It is an interesting setup, but I think it is to convoluted.

I am a bit of a traditionalist, and do not like the geographic names.
It removed the tradition and history from the game we love.



Each division has a nice mix of strong, middle and weaker squads which would offer some chance at balance.

Id like to see the playoff structure change to top 4 in each division make it. Drop the wildcard.
- FilamentDesigns

The wild-card spots guarantee that a weak division does not send a team to the playoffs over a more deserving team from a stronger division. That is why it was instituted and that is why it needs to stay. Not hard to understand.

"This is a format you should love then...8 games each year against each of your chief rivals...

- Eklund, Commissioner"


Really? Because the Blackhawks chief rival is the St. Louis Blues... or did you forget that?
- Katana777

I think Chicago/Red Wings is a pretty big rivalry

You want to separate Toronto from Montreal and Ottawa, to keep a rivalry with Buffalo, of all teams? That seems silly.

I love the idea of the two Canadian divisions.

The only team that gets a bit screwed in that format is Boston (being away from Montreal), but I'm sure it will not take long for them to form good rivalries with the NYR based teams (they already have it in baseball, so it's just waiting to me exploited).
- Charliebox

Buffalo and Toronto and Buffalo in Boston's rivalry are pretty big not to mention the big mid 2000's rivalry of Buffalo and Ottawa... With this proposal your getting rid of one of the best rivalries in the game.... I say just move Columbus back to the west and be done with it.

A) Way too complicated.

2) Taking Boston/Montreal and Buffalo/Toronto away from each other is sacrilege.

C) The 4 team division system ruined the structure of the NFL.

You want to separate Toronto from Montreal and Ottawa, to keep a rivalry with Buffalo, of all teams? That seems silly.

I love the idea of the two Canadian divisions.

The only team that gets a bit screwed in that format is Boston (being away from Montreal), but I'm sure it will not take long for them to form good rivalries with the NYR based teams (they already have it in baseball, so it's just waiting to me exploited).
- Charliebox

I think Buffalo would be screwed as far as rivalries go. I mean, when you think of rivalries with the Sabres, the Wings, Hawks, and Wild don't really jump out at you... Not saying a rivalry couldn't develop, and with the understanding that no system will be perfect, with the "sister" divisions you'd have to keep some semblance from year to year. The NFL does this, and it works. So the system isn't really that farfetched. Also, for personal reasons, I would love Buffalo coming to Minny four times a year due to proximity.

Thankfully NONE of you work for the league.

Everyone is making this much more difficult then it needs to be...

Both Quebec and Vegas start in the West.

Done.

You want in the league? You pay your dues like Columbus and Detroit did.

Then one day when Florida goes belly up we move Quebec to the East and hopefully Seattle has their crap together this time and they can take the team on a relocation
- Canadian kid

You do realize where Quebec is located on a map right?

A) Way too complicated.

2) Taking Boston/Montreal and Buffalo/Toronto away from each other is sacrilege.

C) The 4 team division system ruined the structure of the NFL.
- Buffalo--Sabres

I disagree. Playing your division for 6 games (two each) then playing a division in conference and one out, 8 games, then playing the other two teams that finished in the same "spot" as you in their respected division within the conference has created pretty good parity in the NFL. Keeps teams like the Colts and Pats during the Manning-Brady years playing, which is always good.

You do realize where Quebec is located on a map right?
- TheShaman

Right above California, right?

This is a format you should love then...8 games each year against each of your chief rivals...
- Eklund

If by chief rivals you mean a couple teams who both have arguments for being your 5th biggest rival...

i think it would be OK if you didn't draw a distinction between US and Canada, not sure why you did that.

Makes absolutely no sense for the Leafs/Sabres to be in separate divisions, that's like putting the Islanders and Rangers in separate divisions.

And separating Boston/Montreal.....huh?

The NHL changes too many things too often. May as well look to the other more consistent pro sports leagues for ideas:

What about the option of having two leagues playing by different rules?
Or maybe switch to inflatable pucks.

Eklund, I think this is a fantastic idea. I specifically like the rotation of the "sister divisions", as that will give us all an opportunity to see different teams more often & will give the rest of the NHL the chance at feeling the wrath of Connor McDavid....oh yeah, I went there.

