Newest Realignment Plan

[Teagz]

In December of 2011, the NHL announced a “radical” realignment plan that split the league into four “conferences” as opposed to its current structure of two conferences with three divisions in each.​

The NHLPA eventually scuttled the plan, citing concerns over travel as well as the fairness of the proposed playoff qualification system.​

Now, TSN is reporting the latest realignment proposal is back to two conferences — Western and Eastern — with four divisions.​

Eastern Conference​

Atlantic Division​

Carolina
Columbus
New Jersey
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Washington​

Central Division​

Boston
Buffalo
Detroit
Florida
Montreal
Ottawa
Tampa Bay
Toronto​

Western Conference​

Mid-West Division​

Chicago
Colorado
Dallas
Minnesota
Nashville
St. Louis
Winnipeg​

Pacific Division​

Anaheim
Calgary
Edmonton
Los Angeles
Phoenix
San Jose
Vancouver​

Per TSN:​

The playoff format calls for the top three teams in each division to earn post-season berths. The remaining four spots would go to wild-card teams, the top two records remaining in each conference. That means there’s a possibility five teams make it from one division and only three from another.​

It would be divisional playoffs, not conference playoffs, so 1 vs. 4, 2 vs 3 in the first round. The two fourth seeds would be made up of the wild-card teams. The top division winner based on regular-season points in the standings would face off against the lower-ranked wild-card team. The other division winner would play the higher-ranked wild-card.​

First-round winners then meet in second round in the division championship; Third round sees Pacific winner vs. Mid-West winner in Western Conference finals; Central winner versus Atlantic winner in Eastern Conference finals; Eastern and Western Conference champions meet in Stanley Cup finals.​

The above plan still needs to be approved by the NHLPA and the NHL Board of Governors.​

According to CBC’s Elliotte Friedman, if the plan goes ahead, the league and union will meet after the 2015-16 season, “or earlier if circumstances warrant,” (translation: if there’s expansion or relocation) to decide if the system needs to be altered.​

As for the regular-season schedule, Friedman reports:​

It depends on whether you’re in a seven- or eight-team conference.​

For the sevens (Midwest and Pacific) it looks like this:​

• 32 games vs. Eastern Conference (one home, one away vs. each opponent).
• 21 games vs. other division in Western Conference (teams with the extra home game will be rotated every season).
• 29 games vs. own division (you will play one team four times instead of five).

For the eights (Atlantic and Central), it looks like this:​

• 28 games vs. Western Conference (one home, one away).
• 24 games vs. other division in Eastern Conference (teams with the extra home game will be rotated every season).
• 30 games vs. own division (you’ll play two teams five times, and five teams four times).

I'm all for it. I've wanted the Wings in the East for a long time.

 

[bosoxlover12]

How is Boston in the Central, but Columbus, Pittsburgh, etc in the Atlantic?

 

[Teagz]

I'm assuming they didn't want to split up the teams from the current Atlantic and Northeast Conferences. It was like that in the previous plan as well IIRC.

 

[Phil The Thrill]

Keep it the way it is.

 

[H-MYK]

Keep it the way it is.

I agree. The current alignment is fine. Just switch one Western team with Winnipeg and problem solved.

 

[The Guid]

Yeah, you can see the Atlantic coming out of the garden. Swap Winnipeg with Detroit or Columbus