

Western: Anaheim, Colorado, Dallas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Phoenix, St. Louis, San Jose

Central: Buffalo, Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Florida, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay

Eastern: Boston, Carolina, New Jersey, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Philadelphia, Washington

Canadian: Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg

Top four teams in a division make playoffs. Divisional playoffs, division champs are then seeded by regular season record.

That way, those of you who don't like watching American teams play don't have to.

I realize you are only presenting this as an idea to keep the Canadien teams together, but that's beyond retarded. Make every division have a s***ty travel schedule besides the Eastern?

[evilmrt]

Western: Anaheim, Colorado, Dallas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Phoenix, St. Louis, San Jose

[eva unit zero]

I realize you are only presenting this as an idea to keep the Canadien teams together, but that's beyond retarded. Make every division have a s***ty travel schedule besides the Eastern?

It's mostly mocking the "but the Canadian teams have to stay together!" arguments that always pop up.

The best I can think of is having uneven divisions which are set up to minimize travel.

Something like this:

Pacific: Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver
Central: Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg

Atlantic: New Jersey, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
Northeast: Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto
Southeast: Carolina, Columbus, Florida, Tampa Bay, Washington

Obviously the Central division is kind of sprawling and would still see a lot of travel. But a setup like this makes divisions much more travel-friendly overall. Minnesota and Dallas in the Central see improvements in travel, as do most other teams around the league. Perhaps Chicago, Nashville, and St. Louis see worse travel; but that is the limit of it.

You also have of course noticed that there are five divisions. Two "western" divisions with 7 teams, and then three "eastern" divisions, two with 5 and one with 6. I didn't work out any specific schedule algorithm, but I think a setup like this would work. Seeding within conferences would work, and prevents any arguments regarding advantages of playing in a larger (or smaller) division.

[Esquire]

Ilitch on the Wings: 'We're gonna have a new arena'

Q . I'd be remiss if I didn't ask about the Wings, with their season starting. Do you believe you have a Cup contender again?

A . The best way to analyze the Red Wings is, they're good, but I don't know how good. I'm reminded of this — in 1995, we were in the Stanley Cup Finals, playing the New Jersey Devils, and they had a system called the trap, and they hit us with it. I had a brilliant coach like Scotty Bowman, and Scotty couldn't figure it out. They were all trying to skate through it. So, what happens the next year? We adopt it in a hurry, and we win two Stanley Cups. We were bloodhounds.

There's a tendency to slither away from that, and a team's got to be reminded of it. You gotta come back and be 120 percent, really pay the price.

Q . When you talk about stars, you get big-time coaches — Scotty, Mike Babcock, Leyland.

A . I look for experience. Good makeup too. Scotty had the kind of makeup you couldn't figure out. (Laughs.)

Q . OK, once and for all, are you gonna get the Wings out of the Western Conference or not?

A . The commissioner (Gary Bettman) promised me I was next. We even had a meeting over lunch this past season, and he had all his people here, and he goes, 'Yeah, I promised Mike he'd be the next one to go in the Eastern Conference.' So I expect to be in next year. Jimmy D (Devellano) is on the phone every other week reminding them.

Q . One last topic: Any regrets about not buying the Pistons?

A . Well, that goes back to what we talked about. My instincts told me what to do, after I analyzed it all. You can cite a lot of reasons, and I don't want to get into it.

Q . Any updates on replacing Joe Louis Arena?

A . Like I've stated before, we're gonna have a new arena. That's the best thing I can say.

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/a...’#ixzz1ZRSp3KnX

Neat-o!

[RedBengals]

The Wings moving East brings the rivalry with Toronto back. That's all the reason we need to want this move. It's a logical move with the Winnipeg addition anyways. Keeps Winnipeg's travel down and puts the Wings where we want to be. A rivalry possibility with the Bruins would also be a huge draw.

[Konnan511]

The Wings moving East brings the rivalry with Toronto back. That's all the reason we need to want this move. It's a logical move with the Winnipeg addition anyways. Keeps Winnipeg's travel down and puts the Wings where we want to be. A rivalry possibility with the Bruins would also be a huge draw.

5 Original Six teams in the East? I'm strangely ok with that!

[GMRwings1983]

I want to see all the original 6 teams in the same Division, if possible.

[under_par_00]

We shall call it, the Original Division!

[chrisdetroit]

Ilitch on the Wings: 'We're gonna have a new arena'



Neat-o!

Sounds good but keep in mind that the Commissioner that he is referring to is a scum-ball lawyer.

[Konnan511]

Sounds good but keep in mind that the Commissioner that he is referring to is a scum-ball lawyer.

[F.Michael]

National Post guesses at the realignment

The grouping of teams seems to make sense - however I can't get it in my head to have the NY based teams in the "South" Division.

I'm all for going back to "Norris, Smythe, Patrick, Adams" Divisions.

[13GoWings40]

5 Original Six teams in the East? I'm strangely ok with that!

I'd be fine with this too, but this is where I think the problem will come. Chicago is gonna be pissed if they're left by themselves in the West, and they're good enough now where them being pissed means something. This is why I think they need to ditch the conference format all together and just have a league of 4 divisions, but as long as there is an East and West I don't see how they could get away with leaving Chicago without an O6 rival.

[RedBengals]

I don't want all O6 teams in one division, it significantly lowers the chance of those teams making the playoffs. Plus with six of the stronger teams in one division, less stronger teams will be in the playoffs. As long as Toronto/Wings are together for a good rivalry I could care less where we are. The NHL trying to set up Wings/Pens as a new rivalry was bull. Look how good the preseason famed were, both teams step it up against each other and its such a classic matchup. it's even easily marketable to casual/new fans bc blue/red is pretty easy to say "they're rivals". Yes, that's simplistic but its actually pretty standard for offset color teams to be more hyped rivals for casual fans. I would like the Bruins in a different division than the Wings to up chances of them playing in the playoffs against each other, it would be some exciting games.

The map someone posted does look extremely reasonable though. It minimizes travel while retaining good rivalries and matchups without stacking one division.