I am fine with it. I don't buy the whole this screws the Isles or Carolina BS. No teams are a "lock" in any given year with injuries and all. Once rivalries get more intense, the team could elevate its play against these teams. It's all cyclical anyway. (usually)
Also, the last time we had any playoff success it was under this format. Maybe that is the charm.
im guessing the 4 teams were fla and tb b/c of their travel to the NE, and the isles and debbies b/c of the added travel to them..
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crazy Ivan
The two Florida teams?
Could be wrong, haven't heard specifically, but my educated guess is that they were ok with this format. They just added three Original Six teams, all of which have snow birds down here. The Habs, Leafs, Rangers, Bruins, and Flyers generally pack the barn with their fans while down here -- they just added three of them to their division. Hell, the Panthers openly advertise to these fanbases to come see the game while they're in town. Again, don't have any inside info, just a guess that they were ok with this setup.
I think the plan sounds pretty good, the only thing that concerns me is what they'll do for the last two rounds of the playoffs. I've gotten used to seeing one team from the east and one in the west in the finals, so I don't like the idea that you could see two "Eastern conference" teams compete for the Cup.
From a marketing standpoint, one can assume the NHL doesn't want this either, so maybe the divisions are still gonna be tied together regionally in a way that you always have two east teams and two west teams in the semi's and then east vs. west in the finals.
I think the plan sounds pretty good, the only thing that concerns me is what they'll do for the last two rounds of the playoffs. I've gotten used to seeing one team from the east and one in the west in the finals, so I don't like the idea that you could see two "Eastern conference" teams compete for the Cup.
From a marketing standpoint, one can assume the NHL doesn't want this either, so maybe the divisions are still gonna be tied together regionally in a way that you always have two east teams and two west teams in the semi's and then east vs. west in the finals.
I'm thinking that they'll still be under the "East" and "West" titles but they'll be two conferences in each. Don't get me wrong it's kind of interesting if it goes down with two east or two west teams but I don't see that happening.
This is great for us, as we'd only need to be ahead of two other teams in our Conference in order to make the playoffs.
I can see us getting by NJD and CAR next year.
Only problem is we'd be losing in the first round year after year. Unless we go head to head against the Rags. Then I'd give us a fighting chance.
No.
We would need to beat out 3 other teams. And you can bet your ass that won't happen anytime soon. The rags, philly, pittsburgh and washington will be the 4 playoff team every year. Maybe the Devils and rags will switch some years but that's it. They need names for the divisions? How about 'division of death' for this one?
They should move the isles to the western conference. Wang could probably figure out how to expense travel to add it to the salary cap, win for him!
Quote:
Originally Posted by nyisles
I think the plan sounds pretty good, the only thing that concerns me is what they'll do for the last two rounds of the playoffs. I've gotten used to seeing one team from the east and one in the west in the finals, so I don't like the idea that you could see two "Eastern conference" teams compete for the Cup.
From a marketing standpoint, one can assume the NHL doesn't want this either, so maybe the divisions are still gonna be tied together regionally in a way that you always have two east teams and two west teams in the semi's and then east vs. west in the finals.
East vs. West? Like those two Pittsburgh vs. Detroit Finals?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brunomics
I'm thinking that they'll still be under the "East" and "West" titles but they'll be two conferences in each. Don't get me wrong it's kind of interesting if it goes down with two east or two west teams but I don't see that happening.
Not sure, while they haven't finalized the semi's yet, the plan that is reportedly expected to be approved is the re-seeding option. Taking the four 'conference' winners and re-seeding based on points -- highest remaining pt total vs. lowest remaining pt total, second vs. third.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KrisBeKreame
I hope the conference names that were floating around earlier are not going to happen. If we become the Pansy *** conference I swear Ill loose it.
The 4 teams that voted against it weren't Winnipeg, Detroit or Toronto (according to that TSN.ca video "Radical Realignment) I would bet one of the 4 if not both were in Florida -- the Panthers or Lightning. And I would bet $$$$ that one or two of the Rags, Isles or Devils voted against because they are in the Division with Washington and Ovy and Pitts and Sidney. So maybe it was
1-TBL
2-FP
3-NYR
4-NYI
We would need to beat out 3 other teams. And you can bet your ass that won't happen anytime soon. The rags, philly, pittsburgh and washington will be the 4 playoff team every year. Maybe the Devils and rags will switch some years but that's it. They need names for the divisions? How about 'division of death' for this one?
Rags haven't made po's every year in the last 10 years, but now they are a lock every year going forward? Pittsburgh, Philly, Washington as well.
When we have a team that plays well and deserves to make PO's we will. New format or old. We will probably have it tough to make PO's next year, unless we replace our deadwood vets with good players. In two years, I can see us in PO's just fine.
I am fine with it. I don't buy the whole this screws the Isles or Carolina BS. No teams are a "lock" in any given year with injuries and all. Once rivalries get more intense, the team could elevate its play against these teams. It's all cyclical anyway. (usually)
Exactly!
Like i said in my previous post, "When we have a team that plays well and deserves to make PO's we will. New format or old." I'm not anymore worried or concerned with this new format then with the old.
