SB Nation Detroit - NHL Realignment: NHLPA Blocks 4-Conference Plan; Red Wings Not Pleasedhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48919/detroit-fave.png2012-01-06T23:51:45-05:00http://detroit.sbnation.com/rss/stream/19628482012-01-06T23:51:45-05:002012-01-06T23:51:45-05:00NHL Realignment Halted By NHLPA; Red Wings Not Happy
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<p>The <a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/2011/12/5/2614478/nhl-realignment-2012-rumors-red-wings/in/1962848">NHL realignment plan</a> that would have shifted the league to a four-conference format and made travel much nicer for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/">Detroit Red Wings</a> will not go into effect in 2012-13. In fact, it may not go into effect ever after the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2012/1/6/2688443/nhl-realignment-delay-postponed-nhlpa-2012-13/in/2009235">NHLPA refused to sign off on it</a>, citing concerns about travel and unbalanced conferences (two would have had eight teams and two would have had seven).</p>
<p>Considering how happy the Red Wings were with the new plan, it's no surprise that they are upset with the NHLPA's move to block it. Red Wings senior vice president Jimmy Devellano is <a href="http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2012/01/red_wings_jimmy_devellano_disg.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mlive_sports+%28MLive.com+Sports%29">especially upset with the move</a>.</p>
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<p>"I'm disgusted and disappointed but not entirely surprised by that union,'' Devellano told MLive.com.</p>
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<p>With the collective bargaining agreement set to expire after the 2011-12 season comes to a close, this is not a good sign for future labor talks. The last thing the NHL needs right now is another work stoppage, but if the handling of realignment is any indication, it could be a long summer for hockey fans.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2012/1/6/2688869/nhl-realignment-red-wings-nhlpaSean Yuille2011-12-05T22:40:58-05:002011-12-05T22:40:58-05:00NHL Realignment: Red Wings' Ken Holland Thrilled With 4-Conference Setup
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<p>The NHL's Board of Governors voted on Monday night to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2011/12/5/2614236/nhl-realignment-2012-four-conferences-playoffs/in/2009235">approve a new four-conference setup</a> that is set to begin with the 2012-13 season. The setup differs from the current one in that rather than having six divisions and two conferences, the league will simply be <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2011/12/5/2614371/nhl-realignment-2012-details-primer-four-conferences">divided up into four conferences</a>.</p>
<p>The move to a four-conference system will result in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/">Red Wings</a> being in a conference with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/">Blackhawks</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/">Blue Jackets</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/">Stars</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hockeywilderness.com/">Wild</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Predators</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arcticicehockey.com/">Jets</a>. Basically, the Red Wings will still be in the Central Division, but under the new plan they will also be in the same grouping with the Stars, Wild and Jets.</p>
<p>Not only does this new system make the NHL more geographically balanced, but it also will result in a better schedule in terms of traveling for teams like Detroit and Columbus. The new schedule will be based on playing a home-and-home series with out of conference teams and filling out the rest of the schedule with in-conference teams. This means the Red Wings will not be traveling out west quite as often, which pleases general manager Ken Holland. From <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/CraigCustance/status/143887959589011456">Craig Custance</a>:</p>
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<p>Red Wings fans who aren't happy with the realignment plan, know that your GM is. "We're thrilled," Ken Holland said.</p>
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<p>The Red Wings also will not have to worry about making as many trips out west in the playoffs. This is because the first two rounds of the playoffs will be intra-conference. Four teams from each conference will make the playoffs, and only after a conference champion is crowned will teams face opponents from another conference. This means the days of potentially having to go out west for the first three rounds of the playoffs are gone.</p>
