I think you may be onto something with this one. But perhaps switch Colorado with Vancouver and switch Minnesota with Dallas. That way you got the Western Canadian division (with Minnesota). Dallas would be close to their division and Colorado would be close to their division.
I think you may be onto something with this one. But perhaps switch Colorado with Vancouver and switch Minnesota with Dallas. That way you got the Western Canadian division (with Minnesota). Dallas would be close to their division and Colorado would be close to their division.
And Colorado/Minnesota now get their games at later times regularly than their own time zones.
I think you may be onto something with this one. But perhaps switch Colorado with Vancouver and switch Minnesota with Dallas. That way you got the Western Canadian division (with Minnesota). Dallas would be close to their division and Colorado would be close to their division.
And Detroit is the only ETZ team in the West. Minnesota might not be crazy about it either.
Maybe it's been karma winning for Detroit all these years, being the only team, other than Columbus(even karma has its limits), having to shoulder such a burden. In 1998, Toronto got out of what was the Western Conference by another name, and they've hit a pretty bad part of their history since then. Not right away, but eventually it happened.
There are just too many issues to make 3 divisions work in the West, no matter how the round peg gets forced into the square hole.
I think you may be onto something with this one. But perhaps switch Colorado with Vancouver and switch Minnesota with Dallas. That way you got the Western Canadian division (with Minnesota). Dallas would be close to their division and Colorado would be close to their division.
In the West. In the East, it's all about rivalries. Two different conferences, two different sets of issues, one size box for all of them.
Proximity helps a lot with rivalries; and that's why I think the east should allow more flexibility with alignment, because in most cases there is a lot of proximity almost no matter which way to group the teams in the east.
Prince of Whale (Conference) - British Monarchy (cant say who was there when that was created though)
C.F. Adams (Division) - Former Boston Bruins Owner
Lester Patrick (Division) - Former NY Rangers goalie
Clarence Campbell (Conference) - Former NHL President who suspended M. Richard during the NHL Playoffs
James Norris (Division) - Former Owner of the Detroit Red Wings
Conn Smythe (Division) - Former Maple Leafs owner
Heh... Prince of Whale.
Like the idea of 6 conferences, but would prefer the 'Nucks stayed in a division with the Oilers and the Flames.. Going with the 4 conference idea.
Number of teams: 20
Levels on pyramid: 1
Relegation to: Discover Championship Hockey (bottom 3 teams)
Continental Cup: Verizon Cup (commonly known as Stanley Cup)
Vancouver Canucks
New York Rangers
St. Louis Blues
Pittsburgh Penguins
Nashville Predators
Philadelphia Flyers
Boston Bruins
Detroit Red Wings
New Jersey Devils
Chicago Blackhawks
Phoenix Coyotes
San Jose Sharks
Los Angeles Kings
Florida Panthers
Washington Capitals
Ottawa Senators
Calgary Flames
Dallas Stars
Discover Championship Hockey
Number of teams: 20
Levels on pyramid: 2
Promotion to: Scotiabank Premier League (Top 2 + playoff game between 3rd and 4th)
Relegation to: Hockey Association 1 (bottom 3)
Continental Cup: Verizon Cup
Buffalo Sabres
Colorado Avalanche
Tampa Bay Lightning
Winnipeg Jets
Carolina Hurricanes
Minnesota Wild
Anaheim Ducks
Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Islanders
Montreal Canadiens
Edmonton Oilers
Columbus Blue Jackets
Norfolk Admirals
St. John's Ice Caps
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Oklahoma City Baron
Toronto Marlies
Chicago Wolves
Manchester Monarchs
Hockey Association 1
Number of teams: 20
Levels on pyramid: 3
