Which teams will benefit or be hurt by a division realignment

[The Moose is Loose]

Can't wait for Toronto/Montreal/Ottawa fans to learn about the magic of the Matthew Tkachuk friendship tour 2021.

That’ll be funny to watch. I think the western Canada teams being bigger and more physical than the East will definitely be a factor as the season grinds along.

 

[Volica]

That’ll be funny to watch. I think the western Canada teams being bigger and more physical than the East will definitely be a factor as the season grinds along.

It'll be fun with Toronto and Montreal fans actually watching some Western Conference games this season; maybe it'll add to bit more education on this forum that seems to be lacking.

 

[Drewcifer]

Fans in eastern Canada who have to go to work in the morning are about to discover why time zone based divisions are a thing. When the Wild were in the Northwest it was awful, there were so many games that ended late. People were constantly going into work on five hours sleep or missing the ends of games.

I'm hoping the Wild don't get stuck in the Pacific this season. That would be ridiculous.

 

[Mickey Marner]

No use bitching about things you can't change. Vancouver is a long way away from Ott, MTL , and Toronto. They will be screwed the most next year, but the year after, as part of a new division including Seattle, will have their best schedule yet.

I would say Vancouver has the greatest travel advantage. They get to knock out Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal all in one 4-6 day road trip. This gives them time to acclimate to that time zone. Every team that flies to Vancouver is there for 36-48 hours.

 

[The Moose is Loose]

It'll be fun with Toronto and Montreal fans actually watching some Western Conference games this season; maybe it'll add to bit more education on this forum that seems to be lacking.

Yeah no east coast fans watch the western conference teams unless they’re playing their team because they’re so late. Which is fair.

I think it’ll be a bit of shock. All the combination of games between Vancouver/Edmonton/Calgary/Winnipeg always turn so physical and grindy. None of Buffalo, Ottawa, Detroit, Tampa, or Toronto play that way, with the later 2 especially focusing on speedy north-south play which could burn the slower Western Canadian teams.

So both sides will have to adapt.

 

[Paperbagofglory]

Yeah no east coast fans watch the western conference teams unless they’re playing their team because they’re so late. Which is fair.

I think it’ll be a bit of shock. All the combination of games between Vancouver/Edmonton/Calgary/Winnipeg always turn so physical and grindy. None of Buffalo, Ottawa, Detroit, Tampa, or Toronto play that way, with the later 2 especially focusing on speedy north-south play which could burn the slower Western Canadian teams.

So both sides will have to adapt.

Toronto is built wrong for the division they are about to be in, its going to be painful from a physical perspective.

 

[Burke the Legend]

Hfboards will suffer the most from an all Canadian division. I can't imagine the insane hostility between Western Canadian and Leaf fans when they actually play each other.

On the other hand we won't need the "rank the Canadian teams" discussion threads so that's a plus.

 

[Burke the Legend]

I would say Vancouver has the greatest travel advantage. They get to knock out Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal all in one 4-6 day road trip. This gives them time to acclimate to that time zone. Every team that flies to Vancouver is there for 36-48 hours.

They usually go through Winnipeg and Alberta first. That said, cross country travel has always been an advantage for west coast teams though, since west to east travel is easier then east to west. The west team playing in Eastern zone is starting at 4-5 pm, so late afternoon on his clock, while the eastern player in the west is starting at 9-10pm on his clock, closer to bed time.

 

[kelso]

Oilers/Canucks get screwed because they move from a super soft division where playoffs were guaranteed to one where they are now likely to miss.
Jets/Leafs benefit the most because they get to avoid Stars/Avs and the Lightning.

Habs/Sens also benefit because it'll be better for their tank. No Buffalo or Detroit.

 

[albator71]

I can't wait for the season to start, Let's goooo!

 

[Paperbagofglory]

I can't wait for the season to start, Let's goooo!

You wait 6 and a half short months for your team to play and you get all crazy, no patience at all. Only 3 more months to go!

 

[dukeofjive]

Mtl wins this hands down, they dont have to play detroit for an automatic 4 loses.

 

[MessierII]

Oilers/Canucks get screwed because they move from a super soft division where playoffs were guaranteed to one where they are now likely to miss.

