Though the NHL approved the plan all the way back in December 2018, not long after accepting Seattle’s expansion bid, it has been a long time since realignment plans have been reiterated. In fact, since the last update on the league’s post-expansion structure, there was a complete overhaul of the league’s conferences and divisions for the 2020-21 season. However, everything will return to normal next year with the unchanged Atlantic and Metropolitan Divisions making up the Eastern Conference and finally an equal 16 teams in the Western Conference with the Central and Pacific Divisions. Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed today that the plan remains for the only team to move to be the Arizona Coyotes. Although Phoenix is more closely located to four Pacific cities than any Central cities, it is also closer to those Central cities than any other Pacific city, including newcomer Seattle. The Coyotes may be the odd man out, but a change of scenery can’t hurt for a team that has struggled to make the playoffs out of the Pacific for the better part of a decade.
- When the NHL announced a number of events for the 2021-22 season earlier today, there were a couple of curious absences. The league revealed a Stadium Series game in Nashville and that All-Star Weekend will belong to Vegas, thereby skipping over the hosts for those canceled 2020-21 events. The Carolina Hurricanes were set to host an outdoor game this year, but now have no such event planned. However, Bettman did specifically mention that Raleigh will get it’s Stadium Series (or perhaps Winter Classic) game in the near future. There is not as much clarity for the Florida Panthers. The 2021 All-Star Game was supposed to take place in Sunrise, but now it will be on the other side of the country and there has been no explanation by the league as to why nor as to future plans for the Panthers to host. George Richards of Florida Hockey Now surmises that the potential for the All-Star Game to lead into the Olympic break, if the NHL attends, made a move west, where flights to China would be far shorter than from Florida, a sensible move. However, he also notes that Florida team president Matt Caldwell was certain the All-Star game would belong to the Panthers, so there is some confusion. In all likelihood, Florida will play host to the All-Star game in the near future, just as Carolina will host an outdoor game, but until there is an official announcement that is only speculation.
- Another surprise reveal this evening is that NBC’s contract with the NHL will officially come to an end following the Stanley Cup Final. The network was expected to host the NHL Entry Draft, if not also the NHL Expansion Draft, later this month. However, ESPN has now been announced as the host of both. TSN’s Bob McKenzie, an NBC contributor, notes that this has less to do with the new television rights agreement and more to do with unfortunate timing. McKenzie believes that NBC informed the NHL well before the new TV deal that they would be unable to host the Entry Draft due to conflicts with the Summer Olympics. As a result, ESPN will begin its NHL coverage with two major events in the span of just three days – the Expansion Draft on Wednesday, July 21 and the first round of the Entry Draft on Friday, July 23. Although, McKenzie believes they will use the Sportsnet feed for the latter, if not both. With Mark Messier and most recently Chris Chelios joining ESPN, the network will have more than enough talent to start producing their own material sooner rather than later.
Thank god. I don’t think I could take another season of seven mediocre teams playing each other over and over in Canada.
7 mediocre teams? Last time I checked, Montréal is in the final. They beat Vegas to get there too, who in turn beat Colorado and Minnesota. Who isn’t mediocre, by your logic?
Did you follow any of those teams this season? One seven game series doesn’t prove anything lol. They wouldn’t have even sniffed the playoffs had the Atlantic division been a thing this season.
So, had Ottawa played in any other division they wouldn’t have won a game this year?
Montreal is a good team, as is rather evident right now.
TOR and EDM did create a pond hockey atmosphere in that division, that is true. Look how far that got them.
Yes, you are correct
The Honda West division was awesome. Look at well Colorado did there, and their playoff run.
Gretzky signed with TBS TNT not ESPN
Is there a spot for Gary Thorne anywhere?
@2012orioles – Gary should have two spots – he’s that good! And, some of us (you and I, for instance), have been missing his calls for far too long. Too bad Billy Clement has retired, it’d be like getting the band back together, albeit on the older side.
Thankfully the NHL will finally be done with NBC. Worst broadcast and streaming. Hopefully ESPN does hockey some justice.
Given that (aside from Sunday Night Baseball with A-Roid) they don’t tend to care about anything besides football, basketball, college football, and college basketball, I wouldn’t count on it.
Let’s be honest ESPN is going to do a terrible job with the NHL but I’ll take that over the crap NBC has been giving us.
we don’t want ESPN to cover hockey they are trash
I heard Marley Rivera and Alex Rodriguez are moving to Sunday night Hockey on ESPN
Thank god the NBC/NHL joke of coverage of the NHL Draft is over. So boring.
Are they going to add 2 games to keep the schedule guaranteeing each team gets a home and away game versus every team
With Messier & Chelios as analysts I might look forward to the intermission more than some of the games.
ESPN is a disgrace. the only thing good about the switch is that now we can subscribe to espn plus for 5.99 to watch every NHL game.
@unfazed – Sometime next season, I’d love to hear back from you and others about your experience and whether it was reliable and worth it. And, if you get jammed with bogus “blackouts” that can’t be justified. NHL.com has pulled that crap in the past, so it’ll be interesting to see if you guys get the same treatment from ESPN.
Howdy Mac, agreed my friend NHL Center Ice does black-outs , hardly ever get to see the Predators due to blackout here in Tennessee .as I do follow the Central Division most of time since my team is in that division , at least with re-alignment everyone can beat up on Arizona as new to division with original format returning for 21-22 Season .
@riverrat55 – OK, G, Bill Armstrong on line one for you! I’m glad you chimed in here. If you access games on the interweb with that, I’d love to hear if you, or anyone else has tried to access the game via a VPN. I found that I can face-push the B.S. blackout and access desired games that way, even IIHF stuff. In my book, if you’re paying a hefty price for access, you should get your money’s worth.
Thankfully still have NHL Center Ice Package on Dish, not sure on NBCSN games , will have to do some research on that since no more NBC Commercials got tired of missing goals with the plethera of commercials, may back to old school listening to games on AM Radio or NHL.com , been a few eons since listened to games on radio
@riverrat55 – G – while looking for more info on the ‘Hawks current mess, I stumbled on a bit of disappointment. I hope this isn’t breaking news for you, but they had an article noting that this next season will be Pat Foley’s farewell tour. I only get to catch the freebies on NHL.com, but have always liked Pat’s calls. Hopefully, they pick a worthy successor.
I’d much rather have this year’s Central Division than next year’s Central Division
Chelios has shown some interesting different takes on game. Messier please if he not selling his potato award or talking leadership messierway . you follow me and kiss my butt or I get rid of you. laugh when people compare gretzky/messier to barkley/shaq. both shaq @ barkley said interesting things when they played . messier/gretzky did not . messier if he says anything negative about players will they are as good as I was.
The only NHL players I’ve ever heard be even remotely interesting are Ryan Whitney and Paul Bissionette. End of list.
Hockey is a “keep your cards to your vest” culture in a way other sports are not.
Can we all agree that the best part of the NHL being on ESPN is that we get to hear one of, if not the best, sports jingles on a regular basis?
Can Columbus get into an outdoor game? They’re the only cold weather team who have never participated. Or are we gonna watch Detroit, Chicago and Pittsburgh again?