Promotion to: Discover Championship Hockey (Top 2, playoff game between 3rd and 4th)
Relegation to: Hockey Association 2 (bottom 3)
Continental Cup: Verizon Cup
Portland Pirates
Adirondack Phantoms
Springfield Falcons
Providence Bruins
Worcester Sharks
Albany Devils
Binghamton Senators
Abbotsford Heat
Milwaukee Admirals
San Antonio Rampage
Rochester Americans
Houston Aeros
Charlotte Checkers
Lake Erie Monsters
Peoria Rivermen
Rockford IceHogs
Grand Rapids Griffins
Hamilton Bulldogs
Texas Stars
Gwinnett Gladiators
Hockey Association 2
Number of teams: 18
Levels on pyramid: 4
Promotion to: Hockey Association 1 (Top 2, playoff game between 3rd and 4th)
Relegation to: Pro Division 5 (bottom 3)
Continental Cup: Verizon Cup
Reading Royals
Cincinnati Cyclones
Greenville Road Warriors
Toledo Walleye
Elmira Jackals
Fort Wayne Komets
Orlando Solar Bears
Kalamazoo Wings
Florida Everblades
South Carolina Stingrays
Alaska Aces
Ontario Reign
Idaho Steelheads
Stockton Thunder
Colorado Eagles
San Francisco Bulls
Utah Grizzlies
Bakersfield Condors
Pro Division 5
Number of teams: 18
Levels on pyramid: 5
Promotion to: Hockey Association 2 (Top 2, playoff game between 3rd and 4th)
Continental Cup: Verizon Cup
Trenton Titans
Wheeling Nailers
Evansville IceMen
Las Vegas Wranglers
Allen Americans
Arizona Sundogs
Bloomington Blaze
Denver Cutthroats
Fort Worth Brahmas
Missouri Mavericks
Quad City Mallards
Rapid City Rush
Tulsa Oilers
Wichita Thunder
St. Charles Chill
Expansion team
Expansion team
Expansion team
Verizon Cup
(random seedings)
1st Round - Top 14 teams in Pro Division 5 and Top 14 teams in Hockey Association 2
2nd Round - Top 14 teams in Hockey Association 1 and 14 winners in 1st Round
3rd Round - Top 14 teams in Discover Championship Hockey and 14 winners in 2nd Round
Round of 32 - Top 18 teams in Scotiabank Premier League and 14 winners in 3rd Round
Proximity helps a lot with rivalries; and that's why I think the east should allow more flexibility with alignment, because in most cases there is a lot of proximity almost no matter which way to group the teams in the east.
No question. Which could go into what a Nashville fan was talking about a page back or so. Going with 16 teams in the East, and 14 in the West. The eastern conference teams certainly have a travel advantage, and probably a rivalry advantage(as long as they're not hidden away in the SE), simply because of geographic reality. Can't do much about that. What could be done to even things out a bit is to give the teams in the western conference some sort of advantage simply because of the geographic reality they face, which could be fewer teams competing for 8 playoff spots.
Whatever happens, something needs to change for the now 6 teams in the central time zone, along with Detroit and Columbus.
Whatever happens, something needs to change for the now 6 teams in the central time zone
Split 'em. Put Chicago, Minnesota, and Winnipeg together in one division, and Dallas, St. Louis, and Nashville together in another. Distribute ETZ clubs as appropriate to fill the divisions. This makes more clubs share in some time-zone burdens (though it's only one zone) but still keeps divisions relatively compact.
Keeping all 6 CTZ clubs together makes for too many headaches in trying to equitably distribute the ETZ clubs.
lol @ any alignment that gives consideration to the Original Farce... as if that means anything.
Ultimately, I agree with you,... the O-6 shouldn't get any more priority than should "traditional" rivals. Re-alignment the League should start with having all the teams on equal ground, and create the best possible alignment that works essentially equally well for every team in the League. No special priorities or privileges given to this or that group of teams.
I don't even want the Rangers to be in an O6 division. The Rangers current rivalries are more important to me than rivalries of over 45 years ago.
