The subject of realignment was brought up again over the weekend as the National Hockey League, in a much less forceful manner than last year, began notifying teams of proposed divisions for the 2013-14 season. I still haven’t seen an update on how the Stanley Cup Playoffs would be constructed – an issue that will also have an effect on whether this latest proposal is successful. Click here for a balanced position by CBC’s Elliotte Friedman.
New Divisional Structure (proposed)
Division A: Washington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Carolina, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey, Columbus
Division B: Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Toronto
Division C: Chicago, Dallas, Colorado, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg
Division D: Los Angeles, Anaheim, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton
Following this morning’s skate, Darryl Sutter offered his own opinions on the league’s latest realignment proposal.
“I went through lots of…realignments in 35 years,” Sutter said. “I went through divisions, conferences, unbalanced schedules, unbalanced divisions, unbalanced conferences, so whatever they decide…you’re never going to be happy all the way around because of travel. It’s the way it works. My only issue, quite honest, with what they’re proposing is obviously…borders. It affects border crossings and backs-to-backs and adds a lot of time into your schedule. There’s nothing you can do when you’re on the west coast about time zones, because, hey, half the teams are in another time zone. So those are always the two things for you, are how your travel affects you. Other than that, it’d be nice to be put a little bit of pressure on the east so they’re not in their own bed and jammies all the time. It is. It’s easier for them come playoff time. I’ve coached only in the Western Conference, and the Eastern Conference has an easier path once playoffs start just because of the travel. Hey, Detroit’s always wanted to get over there. It’d be awesome being an old school guy to see Detroit, Toronto, you know, that sort of thing. But you know, we had the old division in Chicago, and there were three of us from the original six, and…it was pretty cool. Detroit, Toronto and Chicago. So that was pretty cool. The heritage guys, the history guys all liked that part of it.”
I also spoke with Dustin Penner about realignment on Sunday, though at the time he hadn’t seen the proposed divisions. Speaking generally, and expressing a desire to be able to play in his home province of Manitoba at least once a year, he said “I think it should be as fair as possible in regards to travel for teams, specifically Detroit, Columbus and Winnipeg. Detroit, probably, and Columbus for that matter, go through a lot of time zones, probably more than any other team during the year.”
I’ll share my own opinions during the second intermission of tonight’s FOX Sports West broadcast. Feel free to share your own in the comments section.
Makes sense in the West.
[Reply]
FKA PakiFro Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:38 pm
@Kopi Bryant,
Yep. Kind of encourages expansion (if it happens) in the West. I’d like to know more about the proposed wildcard that’s being speculated about.
How does that impact teams in the smaller conferences?
[Reply]
Kopi Bryant Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:53 pm
@FKA PakiFro, If there’s wildcard berths it should be the top 3 teams in each division make it and then the top 2 remaining teams from either division make it. If there’s a wildcard and thats just my opinion.
[Reply]
RobSD Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:07 pm
@Kopi Bryant,
I’m not a big financial guy but how can they be talking about expansion when so many teams can’t fill the building and you have Phoenix owned by the NHL. I don’t understand.
[Reply]
Kopi Bryant Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:10 pm
@RobSD, I’m not a fan of expansion. I was just saying that realignment makes sense. Too many teams playing in places that don’t care about hockey.
[Reply]
Jon-
I think you are doing a great job filling Rich’s shoes here on the Insider. When you are on tv though, you need to loosen up a bit. You always seem so serious.
Then again, I’ve never been on tv, so I would imagine that my opinion is probably pretty worthless.
[Reply]
Forum Gold Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:08 pm
@Tyler, He knows he is talking to Kings fans and they are SERIOUS about Kings hockey. GO KINGS GO!!!
[Reply]
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:10 pm
@Tyler, It’s not a worthless opinion, it’s just not understanding how nerve-wracking it is doing live television. Takes time to get comfortable. Same happened with Rich who had zero experience. I’d have to take beta-blockers to do it.
[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:12 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), valium would work…
[Reply]
Forum Gold Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:13 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), Remember how nervous Foxy was? Jon will be just fine. GO KINGS GO!!!
[Reply]
Kingsfanone Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:31 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
I’m taking 10 meds for my heart attack artery blockage and type 2 diabetes. Can I go on TV now?
