That's not bad. You put some thought into that.EAST
Northeast:
1. Buffalo
2. Montreal
3. Ottawa
4. Toronto
Atlantic:
1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. Philly
4. Pittsburgh
Southeast:
1. Carolina
2. Columbus
3. Florida
4. Tampa
Metropolitan:
1. New Jersey
2. NY Islanders
3. NY Rangers
4. Washington
WEST
Central:
1. Chicago
2. Minnesota
3. St. Louis
4. Winnipeg
Southwest:
1. Arizona
2. Colorado
3. Dallas
4. Nashville
Pacific:
1. Anaheim
2. Los Angeles
3. San Jose
4. Vegas
Northwest:
1. Calgary
2. Edmonton
3. Seattle
4. Vancouver
Playoff Format:
-Top team in each division makes the playoffs
-Seeding based on points only (division winners are simply guaranteed a playoff spot, not home ice in the first round)
-Re seed after the first round
Schedule format:
-14 games against 3 divisional rivals (5+5+4)
-36 games against 12 conference rivals
-32 games against 16 other conference teams
If AZ was cemented in remaining where they are I would have them in the Pacific. Time zone for playoffs.So Oilers and San Jose were top in travel 2 years in a row, last year Colorado and Calgary took top honors.
I highly doubt Oilers and Flames want to increase their league leading travel schedule even more. And I would assume Edmonton and Calgary's owners with Vancouver backing them up probably have more Board of Governor clout then Arizona
So Oilers and San Jose were top in travel 2 years in a row, last year Colorado and Calgary took top honors.
I highly doubt Oilers and Flames want to increase their league leading travel schedule even more. And I would assume Edmonton and Calgary's owners with Vancouver backing them up probably have more Board of Governor clout then Arizona
So Oilers and San Jose were top in travel 2 years in a row, last year Colorado and Calgary took top honors.
I highly doubt Oilers and Flames want to increase their league leading travel schedule even more. And I would assume Edmonton and Calgary's owners with Vancouver backing them up probably have more Board of Governor clout then Arizona
And this is the de facto position of every team in the eastern time zone, particularly the huge block of teams in the northeast. Understandably self-centered, but undeniably unequal, and therefore unfair and definitely burdensome for the remaining 70% + of North America and their teams involved in the NHL.Won't work. Detroit doesn't really care about historic rivalries. They care that most of their away games start at 7pm their time rather than 8-10pm. That has a major impact on TV viewership and is the main reason (along with travel times) that Detroit was so adamant about joining the East. Same goes for Columbus. When Detroit and Columbus were relocated to the Eastern Conference, the league promised that neither would be moved back to a Western division without consent.
EastEAST
Northeast:
1. Buffalo
2. Montreal
3. Ottawa
4. Toronto
Atlantic:
1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. Philly
4. Pittsburgh
Southeast:
1. Carolina
2. Columbus
3. Florida
4. Tampa
Metropolitan:
1. New Jersey
2. NY Islanders
3. NY Rangers
4. Washington
WEST
Central:
1. Chicago
2. Minnesota
3. St. Louis
4. Winnipeg
Southwest:
1. Arizona
2. Colorado
3. Dallas
4. Nashville
Pacific:
1. Anaheim
2. Los Angeles
3. San Jose
4. Vegas
Northwest:
1. Calgary
2. Edmonton
3. Seattle
4. Vancouver
Playoff Format:
-Top team in each division makes the playoffs
-Seeding based on points only (division winners are simply guaranteed a playoff spot, not home ice in the first round)
-Re seed after the first round
Schedule format:
-14 games against 3 divisional rivals (5+5+4)
-36 games against 12 conference rivals
-32 games against 16 other conference teams
My guess is when Seattle enters the league, the alignment could look like this:
Smythe Conference
Northwest Division
Calgary
Edmonton
Seattle
Vancouver
Pacific Division
Anaheim
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
San Jose
Norris Conference
Midwest Division
Arizona
Colorado
Dallas
Nashville
Central Division
Chicago
Minnesota
St. Louis
Winnipeg
Adams Conference
Great Lakes Division
Buffalo
Detroit
Ottawa
Toronto
Northeast Division
Boston
Florida
Montreal
Tampa Bay
Patrick Conference
Metropolitan Division
New Jersey
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Philadelphia
Atlantic Division
Carolina
Columbus
Pittsburgh
Washington
The first and second place teams in each division will play each other for the division title. The division winners will then play for the conference title. For third round, the conference winners would be seeded Final Four style with the pairing involving the Smythe Conference winner playing the Campbell trophy while the other pairing play for the Wales trophy. The Stanley Cup finals will be held between the Campbell and Wales trophy winners.
EAST
Northeast:
1. Buffalo
2. Montreal
3. Ottawa
4. Toronto
Atlantic:
1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. Philly
4. Pittsburgh
Southeast:
1. Carolina
2. Columbus
3. Florida
4. Tampa
Metropolitan:
1. New Jersey
2. NY Islanders
3. NY Rangers
4. Washington
WEST
Central:
1. Chicago
2. Minnesota
3. St. Louis
4. Winnipeg
Southwest:
1. Arizona
2. Colorado
3. Dallas
4. Nashville
Pacific:
1. Anaheim
2. Los Angeles
3. San Jose
4. Vegas
Northwest:
1. Calgary
2. Edmonton
3. Seattle
4. Vancouver
Playoff Format:
-Top team in each division makes the playoffs
-Seeding based on points only (division winners are simply guaranteed a playoff spot, not home ice in the first round)
-Re seed after the first round
Schedule format:
-14 games against 3 divisional rivals (5+5+4)
-36 games against 12 conference rivals
-32 games against 16 other conference teams
One way to reduce travel: reduce out-of-conference game and increase divisional matchups. It’s ridiculous having to play up to 32 games against another conference. Take 16 of those games away and make division rivalries more exciting!
Going through this thread makes me think some of you folks need a damn globe.
Or else you're all just of a mind to think "let's screw Nashville"
It was bad enough the post I responded to before had them in a "midwest" dis vision but now they are "southwest"??? FFS.
One way to reduce travel: reduce out-of-conference game and increase divisional matchups. It’s ridiculous having to play up to 32 games against another conference. Take 16 of those games away and make division rivalries more exciting!
Personally I think Preds fans would say they prefer adding Arizona because they are perennial cupcakes (but always see to give us hell head to head)but personally I'd love to lose Colorado and gain Alberta.
And again this fails to address travel distance, travel time, time zone crossings, sleep loss, practice time loss, cost inequalities, and likely more, with an East/West Conference alignment. Or, just admit that you’re ok with the current alignment burdens being carried mostly by the Western Conference teams.I really hope they go to 8 divisions of 4. Id also like to see the schedule go back to being more division and conference heavy...only playing the other conference teams once.
Play division rivals 6 times. 18 games.
Play conference teams 4 times. 48 games.
Play west teams once. 16 games.
Wonderful. One time zone for the Eastern Conference, three for the Western Conference. 70% of North America for the Western Conference, 30% for the Eastern Conference.East
Div A
Toronto
Buffalo
Detroit
Columbus
Div B
Ottawa
Montreal
Boston
NY Rangers
Div C
NY Isles
Pitt
Philly
NJ / Wash
Div D
Wash / NJ
Carolina
Fla
T Bay
West
Div A
Chicago
St L
Nashville
Dallas
Div B
Winnipeg
Edmonton
Minnesota
Colorado
Div C
Calgary
Vancouver
Seattle
S Jose
Div D
LA
Anaheim
Vegas
Arizona
Division winners ( 4 )
Next 4 most points = wild cards