The NHL’s announced that it is unofficially considering expansion. Toronto, Quebec, Seattle and Las Vegas intend to bid for a team if it is announced that the NHL will consider expansion, therefore it means that the NHL will not have the same structure for much longer.
The current set-up, two unwieldy conferences each containing two almost-meaningless divisions is not the way of the future.
It is not hard to guess what will take its place. The NFL blueprint of two conferences with four divisions of four teams is the most sensible structure which will allow a league to grow to 40 teams (five teams to a division) or even 48 (six teams to a division).
This will also mean a change in the playoff format. Sixteen teams will still make the playoffs with the first and second team of each division playing each other in the first round (this will ensure a least one “traditional rival” series that the NHL favors). Then the divisional winners will play each other to see who wins the conference and then the conference winners will play each other in the Stanley Cup Final.
There are two pertinent questions concerning the current NHL expansion. First, will the current expansion be about evening the conferences and only be by two teams, both in the west? Or will it be by four teams to accommodate Quebec which has complied with Gary Bettman’s re-entry terms? The betting is for the latter.
Second, assuming it is four teams, will it be the best four cities no matter where they are located or will it be Quebec and three western teams to balance up the conferences? Circumstances favor the latter choice but “sure-fire” expansion choices have been known to fumble away promised franchises so it would not be such a surprise if the NHL decides to choose the best four cities now and then balance up the league in a later expansion.
So, for fun, let’s play predictor. Assume the expansion is by four teams and that the NHL wants to balance up the conferences now. This writer also bets that Quebec, Seattle, Portland, and Houston will be the winning cities. Here’s how the new 34 team NHL will look with 17 teams in each conference.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1 2 3 4
New York Rangers Boston Toronto Florida
New York Islanders Montreal Buffalo Tampa Bay
New Jersey Quebec Detroit Carolina
Philadelphia Ottawa Columbus Washington
Pittsburgh
Best three expansion choices to round up the conference: Hartford, Hamilton, Baltimore
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1 2 3 4
Vancouver Winnipeg Dallas Los Angeles
Seattle Minnesota Houston Anaheim
Portland Chicago Colorado San Jose
Edmonton Nashville St. Louis Phoenix
Calgary
The best three expansion choices to round up the conference: Saskatoon or Spokane (Portland being shifted to division 4), Milwaukee, Kansas City or Oklahoma City.
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