217 replies to this topic

[vladdy16]

Hawks and Blues fans think the Wings are turning tail on them by leaving the West now that the Wings aren't the powerhouse.  When did they start paying attention?  Wings eked a promise when they first moved to the West that they would be the first team to go to the East when the opportunity arose.  Had this happened 10 years ago, what would they have said then?

I feel (kinda) bad for RWN not being able to see the Wings as much, but honestly it's the best thing for the team.  The reduction in travel should have a measurable positive impact on their performance.

[IllinoisRedWingsFan]

I hate this move.   This seperates us from our historic Western Confrence Rivals.   Plus as someone in the Central Time zone I love the late game.

[Jedi]

Looks like the NHL has two scheduling plans out. The one mentioned by Bob McKenzie, and then the one mentioned by Pierre LeBrun. So it could go either way at the moment.
 
 
Bob McKenzie is now breaking down the scheduling matrix according to the "alternative" plan (the plan tweeted by LeBrun)...

In addition to the proposed plan I tweeted out earlier, there's an alternative plan with new terminology.
 
This alternative plan would be Pacific and Mid-West divisions in Western Conference and Central and Atlantic divisions in Eastern Conference

West team plays 16 East teams home/away for 32. West plays other out of division but in conference 3x per team (21). 29 GP within division.

[GMRwings1983]

(Conference One)
 
 
WEST
 
Anaheim Ducks
Los Angeles Kings
San Jose Sharks
Las Vegas Coyotes
Colorado Avalanche
 
 
 
CENTRAL
 
Minnesota Wild
Chicago Blackhawks
St Louis Blues
Detroit Red Wings
Columbus Blue Jackets
 
 
 
EAST
 
Montreal Canadiens
Quebec Nordiques (formerly Lightning)
Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
Halifax Predators
 
 
 
 
(Conference Two)
 
 
WEST
 
Vancouver Canucks
Calgary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
Saskatoon Panthers
Winnipeg Jets
 
 
CENTRAL
 
 
Ottawa Senators
Hamilton Tigers (formerly Dallas Stars)
Toronto Maple Leafs
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
 
 
EAST
 
New York Rangers
New York Islanders
New Jersey Devils
Hartford Whalers (formerly Hurricanes)
Washington Capitals
 
 
 
 
Create some kind of baseball-like format from those divisions.  This would be my dream NHL in 10 or so years.  You can even rename the divisions Smythe, Patrick, etc.  Or create new names like Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr, etc.         

Edited by GMRwings1983, 26 February 2013 - 04:44 PM.

[vladdy16]

I hate this move.   This seperates us from our historic Western Confrence Rivals.   Plus as someone in the Central Time zone I love the late game.

Who could be considered "historic" besides Chicago?

[Jedi]

LeBrun now has a story about the realignment proposal on ESPN.  (Yeah, yeah, I know, ESPN...)

 

http://espn.go.com/n...gue-4-divisions

[shoobiedoobin]

Hawks and Blues fans think the Wings are turning tail on them by leaving the West now that the Wings aren't the powerhouse. 

Let them. Only a moron would think that.

[Carman]

Going to be so nice not having to stay up until 1 am for playoff games. Really like the conferences.

 

I'm not too big on the whole original 6 thing as others, teams change every 5 years. I like watching good players, and see Seguin, and Stamkos for years to come will be fun, along with making trips to Toronto for games. I really like it.

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk]

I hate this move.   This seperates us from our historic Western Confrence Rivals.   Plus as someone in the Central Time zone I love the late game.

More like it reunites us with some original 6 rivalries. Since you're from Illinois you're probably thinking HAwks, but besides them other rivalries are a product of the most resent configuration.  

[frankgrimes]

4 Original 6 teams in one division baby I love it. Sure the Wings are losing Chicago but they are going to gain 3 ! Original 6 teams so heres to hope for a revival of some good old fashioned Leafs Wings wars.

 

One thing for sure though, this team will need to bring in a big heavyweight because the East is filled with these guys. So going hard after McGrattan is a must.

