NHL Realigning Conferences

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  • rfr3sh
    SBR Posting Legend
    • 11-07-09
    • 10229

    #1
    NHL Realigning Conferences
    Conference A: Anaheim, Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton, LA, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver
    Conference B: Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg
    Conference C: Boston, Buffalo, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Toronto
    Conference D: Carolina, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington

    The NHL's Board of Governors on Monday approved a radical realignment plan, eliminating the current two-conference, six-division setup in favor of a configuration that features four conferences based primarily on geography. Two conferences will have eight teams and the other two conferences will have seven teams.
    The top four teams in each Conference qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The first-place team would play the fourth-place team; the second-place team would play the third-place team. The four respective Conference champions would meet in the third round of the Playoffs, with the survivors playing for the Stanley Cup.

    Here is the link: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=604852
  • dfberger23
    SBR Hall of Famer
    • 11-08-10
    • 5069

    #2


    wtf
    Comment
    • rfr3sh
      SBR Posting Legend
      • 11-07-09
      • 10229

      #3
      Also the Chicago Phoenix game on TV right now is about 1000x more interesting than MNF
      Comment
      • Wrigley
        SBR Hall of Famer
        • 12-28-07
        • 7268

        #4
        The first 2 rounds of the playoffs are in the conferences 1 plays 4 and 2 plays 3 and the winners play each other for the conference title.
        That will make for some great rivals.
        Comment
        • rfr3sh
          SBR Posting Legend
          • 11-07-09
          • 10229

          #5
          You could have Leafs vs Boston, Leafs vs Montreal in the finals hypothetically
          Comment
          • THE_LOCKSMITH
            SBR Hall of Famer
            • 08-25-08
            • 7237

            #6
            wow
            Comment
            • Wrigley
              SBR Hall of Famer
              • 12-28-07
              • 7268

              #7
              also everybody will get to see every team at least one time in their home town building, you play a home and home every year against non conference foes and play teams in your conference 5 or 6 times a year
              Comment
              • MickeyMan
                SBR Hall of Famer
                • 10-20-09
                • 5091

                #8
                The home and home with every team is a great idea, what a radical change to the playoff format tho
                Comment
                • k13
                  SBR Posting Legend
                  • 07-16-10
                  • 18104

                  #9
                  Wow, is this for real? Next year?

                  Carolina and Islanders are never making the playoffs now...
                  Comment
                  • MickeyMan
                    SBR Hall of Famer
                    • 10-20-09
                    • 5091

                    #10
                    Originally posted by rfr3sh
                    You could have Leafs vs Boston, Leafs vs Montreal in the finals hypothetically
                    How could this be possible, won't it be one team from each conference left in the last 4 teams?
                    Comment
                    • Optional
                      Administrator
                      • 06-10-10
                      • 61631

                      #11
                      ...
                      .
                      Comment
                      • rfr3sh
                        SBR Posting Legend
                        • 11-07-09
                        • 10229

                        #12
                        Mickey im not sure entirely I heard it in the leafs post game interviews and optional I think there are two conferences with 7 and two with 8 but I could have made a typo
                        Comment
                        • Rich Boy
                          SBR Hall of Famer
                          • 02-01-09
                          • 9714

                          #13
                          This makes it more likely that good teams will miss the playoffs and poor teams will make the playoffs because they play in certain divisions

                          This will weaken the playoff pool. Not a good idea.
                          Comment
                          • The Madcap
                            SBR MVP
                            • 07-03-10
                            • 2808

                            #14
                            I knew Bettman would find a way to fuk this up. Goddamit. This is fukking retarded.

                            It was so simple. So simple and easy. Here's what they should have done: you put Winnipeg in the Northwest (with their other Western Canadian brothers), you move Colorado to the Pacific where they are closer to their division foes, and move Dallas back to the Central where they belong. Then you can take Nashville and throw them in the Southeast. So it would look like this....



                            EASTERN CONFERENCE

                            Northeast
                            (the same)
                            Boston
                            Toronto
                            Buffalo
                            Ottawa
                            Montreal

                            Atlantic (the same)
                            Pittsburgh
                            Philly
                            NY Rangers
                            NY Islanders
                            New Jersey

                            Southeast
                            Washington
                            Carolina
                            Nashville
                            Tampa
                            Florida

                            (yeah, I know that division doesn't scream HOCKEY!, but you got to admit, it makes sense in every other conceivable way. )

                            WESTERN CONFERENCE


                            Central
                            Chicago
                            Detroit
                            Dallas
                            St. Louis
                            Columbus

                            (now doesn't that division make a whole lot of sense?)

