Has there been any discussion on potential re-alignment when Seattle joins the league? Doesn’t make much sense to stick them in the 7-team central division. Would they move to the pacific and bump a team like Vegas to the central? I know this wouldn’t make sense for Nashville fans but ideally the NHL could move Detroit back to the central (revive Chicago/Colorado rivalries and they’re invisible sitting in the Atlantic right now), Nashville to the Atlantic (proximity to Florida and Carolina), Vegas to the Central (no rivalries established) and Seattle to the Pacific (instant Vancouver rivalry and proximity to western Canada/California).
why would the league put a team like Detroit that is on est in the west. wont give that any thought at all. Arizona coming to the central is most likely
Yep, exactly. LeBrun even speculated as much earlier today. Arizona to the Central, Seattle to the Pacific. This doesn't have to be that complicated.
What if you move Calgary and Edmonton to the Central so you keep the "rivalry" and then move Colorado to the Pacific?
I’d guess AZ is moving to central. Probably not the worst thing to happen. Having Minnesota, Winnipeg, and Chicago come through our stadium a few more times a year will likely help with attendance lololololol
Vegas belongs in the Pacific. My guess is Arizona moves. They are at least the same time zone as Colorado half the year (no DST).
Chris Johnston was on the fan 960 radio station in Calgary and said Arizona would move to central for geographical reasons plus the chance they are moved to Houston in the coming years.
What did the good people of Panama, Belize, etc. do to you? Central America - Wikipedia On a serious note, it would be odd for the Coyotes to be in the Central, but I guess they make the most sense.
@DrSanchez but I want to make this complicated... The owners have said they want more teams in the playoffs. What about having two conferences with four 4-team divisions in them? Top 2 from each 4-team division make the playoffs. 2 wild card teams play a one game wild card play-in series. Top 3 from each conference get a first round bye. ANA LAK SJS ARI VAN SEA CGY EDM MIN WPG CHI DET STL COL DAL VGK NYR NJD NYI BUF WSH PIT PHI CBJ TOR BOS MTL OTT TBL FLA CAR NSH If a representative from the league would like to get in touch regarding a job offering at the NHL you can reach me via PM on here.
Vegas is also in the PTZ, which wouldn't make sense for a move to the Central. The funny thing is that there are now too many teams in the western half of the US. In the previous alignment, the 5 team divisions, with Seattle it would be good. There would be no Dallas in the Pacific because they had nowhere else to put them. Van/Edm/Cal/Sea/Col SJ/LA/Ana/Veg/Ari Those divisions make more sense than they did with Minnesota and Dallas, but we're beyond that option now.
I don't know about "not give that any thought at all", they were in the Western Conference just 4 years ago. Not saying it makes sense or is reasonable, just that the league has used this method despite your justification not to, just like many others arguing the same thing.
It might make some sense logistically to move Arizona to the Central since they don't observe daylight savings. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember being thrown off when my friend moved to Tucson years ago and I inadvertently woke her up with a phone call. Quick look at the Coyotes schedule this year: November 27th: @ Minnesota starts at 6pm local December 4th: @ Los Angeles starts at 8:30pm local I suppose it's up for debate whether you'd get better ratings with a 6pm start versus 8pm or later.
Currently, there is one Mountain Time Zone team in the Central (Colorado). With realignment, there will be two. I would like to see Edmonton and Calgary join the Central and push Colorado to the Pacific.
Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres Detroit Red Wings Florida Panthers Montreal Canadiens Ottawa Senators Tampa Bay Lightning Toronto Maple Leafs Metropolitan Division Carolina Hurricanes Columbus Blue Jackets New Jersey Devils New York Islanders New York Rangers Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins Washington Capitals Western Conference Central Division Calgary Flames Chicago Blackhawks Dallas Stars Edmonton Oilers Minnesota Wild Nashville Predators St. Louis Blues Winnipeg Jets Pacific Division Anaheim Ducks Arizona Coyotes Colorado Avalanche Los Angeles Kings San Jose Sharks Seattle Vancouver Canucks Vegas Golden Knights
Not a bad alignment but swap ARI and VGK. Arizona is MST and Vegas is PST. I’m confused on the playoff system though...wouldn’t it end with an odd number of teams?
Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres Detroit Red Wings Montreal Canadiens New York Islanders New York Rangers Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs Metropolitan Division Carolina Hurricanes Columbus Blue Jackets Florida Panthers New Jersey Devils Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins Tampa Bay Lightning Washington Capitals Western Conference Central Division Arizona Coyotes Chicago Blackhawks Colorado Avalanche Dallas Stars Minnesota Wild Nashville Predators St. Louis Blues Winnipeg Jets Pacific Division Anaheim Ducks Calgary Flames Edmonton Oilers Los Angeles Kings San Jose Sharks Seattle Whatstherenames Vancouver Canucks Vegas Golden Knights
All that is left is to move Flordia to Quebec and finding a new home for Arizona somewhere in the west. If another team is really struggling in the East then hopefully Toronto will get a second team
The issue with the Atlantic division is that it becomes super weak. You take out the Panthers and the lighting and your down to 2 playoff teams of the 8. Obviously a 3rd team makes it under the rules but a lot of those teams are rebuilding/retooling so it harms the divisions talent and competitive level