You mentioned Vegas and Seattle/Portland as possible relocation destinations. What about KC and their empty arena? I don't know much about it, but I serously doubt KC could support an NHL team.

So what if an Eastern Coference team moves west, way west…does that move us into the Eastern Conference since we're further east geographically than any other Western Conference team? In the past I've heard Detroit would want to move into the Eastern Conference for the obvious advantage of playing all in-conference games in the Eastern time zone, but I don't see the NHL letting Detroit move out of the West. Can't we just call them the Wales and Campbell Conferences again?

To digress for a moment, I am working on a piece for later in the summer on realignment and scheduling. In general, eliminate divisions, which are meaningless anyway, and only serve to give two more automatic playoff berths. Play every team home and home (58 games) everybody in your conference 1 more game (14) and 10 teams in conference twice. Alternatively, reduce pre-season to two or three games, and play everyone 3 times (87 games) and start season September 20 or so.

Back on topic, I am not sure that expansion is in the offing. I could see a move of one of the Florda teams to Vegas, and perhaps one more franchise moving from the South to the Northwest (Seattle/Portland). That would enable some sensible realignment and provide some travel relief for a lot of clubs.

Fun to speculate about.

For the curious (and if our host doesn't mind), here's the most likely realignment scenario if they wish to keep Phoenix/Hamilton in the Western conference.

Pacific Division:
Vancouver
Dallas
Anaheim
LA
San Jose

NW Division:
Minnesota
Colorado
St. Louis
Edmonton
Calgary

Central:
Hamilton
Columbus
Chicago
Detroit
Nashville

Just curious – if this does go down, do you think it reduces or increases the likelihood of expansion in the next 4-5 years? We keep hearing rumblings about guys like Bruckheimer who want to get in on the NHL ownership picture.

This has always been a bone of contention,and I am doing more research on the issue. However, there are a few points to consider:

1. From my reading, there has always been a legitimate dispute between the NHL and the Toronto/Buffalo contingent over the rights to Southern Ontario. Judge Baum strongly suggests that the NHL does — but this issue was not fully briefed or argued.

2. Bettman is a lot of thing, but not stupid. Whatever "agreement" is entered will come in the form of a court order from the Federal Bankruptcy Court. While I am not saying that litigation would not ensue, it would be much more complex.

3. Balsillie is also not stupid. He is taking this one step at a time, and there is a card that has not yet been played.

I could be dead wrong, but in any event it is going to make some great theater over the next several months.

This whole scenario would make a great Bar Exam question! All sorts of juicy issues here . . .

Thanks for the insight.

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