Addition by Divisions

Every time I turn around, someone is writing about why the Detroit Red Wings deserve a break when it comes to realignment, which will be employed once this season ends.

Funny that nobody mentions the Vancouver Canucks, who are the only team from the Pacific Time Zone in its division. Bu back to Detroit and realignment.

Detroit wants back in the East, erasing the gains the NHL made when they finally had three Original Six teams in the Campbell Conference (Detroit, Toronto, Chicago) and three in the Prince of Wales Conference (Boston, Montreal and New York).

Brilliant, everybody shares. Heck, that was far superior to the deal when the Canucks came into the league. (Here's a quick graphic review from the best in show, sixteenwins.com.)Chicago was shifted from the East Division to the West and the expansion Canucks and Buffalo Sabres were placed in the East.

Over time, division opponents have changed and evolved, allowing next generation of fan to roar that nobody had better shift their team from "LONG-TIME" rivals. And yet the Rangers are no longer in the same division with the hated Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens. (Speaking of hated rivals, remember the Adams Division rumbles between the Bruins and the Minnesota North Stars? I sure do.)



At best, the NHL goes back to four divisions and the old names: Smythe, Norris, Adams and Patrick. Those brands have the flavor of hockey, as do the Campbell and Prince of Wales Conferences. Drop the puck and let 'em go. As for Detroit, it should stay in the Campbell Conference in order to allow the Columbus Blue Jackets head to the Wales and get their teeth kicked in regularly by the near-by Pittsburgh Penguins.

Yes, I do mean split the Flyers and the Penguins. If it was good enough for the Phillies and Pirates, the Eagles and Steelers, the Sixers and the Pipers/Condors (OK, went a bit to far; the Pipers/Condors never made it out of the ABA), then Pennsylvania can and will survive this split. Besides, I suspect Penguins fans will grow to enjoy watching their team knocking the snot out of the Blue Jackets, the oh-so-soft Sabres, the smallish Canadiens, the boisterously bad Maple Leafs and the cannot-win-a-faceoff Senators in the reconstituted Adams Division.

Put the focus on divisional play, with home-and-homes for everyone else, and you get a league where everyone plays everyone without the faux conference arrangement that is employed today.

The Patrick Division returns with the Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Flyers, Capitals (welcome back), Hurricanes, Lightning and Panthers.

The Adams Division: Blue Jackets, Penguins, Sabres, Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Senators, Bruins.

The Norris Division: Red Wings, Blackhawks, Predators, Blues, Stars, Jets and Wild.

The Smythe Division of Champions: Coyotes, Ducks, Kings, Sharks, Canucks, Flames, Oilers and Avalanche.

I cannot wait to express my disgust of the Oilers, Flames and Canucks, my old friends from the Smythe.

And then, the big finish here, we expect a return to a divisional format for the first two rounds of the playoffs. Two rounds of "I hate you so much, I cannot wait to trade hits with you again." Survive that and you are ready to take your chances on the final two rounds. Two years of restored divisional play and I guarantee fans that they will not miss the teams who are no longer in their team's division.

And, indeed, if love will tear us apart, then let it be so. I am willing to emerge from the shredder each spring with a smile on my face. Time to embrace the Smythe, Norris, Adams and Patrick Divisions again.