                            Northwest
                            Minnesota
                            Winnipeg
                            Calgary
                            Edmonton
                            Vancouver

                            (my God, that's beautiful)

                            Pacific
                            LA
                            Anaheim
                            San Jose
                            Colorado
                            Phoenix

                            (as good as the west coast is ever going to in the NHL.)


                            There are 30 teams in the NHL.
                            Divide that by 2= 15.
                            15 teams per conference.
                            15 doesn't divide evenly by 2, but it does by 3, so....

                            three divisions, with 5 teams per division.

                            Just like they had. The math speaks for itself. With a 30 team league that's how it has to be.


                            6 divisions, 5 teams per division. Simple. Easy. Math. Now the math isn't as symmetrically beautiful as say, the NFL, but if the NHL wants that kind of symmetry it needs to either cut two teams or add two more. Clearly they can't add anymore, they are struggling in the markets they are in now. But you could easily cut Phoenix or Columbus. And as painful as it would be, the Islanders. They suck and haven't had decent attendance numbers in well over a decade.

                            Now I knew they would screw this up somehow, I just didn't know they'd fuk it up so absurdly. That takes skill.

                            All they had to do was move 4 teams. 4. Winnipeg, Dallas, Colorado, and Nashville. 4 teams who currently stick out like a sore thumb in their divisions. 4 teams whose travel costs are immediately slashed.

                            Now, in order to reduce the rest for the whiners like the Redwings, here's what you do:

                            Give every team a home and home with the opposing conference.
                            That equals 30 games.
                            Leaves 52.

                            Then one home and home with the non-divisional members of your conference. That's another 20 games. Leaves 32.

                            Then you get four home and homes (8 games) against your division foes. It's so goddam simple.

                            Or if you don't like that balance, you could make it six games against division foes, and the other 8 remaining games rotate an extra home and home with 4 non-divisional conference opponents each season. Either way, rivalries stay intact, the geographical borders are restored, travel costs are cut, and you don't fuk up anything. So how did they find a way to fuk up everything?
                            No more of that talk, or I'll put the leeches on you.
                            Comment
                            • rfr3sh
                              SBR Posting Legend
                              • 11-07-09
                              • 10229

                              #15
                              I agree the divisions right now are not bad just need a few minor changes but I guess well see how it pans out
                              Comment
                              • beermankirk
                                SBR MVP
                                • 11-17-09
                                • 1512

                                #16
                                poop
                                Comment
                                • DennisGreen
                                  SBR Posting Legend
                                  • 11-27-08
                                  • 18369

                                  #17
                                  Interesting but seems a bit too radical to me plus the 7 team conferences have it a lot easier.

                                  My Nucks would make the playoffs every year til I die at least if they realign
                                  Comment
                                  • TomJSports
                                    SBR MVP
                                    • 08-31-11
                                    • 1177

                                    #18
                                    The realignment is terrible.

                                    First off, it is uneven and the 7 team conferences have it way easier than the 8 team conferences. Especially with playoff ramifications. If it was the 4 division winners and a free-for-all for the next 12 spots, then fine. Also the 8 team conferences get an added scheduling difficulty for intraconference games that as Bettman said: 'get evened out over a seven-year period'.

                                    Second off, why not move Columbus and Detroit to the 'east' and have all 16 Eastern time zone teams play in two 8 team conferences? Move Columbus to build geographical rivalries with the Pennsylvania teams and Detroit into an Original Six heavy conference with Toronto, Boston, and the Habs?

                                    Third off, they're back to playing too many of the same teams. A few years ago, fans hated the eight games per division opponent. Now they're back to six per divisional (aka conference) opponent, but now the first two rounds are only in the conference. So to play another team in the playoffs, it'll only happen to the division winners.

                                    Fourth off, what if a conference flatout sucks? Do they get a bye to the semis, essentially? Think the Caps' southeast division in recent years.

                                    Fifth off, back in the Smythe/Adams/Norris/Patrick days, this was tried and this failed. Seriously, why go back to an already failed system?