<p>Before this new setup is made official, the league and NHLPA <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/DarrenDreger/status/143891920521936896">have to reach an agreement</a>. There's no reason to expect this plan not to go forward, though, so expect this to be the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2011/12/5/2614236/nhl-realignment-2012-four-conferences-playoffs">new setup for next season</a> (via <a href="http://www.rawcharge.com/">Raw Charge</a>):</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/911800/NHL-realignment-map_2011-12-03_medium.png"><img alt="Nhl-realignment-map_2011-12-03_medium_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/911800/NHL-realignment-map_2011-12-03_medium_medium.png"></a></p>
<p>I'm with Holland on this one. This new setup will be much better not only for the Red Wings, but also for their fans, especially come playoff time.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2011/12/5/2614478/nhl-realignment-2012-rumors-red-wingsSean Yuille2011-07-11T22:41:06-04:002011-07-11T22:41:06-04:00Minnesota Wild Owner Leaks Possible NHL Realignment, Red Wings May Be Headed East
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<p>There’s been rampant speculation about how the <span class="caps">NHL</span> landscape will look for the 2012-13 season since the announcement came that the league was looking into the idea of realignment. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hockeywilderness.com/">Minnesota Wild</a> owner Craig Leipold may have already spilled the beans.</p>
<p>Leipold told a<a href="http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2011/07/minnesota_owner_might_have_rev.html"> local Minneapolis radio station </a>that the Wild would be placed in the Central Division along with the newly christened <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/atlanta-thrashers">Winnipeg Jets</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/">Chicago Blackhawks</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Blues</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Nashville Predators</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/">Dallas Stars</a> and possibly the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/">Columbus Blue Jackets</a>.</p>
<p>Two things can be surmised from this statement. First, it appears the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/">Red Wings</a> will not be in the Central Division according to Leipold, in which case they are likely headed for the Eastern Conference. It would make no sense to break up the Chicago-Detroit Central Division rivalry and keep Detroit in the Western Conference.</p>
<p>Second, it appears the league will stick with two 15-team conferences instead of a uneven 16-14 divide like Major League Baseball if it’s true that Columbus will remain in the Central Division. It was believed in <a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-red-wings/2011/6/27/2246181/nhl-realignment-2011-winnipeg-detroit-red-wings">earlier reports</a> that both Columbus and Detroit would move East. However, Leipold left open the possibility that Columbus could move East, so it’s anything but a given right now.</p>
<p>You can read Leipold’s statement <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2011/7/7/2264885/nhl-realignment-central-division-minnesota-wild-owner-radio">here at SB Nation Hockey</a>.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-red-wings/2011/7/11/2271056/minnesota-wild-owner-leaks-possible-nhl-realignment-red-wings-may-beRyan Weiss2011-06-27T09:06:42-04:002011-06-27T09:06:42-04:00NHL Realignment: League To Move To 4 Divisions?
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<p>Even before the Atlanta <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/atlanta-thrashers">Thrashers</a> became the Winnipeg Jets, NHL realignment was a hot topic. Now that we know realignment will happen before the 2012-13 season, the debate is raging on about how the NHL should go about configuring its divisions.</p>
<p>As first reported by the Ottawa Sun last week, it looks like the NHL may scrap its current divisions and <a href="http://www.ottawasun.com/2011/06/22/nhl-maps-out-major-changes">come up with a new setup</a>. Originally the belief was Winnipeg would simply move to the Western Conference and a team from the West would move to the East, but as it turns out Gary Bettman may have something different in mind.</p>
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<p>Sources say under Bettman’s proposal, the league will have four divisions: Pacific, Midwest, East and South. It’s believed the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/">Detroit Red Wings</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> would both get their wish to move to the East conference.</p>
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<p>With 30 teams, one division in each conference will have eight squads while the other will have seven. Under the current format — two conferences and six divisions — division winners and the top five teams make the playoffs.</p>
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<p>Under the new setup, the top four teams in each division would make the playoffs and square off against each other in the first round. In the second round the teams would be reseeded for conference play.</p>
