Boston Bruins
Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
Toronto Maple Leafs
Buffalo Sabres
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
New Jersey Devils
PATRICK DIVISION (Atlantic)
Detroit Red Wings
Columbus Blue Jackets
Pittsburgh Penguins
Philadelphia Flyers
Washington Capitals
Carolina Hurricanes
Tampa Bay Lightning
Florida Panthers
CLARENCE CAMPBELL CONFERENCE (Western)
NORRIS DIVISION (Central)
Winnipeg Jets
Minnesota Wild
Chicago Blackhawks
St. Louis Blues
Nashville Predators
Dallas Stars
Colorado Avalanche
SMYTHE DIVISION (West)
Edmonton Oilers
Calgary Flames
Vancouver Canucks
San Jose Sharks
Los Angeles Kings
Anaheim Ducks
Phoenix Coyotes
There's bound to be some unhappiness here, especially by splitting the Rangers/Devils away from the Flyers/Penguins. Unfortunately, there's no real way around it. It's mitigated somewhat by putting Detroit into the Patrick Division, along with Washington.
Same frustrations in pulling Detroit out of the current Central. You lose that rivalry with the Blackhawks. But it gets all Eastern Time Zone teams to the Eastern Conference, and the Blackhawks should gain some good games with the Wild/Avalanche/Jets. Over time these will work out nicely.
Each Wales Conference Team plays their own division opponents 4 times, two home, and two away.
7 X 4 = 28 Games
Each Wales Conference Team plays their other Conference division opponents 3 times, alternating home ice each year.
8 x 3 = 24 Games
Each Wales Conference Team plays each Campbell Conference team twice, one home, one away.
14 x 2 = 28 Games
This is an 80 game schedule.
Each Campbell Conference Team plays their own division opponents 4 times, two home, and two away.
6 X 4 = 24 Games
Each Campbell Conference Team plays their other Conference division opponents 3 times alternating home ice each year.
7 x 3 = 21 Games
Each Campbell Conference Team plays each Wales Conference Team twice, one home, one away.
16 x 2 = 32 Games
This is a 77 game schedule.
You'll notice the Western teams only have a 77 game schedule. This is tough. The easiest way I've found to make it work is those last 3 games are played within the division, with a 4 year rotation. For example,
In Year 1, VAN plays an extra divisional game against SJ, @LA, and @ANA.
In Year 2, VAN plays an extra divisional game against EDM, CGY, and @PHX.
In Year 3, VAN plays an extra divisional game against @SJ, LA, and ANA.
In Year 4, VAN plays an extra divisional game against @EDM, @CGY, and PHX.
This way, every 4 years, you get an extra two games against each division opponent, one home, one away.
16 team playoff, same as now. 8 teams from each Conference. Top 2 teams in each Division get guaranteed Playoff Berths. The remaining 4 spots in each Conference are the teams with the highest points.
Yes, this means, in theory, the Western teams have a slightly better chance to get into the playoffs, as the last 4 playoff spots are pulled from 10 teams instead of 12. While East Coast teams may view this as unfair, there is a reasoning behind it. Western teams each have to play 3 extra divisional games, and Western teams also have to travel more. These are slight disadvantages, which, in my opinion, equal out the slight advantage in regards to Playoff Berths.
Seeding, and home ice is based on points, nothing else. If the Bruins are 2nd in the Adams Division with 91 points, they are guaranteed a spot. But if they're 5th in points behind Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, and Detroit, tough luck. They're a 5 seed, and don't have home ice advantage.
As the NHL does now, teams are reseeded after each round.
To determine Home Ice for the Stanley Cup Final, we look at which team has a better winning percentage against the other conference.
Thoughts? Opinions? I haven't exactly gone in and worked out a specific schedule. I would imagine it could get a little complicated, especially out West, making sure teams get 40 home and 40 road games a year. But still, I think it's pretty good.
There's a lot here that makes sense, but I'd like to wait for either expansion or contraction to pull the trigger. Uneven conferences are the obvious weak element.
Contraction and movement. Let the league get strong on these 28 teams and then worry about bringing in Seatle, KC or Hartford. I'm hoping for something like this sooner rather than later...
PRINCE OF WALES CONFERENCE (Eastern)
ADAMS DIVISION (Northeast)
Boston Bruins
Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
Toronto Maple Leafs
Buffalo Sabres
Quebec...
Hamilton...