Yeah Ottawa and Montreal are terrifying.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Toronto will have a harder time in a all Canadian division then in the Atlantic, 6 equal teams in Canadian division,
Atlantic has Tampa, Boston is on a decline.

I don't know that I agree with that

For me Toronto probably has the bes top to bottom forward group although Winnipeg can make a case.

If their #1 goalie got hurt they are probably the least screwed although Montreal can make a case although Toronto does have Aaron Dell as their #3 so they probably get the edge here

They didn't take any major hits to their defense like Calgay and Vancouver did.

I think Toronto or Winnipeg wins the division

 

[Volica]

I don't know that I agree with that

For me Toronto probably has the bes top to bottom forward group although Winnipeg can make a case.

If their #1 goalie got hurt they are probably the least screwed although Montreal can make a case although Toronto does have Aaron Dell as their #3 so they probably get the edge here

They didn't take any major hits to their defense like Calgay and Vancouver did.

I think Toronto or Winnipeg wins the division

I think anyone without homer glasses would be hard pressed to crown the Leafs the deepest forward group when outside of their top 4 it's essentially a 2013 all-star roster and the likes of Jimmy Vesey.

In terms of major hits, Vancouver added Nate Schmidt, Calgary added Tanev, Valimaki and has the emergence of Rasmus Andersson. Those teams are arguably better defensively today than they were to end the season last year.

 

[ScaredStreit]

The Leafs also went through the Babcock drama and had injuries to several key players. You know, context.

0 playoff series wins since Matthews was 6. He's now 23. Something is fundamentally broken in Toronto...maybe they fix it next year, maybe they don't.

 

[TOGuy14]

That’ll be funny to watch. I think the western Canada teams being bigger and more physical than the East will definitely be a factor as the season grinds along.

It will be funny to watch the faster and more talented Eastern teams play against big bodies with regular season refs that don't swallow their whistles like the playoffs

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

We at least had a shot to beat Ottawa and maybe Buffalo and Florida. Now who can beat?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBOOOOOOOOOOOOODY

 

[HolyCrap]

It'll be fun with Toronto and Montreal fans actually watching some Western Conference games this season; maybe it'll add to bit more education on this forum that seems to be lacking.

I’ve read some pretty stupid stuff. Normally you’re not to bad. But damn dude that’s some outright stupid stuff. You drunk? Leafs and Habs fans are huge fan bases that I can assure you watch a pile of western hockey games.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Well most east coast fans won’t stay up til 1am, and most don’t have centre ice to watch them.

 

[Brobust]

I think anyone without homer glasses would be hard pressed to crown the Leafs the deepest forward group when outside of their top 4 it's essentially a 2013 all-star roster and the likes of Jimmy Vesey.

In terms of major hits, Vancouver added Nate Schmidt, Calgary added Tanev, Valimaki and has the emergence of Rasmus Andersson. Those teams are arguably better defensively today than they were to end the season last year.

The leafs scored 237 goals last season and subtracted 21 in the losses of Kapanen and Johnsson.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Why would this be horrific for the Eastern?

This is just my opinion, but I'd rather have Carolina and Columbus than Boston and Buffalo. Boston's definitely better than us, and although Buffalo probably isn't, I'd rather have to battle with Carolin and Columbus for a spot in the standings than know we'll be worse than Boston, and better than Buffalo.

 

[aufheben]

This is just my opinion, but I'd rather have Carolina and Columbus than Boston and Buffalo. Boston's definitely better than us, and although Buffalo probably isn't, I'd rather have to battle with Carolin and Columbus for a spot in the standings than know we'll be worse than Boston, and better than Buffalo.

Meh doesn’t make much difference to me.

 

[aufheben]

Well most east coast fans won’t stay up til 1am, and most don’t have centre ice to watch them.

Do West Coasters watch Eastern hockey while they’re at work or something?

 

[Mr Positive]

Do West Coasters watch Eastern hockey while they’re at work or something?

eastern games are usually on at 7pm EST, which is 5pm mountain time, when lots of people would be home or on the way. Although 4pm pacific would be pushing it. Still catch two periods maybe.