[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:11 pm
@Tyler, I think he does a great job on TV. keep up the good work Jon!
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
@Tyler,
I think Jon needs to talk about different thing (nachos) when he is on (nachos) tv and really stress (nachos) the importance of things (nachos) that are important to (nachos) Kings fans and go more (nachos) in depth on those things (nachos) but I can’t (nachos) think of anything (nachos) right now that Jon could use (nachos nachos nachos).
[Reply]
Kingsfanone Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
@DesertKing,
Damn it. I hate your Jedi mind tricks. Now I’m craving nachos……
[Reply]
Whatever it ends up being, each team needs to have an equal chance to make the playoffs!
[Reply]
Love having those canadian teams in there with the Kings…like the old Smythe division. I grew up hating the Flames and Oilers because we played them so often(and in the playoffs).
[Reply]
LA_1968 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:24 pm
@A Cup B4 I Died!, Yeah, Gretzky, Selanne, Russian Rocket… all that was that era. Most games at the Forum involved a Western Canadian team.
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
@A Cup B4 I Died!,
Sutter, McInnis, McCowan, Fleury, Peplinski, MacDonald, Hunter, McCrimmon, McCrimmon, Otto, Gilmour, Murzin, Vernon… who am I forgetting?
I HATE THE FLAMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:35 pm
@Michael J.,
Ramage…
[Reply]
I think this realignment screams expansion. Would love to see teams in Seattle/Portland and KC or other Midwest area.
[Reply]
LA_1968 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
@Shotongoal,
I agree about it screaming expansion but I hope not. Nobody goes in Dallas, Florida nor Arizona. The main problem that nobody really talks about with these markets is that nobody wants to play there and that ends up hurting the team/market even more.
I think the Kings would be happy enough if Arizona moved to Seattle and play there whenever they play Vancouver.
[Reply]
Shotongoal Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:01 pm
@LA_1968, I agree with the empty seats in many arena’s, but I don’t think the league is that concerned. I think they look at it as exposure in areas of the country where the league has never been and mining new areas of the country for player talent. As much as I dislike Bettman, I have to give him or his minions props for the fact that so much hockey talent is now coming from areas where it’s never been before. I really think those are the bigger picture reasons for the league looking to expand. As a Kings fan I truly hope this thing works in PHX because it sure helps with travel for the team, and I like going there and taunting so-called Coyote fans!
[Reply]
Kingsfanone Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
@Shotongoal,
Doesn’t AEG have an arena in KC? Kinda convenient, eh?
But I agree with you!
[Reply]
Forum Gold Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:36 pm
@Kingsfanone, Yes they do. GO KINGS GO!!!
[Reply]
My map of the proposed realignment again hehe:
http://goo.gl/maps/usY05
Seriusly though, Coach Sutter is right about the time involved to cross the USA/Canada border. Look at Winnipeg’s conference. The other team will do a lot of crossing for 1 game.
The Florida teams should hope for expansion into Havana which would be closer than any other opponent.
[Reply]
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:23 pm
@LA_1968, The team name is a given. The Cuban Missiles. The mascot would be a pig.
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
Their bloggers, after a loss, would always be in “crisis” mode.
[Reply]
Kingsfanone Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:35 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
Hahaha! Outstanding!
[Reply]
LVKINGS88 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:46 pm
@LA_1968, Their Zamboni would be a 1950′s Dodge or Ford car, the announcements would be in Spanish and Russian,any Russian player would not need a visa. The uni’s would be Castro light green trimmed in commie red and the away jerseys would be cammo. There would be a full body cavity search at the door and if the team wins everybody gets a Cuban cigar.
[Reply]
LA_1968 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 6:30 pm
@LVKINGS88, Very well done. Following @Paul’s logo idea, combining it with yours, the logo would be a Cuban missile but the missile would be a brown cigar with fins on the back. Hey Bettman!!!! We got something for ya!
[Reply]
OT:
There was some talk earlier today about having some kind of Insider Patch / Logo.
Here’s a suggestion:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wi7fib9l81yqfnl/Inside%20Patch.jpg
Comments?
