6 divisions to 4?

Adelpiero · Post by **Adelpiero** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 5:37 pm

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=A ... &type=lgns

NHL contemplating idea of cutting divisions from six to four
PIERRE LEBRUN
December 22, 2006

(CP) - Right now it's only a concept and may not even make it to a vote next month at the NHL's board of governors, but the league is floating the idea of cutting its divisions down from six to four, sources confirmed to The Canadian Press on Friday.

The massive overhaul, which features the Atlanta Thrashers and Columbus Blue Jackets switching conferences, was discussed Wednesday in New York when governors representing all six divisions met with commissioner Gary Bettman to try and find a solution to the ongoing schedule conflict.

Over the next few weeks, governors and GMs will be asked to look it over and decide whether it's worth a vote. Public reaction, especially in the media, will also factor in to whether it makes it to a vote at the board of governors meeting in Dallas next month.

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The concept goes as follows:

-Four divisions instead of six. The Eastern and Western Conferences would each have eight-and seven-team divisions;

-Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose, Colorado and Phoenix would make up the eight-team division in the Western Conference. The seven-team division would feature Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, Dallas, Minnesota and Eastern Conference newcomer Atlanta;

-The new divisions in the East: one would feature Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Buffalo, Boston, Pittsburgh and Western Conference alumni Columbus. The other division would include the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington, Tampa Bay, Florida and Carolina. The Caps rejoining their old Patrick Division rivals was a popular sentiment at Wednesday's meeting;

-The divisions would be more sensitive to time zones with a huge consideration to TV start times. More games in the same time zone means less games at odd start times for viewers. This would also cut down on travel;

-The top four playoff seeds would come from the top two teams in each division. Four wild-card playoff berths would then be battled among the teams with the next highest point totals. So it would remain eight playoff teams in each conference.

A source stressed Friday that the idea still needs to marinade among team executives over the next few weeks. One GM contacted Friday by CP didn't even know about it yet.

What remains to be seen is how the Thrashers and Jackets will feel about switching conferences. For Columbus, it appears to make sense to be in the same division as Ohio-based Pittsburgh - although who knows where the Penguins end up next season.

Thrashers general manager Don Waddell said the proposal was news to him.

"We have not yet been approached by anyone associated with the league regarding switching divisions and conferences," Waddell said in a statement. "Therefore, we'll defer to the league and will not comment until the appropriate time.

"I will say that our organization is pleased with the current situation and our alignment in the Eastern Conference."

thoughts?

NjSooner · Post by **NjSooner** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 5:57 pm

How the FUCK is Atlanta a western team? Might as well put the Leafs in that conference, though it would make games against Montreal and Ottowa rare...

Anyone think about making Canada into it's own conference?

Going from 6 to 4 doesn't seem like such a bad idea though.

fix · Post by **fix** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 6:02 pm

Here's a novel idea, how about the geniuses at the NHL head office, all off themselves, and allow those who know what they're doing to go back to the way it was and quit trying to fuck up the game even more with asinine ideas that won't work.

I'm guessing this probably had something to do with the NHL unveiling it's new sweaters for all the teams for next season..
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2680102

Read more about that here..
http://digg.com/hockey/NHL_plans_new_st ... ext_season

Cross Traffic · Post by **Cross Traffic** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 6:30 pm

I love the idea of jettisoning Dallas out of the Pacific and getting back our old Smythe rivals in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.

Cicatrix · Post by **Cicatrix** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 7:21 pm

NjSooner wrote:
Anyone think about making Canada into it's own conference?

Who the hell would watch anything else with ALL the talent in one basket?

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 8:57 pm

Cicatrix wrote:
NjSooner wrote:
Anyone think about making Canada into it's own conference?

Who the hell would watch anything else with ALL the talent in one basket?

You can have all the talent up there...we'll keep that silver trophy thingy down here in the lower 48. :wink:

fix · Post by **fix** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:19 pm

Shoalzie wrote:
Cicatrix wrote:
NjSooner wrote:
Anyone think about making Canada into it's own conference?

Who the hell would watch anything else with ALL the talent in one basket?

You can have all the talent up there...we'll keep that silver trophy thingy down here in the lower 48. :wink:

Not so fast there Shoalzie.. there's already one court precedent set that says, it's ownership is not the NHL's exclusive right..
It's a free agent and the trustees ( Scotty Morrison and Brian O'Neill) both live on this side of the border ;)

Truman · Post by **Truman** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 6:24 am

What remains to be seen is how the Thrashers and Jackets will feel about switching conferences. For Columbus, it appears to make sense to be in the same division as Ohio-based Pittsburgh - although who knows where the Penguins end up next season.

Did Pittsburgh recently secede from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or was Pierre referring to the fricken' river?

And here I thought it was the hockey team threatening to move.

---------------

Clearly the NHL Board of Governors is looking at the same map as the article's frog reporter. Common sense suggests that Atlanta would be better served playing in the East against geographic rivals based in Raleigh, Miami, and Tampa. Western Conference-based Columbus, on the other hand, would play against midwestern rivals Detroit, Chicago, and St. Louis.

Then again, why should anyone be surprised? After all, this same progressive thinking brought Hockey Night in America to OLN....

Bizzarofelice · Post by **Bizzarofelice** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 4:11 pm

Adelpiero wrote:The seven-team division would feature Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, Dallas, Minnesota and Eastern Conference newcomer Atlanta;

80's Norris minus Toronto and plus Nashville and Hotlanta.

Canadian · Post by **Canadian** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:12 am

I just think it should be top 16 teams no matter what division/confrence make it to the playoffs. We do not need no divisions. Play a fair schedule so the eastern teams have to do their fair share of travel.

That is my opinion.

I guess I am just an old fart thinking like that but that is how it was until 81. I used to remember the Canucks if they made it getting smoked by Montreal in the first round.

Even play the first round of playoffs like it is now then for the second round the remaining 8 teams (4 from each confrence) play 8 vs 1, 7 vs 2 no matter what confrence then maybe we can have 2 teams from one division playing each other for Cup.

I just hate the way the playoff format is now.

T1B

6 divisions to 4?

6 divisions to 4?

Re: 6 divisions to 4?

Re: 6 divisions to 4?