PATRICK DIVISION (Atlantic)
New Jersey Devils
New York Rangers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Philadelphia Flyers
Washington Capitals
New York Islanders
Tampa Bay Lightning
CLARENCE CAMPBELL CONFERENCE (Western)
NORRIS DIVISION (Central)
Nashville Predators
Minnesota Wild
Chicago Blackhawks
St. Louis Blues
Detroit Red Wings
Dallas Stars
Winnipeg Jets
SMYTHE DIVISION (West)
Edmonton Oilers
Calgary Flames
Vancouver Canucks
San Jose Sharks
Los Angeles Kings
Anaheim Ducks
Colorado Avalanche
There's a lot here that makes sense, but I'd like to wait for either expansion or contraction to pull the trigger. Uneven conferences are the obvious weak element.
Agreed, although we won't contract.
The biggest flaw imo is that you just pulled Pittsburgh/Philadelphia away from rivals NY and NJ. It might make more sense to swap Detroit and Columbus into the Northeast and keep Pitt/Philly in the Atlantic.
I like seeing someone putting the Avs in the Central as opposed to Pacific though. Having all the games on Pacific time would be murder as an east coast Avs fan.
E: To the poster above, why does Florida and Carolina lose their franchise? For your own satisfaction?
If you are going to put the division names back, then the Rangers should be in the Patrick Division..
Also, I know it's fun to make realignment proposals, but I'd be willing to bet that once the lockout ends, they will use their originally proposed realignment for the following season (with some changes if there is an expansion).
__________________
"Trust me I'm an expert, I watched 13 rangers games on NHL center Ice this year through streaming." -Starburst
"I don't even understand what the point of all this arguing is. Are you guys hoping that the other side is going to have an epiphany and go 'Oh, OH! You're right, we ARE going to lose this series!'" -Crease
Last edited by Parker McDonald: 11-27-2012 at 08:07 AM.
Winnipeg Jets
Minnesota Wild
Chicago Blackhawks
St. Louis Blues
Nashville Predators
Dallas Stars
Colorado Avalanche
SMYTHE DIVISION (West)
Edmonton Oilers
Calgary Flames
Vancouver Canucks
San Jose Sharks
Los Angeles Kings
Anaheim Ducks
Phoenix Coyotes
As a Kings fan I would love to be in the same division as Calgary and Edmonton. For old times sake - the rivalries with Edmonton and Calgary were great.
a friend of mine who's an economist seggested that...
mentionned that it would be the most viable solutions for travelling in the NHL while keeping the rivalries together. I dont mind both of them, but if 4 divisions were to be set in the NHL, it would be nice to see 2 teams leave for Divisions to be of equal numbers.
Boston Bruins
Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
Toronto Maple Leafs
Buffalo Sabres
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
New Jersey Devils
PATRICK DIVISION (Atlantic)
Detroit Red Wings
Columbus Blue Jackets
Pittsburgh Penguins
Philadelphia Flyers
Washington Capitals
Carolina Hurricanes
Tampa Bay Lightning
Florida Panthers
CLARENCE CAMPBELL CONFERENCE (Western)
NORRIS DIVISION (Central)
Winnipeg Jets
Minnesota Wild
Chicago Blackhawks
St. Louis Blues
Nashville Predators
Dallas Stars
Colorado Avalanche
SMYTHE DIVISION (West)
Edmonton Oilers
Calgary Flames
Vancouver Canucks
San Jose Sharks
Los Angeles Kings
Anaheim Ducks
Phoenix Coyotes
There's bound to be some unhappiness here, especially by splitting the Rangers/Devils away from the Flyers/Penguins. Unfortunately, there's no real way around it. It's mitigated somewhat by putting Detroit into the Patrick Division, along with Washington.
Same frustrations in pulling Detroit out of the current Central. You lose that rivalry with the Blackhawks. But it gets all Eastern Time Zone teams to the Eastern Conference, and the Blackhawks should gain some good games with the Wild/Avalanche/Jets. Over time these will work out nicely.
Each Wales Conference Team plays their own division opponents 4 times, two home, and two away.
7 X 4 = 28 Games
Each Wales Conference Team plays their other Conference division opponents 3 times, alternating home ice each year.
8 x 3 = 24 Games
Each Wales Conference Team plays each Campbell Conference team twice, one home, one away.
14 x 2 = 28 Games
This is an 80 game schedule.
Each Campbell Conference Team plays their own division opponents 4 times, two home, and two away.
6 X 4 = 24 Games
Each Campbell Conference Team plays their other Conference division opponents 3 times alternating home ice each year.
7 x 3 = 21 Games
Each Campbell Conference Team plays each Wales Conference Team twice, one home, one away.
