OT: Red Wings to Eastern Conference?
I haven't heard anything about this before just seeing a small rumor on ESPN.
Apparently, if the potential Thrashers move (which Bettman has denied) happens, realignment could bring the Wings to the Eastern Conference. I'm not an insider, so I can't read the story, but that's what the headline says.
I, for one, would completely support it. Getting to play the Penguins more would make that more of a rivalry, and game times / travel schedule would make the playoffs much easier on the fans and the players. Not to mention, it would probably be an easier path to the finals.
Anyone think this could actually happen?
A couple years ago, the NHL changed the schedule to include more divisional games to encourage rivalries/ticket sales. The negative in that was, fewer games vs teams from the opposite conference
There was supposedly a gentleman's agreement when the NHL realigned and Toronto moved to the East that should another team be moved from the East to the West that it would be Detroit. The Wings would LEAP at the chance to get to the East, purely for the travel issues. Not to mention, with a veteran (older) team (which might not always be the case), the West Coast travel is a killer. Eliminating this would be an enormous help to them in deep playoff runs.
The Red Wings travel more miles than any other team in hockey.
The wings are forced into "longer" road trips, where they are on the west coast for extended periods. But on miles traveled alone the following is what you have.
1. San Jose 56,254
2. Phoenix 53,843
3. Vancouver 51,213
4. Minnesota 50,805
17. Detroit 39,793
and take on MLB's format where both conferences have teams across the country. Split the Original Six and keep conference rivalries intact.
The good thing about the Red Wings is the success they have had. The bad thing is they are the most important team in the West. Columbus (which is further east) is a team no one in the west will fight to keep.
The wings dominate the central division.
If you want to win the Stanley Cup, you've got to do more than beat up on crappy divisional opposition.
Penguins? Give me more Detroit vs. Toronto!
If the Wings win last night they play Van. Ok. We are in the Central to Eastern region of the US. We play Phoenix, San Jose then Van. Bettman is a mess. I say instead of octopi throw octopi with Bettman faces on the ice. Lets go to Toronto to review the goal. Yah right
I would love for that to happen - the Original Six need to be in the same conference. Some direspect for the history of the game was shown when the Wings found themselves in the otherwise irrelevant (at the time) Western Conference.
...on this from the Capitals' perspective. FWIW, they don't think Detroit is in a good position to be the team moved. Think Nashville or Columbus instead.