NHL Realignment Proposal is.......

Stupid. Completely stupid. Doesn't make any sense.

According to Friedman, each team would play a home-and-home series with the teams outside their division, with the remaining games played within the division. The first two rounds of the playoffs would also be contested within the division, the same as they were back in the days of the 21-team NHL.

First off why would you split up the Pittsburgh Penguins, one of the marquee teams in the NHL from all of their biggest and historical rivals? That makes no sense. The Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals,and the Pens should all be in the same division. That sells.

With this proposed realignment, the Penguins would only play the New York teams twice, same with the Flyers, Devils, and Capitals. Dumb. There is no way to describe it.

The NHL needs to market itself better.

Also, speaking on behalf of the Western Conference, taking the Detroit Red Wings out the west makes no sense for anyone other than Detroit. The West have a lot of teams that have trouble selling as it is, now you're going to take the marquee team of that conference out, why?

Why would Winnipeg not be included with the rest of the Western Canadian teams?

If this proposal goes through the NHL might suck. I mean I will still watch it but it will not be a great system and I would expect ticket sales and tv ratings to go back down.

Right now the NHL needs to figure out how to get back on ESPN, especially with the NBA going in the shitter, and they need to capitalize on their big draws and big names.

Some people might not like it but shove Philly vs Pit, Pit vs Was, Det vs whoever down our throats for national games. Keep Detroit in the West.

Here is how the realignment should go:

Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
Washington
Columbus
Carolina
Florida
Tampa Bay

NY Rangers
NY Islanders
Boston
Montreal
Ottawa
Toronto
New Jersey
Buffalo

Detroit
Chicago
St.Louis
Nashville
Minnesota
Dallas
Colorado

Phoenix
Los Angeles
San Jose
Anaheim
Winnipeg
Vancouver
Calgary
Edmonton

I would also have the same format for the playoffs now in place. Top two teams from the divisions are the top 2 seeds, everyone else seeded by points.

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