[The Axe]

Add Portland and Seattle already. This is dumb.

[Euro_Twins]

(Conference One)

 

 

WEST

 

Anaheim Ducks

Los Angeles Kings

San Jose Sharks

Las Vegas Coyotes

Colorado Avalanche

 

 

 

CENTRAL

 

Minnesota Wild

Chicago Blackhawks

St Louis Blues

Detroit Red Wings

Columbus Blue Jackets

 

 

 

EAST

 

Montreal Canadiens

Quebec Nordiques (formerly Lightning)

Boston Bruins

Buffalo Sabres

Halifax Predators

 

 

 

 

(Conference Two)

 

 

WEST

 

Vancouver Canucks

Calgary Flames

Edmonton Oilers

Saskatoon Panthers

Winnipeg Jets

 

 

CENTRAL

 

 

Ottawa Senators

Hamilton Stars 

Toronto Maple Leafs

Philadelphia Flyers

Pittsburgh Penguins

 

 

EAST

 

New York Rangers

New York Islanders

New Jersey Devils

Hartford Whalers (formerly Hurricanes)

Washington Capitals

 

 

 

 

Create some kind of baseball-like format from those divisions.  This would be my dream NHL in 10 or so years.  You can even rename the divisions Smythe, Patrick, etc.  Or create new names like Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr, etc.         

 

With Bettman in control the division names would be;

 

Sidney

Crosby

Golden

Child

man love

ilovecrosbysomuch

[GMRwings1983]

Add Portland and Seattle already. This is dumb.

 

Forget them.

 

Believe me, you will love the Saskatoon Panthers and the Halifax Predators.    

[LeftWinger]

I am all for bringing back the Hamilton Tigers...

[GMRwings1983]

I am all for bringing back the Hamilton Tigers...

 

Yeah, that sounds better than Hamilton Stars.  I need to edit my list.  

[beachwing]

The thought of Leafs/Wings is just awesome!!!

[The Axe]

 
Forget them.
 
Believe me, you will love the Saskatoon Panthers and the Halifax Predators.    

No money there. Portland and Seattle = $$$.

[haroldsnepsts]

What are they going to do when they finally give in and move Phoenix?

 

 

It's not as good for me personally, but it'll be good for the Wings to be in the East.  And great to see them playing teams like Boston, Montreal and the Leafs more often. 

[Barrie]

Doesn't having 7 and 8 team divisons sound like a step backwards? This is like the 1950's when Baseball had 8 team American and National Leagues.

 

Just wait for the outcry when there's teams that miss the playoffs in one division with better records over teams with worse records in weaker divisions. I still don't understand what's wrong with the current set up. I'm not a fan of 16 teams making the playoffs, but at least with 3 division in each conference you get the 8 best teams in each conference making the playoffs. The only downside is the 3rd seed may have less points then teams seeded 4-8, but it's not that big of a deal.

[GMRwings1983]

No money there. Portland and Seattle = $$$.

 
Seattle is about to welcome their NBA team back.  I can't remember any city getting NBA and NHL teams in a short period of time.  They have to make sure the NBA can work there again first.
 
Portland is a maybe as well.  

Doesn't having 7 and 8 team divisons sound like a step backwards? This is like the 1950's when Baseball had 8 team American and National Leagues.
 
Just wait for the outcry when there's teams that miss the playoffs in one division with better records over teams with worse records in weaker divisions. I still don't understand what's wrong with the current set up. I'm not a fan of 16 teams making the playoffs, but at least with 3 division in each conference you get the 8 best teams in each conference making the playoffs. The only downside is the 3rd seed may have less points then teams seeded 4-8, but it's not that big of a deal.

 
You still have 9 seeds missing the playoffs with better records than a 7 seed in the other Conference.  That argument will always exist, until you get rid of the conference system altogether, and reseed everyone once the playoffs begin.  
 
Because of travel issues, that will unlikely happen.  I wouldn't mind seeing a 2-3-2 format, which can eliminate those travel concerns, though.  

Edited by GMRwings1983, 26 February 2013 - 05:16 PM.