                                    An example of how teams got screwed was in the 84/85 season. Edmonton won the Smythe but was second in the NHL. Winnipeg was second in the Smythe, but fourth in the NHL. Calgary was third in the Smythe, but fifth in the NHL. So only one of those top five overall teams even had a chance to make it to the semifinals. Pretty silly.

                                    Seriously, I don't know why they can't do this like the NCAA tournament or well any tennis tournament. 1 and 2 get a half. 3 and 4 get a quarter. 5-8 get an eighth. Logically, the four division (“conference”) winners get a quarter, and the 5-16 best teams by points make the playoffs. Give the 5-8 best teams get an eighth (i.e. home ice for the first round). Make the positions in the bracket slightly based on geography a la the NCAA, but geography isn't the be-all-end-all. It is not difficult at all.

                                    Even better, make five conferences of six teams to make an even playing field and even scheduling. The two worst conference winners are seeded against each other and go from there. Or keep the six divisions and have 3 v. 6 and 4 v. 5 of the division winners.

                                    I just greatly dislike that the realignment put so much emphasis on intraconference playoffs. Let anyone play anyone and have the best two teams in the Finals. Who would complain about a Leafs-Habs final? Or Flames-Oilers? And we all know the Bettman jizzfest that would ensue with a Penguins-Capitals final. I have no problem if the best two teams are 'West' or 'East', just make the damn thing make sense. This simply does not make sense and has been tried before and failed before.
                                    Comment
                                    • k13
                                      SBR Posting Legend
                                      • 07-16-10
                                      • 18104

                                      #19
                                      The lamest part is the playoff format, same division teams playing against each other. So boring. Just do a 1-16 seed playoff format.

                                      Bettman just wants to ruin hockey completely.
                                      Comment
                                      • PuckOff
                                        SBR MVP
                                        • 02-14-07
                                        • 2395

                                        #20
                                        Originally posted by rfr3sh
                                        You could have Leafs vs Boston, Leafs vs Montreal in the finals hypothetically
                                        ????? how so? only one team comes out of each conference.
                                        Comment
                                        • PuckOff
                                          SBR MVP
                                          • 02-14-07
                                          • 2395

                                          #21
                                          Originally posted by Rich Boy
                                          This makes it more likely that good teams will miss the playoffs and poor teams will make the playoffs because they play in certain divisions

                                          This will weaken the playoff pool. Not a good idea.
                                          I half agree Richie. Team will just have to adjust and become better at scouting, drafting, trading and signing UFA's/
                                          Comment
                                          • MickeyMan
                                            SBR Hall of Famer
                                            • 10-20-09
                                            • 5091

                                            #22
                                            Originally posted by rfr3sh
                                            Mickey im not sure entirely I heard it in the leafs post game interviews and optional I think there are two conferences with 7 and two with 8 but I could have made a typo
                                            Yeah I heard them say this on tsn too and couldnt figure out how it was possible lol
                                            Comment
                                            • PuckOff
                                              SBR MVP
                                              • 02-14-07
                                              • 2395

                                              #23
                                              I'm almost for certain i heard the same thing and also couldn't figure it out.
                                              Comment
                                              • zandyman
                                                SBR MVP
                                                • 01-29-07
                                                • 1579

                                                #24
                                                Shoulda just made an East & West, shipped Winny west & Columbus (or Detroit) east, and taken top 8 from each conference. It usually turns out that way anyhow (best 8 from each conf.).
                                                Comment
                                                • rfr3sh
                                                  SBR Posting Legend
                                                  • 11-07-09
                                                  • 10229

                                                  #25
                                                  Originally posted by PuckOff
                                                  ????? how so? only one team comes out of each conference.
                                                  it is top 4 teams in each conference
                                                  then they get re-seeded after the 2nd round

                                                  With teams being re-seeded after two rounds, the Canucks would play host to the Bruins one round earlier while the Capitals and Red Wings would meet in the other semifinal. The new conference alignment has the potential to breed matchups that would have been impossible otherwise.
                                                  Comment
                                                  • DennisGreen
                                                    SBR Posting Legend
                                                    • 11-27-08
                                                    • 18369

                                                    #26
                                                    The more I read about this and find out the more I'm down for this. Imagine a Canucks/Hawks final. Epic! Would be great creating new rivalries and having playoff matches that haven't happened in 20+ years.
                                                    Comment
                                                    • PuckOff
                                                      SBR MVP
                                                      • 02-14-07
                                                      • 2395