__________________
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Northwest: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Minnesota
Southwest: San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Colorado, Phoenix
Central: Chicago, Dallas, St. Louis, Detroit, Columbus
Southeast: Nashville, Washington, Carolina, Florida, Tampa
Northeast: Boston, Toronto, Montreal, Buffalo, Ottawa
Atlantic: New York, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
Northwest: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Minnesota
Southwest: San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Colorado, Phoenix
Central: Chicago, Dallas, St. Louis, Detroit, Columbus
Southeast: Nashville, Washington, Carolina, Florida, Tampa
Northeast: Boston, Toronto, Montreal, Buffalo, Ottawa
Atlantic: New York, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
The Northwest just won't work with two teams in the Central, two teams in Mountain and one team in Pacific. Take Vancouver out and put Colorado in.
The Northwest just won't work with two teams in the Central, two teams in Mountain and one team in Pacific. Take Vancouver out and put Colorado in.
does 2 hours time difference really affect it all that much
5:30/7:30....meh
I'm sure Vancouver would still rather 6 games less than 1.5 hours away and a couple big flights to minny and wpg than flights that are all 2.5hrs plus to california and phoenix...imo
The Northwest just won't work with two teams in the Central, two teams in Mountain and one team in Pacific. Take Vancouver out and put Colorado in.
Not saying that you're right or wrong; but I will ask this question: "Won't work" for who/which teams?
You think Vancouver wouldn't accept that arrangement in order to stay with the Alberta teams? And which other team would get more hurt by such a Division? Vancouver would primarily be the odd-guy out.
No team should have to regularly play more than 1 time zone away. Travel is not the problem it once was.
East: NYR, NYI, NJ, Phi, Pit, Was, Car
North: Bos, Mtl, Ott, Tor, Buf, Min, Wpg
MidSouth?: Det, Clb, Chi, Nas, StL, TB, Fla, Dal
West: Van, Edm, Cal, SJ, LA, Ana, Col, Phx
It takes the 3 divisions that work well, the NE, Atlantic, and Central, and builds from there. It gets rid of the 2 divisions that span 3 time zones. It gets rid of a division that is sort of hidden away under the carpet. It puts Winnipeg with other Canadian teams, without spanning 3 time zones, or breaking up any other Canadian teams. No US team is in an otherwise all Canadian division. All the main division rivalries stay intact.
As for the uneven 8-8-7-7 split, just beat the teams you're in a playoff race with, and you don't have to worry about it. The playoffs would have to be top 4 in each conference, because nobody wants to be exclusively connected to the west coast teams, because of all the travel and late starts. Unless you did it on a rotating basis, where one year the East is connected to the West, then the next year the North, etc.
^^ Well done. I might toss CLB a bone and put them in the East; they can't seem to get any rivalries going with their Central adversaries (yes it's partly because they suck), so why not give them a shot with the East teams and see if you can ignite a bit of a CLB/NYR rivalry with Nash's presence on the Rangers. Also gives CLB more games in their own time zone.
DET is still left with FLA & TB as ETZ opponents even if they're not ideal ones.
It takes the 3 divisions that work well, the NE, Atlantic, and Central, and builds from there. It gets rid of the 2 divisions that span 3 time zones. It gets rid of a division that is sort of hidden away under the carpet. It puts Winnipeg with other Canadian teams, without spanning 3 time zones, or breaking up any other Canadian teams. No US team is in an otherwise all Canadian division. All the main division rivalries stay intact.
As for the uneven 8-8-7-7 split, just beat the teams you're in a playoff race with, and you don't have to worry about it. The playoffs would have to be top 4 in each conference, because nobody wants to be exclusively connected to the west coast teams, because of all the travel and late starts. Unless you did it on a rotating basis, where one year the East is connected to the West, then the next year the North, etc.
Interesting take. Nice to see someone think outside the box. I love the 4 conference idea and think every team should have a home and home. As far as the uneven split I wouldn't mind seeing a crossover rule similar to the CFL. It would be kind of cool knowing that technically any 2 teams could play in a final.
