We now have a better idea of what a division realignment for the 2020-21 season could look like, with TSN’s Pierre LeBrun sharing the potential divisions in a tweet today:
Not finalized yet, and still subject to change, but the 2020-21 four-division re-alignment currently looks like this according to sources:
While some divisions stayed together for the most part, that can’t be said about Carolina’s potential division. Carolina’s new division would be made up of three teams from the Atlantic Division, in the Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning, three teams from the Central Division, in the Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators, and two teams from the Metropolitan Division, being the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Hurricanes themselves.
If this is the division the Hurricanes are placed in for the season, it’s a pretty ideal scenario. They would escape the Metropolitan Division, which will be very competitive next season and instead get a very favourable division, in terms of competition level.
The Detroit Red Wings aren’t going to be very competitive this coming season and the Florida Panthers lost Evgenii Dadonov and (likely) Mike Hoffman, as well as Erik Haula, in free agency. The Chicago Blackhawks also recently committed to a rebuild, while the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild could be fringe playoff teams but won’t be true contenders.
Carolina’s toughest competition is certainly the defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning. The Nashville Predators had a disappointing season but they also have a strong enough team to potentially bounce back.
Regardless though, the Hurricanes have a very good shot at being a top-two team in the division and certainly got lucky, if this is the division they’re competing in for the season.
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Here’s today’s poll question (results and discussion will be posted in a future article):
If these are the divisions for next season, do you think the realignment will benefit the Hurricanes?
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