New NHL Realignment Plan
By Sean
Feb 24, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; General view of the Honda Center exterior before the NHL game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Anaheim Ducks. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
On February 14th, I reported to you guys about a new realignment plan being discussed. Well, the NHL has now released what the new plan is. In the link above you can find the original plan that was proposed last season. Here is the new realignment plan (courtesy of prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com):
“Eastern Side”
Conference 1
Carolina
Columbus
New Jersey
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Washington
Conference 2
Boston
Buffalo
Detroit
Florida
Montreal
Ottawa
Tampa Bay
Toronto
“Western Side”
Conference 3
Chicago
Colorado
Dallas
Minnesota
Nashville
St. Louis
Winnipeg
Conference 4
Anaheim
Calgary
Edmonton
Los Angeles
Phoenix
San Jose
Vancouver
The teams who’s names are in bold are the teams that find themselves being moved. So, Colorado, Columbus and Detroit all get moved. Columbus and Detroit are taken from the Central Conference, Columbus placed in the Atlantic Conference and Detroit placed in the Eastern Conference. Colorado is taken from the Western Conference and placed in the Central Conference. So this would create four un even conferences, two conferences of eight teams and two conferences of seven teams.
Honestly, I like it, but I am shocked that they would move Detroit away from it’s two biggest rivals in Chicago and St. Louis. But other than that, I don’t have too much of an argument here. Obviously, for the Ducks, it will be a little easier for the Ducks to make the playoffs being in a seven team conference instead of eight. Also, we’re not moving away from out two biggest rivals,unlike Detroit. So, what do you guys think?
ALL THIS IS NOT CONFIRMED JUST YET!!!
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