<p>Obviously a lot of discussions need to take place before any NHL realignment happens, but an NHL executive <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=nc-cotsonika_dvision_realignment_062511">told Yahoo! Sports</a> at the draft that it is a "guarantee" that dramatic change is coming.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-red-wings/2011/6/27/2246181/nhl-realignment-2011-winnipeg-detroit-red-wingsSean Yuille2011-06-21T19:49:26-04:002011-06-21T19:49:26-04:00NHL Unanimously Approves Thrashers Move To Winnipeg
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<p>It’s official, realignment will be coming to an <span class="caps">NHL</span> city near you in the next couple of years.</p>
<p>The NHL’s Board of Governors met on Tuesday and <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2011/06/21/sp-winnipeg-sale-approved.html?cmp=twt-hnic">unanimously approved the sale of the Atlanta Thrashers </a>to Winnipeg-based True North Sports and Entertainment. The Board also approved the relocation of the team to the <span class="caps">MTS</span> Centre in Winnipeg for next season by a unanimous vote.</p>
<p><span class="caps">NHL</span> commissioner Gary Bettman, who oversaw the Jets’ departure from Manitoba over a decade ago, expressed his regret about leaving the Atlanta market behind a second time:</p>
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<p>“Obviously, everybody is sorry and distressed and unhappy that we found ourselves in the circumstance where our franchise was leaving Atlanta,” Bettman said. “We’re particularly sorry for the fans that are there, but obviously based on the reception that we’ve gotten, everybody is extremely excited about the opportunities in Winnipeg for our return.”</p>
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<p>The unnamed Winnipeg team will play next year in Atlanta’s spot in the Southeast division that includes Washington, Tampa Bay, Florida and Carolina. It is then presumed the <span class="caps">NHL</span> will realign it’s divisions for 2012-13, paving the way for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/">Red Wings</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/">Blue Jackets</a> or <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Predators</a> to move into the Eastern Conference. It’s widely thought the Red Wings were given first dibs years ago to move to the East, but it looks like a huge battle will ensue in the coming years between the three clubs.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-red-wings/2011/6/21/2236178/nhl-unanimously-approves-thrashers-move-to-winnipeg-realignmentRyan Weiss2011-06-04T16:00:46-04:002011-06-04T16:00:46-04:00Winnipeg Sells Remaining Season Tickets In 17 Minutes To General Public
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<p>After three days of an exclusive presale to Manitoba Moose ticket holders and corporate big shots ended Friday, the hockey-mad general public in Winnipeg finally got their crack to buy tickets for the new <span class="caps">NHL</span> franchise.</p>
<p>It didn’t last long.</p>
<p>True North kicked off the general public sale at 12 p.m. <span class="caps">CST</span> today, and by 12:17 the remaining <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/True-North-meets-8216-Drive-to-13-8242-NHL-s?urn=nhl-wp6425">5,842 tickets were gone. </a></p>
<p>Winnipeggers that missed out on tickets can now join a <a href="http://driveto13.com/waitlist.php">waiting list </a>and get the first crack at playoff tickets with a non-refundable $50 per seat deposit for a maximum of four seats. That’s right, for $200 you get to be on the <em>waiting list.</em></p>
<p>With a small arena that seats just 15,000 people and a dedicated fan base, it could be a while before many residents even sniff the inside of the <span class="caps">MTS</span> Centre. Green Bay, which has about 14 percent of the population of Winnipeg, currently has a waiting list with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_season_ticket_waiting_lists">86,000 names</a> on it for the NFL’s Packers, an average wait time of <em>955 years. </em></p>
<p>The NHL’s Board of Governors will now vote on the relocation of the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/atlanta-thrashers" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Thrashers</a> to Winnipeg on June 21. After selling 13,000 tickets in less than four days, it’s hard to imagine they’ll be turned down.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-red-wings/2011/6/4/2206740/winnipeg-season-tickets-sold-out-relocation-atlanta-thrashersRyan Weiss2011-06-03T18:59:22-04:002011-06-03T18:59:22-04:00Winnipeg's 'Drive To 13' Campaign Wildly Successful Through Three Days
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<p>The people of Winnipeg have already made a big impression with its second chance at the <span class="caps">NHL</span>.</p>
