Endless Possibilities. Zero Consensus.
The Benefits: • Media — With one conference boasting all eight members as previous Stanley Cup winners, we might score a bit of a running narrative for TV/print/electronic media to latch on to. Kind of like the SEC has in college football now. The teams in the Orr will obviously hate each other a ton, but …
The Benefits: • Rivalries — I tried my best to keep most of the major rivalries together. The more obvious ones are all here, of course, but even the “secondary” ones like the Sabres and the Leafs have been maintained where possible. Some of the Hull Conference teams could evolve into good rivalries too, like Dallas …
The Benefits: • Rivalries — I tried my best to keep most of the major rivalries together. The more obvious ones are all here, of course, but even the “secondary” ones like the Sabres and the Leafs have been maintained where possible. • Travel — Four conferences cut down on travel for the teams that currently have …
The Benefits: • Focus — With more divisions, the main focus of an NHL team’s season is to win its division to guarantee it’s spot in the playoffs. Beat the other two teams in your division and your in. If you don’t, you still have three wildcard slots to shoot for, so its not an “all …
The Benefits: • Opportunity — Teams in smaller markets with no hope of ever attracting an NHL team (either through relocation or expansion) would, in theory be able to earn their way up the food chain and get a shot at the Stanley Cup. • Opportunity II — Cities that could probably do well with and NHL …
Red Hot & Blue This is probably going to be the shortest write up of all time, because I’d written the longest write up of all time, then thanks to my Magic Mouse and OS X Lion on my Mac, an accidental and tiny single finger swipe acts as a “back button” and I …
I’m Having Contractions Back by popular demand, I’m going to be putting forth a realignment scenario that involves… Gary, hide your eyes… contraction. The more I think about it, the more I realize it just won’t ever happen. The following forces would rise up to fight it: The league — it doesn’t want that kind …
Whale of a Tweak These week’s entry is only five days late. Which is slightly different than last week’s six days late. In that spirit, this week’s NHL Realignment Scenario is only slightly different than last week’s… nooch! I know the economic viability is a question, but everyone loves the idea of the Whalers (and …