So far today I have updated the following players on the Rumor Chart:
Click here for updates on Ehrhoff, Drouin, Tlusty, Franson, and Phaneuf.

There has been a great deal of talk regarding the NHL expansion and how unbalanced the league would become if the East and the West were to add 1 team each. I wrote a piece this past weekend regarding Carolina possibly moving to the Western Conference...here is a concept I really like:

8 Divisions of 4 Teams Each.

It would Look Like this...

The Canada East Division
Montreal
Quebec
Toronto
Ottawa

The US NorthEast Division
NY Islanders
NY Rangers
NJ Devils
Boston Bruins

The US Atlantic Division
Philadelphia
Washington
Pittsburgh
Columbus

The Canada West Division
Edmonton
Calgary
Winnipeg
Vancouver

The US Lakes Division
Buffalo
Detroit
Chicago
Minnesota

The US South Division
Carolina
Nashville
Florida
Tampa

The US Central Division
Dallas
St. Louis
Phoenix
Colorado

The US Western Division
LA
Anaheim
San Jose
Las Vegas

How the schedule works:

Each team would have a "Sister Division" Making essentially 4 Conferences. The Sister Division could possibly change each year however...

They would start like this:

Year 1

Conference A
Canada East and US South

Conference B
US Atlantic and US Northeast

Conference C
Canada West and US West

Conference D
US Central and US Lakes

Year 2

Conference A
Canada East and US Atlantic

Conference B
US Atlantic and US South

Conference C
Canada West and US Lakes

Conference D
US Central and US West

Year 3

Conference A
Canada East and US Lakes

Conference B
US North and US South

Conference C
US Atlantic and US Central

Conference D
Canada West and US West

How the Schedule Would Work for 82 games:

48 Games:
Teams would play all 24 teams NOT in their Conference that year home and away 48 Games.

16 Games:
Teams would play the 4 teams in the sister division 4 times

18 Games:
Teams would play the other 3 teams in their division 6 times.

The NHL loves rivalries and I have tried to keep those teams together...

What do you think of this concept?

On Jonathan Drouin...

I can't understand why he is available, but he very well might be I am told...I have been told this going back to last season's midway point. The two teams that keep coming up are St. Louis and Dallas.

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