NHL Realignment?

So, now that NHL has rightfully returned to Winnipeg... schedule has caused chaos. For one, the Jets are playing out of Southeast division with Tampa, Carolina, Florida and Washington... It was apparently too late to make changes. But now, they're talking about restructuring the divisions which I think it's a good thing.

First, whoever decided to do 3 division within the conference is beyond me. Let's not forget the fact that if you were the division winner, you were guaranteed home ice. So, it really did not matter if your division sucked (re: Southeast a few years back). You could have finished with a record under .500 but as long as you won your division, you will get 3rd even though 4th place team might actually finish 15 points higher.

A map of where the teams are currently located in current division

So, they're thinking of going back to 4 division with one conference possibly with 16 teams and the other with 14 teams. What is wrong with 15 each? One 7 teams and one 8 teams in each conference?

Apparently, it's about balance and the fact that 3 teams are complaining (Detroit, Nashville and Columbus).

So, this is how I would realign the divisions...

Pacific, Central, Atlantic, and Northeast

Pacific	Central	Atlantic	Northeast
Anaheim Ducks	Chicago Blackhawks	Boston Bruins	Buffalo Sabres
Calgary Flames	Colorado Avalanche	Carolina Hurricanes	Columbus Blue Jackets
Edmonton Oilers	Dallas Stars	Florida Panthers	Detroit Red Wings
LA Kings	Minnesota Wilds	New Jersey Devils	Montreal Canadiens
San Jose Sharks	Nashville Predators	New York Islanders	Philadelphia Flyers
Phoenix Coyotes	St. Louis Blues	New York Rangers	Pittsburgh Penguins
Vancouver Canucks	Winnipeg Jets	Tampa Bay Lightnings	Ottawa Senators
		Washington Capitals	Toronto Maple Leafs

Wow... I didn't know it was a bit more difficult that it could be. Although, it only took me... oh, 8 minutes to put everyone in place. Too bad for Nashville, I couldn't put them in the Eastern Conference... Geographically, they fit better in the Central division...

First, I had to keep Pittsburgh and Philadelphia in the same division, same for New York's 3 teams and Florida and Tampa.

I tried to keep as much of the current divisions in tact. However, Boston had to move to Atlantic so that I could balance out teams on the East coast. So, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia had to move the Northeast.

Alternatively, it could realigned to this:

Pacific	Central	Atlantic	Northeast
Anaheim Ducks	Chicago Blackhawks	Carolina Hurricanes	Boston Bruins
Calgary Flames	Colorado Avalanche	Columbus Blue Jackets	Buffalo Sabres
Edmonton Oilers	Dallas Stars	Detroit Red Wings	Montreal Canadiens
LA Kings	Minnesota Wilds	Florida Panthers	New Jersey Devils
San Jose Sharks	Nashville Predators	Philadelphia Flyers	New York Islanders
Phoenix Coyotes	St. Louis Blues	Pittsburgh Penguins	New York Rangers
Vancouver Canucks	Winnipeg Jets	Tampa Bay Lightnings	Ottawa Senators
		Washington Capitals	Toronto Maple Leafs

For the sake of political correctness, I think the first option is better. You now have Detroit in its rightful division with Toronto, Montreal and Boston for Original 6 rivalries and keeping rivalries between the New York teams and Pennsylvania teams in same division.

I have a funny feeling Bettman is itching for expansion of 2 more team so that it's more "rounded." I hope not... We do not need a Las Vegas team or in Kansas City... But there will be no objection to moving the team from Phoenix to Seattle. Nor will there be objection to moving one of the Florida team to Quebec City. Nor will there be objection moving Carolina back to Hartford.

Pacific	Central	Atlantic	Northeast
Anaheim Ducks	Chicago Blackhawks	Boston Bruins	Buffalo Sabres
Calgary Flames	Colorado Avalanche	Columbus Blue Jackets	Detroit Red Wings
Edmonton Oilers	Dallas Stars	Hartford Whalers	Montreal Canadiens
LA Kings	Minnesota Wilds	New Jersey Devils	Philadelphia Flyers
San Jose Sharks	Nashville Predators	New York Islanders	Pittsburgh Penguins
Phoenix/Seattle	St. Louis Blues	New York Rangers	Ottawa Senators
Vancouver Canucks	Winnipeg Jets	Tampa Bay Lightnings	Quebec Nordiques
		Washington Capitals	Toronto Maple Leafs

Or... we could get rid of both Florida teams... 28 team league sounds good?? I thought so.

Pacific	Central	Atlantic	Northeast
Anaheim Ducks	Chicago Blackhawks	Hartford Whalers	Boston Bruins
Calgary Flames	Colorado Avalanche	New Jersey Devils	Buffalo Sabres
Edmonton Oilers	Dallas Stars	New York Islanders	Columbus Blue Jackets
LA Kings	Minnesota Wilds	New York Rangers	Detroit Red Wings
San Jose Sharks	Nashville Predators	Philadelphia Flyers	Montreal Canadiens
Phoenix Coyotes	St. Louis Blues	Pittsburgh Penguins	Ottawa Senators
Vancouver Canucks	Winnipeg Jets	Washington Capitals	Toronto Maple Leafs