The NHL proposed a new realignment that would put the teams back into four conferences. The proposed structure is very similar to the four-division set-up that was replaced with the current system in the 1998-99 season.
However, the NHLPA denied the request by the league. The union said the league did not give it a formal proposal that would take into account important factors like travel.
But what's wrong with the current system?
Right now Dallas is in a division where all the other teams play two time zones over. This means that its road games don't start until 9 p.m. at the earliest. This cuts out a lot of viewers for a franchise that is struggling in a non-traditional hockey market.
The other, more obvious issue is the Winnipeg Jets are currently playing in the Southeast division because they recently moved.
One solution may be to move Nashville or Detroit to the Eastern conference and then Winnipeg to the Central division, which is part of the Western Conference.
But Mark Chipman – the principle owner of the Winnipeg Jets – says it's not that simple. In a press conference, he said that Minnesota is closer to the Central division, so its team should go. Which means at least three teams are swapped.
The bigger problem is that smaller-market teams like Columbus and Nashville rely on Detroit coming to their arenas three times a year. If Nashville went to the Southeast it would lose 15 years of rivalries.
So what did that new realignment look like again?
Four conferences with either seven or eight teams in each. Pretty much Carolina and Washington join the Atlantic teams, Florida and Tampa Bay join the Northeast teams. Winnipeg, Dallas, and Minnesota join the Central teams and Pacific and Northwest merge minus Minnesota and Dallas.
Seems about right. Except one thing, Tampa Bay and Florida with the Northeast teams?
One major reason for the change was to reduce travel, especially for teams in smaller hockey markets and this totally contradicts that.
So what's my plan?
Keep the two Western conferences as proposed [they are seen as four separate conferences, similar to the NCAA]. But, change up the two Eastern conferences.
I would keep the five teams from the Northeast together and then put in the Rangers and Islanders with them. The other conference would be the four remaining Southeast teams plus Philadelphia, New Jersey and Pittsburgh.
But hey, what about the Atlantic division rivalries?
With this alignment the Crosby-Ovechkin rivalry will heat up with additional meetings as well as original six matchups like Rangers against Montreal, Boston or Toronto.
Don't forget the battle of Pennsylvania is still intact, and the Islanders-Rangers rivalry still simmers.
But what about playoffs?
The plan the NHL put in place was to have the top four teams in each division play two divisional rounds with the four winners criss-crossing after that.
The only problem I could see would come if an eastern conference team had to play a team on the west coast. But, if you win your conference you should have a strong enough fan base to travel for four games in a seven game series. If all else fails go to the 2-3-2 format that basketball has – and hockey used to have – for such occasions.
But, we have to wait at least one more year. However, with the Islanders lease up in 2015 I think we will be discussing this again in a few years.
Email: bryan.feiler@ubspectrum.com
