Hockey Night in Canada’s Hot Stove just ran a discussion on a revamped four division plan for realignment. The four division plan proposal would replace the Eastern and Western Conference format and return to the four division format used in the 1980s. Each team would play a home and home against all teams in the other divisions (46 games) and the remaining games (36 games) would be played in the division. The first two rounds of the playoffs would be played in the division and be reseeded for the semifinals when the division champions would play each other. A previous version of the plan had the Eastern Conference split into two divisions: one that contained the Southeast Division minus Winnipeg and the Atlantic Division minus Pittsburgh and Carolina and the other contained the remaining teams. The Penguins and Flyers weren’t happy about being split up, so the plan was revised. More after the jump…
The current proposal is as follows:
Division One
Pittsburgh
New York Rangers
Philadelphia
New Jersey
New York Islanders
Washington
Carolina
Division Two
Boston
Toronto
Buffalo
Montreal
Ottawa
Florida
Tampa Bay
Division Three
Colorado
Los Angeles
San Jose
Phoenix
Anaheim
Edmonton
Vancouver
Calgary
Division Four
Detroit
Chicago
St. Louis
Dallas
Nashville
Columbus
Winnipeg
Minnesota
Note: I originally had Colorado and Dallas reversed.
What do you think of the newest plan for NHL realignment?
| Great! As long as we’re in the same division as Tampa, it doesn’t matter. | 1175 |
| Awful! More games against the Leafs and Canadiens. | 71 |
| Neutral. At least we’ll get to see every team every season. | 58 |