NHL Realignment

[Boltergeist]

Has been approved, with 4 conferences (yes, conferences).

Carolina is in the same conference with New Jersey, Philly, Pittsburgh, NY Rangers, Washington, and NY Islanders

and the other 3 conferences

* Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Buffalo, Florida and Tampa Bay

* Detroit, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis, Chicago, Minnesota, Dallas and Winnipeg

* Los Angeles, Anaheim, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Colorado

playoffs are going to revert back to the old style where the top 4 teams from each conference make the playoffs, face off in each of the first 2 rounds with the conference champs then play the Cup semis and finals.

[KillerKat]

Sh**! In the same conference as Philly, Pitt, and Washington! It's going to be very hard to make the playoffs.

It will be a 16 team playoff right?

[KillerKat]

and why not switch the florida and tampa teams with the 2 NY teams? Makes no sense.

[Boltergeist]

Here's the NHL release

[dexterpyro]

They must think the canes still have alot of hartford fans....looks like the west teams got what they wanted and the east was done by the same chaps that do voting districts.....

[The Other Colbert]

I don't know how I feel about this... at least people cannot say we're in a weak division..

[lightsout]

We'll be in the toughest conference in the NHL. Great. FML.

[KillerKat]

we're not going to be winning another stanley cup any time soon

[lightsout]

we're not going to be winning another stanley cup any time soon

I still don't understand, for traveling purposes, why we are in that conference though. I like the Southeast Division because, before Atlanta went to Winnipeg, the match-ups made sense. Now, we're playing all the Northeast teams?

[theyhateme45]

Don't watch much hockey, but seems unfair, unless they plan on expanding by two teams later. If you are in a 8 team conference you only have a 4/8 chance... but in a 7 you get a 4/7 chance... oh well, I just wouldn't want to be in the 8 team conference.

[Boltergeist]

NHLPA puts the kibosh on the plan for now

[KillerKat]

so glad that its not going to happen. it was a very stupid idea to begin with.

[jb_online]

NHL: This is fair for everyone!

NHLPA: This is fair for no one!

I agree with NHLPA. The NHL is getting everything wrong on a consistent basis. They were supposed to lesson travel, get Detroit back into the East, keep rivalries intact. They did none of that.

It is so simple, bring Nashville to the East, move the Jets to the west and Detroit, well, fug 'em.

[FigNewtons]

I don't know... I've been pretty undecided on the realignment scenario.

On the one hand, a division w/ Philly, NYR, Pit, and NJ etc would substantially increase ticket sales for what amounts to nearly half our games, boost TV ratings, and all around increase revenue. This could allow us to increase our self-imposed budget and spend relatively closer to the cap. It would also increase our national exposure, which is a good thing.

On the other hand, we could get our ass kicked so hard in that division that no one shows up to the games anyway.

So I don't know whether or not to be happy or upset w/ the NHLPA's decision.