NHL Realignment

I have a question for everyone. 

I keep seeing renewing the Rivialy of the Wings verses the Leafs, Habs, Ect.   But it has been since 1992 that Detroit has played in a division with anyone of those teams.  So why do you really think there would be a bigger rivialry with the Wings verse what the Wings have with the Blackhawks, Blues, Preds etc? 

I know some are longing for the days of 6 teams again, but unless you are over 40 years of age, the chances of you reallying knowing or caring about the rivialry is probably very little, except for hearsay. 

Now I have no problem with Detroit moving to the east, but if there was to be only one team to move to the east verse Winnipeg moving west then in my opinion it should be columbus.  They don't have the rivalrys of say the Wings and Hawks, or Wings and Blues and if the NHL really wants that franchise to survive then they need the Jackets in the East to bring more of their fans to the game IMO. 

This from a Hurricane fan.  With that said,  if they do move 2 teams like is being rumored then yes, because of the time zones, the Wings and Jackets should move.  But the Wings only if they move 2 teams. 

mikeyfan,

Even though I am not a Red Wing fan, I could see the Red Wings-Maple Leafs rivalry potentially becoming bigger than the Blackhawks-Red Wings rivalry.  I say that because of the close proximity the two cities are to each (i.e. that small section of Canada) compared to the distance between Detroit and Chicago.  It is my understanding that both teams have a large following of fans within that portion of Canada and fans living their are more fanatic about ice hockey than Americans.  Also, it is my understand that the NHL owners (or Bettman) want to return hockey to its "roots" (since it is viewed as a Canadian sport) as a way of re-energizing the revenue stream and interest in the sport.

The only downside to moving Columbus to the East is Columbus would be placed in the Southeast Division.  Does that really make more sense moving a central/midwest team to the Southeast instead of Nashville (who is located in the southeast region)?  I understand Nashville is in the central time zone, but I am not sure Columbus would really develop any rivalries with the Southeast teams since it would logistically be located on an island (separated by at least 1 Atlantic Division team) from its closest divisional foe (Washington).  At least Tennessee and North Carolina border each other, so there is a better chance at least a Nashville-Carolina rivalry could develop from the move.  There is even a possibility that Nashville-Washington could develop into a rivalry (if you agree with the assumption that at least part of Virginia is considered Caps "terroritory" and Tennessee borders Virginia).  Even though most Caps fans would rather be in the same division as Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and New Jersey, I believe they could be content with having a similar rivalry with Nashville that they have with Carolina.  It may not be perfect, but I am not sure there is any perfect solution given the number of teams located in the east.

VT, Columbus is closer to Raleigh and Washington DC than Nashville is.  The distance between Nashville and Tampa or Miami is not that much closer than Columbus would be to those cities, Also, the time zone difference makes moving Columbus to the southeast over Nashville, more fesible than Nashville.

Here are the distances Columbus to Washington - 400 miles to Raleigh 489 miles;  Nashville to Washington 664 miles to Raleigh 539.  Also, there are lots of people here from OH,  so,  a rivilary could probably be developed in a hurry. 

Columbus is more East the Detroit, right? It would be pretty stupid to move the team farther after without moving the closer team.

mikey,

I understand what you are saying about distance.  However, distance does not necessarily mean 2 locations share the same culture.  Ohio is viewed as either a midwestern or central state.  Tennessee is viewed as southeastern or south state.  If the NHL is going to have a Southeast Division, then doesn't it make the msot sense to have teams from within that region?   

Red Wings been "promised" to be moved to the Eastern Conference a long time ago.

As long as Toronto is the same division again as my Wings I will be happy.

NHL front office I read asked the NHLPA to decide on their proposal of realignment by this weekend but I haven't heard anything yet.

Right now the stupid front office proposal has an uneven Conferences where a wildcard playoff spot will be needed every season but even then it still won't be fair percentage wise for everyone to make the playoffs.

Hope the players shoot down the NHL lawyers latest brain fart realignment idea....flush.

Whatever the alignment, you really can't break up the Atlantic division.  The rivalries there are too close.  The exception would be the Islanders if something were to happen to the team to force it to move.  That's the only way I could see the Atlantic breaking apart.

swap Boston and Pitt. Gotta have Bruins/Habs and Pens/Flyers.

Simple...send Detroit to the East

Columbus is farther east than Detroit.  Both Columbus and Detroit are farther east than Nashville and Winnipeg.  Looks to me like the new realignment plan took all that into consideration.  Looks like all the teams in the eastern time zone are now in the eastern division.  I think that's great.  It looks to me like there's no division with teams in more than one time zone, and only the Western conference spreads across three zones.  I think the NHL did as good of a job with this as they could.