Northeast-MTR(est), BOS(est), OTT(est), QBC(est)
North-TOR(est), BUF(est), NYR(est), NYI(est)
Atlantic-NJD(est), PHI(est), PIT(est), CBJ(est)
South-TBL(est), FLA(est), CAR(est), WSH(est)
Central-CHI(cen), STL(cen), DET(est), NSH(cen)
Midwest-, DAL(cen), MIN(cen), WPG(cen), COL(mt)
Pacific-SJS(pac), LAK(pac), ANA(pac), VAN(pac),
Mountain-CGY(mt), EDM(mt), ARI(mt), LSV(pac)

Sabres have no rivals. There are the mosquitoes of the NHL.

Arizona, Florida and soon to be Las Vegas are the Raccoons.

Get rid of them all for brands that will earn money
- CanadianBodmon

does that make Toronto a dung beetle..........decade after decade of fielding crappy teams and the fans keep coming back to feed

....pun intended

They'be only met in the playoffs once, only been in the same division the last 15 years or so. Sabres fans might think of the Leafs as their biggest rivals, but the opposite isn't true. Compared to the rivalries being talked about, it's not really a big deal.
- Antilles

Technically we were in the same division from 1970-1981 then again 99- on

Minor adjustments, but then i like the idea... Keeps Toronto v Buffalo and Boston v Habs.

The East 1
Montreal
Quebec
Boston
Ottawa

The East 2
NY Islanders
NY Rangers
Toronto
Buffalo

The East 3
Philadelphia
Washington
NJ Devils
Pittsburgh

The Canada West Division
Edmonton
Calgary
Winnipeg
Vancouver

The US Lakes Division
Columbus
Detroit
Chicago
Minnesota

The US South Division
Carolina
Nashville
Florida
Tampa

The US Central Division
Dallas
St. Louis
Las Vegas
Phoenix

The US Western Division
LA
Anaheim
San Jose
Colorado
- gnosox1986

I like this setup better!

The division breakdown actually makes sense (sorry St. Louis). Not perfect, but as good as it gets.

I actually would like to see 2 conferences and a permanent rival division (this should fix st louis/Chicago rivalry).

4 wild cards in each conference.

Eklund: How about 8 divisions of 4 teams? Drouin to StL/Dallas? Buzzcast @1
- Eklund

No.

No.
- glove_was_stuck

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

explain....

For starters, Phoenix in the Central, and Buffalo with a bunch of Midwest teams.

If anything, swap Columbus and Buffalo. Phoenix needs to move.

I would mix it up between some American and Canadian teams , that being said this is arrangement is what I personally wanted , nfl style.

I would mix it up between some American and Canadian teams , that being said this is arrangement is what I personally wanted , nfl style.
- Alexzanki

sister divisions?

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)

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.
- carcus

you guys miss us already for the free 2 pts

sister divisions?
- Fountain-San

If owners really want to save on some money(for travelling) , then yeah it could work.

you guys miss us already for the free 2 pts
- Alexzanki

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.
- carcus

I don't think the league wants a team in the EST playing in a western conference as it kills the TV ratings.

I guess I'm a traditionalist in that I like the current format and its rivalries; they just need to find a way to get two more teams in the West.
- LeftCoaster

You are a traditionalist who likes the format that has been in place for two years?

Just do it the old fashioned way. Use sticks to decide. Rolling divisions every year.

I don't think the league wants a team in the EST playing in a western conference as it kills the TV ratings.
- jfkst1

They have TV ratings in Columbus???

They have TV ratings in Columbus???


- carcus

I'm sure they'd like to.

No words for that concept.

I'd argue Buffalo and Toronto is a bigger rivalry overall in the last twenty years than Boston and Toronto... Besides the playoff series between the two of you.
- bluengold12

You are correct, sir.

More mojo in the air at the ACC for a Leafs-Sabres game than a Leafs-Bruins game.

What does that have to do about a Rivalry?

The Leafs broke their legs, arms, face, neck, back and lost all eyesight temporarily.

They're finally getting out of recovery from their injuries.

There's NOTHING to be proud about for you guys.. Beating the disabled Leafs is not an accomplishment.
- CanadianBodmon

You said we didn't have a rivalry but it was more about NOT losing to the sabres... according to that stat you've lost more than you've won... which means you're failing against the Sabres.

Id say 45+ years of not being in a final and your only championships coming when there were only 8 teams speaks more to non-accomplishment.

Hey, you'll get no argument from me, the Oilers have sucked over the past couple of decades (excluding 2006). I just think it's funny that Sabres fans are so adamant that they play in the same division as the Leafs........let me say that again, the LEAFS!!!.....I can only guess it's because the Leafs give the Sabres the chance at an easy win......As a west-coast fan, I honestly had no idea that Sabres fans considered the Leafs a rival......I guess it's no stranger than the Canucks fans out here considering the Leafs their main rival. Everybody wants a piece of the Leafs.........easy wins are hard to come by.
- Sammy Van Hagar

Or it could..I dunno, be the shortest distance between any other teams for each of them?

Just do it the old fashioned way. Use sticks to decide. Rolling divisions every year.
- ImThatGuy

Cover Bettman's eyes and just throw sticks into different divisions. Just like pond hockey. Love it.

I have to say, I like it. Good Post Ek. I also like that both Conf then have the same number of teams so it's 100% fair vs East having more teams now. bravo.