Quick Thoughts on Realignment; Other Tidbits

The NHL has drastically realigned their conferences as a result of the Atlanta Thrashers flying north to Winnipeg. It was a massive overhaul, approved for next season, and sees the conferences shake out as such:

CONFERENCE A:    
Anaheim Ducks
Calgary Flames
Colorado Avalanche
Edmonton Oilers
Los Angeles Kings
Phoenix Coyotes
San Jose Sharks
Vancouver Canucks

CONFERENCE B:
Chicago Blackhawks
Columbus Blue Jackets
Dallas Stars
Detroit Red Wings
Minnesota Wild
Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues
Winnipeg Jets

CONFERENCE C:
Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
Florida Panthers
Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
Tampa Bay Lightning
Toronto Maple Leafs

CONFERENCE D:
Carolina Hurricanes
New Jersey Devils
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Washington Capitals

My initials thoughts are this: I like it overall. Travel is reduced for everyone but the Florida teams, but the financial impact will be great on the Panthers and the Lightning. Playing three home games a year against Ottawa, Buffalo, Boston, Montreal, and Toronto will help an attendance spike due to the high number of transplants down South. I'm also a huge backer of a balanced schedule, and now everyone will play a home-and-home with everyone. The top teams and stars will be in every building every year, something great for growing the game.

My only qualm: the single home-and-home games between teams like Philadelphia/Boston or Colorado/Detroit will help squelch some of the regional rivalries that have developed over time. But as a whole, realignment works well. No, Detroit, Columbus and Nashville didn't move east, but their travel will be greatly reduced by not having to make California trips on a weekly basis.

Otherwise, the Pacific time zone teams keep to themselves for the most part and the old Patrick Division is restored, with the addition of the Hurricanes. The NHL got this one right, withholding how they decided to do the final four after conference champions are decided. A re-seeding would be annoying in some senses; should Conference A & B be in a West region an Conferences C & D be in an Eastern region with the winner of the A vs. B semifinal and C vs. D semifinal play for the Cup? All that will be hammered out as this all takes shape, but as far as the actual realignment...I'm a fan.

OTHER HEADLINES...


-Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford is growing tired of Tomas Kaberle. From thefourthperiod.com: "He got off to a slow start," said Rutherford. "Now he has to figure out how to get out of it or he won't be playing for the Hurricanes for long." Yikes.

-Following up last night's blog, Jordin Tootoo received two games for running Ryan Miller this weekend. Sounds about right.

-Can we put to rest this whole "Alex Ovechkin is a steroidaholic" thing?

-For my Maine readers, Patrick O'Sullivan will be reporting to the Portland Pirates after clearing waivers. The Pirates are next home against the Manchester Monarchs on December 14th.

More to come tomorrow!

GOH