So it’s official: the NHL’s board of governors have approved realignment for next season.
Here is how the divisions will look:
|
Division A |
Division B |
| Anaheim | Chicago |
| Calgary | Colorado |
| Edmonton | Dallas |
| Los Angeles | Minnesota |
| Phoenix | Nashville |
| San Jose | St. Louis |
| Vancouver | Winnipeg |
|
Division C |
Division D |
| Boston | Carolina |
| Buffalo | Columbus |
| Detroit | New Jersey |
| Florida | New York Islanders |
| Montreal | New York Rangers |
| Ottawa | Philadelphia |
| Tampa Bay | Pittsburgh |
| Toronto | Washington |
Note: the divisions have not been named yet.
I must say it’s about time they moved some teams – notably Winnipeg – around to their appropriate spots. However, you know when sometimes there are other options that make too much sense? Well, I have a much simpler way to solve the NHL realignment problem.
- Have Nashville and Winnipeg swap divisions. That would fix the Eastern Conference.
- As for Western Conference…
- Place Winnipeg in the Northwest Division
- Move Dallas to the Central Division
- Move Colorado to the Pacific Division
The divisions would look like this…
Eastern Conference |
||
| ATLANTIC
Pittsburgh New Jersey NY Rangers NY Islanders Philadelphia |
NORTHEAST
Montreal Boston Ottawa Toronto Buffalo |
SOUTHEAST
Carolina Nashville Tampa Bay Washington Florida
|
Western Conference |
||
| CENTRAL
Chicago St. Louis Detroit Dallas Columbus
|
NORTHWEST
Vancouver Minnesota Edmonton Calgary Winnipeg
|
PACIFIC
Anaheim Los Angeles Phoenix San Jose Colorado
|
Problem solved. Again, I am happy with the realignment plan in place for next season. I just think my plan would have been the easiest to execute without changing the structures of the divisions…
Categories: NHL
There’s one problem with your solution, and Its’ why Detroit is headed to the Eastern Conference. It is all about time zones. TV really likes it when your games start between 7 and 8 pm local time. Keeping Detroit in the West means too many games that start at 9:30 or 10:30 pm Eastern time. That kills TV ratings and hockey is desperate for all the TV money it can get. Moving Detroit to the East breaks up a few rivalries, but it makes sure the most teams get the most games starting at the ideal times.
Nashville is CENTRAL time zone pal and in fact doesn’t want the stupid Florida teams as their division rivals! Division realignments are obviously dictated by POILITICS which explains why the Dallas Cowboys are still in the NFC East and the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South.