So the Vegas Golden Knights are officially a thing. They have a roster, they have a uniform, all signs point to "go!".
I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, Basically a Sports Show, and they were talking about how crazy this expansion is which inspired me to do this post.
In a nutshell, the NHL said "no" to Quebec even though they have a new arena built and a potential owner who makes his money from a telecommunication company (so it would be really easy to get the team a regional TV contract).
The NHL did admit Las Vegas. They also have a new arena and a wealthy owner.
The NHL was also expecting a bid from Seattle but, nothing came.
Seems pretty apparent that the NHL just wanted to let Las Vegas and Seattle in if you ask me which leads me to my point; I feel the NHL only wanted to expand to the west in order to balance their conferences (I know; this isn't a new or groundbreaking thought).
In 2013 the NHL move the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Detroit Red Wings to the eastern conference (for the 2013-14 season). This left the Western Conference with 14 teams and the Eastern Conference with 16. Adding 'Vegas has started to balance out the conference but let's say, for argument's sake, that the NHL let in the only other bid: Quebec City.
Quebec would need to be in the Eastern Conference. That would leave the West with 15 teams and the East with 17 teams. How would that balance out so there are 16 teams each?
There are a few options but we need to keep in mind that Detroit has asked for years and years to be in the East and the likelihood of them accepting a move back to the Western conference is very slim.
In mind mind, there are 2 solutions.
(note, I threw together a very quick visual with a map I found here. Blue = Western Conference, Red = Eastern Conference)
#1 Just move Columbus back to the Western Conference. They've been there before, it seems like a simple solution. I understand that means that they would play Pittsburgh less but, it may make that budding rivalry more special. Could you imagine if those 2 teams met in the Stanley cup Final?
I will admit, that may not be the solution that the league is looking for. So here is a solution that may make some sense geographically. In the West, it is more common to see teams that are not within driving distance of any other team. For example, the Stars and Avalance are so far away from other teams it is safe to say that someone a state over could even be fans of these teams as their "local team". Where as New York State has 3 teams plus the Devils are just across a bridge from new York state.
My thought process would be this: Move the Florida teams to the Western Conference. Yes, I know the Panthers are further East than a number of Eastern Conference teams in that case. Thing is; the Florida teams are kind of out there, all by themselves geographically, and I think that being in either conference doesn't really effect their travel costs in that case. They also would still be in the same conference so they could continue to play each other the same amount of times as they do now.
If we move those 2 teams west then, to balance things out, the Predators should move to the East.
What this alignment does as well is set up the NHL for a future Seattle team. Let's say any of the Eastern teams (except Nashville) in this alignment move to Seattle (I won't chose any 1 team in particular because it really doesn't matter who it is).
In that scenario, the Preds can move back West with the new Seattle team and the Florida teams can move back East.
I realize that this senario has Lightening and Panthers fans staying up late when their teams are playing in California/Vancouver but Detroit fans had to endure that for a very long time. Nashville fans currently endure it to some extent as well. It's just always going to be a fact when it comes to the NHL.
I think that's how I'd do it if I was asked by the NHL to realign the teams.
I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, Basically a Sports Show, and they were talking about how crazy this expansion is which inspired me to do this post.
In a nutshell, the NHL said "no" to Quebec even though they have a new arena built and a potential owner who makes his money from a telecommunication company (so it would be really easy to get the team a regional TV contract).
The NHL did admit Las Vegas. They also have a new arena and a wealthy owner.
The NHL was also expecting a bid from Seattle but, nothing came.
Seems pretty apparent that the NHL just wanted to let Las Vegas and Seattle in if you ask me which leads me to my point; I feel the NHL only wanted to expand to the west in order to balance their conferences (I know; this isn't a new or groundbreaking thought).
In 2013 the NHL move the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Detroit Red Wings to the eastern conference (for the 2013-14 season). This left the Western Conference with 14 teams and the Eastern Conference with 16. Adding 'Vegas has started to balance out the conference but let's say, for argument's sake, that the NHL let in the only other bid: Quebec City.
Quebec would need to be in the Eastern Conference. That would leave the West with 15 teams and the East with 17 teams. How would that balance out so there are 16 teams each?
There are a few options but we need to keep in mind that Detroit has asked for years and years to be in the East and the likelihood of them accepting a move back to the Western conference is very slim.
In mind mind, there are 2 solutions.
(note, I threw together a very quick visual with a map I found here. Blue = Western Conference, Red = Eastern Conference)
#1 Just move Columbus back to the Western Conference. They've been there before, it seems like a simple solution. I understand that means that they would play Pittsburgh less but, it may make that budding rivalry more special. Could you imagine if those 2 teams met in the Stanley cup Final?
 |
| The Blue Jackets move back West |
I will admit, that may not be the solution that the league is looking for. So here is a solution that may make some sense geographically. In the West, it is more common to see teams that are not within driving distance of any other team. For example, the Stars and Avalance are so far away from other teams it is safe to say that someone a state over could even be fans of these teams as their "local team". Where as New York State has 3 teams plus the Devils are just across a bridge from new York state.
My thought process would be this: Move the Florida teams to the Western Conference. Yes, I know the Panthers are further East than a number of Eastern Conference teams in that case. Thing is; the Florida teams are kind of out there, all by themselves geographically, and I think that being in either conference doesn't really effect their travel costs in that case. They also would still be in the same conference so they could continue to play each other the same amount of times as they do now.
If we move those 2 teams west then, to balance things out, the Predators should move to the East.
 |
| The Florida teams move West |
In that scenario, the Preds can move back West with the new Seattle team and the Florida teams can move back East.
I realize that this senario has Lightening and Panthers fans staying up late when their teams are playing in California/Vancouver but Detroit fans had to endure that for a very long time. Nashville fans currently endure it to some extent as well. It's just always going to be a fact when it comes to the NHL.
I think that's how I'd do it if I was asked by the NHL to realign the teams.
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