NHL adopts realignment plan

The National Hockey League made some major changes this week.  It transformed its six divisions to four conferences, pending approval from the NHLPA.  Two conferences will have eight teams while the other two will have seven.

This format resembles that of the NHL before 1993-94.  Here is what the layout will look like:

Conference A	Conference B	Conference C	Conference D
X – Vancouver	X – Detroit	X – Boston	X – Washington
X – San Jose	X – Nashville	X – Tampa Bay	X – Pittsburgh
X – Anaheim	X – Chicago	X – Montreal	X – Philadelphia
X – Phoenix	X – Dallas	X – Buffalo	X – N. Y. Rangers
Los Angeles	St. Louis	Toronto	Carolina
Calgary	Minnesota	Ottawa	New Jersey
Colorado	Columbus	Florida	N. Y. Islanders
Edmonton	Winnipeg

X – Teams that have playoff spots

Playoffs

The top four teams from each conference will make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Each series will be as follows:

• 1^st place vs. 4^th place
• 2^nd place vs. 3^rd place

Each team will play every other team outside its conference twice; once away and once at home.  Within the seven-team conferences teams would play each other six times – three home, three away.  In eight-team conferences teams would play each other five or six times, on a season rotation basis (team X plays team Y five times this season, and six times next season).

What this means

Personally, I think this realignment is a good thing.  Not that there was anything wrong with the previous format, but it makes travel on the teams a lot easier.  The smaller gap between teams playing each other in the post-season is also promising.  A 1^st place team playing a 4^th place team could be much more difficult to predict than a 1^st place team against an 8^th place team.

A possible fault, although a minor one, is the fact that it will be easier to make the playoffs in a seven-team conference than an eight-team conference.  The difference isn’t likely to be significant enough to warrant concern.

Another possible issue is that a 5^th place team in conference A might not make the playoffs and have a better record than a 4^th place team in conference B that makes the playoffs (for example).  This might leave the option for cross-over playoff spots open (see the CFL’s playoff system).

What makes this realignment interesting is the possibility for more intense playoff rivalries within conferences.  Even regular season rivalries could develop between teams who currently have no such connection.

There has also been talk of a possible expansion somewhere down the line.  There are two conferences that are short one team, leaving room for the introduction of two new expansion teams.  While it’s hard to say whether or not this will happen, it is certainly ill advised.  With a number of franchises sinking financially, adding more teams would only create more problems.  Let’s just hope the NHL does not go down this path.

In the end, change is never a bad thing.  The NHL is in the process of working out any issues with this system, but has organized it nicely.  This realignment has certainly created discussion among media, coaches and GMs.

What do fans think?