NHLPA Rejects 2012-2013 Realignment
Comments (0)
(Creative Commons)
The NHL Board of Governors approved the realignment plan back in December. Many greeted the change with open arms, as there has been a call for realignment for some time.
The approved changes would have created four conferences that would send their top four teams to the playoffs with the first two playoff rounds played within each individual conference.
The conferences would have been as follows:
|
Conference 1 |
Conference 2 |
Conference 3 |
Conference 4 |
|
New York Rangers |
Florida Panthers |
Columbus Blue Jackets |
Phoenix Coyotes |
|
New York Islanders |
Tampa Bay Lightning |
Detroit Red Wings |
Anaheim Ducks |
|
New Jersey Devils |
Montreal Canadiens |
Winnipeg Jets |
Los Angeles Kings |
|
Pitssburgh Penguins |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
Nashville Predators |
San Jose Sharks |
|
Philadelphia Fliers |
Buffalo Sabres |
Dallas Stars |
Vancouver Canucks |
|
Carolina Hurricanes |
Ottawa Senators |
Minnesota Wild |
Colorado Avalanche |
|
Washington Capitals |
Boston Bruins |
St. Louis Blues |
Edmonton Oilers |
|
|
|
Chicago Blackhawks
|
Calgary Flames
|
These changes would have benefited teams like the Detroit Red Wings who currently are in the Western Conference and suffer from long flights and time-change issues.
The Board's realignment plan may not be dead, despite the NHLPA rejecting it by the Jan. 6 deadline.
"It hasn't been studied enough," Rangers assistant team player representative Martin Biron told the New York Daily News. "We haven't gotten the information necessary to be able to make the appropriate decision on it, and hopefully we’ll be able to do that."
Since the players' association vetoed these changes for the upcoming 2012-2013 season, the Board of Governors is currently looking into other options. For now, the league plans to use its current set-up indefinitely.
Best way to find more great content from Neon Tommy?
Or join our email list below to enjoy Neon Tommy News Alerts.
