The NHL Board of Governors have still not officially voted to allow expansion to the city of Seattle, but as Pierre LeBrun notes on TSN’s latest Insider Trading segment, they’ve already worked out a realignment plan. A proposal has already been “vetted and adopted” by the board’s Executive Committee, the small selection of owners that first decides if things are even brought before the whole group. The realignment plan is now just waiting to see if Seattle will in fact be brought in as the league’s 32nd team, a vote that is expected to take place in early December.
Though he can’t guarantee it, LeBrun—and his fellow panelists Darren Dreger and Bob McKenzie apparently—feels as though the realignment would consist of the Arizona Coyotes moving to the Central Division, with Seattle taking their place in the Pacific Division. That’s the most obvious option, given the Central currently consists of just seven teams and putting a team from Seattle there doesn’t make much sense. The league also wouldn’t want to break up the rivalry of Calgary/Edmonton, or move the Vegas Golden Knights so soon after establishing them in the division.
If Seattle does end up in the Pacific, there’s a natural rivalry ready to take off with the city of Vancouver.
Makes Sense. Arizona is farther east than Nevada is. Not much other choice here. Besides, it’s not like Arizona has a heated rival with really anyone. They haven’t been competitive for a very long time.
Should just relocate them to another city while they are at it.
This is what I expected. Also would allow the Yotes to move to Houston in a few years without requiring realignment.
I prefer moving Colorado to the Pacific and Edmonton and Calgary to the Central. Much better geographically and for travel.
I understand that and don’t disagree, except that it’s no secret that unless the Coyotes get a rink in either downtown, or more geographically centered, they can’t survive.
They have been hemorrhaging money in Glendale. Nothing will change that. It’s just too far away from the population center to be fiscally sound. It take too long to get there from Mesa and Tempe on weeknights for those people to make Yotes games more than a treat instead of a regular meal.
You make an excellent point but I do think they will get their downtown arena. Then it would look dumbing having them in the Central. As a Kings fan I would love to have by closest division rival in Denver.