EHM The Blue Line

Alright. So here's what I want to do (hypothetically). Take the teams out of Phoenix, Atlanta and Nashville (sorry to any supporters of these teams. As stated, this is just hypothetical, and these are three of the worst attended teams in the NHL. I don't want to move the Islanders because they have a tradition) and put them in Winnipeg, Quebec and Hamilton (in no particular order, and because I believe we should have more teams in Canada).

ANYWAY...if this were to happen, how would YOU see the re-alignment. Keeping the current format of six divisions with five per division.

This is a real tough one, but after thinking about it, here's what I would think could work:

Eastern Conference:
Atlantic- Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Ottawa, Buffalo
Northeast- Boston, Quebec, Montreal, Rangers, Islanders
Southeast- Washington, Florida, Carolina, Tampa, Columbus

Western Conference:
Pacific- Colorado, Vancouver, Los Angeles, San Jose, Anaheim
Central- Toronto, Hamilton, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis
Northwest- Dallas, Minnesota, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary

I'm actually working on a database right now that would see Atlanta, Florida, Phoenix, Nashville and the Islanders all being removed and replaced with Kansas City, Hartford, Quebec, Winnipeg and Saskatoon (so that all of the big provinces have an NHL team).

Thanks for the input. And i'd be very interested in that database!

Yes me too. Always wanted to play with a team in Qc, but i sucks too much with computer to work a DB or something else.

I like this idea, save for one thing: What happens when the Canadian $ drops off again? Just like last time...Quebec and Winnipeg will be in big financial trouble, just as the teams in the south are right now.

Fact of the matter is, those three teams (Nas, Phx, Atl) should go nowhere. They should be folded and kissed goodbye.

If that were to happen (Atlanta, Phoenix, and Nashville folding), how would you split up the divisions? Would you add teams to make it an even 30?

Laker2415 wrote: Northeast- Boston, Quebec, Montreal, Rangers, Islanders

The NE as it is right now is full of hate...except for Ottawa since nobody cares about them...why would you want to split that up, NE games are entertaining

batdad wrote:I like this idea, save for one thing: What happens when the Canadian $ drops off again? Just like last time...Quebec and Winnipeg will be in big financial trouble, just as the teams in the south are right now.

Fact of the matter is, those three teams (Nas, Phx, Atl) should go nowhere. They should be folded and kissed goodbye.

Yeah, I'm pretty much with you on this one except that it should be even numbers. Either contract by 2 teams or by 4. And think of how much better the NHL "product" with all of the players from those teams dispersed into the rest of the teams in the league. It's going to make each of those teams have more talent to work with. You won't see the talent spread so thin.

Danny wrote:

Laker2415 wrote: Northeast- Boston, Quebec, Montreal, Rangers, Islanders

The NE as it is right now is full of hate...except for Ottawa since nobody cares about them...why would you want to split that up, NE games are entertaining

I agree. If a team ever did come back to Quebec, they'd have to be in the Northeast. The old Adams division was awesome and Toronto was a good fit going in there. There's no hate with Ottawa but they were a good team to play against when they were really good.

Danny wrote:

Laker2415 wrote: Northeast- Boston, Quebec, Montreal, Rangers, Islanders

The NE as it is right now is full of hate...except for Ottawa since nobody cares about them...why would you want to split that up, NE games are entertaining

I won't deny that the games are entertaining and that teams hate each other. I just wanted to mix things up a little.

Boston and Montreal (still in the NE and the hate would still be there)
Quebec and Montreal (I need not say more)
Rangers and Islanders (same as above)
Boston, Montreal and Rangers (Original 6 battles, in three great hockey cities)

Toronto now gets to renew their rivalries with Detroit, St. Louis and Chicago, plus they'd play against Hamilton and while it isn't Ottawa, could possibly be a better Battle of Ontario due to the proximity of the two teams.

As for Ottawa and Buffalo, it was just a matter of location and that's where they ended up.

As fun as O6 matchups are, the Rangers and the Islanders just don't belong in the Northeast. They've got established rivalries with teams like New Jersey, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. To take that away would be a horrible move.

Well, I guess when I was putting together my divisions I was either thinking:

a) Outside the box

OR

b) What would Gary Bettman do?

Again, I was just looking at shaking things up a little bit and having a little bit of fun with this. This is what makes this game so unique. We have the ability to edit the divisions the way we want to and then have a debate about it and get input from other users.

This was in the hockey talk forum though, so I was going by real world logic.

Bettman would never move Rangers away from NJ and Philly. No way no how that ever happens. Just does not. Not in real life nor in Bettman's mind. Those bus trips are 1/2 hour long. Ranger advantages must stay.