New 4-conference style to start next season

[germany00]

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 Board authorized Commissioner Gary Bettman to implement this proposal in Monday evening's vote, pending input from the National Hockey League Players' Association.

The vote, which required a two-thirds majority of the League's 30 governors, passed on the first of two days of meetings here at The Inn at Spanish Bay. The League's new structure will go into effect starting next season.

The makeup of the yet-to-be-named four conferences is as follows:

* New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Washington and Carolina

* Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Buffalo, Florida and Tampa Bay

* Detroit, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis, Chicago, Minnesota, Dallas and Winnipeg

* Los Angeles, Anaheim, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Colorado

The four conferences are designed to alleviate geographic concerns among several current Western Conference teams that had been unhappy about their extensive travel through one, two, and sometimes even three time zones. Some of those teams argued that the late start of road games in the Pacific time zone were affecting fan interest, especially among younger fans.

The new alignment also enables the NHL to create a balanced schedule in which all teams will play each other at least twice every season, once at home and once on the road, giving fans a chance to see every team and superstar in the League. The remaining games will be played within the conferences.

In the seven-team conferences, teams would play six times -- three home, three away. In the eight-team Conferences, teams would play either five or six times in a season on a rotating basis; three teams would play each other six times and four teams would play each other five times. This process would reverse each season: An eight-team Conference member that plays an opponent six times in one season would play it five times the following season.

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.

 

[germany00]

wow, thats some big ass news

 

[RipCity32]

The playoff system is dumb.
Top 4 from each division? What if one division is a LOT better than the others?
Seed 5 in one conference could finish a lot better than seed 4 in the other conference and not make the playoffs.

 

[The Guid]

The playoff system is dumb.
Top 4 from each division? What if one division is a LOT better than the others?
Seed 5 in one conference could finish a lot better than seed 4 in the other conference and not make the playoffs.

sounds like the AL East lol

I'm honestly not as adamantly against it as a lot of fans seem to be. I like the idea of two teams from the same conference being able to play for the Cup. It's like the old days.

Keep in mind though that this would have to be passed by the NHLPA so it might not even happen anyway.

 

[RipCity32]

sounds like the AL East lol

I'm honestly not as adamantly against it as a lot of fans seem to be. I like the idea of two teams from the same conference being able to play for the Cup. It's like the old days.

Keep in mind though that this would have to be passed by the NHLPA so it might not even happen anyway.

Unless I read it wrong, how would two teams from the same conference play in the Cup together?

 

[The Guid]

It was actually from something Bob McKenzie tweeted. I, or he, could have been mistaken though

 

[germany00]

im un-decided about thuis, like its niot a bad thing, but to me its not much different other then the playoffs

 

[RipCity32]

Yeah, I'm not sure how that makes sense haha. That'd be interesting though.

 

[snipezo]

Agreed with Rip. Not a fan of the playoff system.

 

[germany00]

the playoff system is grabage thats for sure, but other then that its not bad, but not much different...

 

[snipezo]

Maybe I'll get used to it idk. As long as it minimizes the Canucks traveling, it's cool then I guess lol.

 

[NV]

* New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Washington and Carolina

That is a stacked conference.....

 

[germany00]

I dont mind the pred's conference, they only have to contend with the hawks and wings

 

[Giantmetfan07]

Looks like the Islanders are screwed for many many years to come.

 

[Rios15]

I like the idea, seems like a much more unique playoff structure than most leagues.

 

[iInsulin]

I like the idea of potential Stanley Cup's featuring teams like the Flyers against the Bruins. It gets rid of a East vs West type of thing and series like that for the Cup would be awesome.

 

[germany00]

I like the idea of potential Stanley Cup's featuring teams like the Flyers against the Bruins. It gets rid of a East vs West type of thing and series like that for the Cup would be awesome.

yea same thing i thought, now teams that have never played against eachother in the finals can, prewtty cool