Who do you think will switch divisions if the Thrashers move to Winnipeg?

You've pretty much got it right. Nashville would be the only team that would make sense moving from east to west, unless they want to move either the Flyers or Penguins to the Southeast and then move the Blue Jackets to the Atlantic division. But Nashville to the Southeast makes the most sense.

The NHL would be in favor of moving teams between conferences if circumstances justified it, like that one. It's that or place more geographical conditions on where a team can be moved(only a city on the East can get the Thrashers, which is unrealistic), or have unbalanced conferences.

I was under the impression Detroit would move, since they've been talking about it a long time and its believed Bettman may have promised it to them. Detroit is also in the eastern time zone whereas Nashville is central. Not sure how the divisions would shape up, however. Nashville makes sense because they could move to the southeast division, and Winnipeg would take their spot in the central. It's cleaner. Whereas if Detroit moved a team in the Atlantic would have to move down to the southeast. Still, Detroit has been beating this drum for a long time, and they have an argument, considering they are in the eastern time zone, it's a huge market, and many of their games against Western conference teams are on later than they should be.

Geographically speaking, it does make sense to move the Nashville Predators into the Southeast Division, even if they are Central Time Zone and Detroit is in the Eastern Time Zone.

And teams have changed conferences. I believe that back in the 1990s, Toronto was in the Western Conference, and in the expansion, it was moved into the Eastern Conference.

Unfortunately, because of geography and the fact that the eastern half of North America has a denser population and therefore more teams, this means that teams in the Eastern and Central time zones are going to be playing in the Western Conference.

My answer comes with the disclaimer that the Thrashers aren't moving anywhere. But if they did, I can see two scenarios to make the geographical division names continue to make (some) sense.

Scenario "A"

EASTERN CONFERENCE

NORTHEAST

Boston Bruins

Montreal Canadiens

Buffalo Sabres

Toronto Maple Leafs

Ottawa Senators

ATLANTIC

Detroit Red Wings

New Jersey Devils

New York Islanders

New York Rangers

Philadelphia Flyers

SOUTHEAST

Carolina Hurricanes

Florida Panthers

Nashville Predators

Tampa Bay Lightning

Washington Capitals

WESTERN CONFERENCE

CENTRAL

Chicago Blackhawks

Columbus Blue Jackets

Dallas Stars

Pittsburgh Penguins

St. Louis Blues

PACIFIC

Anaheim Ducks

Colorado Avalanche

Los Angeles Kings

Phoenix Coyotes

San Jose Sharks

NORTHWEST

Calgary Flames

Edmonton Oilers

Minnesota Wild

Vancouver Canucks

Winnipeg

Scenario "B"

EASTERN CONFERENCE

NORTHEAST

Boston Bruins

Montreal Canadiens

Buffalo Sabres

Toronto Maple Leafs

Ottawa Senators

ATLANTIC

Philadelphia Flyers

Pittsburgh Penguins

New York Rangers

New Jersey Devils

New York Islanders

SOUTHEAST

Carolina Hurricanes

Florida Panthers

Nashville Predators

Tampa Bay Lightning

Washington Capitals

WESTERN CONFERENCE

CENTRAL

Chicago Blackhawks

Columbus Blue Jackets

Dallas Stars

Detroit Red Wings

St. Louis Blues

PACIFIC

Anaheim Ducks

Colorado Avalanche

Los Angeles Kings

Phoenix Coyotes

San Jose Sharks

NORTHWEST

Calgary Flames

Edmonton Oilers

Minnesota Wild

Vancouver Canucks

Winnipeg

Nashville has been in the talks for a few years. But detroit has been in the talks for a LONG time. I believe they would grant it to Detroit. The only thing that makes me say differently would be they would want to boost the public perception of the Predators. Maybe even try to squeeze them in on a NBC weekend game. They might be reluctant because Chicago would be pretty upset about loosing their division rival. Chicago has always made money off playing Detroit. The similar thing happened way back in the early 80's when Chicago and Detroit demanded the Maple Leafs be in the Norris with them.

I think it would be great for both Red wings fans and eastern conference hockey fans to have the Red Wings there. Plus they would be division rivals once again with Toronto.

Bob, check a map.

Columbus wants to move. Chicago wants to move. Detroit has wanted to move for a LONG time and have, apparently, the first request in to do so. I don't know if a "request" has any weight in the matter. Both Detroit and Columbus are farther East than Nashville.

Congratulations Winnipeg, yet another Canadian group for us to cheer for to deliver the cup back to Canada. they say the inhabitants of Winnipeg is one hundred,000 greater now than while the Jets left the 1st time in 1996 to boot they have a clean stadium with basically a skill of 15,500 they have no hardship advertising it out for no less than the 1st 4 or 5 seasons. yet another suggestion could be to call the group the Manitoba despite somewhat than in basic terms Winnipeg

If I had to take a guess, it would be Detroit, but I can see them granting it to Nashville to keep the divisions the same too.

I think Chicago because they are near the east