Here we go:


http://prosportsdaily.com...lArticle?articleId=366118

Here we go:


http://prosportsdaily.com...lArticle?articleId=366118
- dothedougie

Your point? Cuz if you're saying Ek copied that, you may need to look at time stamps and consider it the other way around

Your point?
- stashu

to provide a link from another source discussing what we're discussing?

Interesting, but way to complex. Need to keep it fairly simple. Plus, in this scenario, don't like Philly and NY being separate.

Your point? Cuz if you're saying Ek copied that, you may need to look at time stamps and consider it the other way around
- stashu

Not saying he copied it. Just saying there are multiple reports of it. Which gives it a tad more weight in terms of serious consideration.


EDIT: Plus if you look, the article is suggesting slightly different divisional alignment

to provide a link from another source discussing what we're discussing?
- Fountain-San

This

Not saying he copied it. Just saying there are multiple reports of it. Which gives it a tad more weight in terms of serious consideration.


EDIT: Plus if you look, the article is suggesting slightly different divisional alignment
- dothedougie

Gotcha, sorry bout that, I had just back-read and knew someone had called Ek out for copying and thought you were part, but went back again and see you were looking for that person to prove it, so seeing you post a link had me on that track.

Pass on anything that starts with "Year 1".... I would rather see 30 divisions of 1 team.... well 29.... I do not recognize Phoenix as an NHL team.

I think keeping the same 8 team division format simplifies things. Come up with four 8 team divisions that make the most sense. Then, if you play each team outside your division twice, the conference alignment won't matter until the 3rd playoff round. You would play 48 games outside your division and 34 games in your division. You would play one divsion team 4 times and the other 6 teams 5 times, rotating 4 game years and home-away imbalance like you do now.

Gotcha, sorry bout that, I had just back-read and knew someone had called Ek out for copying and thought you were part, but went back again and see you were looking for that person to prove it, so seeing you post a link had me on that track.
- stashu

No problem. I find this topic more interesting now that it has multiple sources reporting it. I just wanted to add a little more juice to the discussion.

Still seems rather complicated to me, but there are worse ideas out there.

Ek I love the idea. I've thought about something similar.

No problem. I find this topic more interesting now that it has multiple sources reporting it. I just wanted to add a little more juice to the discussion.

Still seems rather complicated to me, but there are worse ideas out there.
- dothedougie

With expansion likely "soon", it makes it moot, but I wonder what 6 divisions of 5 each might look like....

WEST 1
CHI
STL
NSH
CBJ
DAL
MINN
WPG
COL

WEST 2
SJS
LAK
ANA
ARI
LSV
EDM
CGY
VAN

EAST 1
MTR
BOS
OTT
QBC
TOR
BUF
NYR
NYI

EAST 2
PIT
PHI
NJD
WSH
DET
TBL
FLA
CAR

Best 4 from each division, no wildcards. Divisional playoffs.

Would rather have Detroit and Columbus switched, but I doubt Detroit will allow them to be moved back to the West so Columbus would have to move.

Edit:
Play each team in your division 6 times (42 games)
Play each team from other conference 1 time (16 games, alternate the home game each year)
Play each team from other division in conference 3 times (24 games, alternate each year who has 2 home games)
- carcus

You can't separate the NY area teams. Just won't happen

am i the only one who finds it really hokey and convoluted?
- Fountain-San

Nope. It's an ice cream headache.

You can't separate the NY area teams. Just won't happen
- K-dizzle

Problem with smaller divisions though (I know you were quoting a bigger division format) is it's inevitable for all rivalries to remain.

I keep hearing about NYR/NYI/NJ need to be together, but then there are also rivalries with Philly or Washington. But then Philly can't be away from Pittsburgh..etc

Boston being stripped away from Montreal upsets people, but what other 2 teams fit in with them and don't separate other rivalries?

No matter what the NHL does, there will be complaints so just expect it.

Problem with smaller divisions though (I know you were quoting a bigger division format) is it's inevitable for all rivalries to remain.

