I think the Panthers should ask the NHL for a divisional realignment. And yes, I know that the NHL just realigned the divisions last year. But I’d argue that they hosed both of the Florida teams and also missed an opportunity for better media coverage.

I propose these divisions:

Atlantic:

NY Rangers
New Jersey
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Washington
Carolina
Tampa Bay
Florida

North:

Columbus
Detroit
Buffalo
Toronto
Ottawa
Montreal
Boston
NY Islanders

The benefits (as I see ’em):

Florida & Tampa Bay both get to be back with former division foes Carolina & Washington
Florida & Tampa Bay get to see the Penguins, Flyers, Devils, & Rangers more often – which would presumably draw better than Ottawa & Buffalo for Florida-based teams
Columbus gets to be in the same division as nearby Detroit, gets to be with four of the Original Six, and still gets to visit NYC
NYC gets the benefit of having teams in two different divisions, which can only help for coverage of those teams by the media


Jó elképzelés, sokkal jobb, mint a jelenlegi!