NHL weighs major changes

[sanctus]

The NHL is considering realigning the league and reducing the number of divisions from six to four, according to a report.

TSN analyst Bob McKenzie said the league has asked its governors to consider the changes. If there's enough support, the changes could be approved next month and take effect next season.

According to TSN, the changes are as follows:

A reduction in the number of divisions from six to four. There would still be an Eastern Conference and a Western Conference, but there were would one eight-team division and one seven-team division in each conference.

The top two teams in each division would be guaranteed the top four playoff seeds within the conference, with four wild card playoff berths going to the teams with the next-highest point totals.

The four new divisions would be configured primarily along the lines of time zones to reduce travel and boost television ratings.

Other changes include:

- The current Northeast Division (Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Buffalo and Boston) would remain intact and add two other teams to form a seven-team division.

- The current Atlantic Division (the three New York area teams plus Philadelphia) would be melded together with four teams from the current Southeast Division (all but one of Washington, Carolina, Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Florida).

- The eight-team division in the Western Conference would feature all teams in Pacific or Mountain time zones (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose, Colorado and Phoenix).

- The seven-team division in the Western Conference would feature teams that are in either the Central or Eastern time zones.

- The uneven number of teams in the divisions would make the schedule more complicated but each team would face off against its division rivals six times each, its conference rivals either three or four times each and non-conference teams once each.






Copyright © 2006 CBC

 

[talloola]

Lets do it, I like it. That will generate more interest from all the fans, and we will play every team

in the league at least once or twice a year, as it is now, there are some teams who don't see each other

for two years. Crazy.




"

 

[RedGreen]

I like the idea.

However, I know this would never happen, but I kinda like the idea of going to the English soccer system with teirs to the league. I think its too late now that there is salary cap. But it would be cool to see way more teams in two or even three teirs with top teams and bottom teams moving up and down in teirs at the end of the season. I think that having dominant teams isn't necessarily a bad thing. It gives other teams teams to gun for. If a team does well in a season they earn more money and can afford better players and make a run at the champs. I think this would be really cool especially if they could have some sort of salary cap associated with this so that the caliber of teams wouldn't get too lob-sided. This idea would take some serious thinking but would be really fun for pro hockey fans in all markets.

The palyoffs could be really interresting if say the top 13 teams from teir one, the top 2 from teir two and the top team from teir three all made it... talk about underdogs! Some little teir three team from Saskatoon who had a great year could be facing off against the Anaheim Ducks first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I'll take Sakatoon in 7 games with 10-1 odds!

 

[razorgrade]

any updates on this ?

seems reasonable, would add some real flavour to the Northeast Division.