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Campbell: NHL's realignment look still up in the air

Ken Campbell, The Hockey News, 2011-12-05

On his radio show last week, commissioner Gary Bettman expressed an uncharacteristic amount of uncertainty when it came to the issue of realignment. All of which is surprising since when it comes to his control over the board of governors, Bettman has an Arthur Fonzarelli-like hold over the 30-men who employ him. (If you don’t get the reference, kids, look it up.)

This could mean one of two things. Either Bettman was playing possum or the issue of realignment is so contentious with so many different moving parts that he truly doesn’t know which way things are going to go. In the 48 hours leading up to the meetings, it’s fair to say Bettman and other governors were extending their monthly cell phone plans in an effort to get everyone on the same page.

If it were just a simple matter of switching the Detroit Red Wings and Winnipeg Jets, this wouldn’t even be a story at the moment. But there is far more at work here because it’s a scheme that pits owner against owner and divides sentiments along geographical lines. Instead of the haves feuding with the have-nots, this particular imbroglio pits east versus west.

And what exactly to do about the Phoenix Coyotes, the NHL’s problem child who stands a very good chance of being kicked out of the house by this time next season? There isn’t a sane hockey person who truly believes there is anyone out there who will buy the Coyotes and make a firm commitment to keep them in Phoenix, not with expected losses of about $36 million this season – $25 million of which is being covered by the good people of Glendale – and a similar number next season.

How can the league possibly prepare a realignment scheme with so much uncertainty in the desert? Well, you’d have to presume that’s why the proposal calls for two seven-team conferences in the east and two eight-team conferences in the west. The league has maintained that regardless of what the future holds for the Coyotes, its proposed realignment would have the flexibility to accommodate the situation in Phoenix.

If and when the Coyotes move, there is nowhere for them to go in the west of either Canada or the United States. Las Vegas was once a possibility, but Hollywood mogul Jerry Bruckheimer has lost his enthusiasm for placing a team there in a tanking economy and even though Kansas City has a ready-made NHL arena waiting for a tenant, that seems to be a non-starter.

So the Coyotes will likely move to one of two places and this is where things get interesting. The two leading candidates for a relocated team in Canada are Quebec City and the Greater Toronto Area. Either one of those would fit seamlessly in a conference that would also include Montreal, Boston, Buffalo, Toronto, Ottawa, Tampa Bay and Florida.

You can bet one team that would be lobbying hard, and we mean hard, for the choice to be a second team in Toronto over a return to Quebec City are the Montreal Canadiens, a franchise that would stand to lose a good chunk of its provincial popularity and revenue by having to deal with a competitor in Quebec’s capital city. And if the ownership group that plans to build a 20,000-seat arena in the Toronto suburb of Markham can convince the NHL quickly enough that its plans are going to become a reality, the better the chance it would have of becoming the landing spot for the Coyotes.

(One dark horse possibility for either Quebec City or Toronto are the Florida Panthers, who represent the next trouble spot for Bettman after Phoenix. Despite a new owner, the Panthers are a losing proposition and have just four sellouts in their first 11 home dates this season, despite the fact they lead the Southeast Division, have reduced their seating capacity by about 2,500 seats in 2010 and sell some tickets for as low as four dollars.)

As has been frequently reported over the past couple of days the other conferences would be as follows:

Rangers, Islanders, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington and Carolina

Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, St. Louis, Winnipeg, Minnesota, Columbus and Nashville

Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Colorado, San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim and Phoenix

We’re presuming this is how it’s going to end up, but we’re not betting the farm on it being set in stone after just two days of meetings with a croquet match sandwiched in there. The all-star break is a more likely possibility for confirmation.

WILD TURNAROUND

Should the league’s GMs simply dispense with the formalities and give their executive of the year award to Chuck Fletcher of the Minnesota Wild immediately? Fletcher has changed the complexion of the roster, hit a home run with his coaching hire and restocked the Wild’s prospect crop, all while guiding his team to first overall through the first quarter.

Interesting that Fletcher apprenticed under, among others, Ray Shero, whose team is one point behind Fletcher’s in the standings. And Shero earned his chops under David Poile, one of the most respected GMs in the game…

THE GOAL IS GOALS

Early favorite for the Cy Young Award (more goals than assists) is Milan Michalek of the Ottawa Senators (16-6), followed by Evander Kane (14-7), Matt Moulson (13-6) and Jordan Staal (12-6).

At the other end of the spectrum is Michalek’s teammate Erik Karlsson (2-21), followed by Kimmo Timonen (0-17).

Dean
M.Ed (Coaching)
Ch.P.C. (Chartered Professional Coach)
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