NHL Alignment... Four Conferences. Really?

This new NHL realignment is really a joke. Four... FOUR... conferences??

Ok, I admit, I think it would be pretty awesome to have a possible Leafs-Habs Stanley Cup final but still... 4 conferences? What were they thinking? What are they going to name them? Revive those old names? Smyth? Campbell? Wales? Or new names? Sittler? Richard? Yzerman? Something just doesn't sit well with four conferences!

So, here are some of my previous realignment solutions...

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3


It's great to have every team play each other twice. Frankly, as a Leafs fan... I would like to see more Leafs vs Wings or Hawks and we don't see enough Columbus or St. Louis.

I don't think there's any problem with East and West Conference and 2 divisions each set u[... Really, the simple solution should be this

East Conference
Great Lakes (or keep Northeast): Buffalo, Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto
Atlantic: Carolina, Florida, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, New York Islander, Tampa Bay, Washington

West Conference
Central: Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg
Pacific: Anaheim, Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton, LA, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver

So, if Phoenix gets moved to Quebec or wherever, they can be placed into the division with Toronto and Montreal.
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Each team play it's division team 6 times, (35 games for East and 40 for West), they play teams in the other division within the conference 4 times (28 for East and 32 for West), play each team in the other division once (16 for East and 14 for West). With the 3 games left for the East, they can be randomly for rivalries. So teams like Leafs, Habs, and Bruins would get the opportunity to play one more game against Hawks, Wings and one team.

Or

Each team can still play each other twice (58 games) and play 1 more game against team in the other division in the conference (7 or 8 games, total 65-66 games) and the rest of the games are left for division play (17 for East and 16 for West).

The playoff format would be like this. In each conference, the division winners will be placed 1st and 2nd accordingly to points. From 3rd to 8th, will be positioned by standing. And in each round, home ice will be determined via point standing in regular season.

Now, an alternative solution could be top 4 team in each division head into playoffs. They play within division playoffs and then winner of each division within the conference play each other and winner of that will play for the cup.

See? Easy simple solution...

NHL Re-Alignment, Part 3

And hopefully, this is the last time my brain does this...

So, here we go...

First, there will not be 4 Canadian teams in the same division as written by Bob McKenzie.

So, this is the current division.

East
Northeast
Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs

Atlantic
New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins

Southeast
Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightnings, Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets

West
Central
Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues

Pacific
Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks

Northwest
Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wilds, Vancouver Canucks


So, the first possible solution (as previously stated) is to move the Winnipeg Jets to the Central division and swap places with Nashville Predators. Because this is the only possible solution that helps team cut down travel cost. However, since Detroit stays in the Western Conference, I think then Detroit should have a say in their game's start time. For example, all weekend games that Detroit plays in the Pacific time zone will start at 4pm OST, 4:30pm PST or 5pm PST at the latest and all weekday games will start by 6pm PST.


Solution 2
The "geographically correct" divisions (because Vancouver is really on the Pacific coast and Dallas is nowhere close to Pacific Ocean)

East
Northeast
Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs

Atlantic
New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins

Southeast
Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightnings, Washington Capitals

West
Central
Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues

Pacific
Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks

Midwest
Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wilds, Winnipeg Jets

This moves Columbus to the Southeast division and Detroit stays. So, Detroit will again have a say in their game's start time.

Solution 3
The "Detroit in the East" Solution

East
Northeast
Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs

Atlantic
Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers

Southeast
Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightnings, Washington Capitals

West
Central
Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues

Pacific
Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks

Midwest
Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wilds, Winnipeg Jets

The only problem is I had to break up Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

I think the most simple and less headache is to swap Winnipeg and Nashville and give Detroit the autonomy on game start time.

I am done with the realignment issue...

Proposed new rules for 2011-2012 NHL season

So each year, the rules are tested to make the game more exciting...

Here's what I think:

OVERTIME

Seven minutes of overtime instead of five with both 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 scenarios tested. Three minutes of 3-on-3 play to follow four minutes of scoreless 4-on-4 action. More offence is expected to be generated.

Uber lame... 4-on-4 is ok... but to go 3-on-3 is like watching road hockey or something. Why?

SHOOTOUTS

Five players from each team will shoot and if the score remains tied, the same players can take another crack in a sudden-death format. Same rule applies for proposed three-player shootouts.

This was lame to begin with. It was introduced for the American audience that don't even care about hockey. Scrap the shootout... game ending in a tie is not the end of the world!

GAME PLAY

• No touch icing. Whistle blows as soon as puck crosses line so potential dangerous situations are eliminated.

It's a good idea... since when I play, we have no touch anyway. Hopefully that means less broken legs... Although, I've seen those dirty players that just put the blade of their stick at the other skater's foot causing them to fall.

• Hybrid icing. If an official determines the attacking player would get to puck first, no whistle is blown but if he thinks defender will be first, whistle is immediately blown as soon as puck crosses line. Dangerous collisions should be avoided.

This is good but it all will come down to the ref's judgement that some teams may not like when it's against them... maybe on icing, a race to the blue line. If a defensive player reach own defensive blueline before the offensive player, it's icing. When offensive player reach offensive blueline (the same one was the defensive) then it's no icing.

• No icing permitted while shorthanded.

Doesn't make sense to me...

• Line changes only permitted on the fly except after goals and on power plays.

This is kinda dumb... I know it helps speed up the game. I played in a tournament where they used this rule in OT. After a 4-on-4 overtime, a 3-on-3 change on the fly only was played before shootout.