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
@IceGuy,
Missing something referring to Mikus…
[Reply]
IceGuy Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:38 pm
@Michael J.,
If you hold it upsidedown to a mirror … ; -)
[Reply]
Lake Forest Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:51 pm
@IceGuy, no munters…….not approved
[Reply]
Who cares? At the end of the season, you still have to be at the top of 30 teams, we already travel more than anyone else, we are already in the toughest division and conference, so just do it since you can’t make our situation any worse than it is.
[Reply]
Didn’t we lobby the league so we could do away with our road trips to Alberta. Dallas and St Louis should play in D and Edmonton and Calgary should play in C. Otherwise we’re back to long flights in nasty weather 8 times a year, and only if the games are scheduled back to back.
[Reply]
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 2:55 pm
@kissmyblarneystones,
Scratch that. Colorado and Dallas should be exchanged in place of Calgary and Edmonton.
[Reply]
So they still want Tampa & Florida to play in the Northeast division?
[Reply]
Its ok….would like to see Calgary and Edmonton switched out for Dallas and Colorado. Think it makes sense 2 of the cannadien teams to be with Winnipeg and Colorado , Dallas seem to make more sense with the southwesters teams. Keep Vancouver so at least one Cannadien franchise in the division.
[Reply]
King John Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 6:41 pm
@Phillip, One major reason for the change is so Dallas (and Minnesota) can play more teams in the Central time zone, not the Pacific. So your suggestion doesn’t work.
[Reply]
Opens up slots in the East for Quebec and another Toronto area (Hamilton maybe) teams. I think PHX will move to Seattle.
[Reply]
Shotongoal Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:06 pm
@Osaka, I used to think the same thing but this realignment doesn’t really work for expansion to those areas. Like I said above I think if you look at Bettman’s NHL he is more interested in exposing the league to areas that haven’t been in the league before or haven’t for many, many years.
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:22 pm
@Shotongoal, I think the experiment in nontaditional markets is toned down.
[Reply]
Shotongoal Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:26 pm
@Osaka, I guess we will see, but I definitely think there will be expansion….and soon.
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:27 pm
@Osaka,
With 8 teams in the 2 ‘eastern’ divisions and only 7 in the 2 ‘western’ divisions I don’t see how you can add more teams to the east without yet another realignment. Moving to Seattle makes a lot of sense hockey-wise. I’ve always wondered why no team is there. Maybe add a team in Salt Lake or of course Kansas City is an option.
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
February 26th, 2013 at 4:47 am
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), My bad.
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
February 26th, 2013 at 4:48 am
@Osaka, Still see Quebec getting a team first though.
King John Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 6:44 pm
@Osaka, Wrong. The West has two more slots.
It opens up slots for Seattle in the Pacific and Kansas City or Milwaukee or Houston in the Central. If Phoenix moves to Seattle, maybe even Portland OR has a shot.
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
February 26th, 2013 at 4:47 am
@King John,
My bad. I see Seattle getting a team, maybe relocation. KC is the only other place in America I could see. Quebec would be the city I see getting an expansion team first. Oh they would have to move a team or 2 back to the West, right. Columbus and Detroit?
We will see.
[Reply]
DS never ceases to make me laugh…
“it’d be nice to be put a little bit of pressure on the east so they’re not in their own bed and jammies all the time.” CLASSIC!
Im picturing Sid with a binkie in his mouth, a rubber duckie in one hand, and a teething ring in the other while wearing pappa smurf slippers.
I agree with what @DesertKing said above…you cant really make it any harder on us so do what you will.
[Reply]
I like the purposal why……cost savings, easier for players, competition level with teams closer on the map……….
Do it Bettman, but it makes too much sense for the NHL to approve, not necessarily their style to simplify things.
[Reply]
OT; Clow will stay clown.
http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=60&id=207221&lang=en
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:53 pm
@goldielocks,
Can’t be a repeat offender when not one f 4 on-ce officials see an infraction but 18118 fans do. Clown must be Evil Loads secret love child.
[Reply]
Off topic but Clowe gets 2 game suspension. Seriously who does this dude have pictures of???
[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:53 pm
@Shotongoal, i think it was Mair who came off the bench to fight someone in a similar fashion and recieved like 10 games automatically!
