NHL Realignment

The Jets open the regular season at home against Montreal

 

The current NHL divisional construct may be headed into its final season. The establishment of the Winnipeg Jets franchise, who will retain the Thrashers spot in the Southeast division for the entire 2011-2012 season, has led the NHL to seriously consider a significant league wide realignment for the 2012-2013 season. Detroit, a member of the Western Conference since its formation for the 1993-1994 season, has long lobbied for a move to the Eastern Conference. Nashville and Columbus have also indicated a preference to play in the East. For the fans longing for the days of the Adams, Patrick, Norris, and Smythe divisions, the proposed realignment would include four divisions, two containing eight teams and two containing seven. How might these divisions look? Here’s my best guess.

Division A

Carolina Hurricanes

Florida Panthers

New York Islanders

New York Rangers

Pittsburgh Penguins

Philadelphia Flyers

Tampa Bay Lightning

Washington Capitals

Division B

Boston Bruins

Buffalo Sabres

Columbus Blue Jackets

Detroit Red Wings

Montreal Canadiens

New Jersey Devils

Ottawa Senators

Toronto Maple Leafs

Division C

Chicago Blackhawks

Colorado Avalanche

Dallas Stars

Minnesota Wild

Nashville Predators

Phoenix Coyotes

St. Louis Blues

Division D

Anaheim Ducks

Calgary Flames

Edmonton Oilers

Los Angeles Kings

San Jose Sharks

Vancouver Canucks

Winnipeg Jets

The obvious flaw with the NHL’s radical realignment plan is the uneven number of teams per division, giving a pronounced advantage to the teams in Division C and Division D. The league has other, less drastic options to accommodate Winnipeg’s move to the Western Conference. The simplest transition would involve four teams making logical geographic moves and would preserve the NHL’s current six division format. 

Northeast

Status Quo

Atlantic 

Status Quo

Southeast

Carolina Hurricanes

Florida Panthers

Tampa Bay Lightning

Washington Capitals

Nashville Predators (From Central)

Central

Chicago Blackhawks

Columbus Blue Jackets

Detroit Red Wings

St. Louis Blue

Dallas Stars (From Pacific)

Pacific

Anaheim Ducks

Los Angeles Kings

Phoenix Coyotes

San Jose Sharks

Colorado Avalanche (From Northwest)

Northwest

Calgary Flames

Edmonton Oilers

Minnesota Wild

Vancouver Canucks

Winnipeg Jets (From Southeast – Atlanta Thrashers)

The Nordiques would love to follow in the footsteps of the Jets

The league can align itself any way it likes, ultimately the Canucks will always be at a disadvantage in terms of travel. The geographic rivalries with Edmonton and Calgary would be retained, and former Smythe division foe Winnipeg would be a welcomed addition to the division. If the NHL does follow through with the proposed four division format, the inclusion of Anaheim, San Jose, and Los Angeles would be advantageous to Vancouver because of all four cities are located in the Pacific Time zone. If the league is seriously considering installing a divisional construct that includes four divisions, the best option would be to further expand into Canada; adding a team in Southern Ontario and a team in Quebec City would give the NHL thirty-two teams to split evenly into four divisions.