                                                      #27
                                                      Originally posted by rfr3sh
                                                      You could have Leafs vs Boston, Leafs vs Montreal in the finals hypothetically
                                                      Your wording has thrown me off. I thought you meant in the Stanley Cup final. What you mention is for the conference "final," but not for the actual Stanley Cup final.
                                                      Comment
                                                      • rfr3sh
                                                        SBR Posting Legend
                                                        • 11-07-09
                                                        • 10229

                                                        #28
                                                        Originally posted by PuckOff
                                                        Your wording has thrown me off. I thought you meant in the Stanley Cup final. What you mention is for the conference "final," but not for the actual Stanley Cup final.
                                                        no, they can meet in the stanley cup final, meeting in the conference final is possible right now
                                                        Comment
                                                        • bink
                                                          SBR Rookie
                                                          • 10-15-11
                                                          • 36

                                                          #29
                                                          Originally posted by rfr3sh
                                                          no, they can meet in the stanley cup final, meeting in the conference final is possible right now
                                                          No, they can't. They're in the same conference. 1st 2 rounds of playoffs are intra-conference. Conference winners go on to verse each other in the 3rd round. Last 2 conference winners remaining are the ones that meet in the Stanley Cup finals.

                                                          Reseeding doesn't happen until after the intra-conference matchups.
                                                          Comment
                                                          • PuckOff
                                                            SBR MVP
                                                            • 02-14-07
                                                            • 2395

                                                            #30
                                                            Originally posted by rfr3sh
                                                            no, they can meet in the stanley cup final, meeting in the conference final is possible right now
                                                            OK you completely lost me. There is only 1 (ONLY ONE) winner from each new conference. there will be 4 new conferences. Boston, Montreal and Toronto will be in the same conference. How is it possible for 2 of these teams to face off for the Cup? It's IMPOSSIBLE!!!

                                                            Am I missing something?
                                                            Comment
                                                            • rfr3sh
                                                              SBR Posting Legend
                                                              • 11-07-09
                                                              • 10229

                                                              #31
                                                              Originally posted by PuckOff
                                                              OK you completely lost me. There is only 1 (ONLY ONE) winner from each new conference. there will be 4 new conferences. Boston, Montreal and Toronto will be in the same conference. How is it possible for 2 of these teams to face off for the Cup? It's IMPOSSIBLE!!! Am I missing something?


                                                              watch this . fast forward to 5 min and listen
                                                              Comment
                                                              • hydrosmak
                                                                SBR MVP
                                                                • 10-13-11
                                                                • 1908

                                                                #32
                                                                Originally posted by PuckOff
                                                                OK you completely lost me. There is only 1 (ONLY ONE) winner from each new conference. there will be 4 new conferences. Boston, Montreal and Toronto will be in the same conference. How is it possible for 2 of these teams to face off for the Cup? It's IMPOSSIBLE!!!

                                                                Am I missing something?
                                                                Nope, you are right.
                                                                Comment
                                                                • rfr3sh
                                                                  SBR Posting Legend
                                                                  • 11-07-09
                                                                  • 10229

                                                                  #33
                                                                  Originally posted by hydrosmak
                                                                  Nope, you are right.
                                                                  did you watch the video or are you just making stuff up
                                                                  Comment
                                                                  • bink
                                                                    SBR Rookie
                                                                    • 10-15-11
                                                                    • 36

                                                                    #34
                                                                    Originally posted by rfr3sh
                                                                    http://video.mapleleafs.nhl.com/vide...40087&catid=-6

                                                                    watch this . fast forward to 5 min and listen
                                                                    The reporter had to explain to him about the realignment. Ron Wilson didn't have a clue about it when he was doing that interview. His "Montreal-Toronto, Toronto-Boston" line came in as a reference to the old days because the reporter said "It's possible you could play an Eastern team in the final" (a conference C vs D final).
                                                                    Comment
                                                                    • rfr3sh
                                                                      SBR Posting Legend
                                                                      • 11-07-09
                                                                      • 10229

                                                                      #35
                                                                      hmm maybe thats what through me off I guess they could only play on of :
                                                                      Conference D: Carolina, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington
                                                                      in the final I have no idea
                                                                      Comment
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