And seriously, I love the suggestions from others suggesting that we need to have Buffalo & Toronto in the same division for the sake of rivalries. Seriously, in the last decade who would have wanted to see these two teams play??? Not even citizens of those two cities want to see this match-up.

32 conferences of 1 is clearly the way to go. There obviously should be heavy emphasis on playing teams in your own division.

Makes as much sense as most of the decisions the league has made the past few years at least

Eklund, I think this is a fantastic idea. I specifically like the rotation of the "sister divisions", as that will give us all an opportunity to see different teams more often & will give the rest of the NHL the chance at feeling the wrath of Connor McDavid....oh yeah, I went there.

And seriously, I love the suggestions from others suggesting that we need to have Buffalo & Toronto in the same division for the sake of rivalries. Seriously, in the last decade who would have wanted to see these two teams play??? Not even citizens of those two cities want to see this match-up.
- Sammy Van Hagar[/quote]

That's bold considering the mighty Oilers/Flames rivalry

Switch Buffalo and Montreal. I also think Colorado should be in the detroit/blackhawks division.

People, Las Vegas is 40 miles from California! Any team in Vegas HAS to be in the same division as the 3 California teams. If home games against the Ducks, Kings and Sharks are scheduled on Saturdays, that would be 9 or 12 home sellouts right off the bat!
- Snowblind

....and then 300 miles thru the desert from the closest (LA) of those cities mentioned.

but you do have a point, a Vegas team would draw some California crowds. Could argue it's close to Phoenix as well.

32 conferences of 1 is clearly the way to go. There obviously should be heavy emphasis on playing teams in your own division.

Makes as much sense as most of the decisions the league has made the past few years at least
- n25philly

Playoff seeding will be done by lottery with the top team having only an 18% chance of getting in the playoffs.

I like this idea. It can really balance everything well. You can even balance out the playoffs well too. Guarantee the top team of each division seeds 1-8. Then give the rest of 9-16 to the eight next best teams. Divisions and Conferences be damned. Any 2 teams can then play for the cup and each Division is represented with the top team being rewarded with home ice advantage.

If you really want to have fun with it maybe even give the top team the option to play either the worst team or the worst team from their division. Better rivalries.

You do realize where Quebec is located on a map right?
- TheShaman

It's as close to the central as Winnipeg was to the Southeast. Quebec in Central and Vegas in Pacific is kind of inevitable for the first couple years they exist.

Eklund, I think this is a fantastic idea. I specifically like the rotation of the "sister divisions", as that will give us all an opportunity to see different teams more often & will give the rest of the NHL the chance at feeling the wrath of Connor McDavid....oh yeah, I went there.

And seriously, I love the suggestions from others suggesting that we need to have Buffalo & Toronto in the same division for the sake of rivalries. Seriously, in the last decade who would have wanted to see these two teams play??? Not even citizens of those two cities want to see this match-up.
- Sammy Van Hagar

Oh like Edmonton really has had thrilling rivalries with Calgary and Vancouver... Give me a break. If anything you've been worse than us the last decade overall. Buffalo, Toronto, Boston, Ottawa and Montreal all deserve to be together just the same as Edmonton and Calgary and Vancouver.

[quote=Sammy Van Hagar]Eklund, I think this is a fantastic idea. I specifically like the rotation of the "sister divisions", as that will give us all an opportunity to see different teams more often & will give the rest of the NHL the chance at feeling the wrath of Connor McDavid....oh yeah, I went there.

And seriously, I love the suggestions from others suggesting that we need to have Buffalo & Toronto in the same division for the sake of rivalries. Seriously, in the last decade who would have wanted to see these two teams play??? Not even citizens of those two cities want to see this match-up.
- SDSabre[/quote]

That's bold considering the mighty Oilers/Flames rivalry

No where in this thread was there any discussion of the Flames/Oilers matchup. Although, I 100% agree. Comparing the Battle of Alberta & the Leafs/Sabres rivalries over the past decade are equally as bad, you'll get no argument from me there.

Why did you kill the dinosaurs?
- glove_was_stuck

Have you seen the size of the turds they leave???

If so, that should answer your question.

Because you touch yourself at night!
- mlindsay

You do realize where Quebec is located on a map right?
- TheShaman

I kinda like the idea ...you tell the Quebec franchise that this is a short term thing and make it very clear to the struggling franchises in the east that one of them is relocating and they better get their act together or it will be them