So we're going to have gone 19 years of confrence realignment having never won a playoff series. What a waste of two decades. 1993 Patrick Division Playoff Champs baby!!
Rags haven't made po's every year in the last 10 years, but now they are a lock every year going forward? Pittsburgh, Philly, Washington as well.
When we have a team that plays well and deserves to make PO's we will. New format or old. We will probably have it tough to make PO's next year, unless we replace our deadwood vets with good players. In two years, I can see us in PO's just fine.
The rags, as much as I hate to say it, are the best team in the east besides the pens. Yea they have underachieved over the years but I think they finally got it right. They have the right mix of young vets and homegrown players along with a top 3 goaltender in the league. Those ****ers aren't going anywhere for a long time. The pens will be a powerhouse for years and so will the Flyers. The Caps are under-preforming now but recent history says they will turn it around.
So yea, it just got a WHOLE lot tougher to even think about making the playoffs. And I get all that crap about deserving it. God knows this team doesn't deserve it even under this "easier" format. But if next year rolls around and the Isles are 7th or 8th in the east in terms of points but still miss the playoffs, let's see what everyone's reaction will be.
The 4 teams that voted against it weren't Winnipeg, Detroit or Toronto (according to that TSN.ca video "Radical Realignment) I would bet one of the 4 if not both were in Florida -- the Panthers or Lightning. And I would bet $$$$ that one or two of the Rags, Isles or Devils voted against because they are in the Division with Washington and Ovy and Pitts and Sidney. So maybe it was
1-TBL
2-FP
3-NYR
4-NYI
Id bet money on that, now to think of it.
Could be right, but I don't think it was the Florida teams. They just subtracted CAR, ATL/WPG, WAS (granted, Ovi was a good draw) for MTL, TOR, and BOS, all of which fill their barns with fans. Maybe the travel was a consideration, but my guess is the $$$ overrode that concern.
If anything, I'd guess MTL, OTT, BUF, BOS might have been against it (TOR voiced some concerns, but voted for it per Dreger).
The 4 teams that voted against it weren't Winnipeg, Detroit or Toronto (according to that TSN.ca video "Radical Realignment) I would bet one of the 4 if not both were in Florida -- the Panthers or Lightning. And I would bet $$$$ that one or two of the Rags, Isles or Devils voted against because they are in the Division with Washington and Ovy and Pitts and Sidney. So maybe it was
1-TBL
2-FP
3-NYR
4-NYI
Id bet money on that, now to think of it.
I'd almost guarantee that Florida and Tampa were two of the "nay" votes. Given their make-up of being transplant havens for the Northeast, I'm sure they'd have preferred to go to the Atlantic/Patrick conference where they'd get 3 home games each against NYR, NYI, NJ, and Philly resulting in much bigger crowds, as opposed to Boston, Buffalo, Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa.
But obviously Bettman's need to give us Crosby vs Ovechkin 6 times a year took precedence over that. Although I can't really hate on Washington coming back as they were a Patrick Division team before the last realignment.
The rags, as much as I hate to say it, are the best team in the east besides the pens. Yea they have underachieved over the years but I think they finally got it right. They have the right mix of young vets and homegrown players along with a top 3 goaltender in the league. Those ****ers aren't going anywhere for a long time. The pens will be a powerhouse for years and so will the Flyers. The Caps are under-preforming now but recent history says they will turn it around.
So yea, it just got a WHOLE lot tougher to even think about making the playoffs. And I get all that crap about deserving it. God knows this team doesn't deserve it even under this "easier" format. But if next year rolls around and the Isles are 7th or 8th in the east in terms of points but still miss the playoffs, let's see what everyone's reaction will be.
I've never liked that last point you made. For example, yes, the 4th seed in the 'Adams' may have less pts than the 5th seed in the 'Patrick' (just hypothetically), but unless they're playing the exact same schedule, it's a bad argument IMO.
I like that the upcoming realignment finally aligns with the playoff system. If you're going to play your conference more often (unbalanced schedule), you should be competing with them for playoff spots. The way it is now, you play your division more often, but you compete with the entire conference for playoff spots.
I'd almost guarantee that Florida and Tampa were two of the "nay" votes. Given their make-up of being transplant havens for the Northeast, I'm sure they'd have preferred to go to the Atlantic/Patrick conference where they'd get 3 home games each against NYR, NYI, NJ, and Philly resulting in much bigger crowds, as opposed to Boston, Buffalo, Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa.
But obviously Bettman's need to give us Crosby vs Ovechkin 6 times a year took precedence over that. Although I can't really hate on Washington coming back as they were a Patrick Division team before the last realignment.
MTL and TOR are the two biggest draws down here, followed by NYR, BOS, PHI. NYI and NJD have fans at the games, but not nearly on the same level. I think FLA at least is happy with this setup.
East vs. West? Like those two Pittsburgh vs. Detroit Finals?
Meh, close enough I just looked at the new layout and envisioned a few NHL execs contemplating suicide on the eve of a Florida-Carolina or Edmonton-Winnipeg final
I just looked at the new layout and envisioned a few NHL execs contemplating suicide on the eve of a Florida-Carolina or Edmonton-Winnipeg final 