[Reply]
I still think it’s silly to lump the florida teams in with the northeast teams. I get they don’t want to breakup the current atlantic division but pittsburg moving could work I think.
[Reply]
King John Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 6:47 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
Pittsburgh has big rivalries with Philly (for PA) and with Washington. They want to retain that and keep the Mid-Atlantic together. As for the Florida teams, they will get good draws with their Canadian transplants and other fans seeing the exciting long-time Northeastern teams.
[Reply]
My favorite thing about the proposed realignment is that it indirectly reduces the impact of the 3 point (OT/Shootout) games.
Now that you’re only competing with 6 or 7 other teams for playoff spots, you only need to be concerned about the dreaded “3 point game” in games involving these teams. That will be much less often than currently when any game involving a western conference opponent is a game you hope doesn’t end in a tie.
It will make it easier to watch the rest of the league and have a clearer rooting interest then “for the love of god, please don’t tie.”
[Reply]
Ouch for Columbus. Better on travel, but their perennial foes just got a lot tougher if this goes through as is.
[Reply]
King John Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 6:49 pm
@Gretzky to Kurri, Yup, but hockey’s gonna have to be big-time there, and it looks as if they’ve taken some steps to turn the franchise around and win over Ohio down the road.
[Reply]
Go Kings Go!
[Reply]
I still contend they need a north / south alignment. Make the East coast teams have to travel out west to make the travel even. Kinda goes against what they are trying to accomplish, by being all in the same time zone. But that idea will never gain any traction since the east coasters are so geocentric.
[Reply]
LAK1ngs Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 3:54 pm
@LAK1ngs, Not geocentric, east coast conceited.
[Reply]
I’m not sure I understand why we need to do this and what it accomplishes. I’m not at all crazy about the idea of having 7 teams in 2 divisions and 8 in the other 2. Why not have 5 divisions of 6 teams or 6 divisions of 5 teams?
The other point to make is it really doesn’t matter what you do, the East Coast teams are going to have it easier than the West Coast teams. Unless you don’t play outside of your division at all. If you do that we’d NEVER get to see Crosby or Ovechkin.
Also, like it or not this probably means that sooner rather than later playoffs increase from 16 teams to 20.
[Reply]
I like this a whole lot better than last years set up. The west has the advantage of only 7 teams per conference. That makes up for a lot of the east coast travel advantage in my eyes.
[Reply]
Shakes Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 5:03 pm
@KC23, that’s a good way of thinking abouut things “what do you want, to travel less or compete against fewer teams for the playoffs” …although i suppose the Florida teams have the worst of both, but hey, there shouldn’t be pro sports in florida
[Reply]
the old Pacific (D) will still be as tough as the old Atlantic (A), and those other two are kinda dogs. but no matter how the teams stack up, the fact that there’s not even numbers between the conferences is stupid as hell. either get rid of two teams for four 7-team divisions, or add two more for 8. the problem doesn’t go away when Phoenix ends up moving (to Seattle or Vegas or KC or wherever else a franchise has been rumored) or they add team two in Toronto, but the math is great as is.
the league should decide what it is doing with expansion / contraction and then tinker with the set up once they can make it even. it was terrible when LA was supposed to be in the 8 team division on the old 8/7 split plan, but it’s still not fair for the other teams now that we are not. and on the subject, the seeding should be fixed too in the playoffs – the top team in a division always gets in, but the top of each conference should not be 1-2-3…the top team in conference should be 1, and the top teams should fill in 2-8 according to points with the others.
and I would love to see them expand it to both conferences – top teams on both sides at 1 and 2, and 3-16 according to points only. yeah, division rivalry is fun for about 5 minutes in the playoff, but with all the inter-division and inter-conference games in a season, it would be way cooler to play the league – LA vs NJ was such a good series because you got to learn about your opponent as you played them, and not just because you already did 6 times and have too another 4 to 7 in a series.
[Reply]
I love the idea of getting the old Smythe Division back together!!! I love it when the Kings beat up on the Western Canadien teams, it’ll be great to re-fuel that fire…
Question: Does this mean that the NHL anticipates that Phonenix will soon be in Seattle????
[Reply]