16 x 2 = 32 Games
This is a 77 game schedule.
You'll notice the Western teams only have a 77 game schedule. This is tough. The easiest way I've found to make it work is those last 3 games are played within the division, with a 4 year rotation. For example,
In Year 1, VAN plays an extra divisional game against SJ, @LA, and @ANA.
In Year 2, VAN plays an extra divisional game against EDM, CGY, and @PHX.
In Year 3, VAN plays an extra divisional game against @SJ, LA, and ANA.
In Year 4, VAN plays an extra divisional game against @EDM, @CGY, and PHX.
This way, every 4 years, you get an extra two games against each division opponent, one home, one away.
16 team playoff, same as now. 8 teams from each Conference. Top 2 teams in each Division get guaranteed Playoff Berths. The remaining 4 spots in each Conference are the teams with the highest points.
Yes, this means, in theory, the Western teams have a slightly better chance to get into the playoffs, as the last 4 playoff spots are pulled from 10 teams instead of 12. While East Coast teams may view this as unfair, there is a reasoning behind it. Western teams each have to play 3 extra divisional games, and Western teams also have to travel more. These are slight disadvantages, which, in my opinion, equal out the slight advantage in regards to Playoff Berths.
Seeding, and home ice is based on points, nothing else. If the Bruins are 2nd in the Adams Division with 91 points, they are guaranteed a spot. But if they're 5th in points behind Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, and Detroit, tough luck. They're a 5 seed, and don't have home ice advantage.
As the NHL does now, teams are reseeded after each round.
To determine Home Ice for the Stanley Cup Final, we look at which team has a better winning percentage against the other conference.
Thoughts? Opinions? I haven't exactly gone in and worked out a specific schedule. I would imagine it could get a little complicated, especially out West, making sure teams get 40 home and 40 road games a year. But still, I think it's pretty good.
I'm for more of 6 divisions and also.. there being a chance to have two eastern conference teams in the finals.. I'm old fashioned like that i guess.
From my experience, about 95% of the people who propose to bring back the old division names don't know the first names of all four people the divisions were named after
From my experience, about 95% of the people who propose to bring back the old division names don't know the first names of all four people the divisions were named after
C'mon that's easy.
Chuck Norris, Patch Adams, Spencer Smythe, and Saint Patrick
Central:
Blackhawks
Blues
Blue Jackets
Red Wings
WILD
Pacific:
Coyotes
Ducks
Kings
Sharks
Stars
It's the simplest realignment possible, keeps rivalries intact, and doesn't change scheduling too much.
The thing is the current schedule sucks. I hate seeing like teams like Philly and Boston, Pittsburgh once every two years. The Pens played in Edmonton last year for the first time in two years and Crosby was out so we won't see Crosby in Edmonton till maybe next year. We need more inter conference play I don't think it's fair I get to see Crosby play once every 4-5 years while everyone in the east gets to see him 2-3 times per year.
From my experience, about 95% of the people who propose to bring back the old division names don't know the first names of all four people the divisions were named after
Lets give this a try, if I can rermber right...
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
a friend of mine who's an economist seggested that...
mentionned that it would be the most viable solutions for travelling in the NHL while keeping the rivalries together. I dont mind both of them, but if 4 divisions were to be set in the NHL, it would be nice to see 2 teams leave for Divisions to be of equal numbers.
4 Division:
6 Divisions:
I prefer the 6 division alignment, but I'm not too sure how Van city would like being excluded from the other Canadian teams
The thing is the current schedule sucks. I hate seeing like teams like Philly and Boston, Pittsburgh once every two years. The Pens played in Edmonton last year for the first time in two years and Crosby was out so we won't see Crosby in Edmonton till maybe next year. We need more inter conference play I don't think it's fair I get to see Crosby play once every 4-5 years while everyone in the east gets to see him 2-3 times per year.
Ok how about this:
84 game schedule
24 games vs divison teams (6 per team)
40 games vs other conference teams (4 per team)
30 games vs teams in the other conference (2 per team, 1 home 1 away)
This is something I'd like to see. What are 2 more games gonna do?
84 game schedule
24 games vs divison teams (6 per team)
40 games vs other conference teams (4 per team)
30 games vs teams in the other conference (2 per team, 1 home 1 away)
This is something I'd like to see. What are 2 more games gonna do?
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
You either know your history, or you've seen my posts griping about this in the past
Charles Adams is the one a lot of people don't know - they think it was named after Jack Adams.
