NHL Realignment 2012-13

As most hockey fans know with the summer transition of the Atlanta Thrashers moving North of the border and re-establishing the Winnipeg Jets the NHL would need to make a realignment for the 2012-13 season with many fans and pundits predicting Nashville, Detroit or Columbus swapping from the West to East Conference and the new Jets headed the other way. But that's not the case, as yesterday the NHL announced the realigment plan, to be approved by the NHLPA, to take affect from the 2012 off season.

The NHL Board of Governors decided that the league will be split from the current form of TWO conferences and SIX (3 n each) divisions, and be split to FOUR conferences, two of SEVEN teams and two of EIGHT teams. The changes are designed to alleviate geographical problems, mainly Western teams that travel East, and Detroit GM Ken Holland complaining of fans losing interest in watching their team live when playing a late game on the West coast, i.e. at Phoenix in the playoffs Detroit fans would have to stay up until 10pm to watch the start of the game.

Also the scheduling formula has changed, every team will play non-conference opponents twice, one home and one away, ensuring every fan gets the chance to see every team and every superstar comes to their home arena.

Teams in seven team conferences will play each in-conference opponent 6 times totalling 36 in-conference games, and then 46 out of conference games. Teams in an eight team conference will play each in-conference opponent 5 or 6, on a season after season rotation for 38 in-conference games, and play 44 out of conference games.

As a result of the new four-conference alignment, the Stanley Cup Playoffs will follow a different format as well.

The top four teams in each Conference will qualify for the playoffs. The first-place team in each conference would play the fourth-place team in the same conference; the second-place team would play the third-place team.

The four respective Conference champions would meet in the third round, with the survivors playing for the Stanley Cup.

A decision on how the League will seed the remaining teams for the semifinals will likely not come until the general managers meet in March.

Bettman acknowledged that in the four-conference format, there will be added travel for some teams due to the fact that every team has to visit every city at least once per season. However, he did say that the schedule can be made to be more efficient so there will be less travel between stops on road trips.

"We need to be more efficient and the schedule maker believes he can be," Bettman said.

He also conceded that there was a focus on the fact that there are two conferences with only seven teams as opposed to two with eight teams. However, he added that didn't seem to be an issue within the Board.

"Frankly it's not the seventh and eighth teams that are competing for a playoff spot," Bettman said. "When you look at the map of North America, it's not geographic perfection so we're looking for something that makes the most sense and most fans and most clubs as comfortable as possible."


These are what the new yet to be named conferences will be:

Conference A
Anaheim Ducks
Calgary Flames
Colorado Avalanche
Edmonton Oilers
LA 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

The things I like about this new allignment is the fact Dallas & Minnesota and Pittsburgh & Washington are conference rivals. Although I'm sure beating Dallas will mean more to Minnesota than it ever will for Dallas.

The thing I dislike is how whilst keeping current groups of Canadian teams together they haven't given Winnipeg a national rivalry.

Agreed MJ, It would seem Colorado and Winnipeg should switch.

I like the fact the old Norris Division is kept intact . . . . .

Realignment postponed for at least one year. NHLPA baulked at incomplete information from the League on ramifications on travel and concerns about play-off structure.
NHLPA chief is Don Fehr, late of the MLB Union, so don't expect a solution any time soon. Probably before his death.