I keep hearing about NYR/NYI/NJ need to be together, but then there are also rivalries with Philly or Washington. But then Philly can't be away from Pittsburgh..etc

Boston being stripped away from Montreal upsets people, but what other 2 teams fit in with them and don't separate other rivalries?

No matter what the NHL does, there will be complaints so just expect it.
- stashu

I agree 100% teams are going to be split like chi/det a few seasons ago. it just doesn't make sense when these teams are so close in location to really move them (hockey standpoint aside) but I'm just a biased fan

With expansion likely "soon", it makes it moot, but I wonder what 6 divisions of 5 each might look like....
- stashu

It seems as though there isnt a single alignment that doesnt screw at least a few teams over in terms of travel. (if that is the only consideration)

I would just as soon go for a simple two conference system: Assuming expansion to 32 teams

Each teams plays 4 teams (rivals) 5 times per year. 5th game can be traded off biyearly for who gets the home game. Thats 20 games

Each team then plays the other 12 teams 3 times, also alternating every other year with home and away. Thats another 36 games.

Each teams plays a home and away (2 games) against every team in the other conference. 32 games

20+36+32= 88 games per year. 6 more games per year for each team (more hockey...yay ) This would leave it on the scheduling teams to ensure that the number of home and away games are evenly distributed.


Take the top 8 teams in each conference 1-8, 2-7, 3-6, 4-5

This configuration makes the most sense to me (ignore the conference/division names if you like):

Howe Conference

Lemieux Division
Montreal
Quebec
Toronto
Ottawa
Buffalo
Detroit
Pittsburgh
Columbus

Orr Division
NY Islanders
NY Rangers
NJ Devils
Boston Bruins
Philadelphia
Washington
Florida
Tampa

Gretzky Conference

Hull Division
Carolina
Nashville
Chicago
Minnesota
Dallas
St. Louis
Phoenix
Colorado

Messier Division
LA
Anaheim
San Jose
Las Vegas
Edmonton
Calgary
Winnipeg
Vancouver

That's horrible for Nashville, Buffalo, and Detroit! I mean Detroit just got out of the west!!

This configuration makes the most sense to me (ignore the conference/division names if you like):

Hull Division
Carolina
Nashville
Chicago
Minnesota
Dallas
St. Louis
Phoenix
Colorado

- mjones242

Bit of an issue right there

I'm not really a fan of the idea of a sister division. I would like to see the idea of Eastern Conference and Western Conference thrown out. Go to a format similar to NFL/MLB where each conference has divisions from regions from east to west. That stops the female doging about being stuck in one time zone because everyone is then forced to move around.

Wherever the teams are placed will result in new rivalries and that's great, IMO.

This configuration makes the most sense to me (ignore the conference/division names if you like):

Howe Conference

Lemieux Division
Montreal
Quebec
Toronto
Ottawa
Buffalo
Detroit
Pittsburgh
Carolina

Orr Division
NY Islanders
NY Rangers
NJ Devils
Boston Bruins
Philadelphia
Washington
Florida
Tampa

Gretzky Conference

Hull Division
Columbus
Nashville
Chicago
Minnesota
Dallas
St. Louis
Phoenix
Colorado

Messier Division
LA
Anaheim
San Jose
Las Vegas
Edmonton
Calgary
Winnipeg
Vancouver
- mjones242

This could work possibly switching CAR to the east

I like it but also would like to see how it was a couple of years ago. 2 conferences, top 8 teams from each.

So, just like the NFL. 8 divisions of 4 teams. It works great for the NFL. Maybe a very little bit of tweaking here and there. But, hypothetically, it would work very well. Maybe just stick 4 divisions in each conference like the NFL too, and let the winner of each conference play in Stanley Cup.

Splitting up St. Louis and Chicago is asinine. Also, why do people keep bringing up the idea of moving Carolina to the West? Moving an east coast team to the Western Conference is ridiculous. If anything, just move Columbus back over.

Drouin in St. Louis though? He hasn't exactly proved anything yet, but he has a high ceiling. I'm down if the price is right.