Is there any thought to having a complete re-alignment of both the conferences and divisions in the NHL?

I mentioned the idea of having a North and South rather East and West but it's not very practical because the South is spread out. I like the way things are now and I wouldn't change it BUT if I HAD to change it, I would take the 14 teams that didn't make the playoffs previous and divide them up among 6 divisions (I wouldn't go evenly so some of the divisions would have 2 teams that didn't make it).

Then the 16 teams that did make the playoffs would be distributed evenly. Top team goes in one division, 2nd in a different division and so forth. Something like this:

Norris Division:

Warshington

Pittsburgh

NY Rangers

Carolina

Toronto

Adams Division:

Philly

Tampa Bay

Devils

Atlanta (WInnipeg)

Ottawa

Howe Division:

Boston

Canadiens

NY Islanders

Panthers

Buffalo

Patrick Division:

Vancouver

Anaheim

Chicago

Dallas

Calgary

Smyth Division:

San Jose

Nashville

St Louis

Minnesota

Orr Division:

Detroit

Phoenix

Columbus

Colorado

Los Angeles

It's not very practical and really confusing but I like the idea of the divisions changing every year to even them out and give the fans an opportunity to see more teams, more often.

Yes with Atlanta moving to Winnipeg and with the possibility of Phoenix being relocated the NHL has announced that they will realign the conferences and divisions after next season. They said that they will probably have a two division conference where one division has 8 teams and the other division has 7 teams.

Personally I don't like this format, they used it in the American Hockey League for awhile and it didn't work very well. I think they should keep the 3 division conferences. It is less confusing for playoff seeding and also keeps rivalries strong. If I were in charge I would just move either Columbus or Nashville to the Southeast Division in the East Conference (Where Atlanta was) and move Winnipeg to the Central Division in the West Conference that way everything still works geographically.

Yes the NHL is considering compeletely realigning and changing the conference an divisions. One idea is 2 conferences, with 2 divisions each, like in the pre Bettman days. Of course everything is just in the idea stage and as far as I know nothing serious is going on.

To be honest I would keep it the way it is, the divisions and conferences already divide up evenly.

I think so if it happens this is what I for see.

Eastern Conference:

North Eastern: Boston, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Montreal, New Jersey, Detroit, Buffalo, Toronto

Atlantic: Phillie, Islanders, Rangers, Washington, Nashville, Carolina, Florida, Tampa

Western Conference:

MidWest: Calgary, Chicago, Columbus, Minnesota, Dallas, St. Louis, Winnipeg

Pacific: L.A, Vancouver, Anaheim, San Jose, Colorado, Edmonton, Phoenix

Make new rivalries stregthen certain divisions

Yes the NHL is definitely realligning and they have insinuated that it will be something along the lines of a 4 division, equal time zone format. We just wrote a post on our blog about what this will probably look like and we have a big inside source close to the NHL who confirmed our theory. Check out the full post on the link below.

If you want more great sports analysis/insights read our blog at: www.2ForInstigating.com

solid recommendations. yet you skipped over an excellent style of real hockey hotbeds. How with regard to the Honolulu Volcanos, or the Buenos Aires espresso Kings. Or the Rome Centurions and Spain Mariners. consistent with probability the Somalia Pirates or the Tripoli Rebels.

I heard rumors Detriot is getting moved to the eastern conference

coyotes arent goin anywhere bud. they have said for almost a decade, every single year, with complete certainty, that THIS would be the year the coyotes move. and then they dont

no, the divisions will likely stay the same. maybe next summer they will have a meeting about thinking about changing it. and theyll decide its too much work and scrap it

if it barely runs, they wont fix it