http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=604852

they proal save a substantial amount on travel
either way its a p big change

I like the concept, not sure how I feel about 2 conferences having 8 teams (1/2 of each make it to playoffs) and 2 having 7 (4 of 7 make it to playoffs)

REDWINGS HAVE EASIEST CONFERENCE

its not like everyone didnt make it to the playoffs before this anyway
being .500 is a playoff ticket

I guess we'll have to wait and see. I just hope we dont see a really competitive conference (Like Conference A) have like 6 teams all competing for top 4, and even though they have like 10+ more points than #4 in a 7 team conference, they don't make the playoffs.

It's definitely interesting though.

things like this have a way of rebalanced things as players migrate etc, will be interesting

New York Rangers, 2012 Bettman Division Champions.

I wonder how they'll solve that whole 8-8-7-7 thing

They won't. Ideally, Columbus would get moved into the division with the PA teams, because they really need a weaker team to balance out the Pens/Flyers/Rangers/Caps.

wait you don't like basketball's system???

contract phoenix and someone else

They said alternating years I thought

o.o

I have no clue what you're talking about.

"In the seven-team Conferences, teams would play six times -- three home, three away -- for a total of 36 inter-division games. In the eight-team Conferences, teams would play either five or six times in a season on a rotating basis -- for a total of 38 inter-division games. "

this maybe? alternating meaning with a 8 team conference they can't play each other a perfect 6 times like they can in the 7 team conference, so it'll be 5 times one year, 6 the next.

Yeah, if you were thinking they are going to toss a couple teams around on a yearly basis, that would be the worst idea ever.

I'm used to tougher divisions with my teams in all sports (except football, the bears and vikings suck)
Dallas is leaving a division with San Jose, Anaheim, LA, and phoenix (who are usually good)
Brewers have 6 teams in their division etc

IM USED TO IT

Rangers division is going to be tough as fuck, minus the Islanders. The Capitals would be #5 of 7 right now

i cant believe you have such a low opinion of me that you would think i actually thought they would just let teams jump around..
i was talking about the latter from pinballs post

The rotation is actually going to be moving the Blue Jackets and Islanders to the AHL and calling up the OKC Barons and the St Johns Ice Caps

I actually don't care too much about the 7/8 thing that I thought I did.

Just remembered how they said the playoffs will work, each conference will have 4 seeds, 1 seed plays 4th, 2 seed plays 3rd. (then winners play)

winner of the conferences play in the semifinals of the Stanley cup.
It might be slightly easier for their team to make the playoffs, but the only team that matters is the 1 team that emerges from each conference.
It's not like the 4th seed in said 7 team conference could knock out a 1st seed in a 8 team one (unless they're good enough to take their entire conference in playoffs)

What I'd like to know is how they'll decide which conference champions will play each other, since it wont be East Vs West in finals.
Their playoffs seeds maybe? then if there's multiple 1st seeds go by reg season?

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=610343

NLV

I wish the NHLPA gave a reasoning...
Seems dumb if the majority of the NHL clubs wanted it.

who had the most to lose
do they have most the money
?????
conclusion