<p>True North’s ‘Drive to 13’ campaign to sell 13,000 season tickets has already sold off <a href="http://driveto13.com/">7,158 ticket packages</a> in the first three days. That may not sound that impressive on the surface; however, the general public in Manitoba hasn’t even gotten a crack at it yet.</p>
<p>At the team’s introductory press conference, <span class="caps">NHL</span> commissioner Gary Bettman warned that the <span class="caps">NHL</span> in Winnipeg wouldn’t work real well unless the <span class="caps">MTS</span> Centre was sold out every night. He then alluded to the Drive To 13 campaign, saying selling 13,000 season tickets would make a good impression on the NHL’s Board of Governors.</p>
<p>Winnipeg listened.</p>
<p>The presale of season tickets will end at 10 p.m. tonight to existing Manitoba Moose season ticket holders and corporate advertising partners, with sale to the general public starting at 12 p.m. tomorrow. That means the 7,158 number is <em>only</em> the ticket holders from the <span class="caps">AHL</span> club. At this rate there might not be any left for the entire arena after tomorrow.</p>
<p>Winnipeggers certainly aren’t messing around this time. In just three days a select few bidders have sold out nearly half of the <span class="caps">MTS</span> Centre’s total capacity. Now <span class="caps">THAT</span> is impressive.</p>
<p>With the early returns, it appears that Winnipeg is nearly a lock to win the Board of Governor’s approval for relocation.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-red-wings/2011/6/3/2205676/winnipegs-drive-to-13-campaign-wildly-successful-through-three-daysRyan Weiss2011-05-31T20:18:12-04:002011-05-31T20:18:12-04:00Pierre LeBrun: 'Obvious' Move Is Detroit To East
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<p>With the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/atlanta-thrashers">Thrashers</a> officially headed for the Great White North, <span class="caps">NHL</span> realignment discussions are propping up all over North America.</p>
<p>ESPN’s top gurus Pierre LeBrun and Scott Burnside discussed the scenario, today, and <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/8685/thrashers-debate-realignment-questions#comments">here’s what LeBrun said </a>about moving the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/">Red Wings</a> to the East:</p>
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<p>The obvious realignment to me is this: Detroit goes East, Winnipeg into the Northwest, Colorado into the Pacific, Dallas into the Central.</p>
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<p>But Lebrun wasn’t completely confident the Wings were a lock to make the jump. The problem? The rest of that darned Western Conference:</p>
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<p>But a league source told me recently that the reason realignment is being delayed a year is that the league wants to properly canvass all its governors and get everyone’s feedback on what is always a contentious issue. The Red Wings desperately want to move east. They’re tired of playing most of their games outside of their time zone, and it’s brutal for TV ratings when you’re asking your fans to stay up late to watch most of your road games. Having said that, many Western Conference governors will oppose losing Detroit because of the Wings’ gate power.</p>
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<p>I’m sorry but I call BS on this. It is <span class="caps">NOT</span> the Red Wings’ job to draw fans for other teams. Maybe those teams should focus on building a better fan base than relying on big draws for the two-to-three times Detroit comes to town. I bet Mike Ilitch feels the same way, and he will mention this when realignment is dealt with by the Board of Governors.</p>
<p>Burnside wasn’t as quick to jump on the Red Wings-to-the-East wagon, however:</p>
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<p>I think a simple swap of Detroit for Atlanta/Winnipeg is short-sighted and would be a significant blow to the two-conference setup that has, I think, worked pretty well. You could lose the divisions, as far as I am concerned, especially given that they have no bearing on the playoff seeding. You play an unbalanced schedule that includes six games against each division rival, then throw that out the window come playoff time and seed one through eight based on points.</p>
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<p>Winnipeg will eventually play in the West, but the question is who is going to replace them in the East. As is pointed out in the <span class="caps">ESPN</span> article, realignment is all going to hinge on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/phoenix-coyotes">Phoenix Coyotes</a> situation. Phoenix is staying put for at least another year, but it is anything but certain that they will remain there in the future. If Phoenix moves east to say, Quebec City, it would throw the <span class="caps">NHL</span> alignment all out of whack again.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-red-wings/2011/5/31/2199954/pierre-lebrun-obvious-move-is-detroit-to-eastRyan Weiss