• Allow hand passes in all zones instead of just defensive zone.

This is not basketball! That's why hockey is played with a stick!

• No line changes for offending team committing an offside until next play stoppage. Tired players will remain on ice, coaches won’t get key matchups and more offence will result.

Don't like this either. Accidents happen.

BEAR HUG

Players will be permitted to wrap their opponent up when taking him into the boards without being called for a holding penalty. This could limit dangerous hits along the boards while allowing body contact and the ability to play the man.

Brian Burke's idea... if it helps reduce concussions. I think it will.

FACEOFFS

• Officials will drop the puck in the offending team’s zone following an offside, potentially leading to more goal scoring.

Not really...

• All faceoffs in circles.

Only the neutral zone faceoff doesn't have circles... what's the point?

• A designated linesman will drop puck for all faceoffs in an effort to bring consistency to the faceoff.

How does that help "consistancy"? Maybe he had too much coffee before the game or he has a cold...

LINE CHANGES

Limiting line changes at stoppages in play should speed up the action.

How about team gets 15sec to change? If not lined up then the players that were on the ice must come back.

GOALIES

• Removing the trapezoid that restricts goaltenders’ puck-handling, allowing goaltender to play puck anywhere.

This was one of the reason why some defencemen were getting hurt.

• Strict enforcement of goaltenders covering puck outside crease. Goalies not permitted to cover puck unless they have skate contact with the crease.

This could be interesting...

PENALTIES

• For delayed penalties, the offending team must exit the zone in possession of puck to stop play. It should give the non-offending team more time with an extra attacker and potentially generate more offence.

It's fine the way it is now!

• All penalties to be served in their entirety. Increased goal scoring should result.

You already do that with a major penalty... it's a minor penalty. Leave it!

NETS

• A yellow verification line parallel to the goal line, set back slightly more than 3 inches (size of the puck) from the goal line. It should help off-ice officials determine if a disputed goal has been scored. In the event there is something (water bottle, glove, pad, etc.) blocking the view of the goal line, this line could be used to “verify” that the puck has completely crossed the goal line.

How many goals needed this verification? It could be useful.

• Looking at a 40-inch deep “shallow net” instead of existing 44-inch deep net frame. Supposed to provide more ice behind the net, improve passing angles and makes it easier for wrap-around attempts.

Will it make a difference?

CAMERA

• New camera angles include in-net cams and mounted cams focused on the goal line to help verify goals.

Don't they do in-net cams already? What they REALLY need is a camera that's UNDERNEATH the ice

• Overhead cameras to assist Hockey Operations reviews of various game situations

What situations will require an overhead camera?

NHL Re-alignment Part 2

So, now that I rearranged it to 4 divisions... let's be more realistic and make it what it will be next year - 3 divisions within each conference. Rumours already have the Jets move into the Central division with possibly the Red Wings moving East... But an All-Canadian division? It's nice but it would be cooler to think it could possibly be an All-Canadian Stanley Cup Final... BTW, funny how the article have a solution that's similar to what I got from my previous blog.

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

This could work... Although...

Here is now I would realign it... for ALL the geographic politicalness

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

Here's the issue with this realignment...
It makes A LOT of sense to shift Nashville into the Southeast division because of where it's located. You do not want to split the Atlantic division of 3 New York teams and the 2 Pennsylvania teams. Logic does dictate that Detroit should be in the Northeast but that would push Boston out to either Atlantic (which means breaking up New York and Pennsylvania) or Southeast (which makes no sense there but works better then Atlantic). But because Detroit is the "senior statesman," they should be moved to the Eastern conference before Nashville or Columbus.

I decided to put Winnipeg and Minnesota together and shift Colorado to the Pacific division. This gives Winnipeg and Minnesota the geographical rivalry.

By moving Colorado to Pacific and Dallas moves to Central. This will probably create a better travel itinerary with the Pacific division teams.

Now that I think about it... I would definitely move Detroit into the Northeast and shift Boston to the Southeast...

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

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

Chara should have been suspended

I am going to have my say on this. Yes, it might be a bit later but after watching this a few days ago over and over, this video has the best angle on a dangerous hit.

While Chara (probably) had no intention of hurting Pacioretty, watch the above video and look for Chara's left arm.

It was NOT a dirty hit. It was a typical hockey play gone wrong. However, Chara, at 6'9, should know better when he hit someone. Most of the time, his arms are at other player's head! So, when you know you have a height advantage on other players, you need to more careful on how you delivery the hits. Rmember the concussion Crosby got? Look at where Tampa Bay's Hedman's arm was when he hit Crosby! AT THE HEAD!

So, back to the hit. Chara knew what he was doing. He knew where he was. He knew who was on him. You can't argue the point that "he didn't know the stanchions were that close." That is not a good argument. If players do not know where stanchions or boards are placed, they would be running into the boards and into each other ALL THE TIME, like timbits hockey.

Chara KNEW the bench was there. He KNEW he could rub Pacioretty out of the play. He KNEW the stanchions were right there. He KNEW he could take advantage of his height. All Chara had to do in that hit was to use both arms and guide Pacioretty onto the ice or into the bench instead of one arm into the stanchions. But Chara took his one arm and RIDE Pacioretty into the stanchions and now he suffered a concussion and a broken vertebrae.

I would have suspended Chara 2-5 games.