So here is Gary Bettman explaining how the new restructure is going to work. Very informative.

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=3&id=140077

For those that don't know the basics, next season the NHL will have four conferences, with no divisions. Here is the breakdown... referred to by letter since they haven't names them yet.

D)  New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Washington and Carolina

C)  Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Buffalo, Florida and Tampa Bay

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

A) Los Angeles, Anaheim, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Colorado

I like it looks like this could get the NHL back up there in the rankings of the sports not to mention it should keep things less confusing. I like things that are simpler for brackets.

Yeah, it does simplify a lot. Though I hear there are now people calling for two more expansion teams so that all four conferences have eight members.

Anyone else notice that conference D has no Canadian team in it? I'm kinda sad about that.

they also have it set up so that when Phoenix moves it will make it 15 - 15 for east - west again....

And leave expansion spots open. Although I would prefer if they got rid of 2 teams rather than expanding by 2. Bloated league as it is. Get rid of 2 teams and bulk up the rest just a bit more.

This is a more fullblown restructure than what the MLB is doing, although I can understand why it's being done.

For those unaware, the Houston Astros are moving to the AL West from the NL Central after next season. This will give every division in baseball 5 teams (previously the AL West had 4, and the NL Central had 6.), as well as make interleague play last throughout the season. This also enables the addition of a second wildcard spot in each league. 10 playoff teams instead of 8.

I know it's not so much about the NHL Change, but it was more to point out I know how it kinda feels.

It's makes it simpler, but at the same time it's kind of foreign to me. (as long as I've been alive, I don't remember restructures. So I'm going through my first and second at the same time.

legacyme3 : If you want to experience restructuring, watch American college football.  Teams jump in and out of conferences all the time.  Conferences cease to exist, new ones evolve, and it always changes. 

As for MLB, I hate the change.  Interleague used to be something special and the World Series was amazing because it pitted two teams who never played each other the past many years.  Now it's like the NFL, NBA, or NHL, where East plays West and AFC plays NFC.  The thing that made baseball so special is gone now.  I'm disappointed.

As for hockey, I think the realignment and play-off implications mean good teams are going to get bounced early and the weaker teams get to extend their post-season.  I don't like it one bit.

warmaker :

ugh. No thanks. I dislike college football. The entire thing is a sham until they ditch the BCS and go to a playoff structure. Which they never will.

And I agree for the most part on the MLB thing... I don't like the addition of a second wild card and I do not like interleague being on all season long. Now I am worried what will happen to the DH rule, given that my team uses the DH to full advantage.

warmaker : I actually think it gives more teams a chance since they got rid of the divisions... as it is right now, the top three seeds in the playoffs go to the division leaders, regardless of their points. The only reason that Boston got into the playoffs at all last year was because the rest of their division was even worse than they were. Now it's all points, so really I don't think there will be any "weak teams" getting in.

I really like this change, and I think it solves a lot of problems teams have been complaining about. Franchises like the Stars, Blue Jackets, Predators and Wings have been complaining for years about being in the western conference and playing games at rediculous times of day. This new setup should make half the of their games within the same timezone so now their fans don't have to stay up till 11-12 at night for a west coast game to start. This is a much better solution than just picking one team to switch to the east.

I do have a few problems and issues with this new system. Mostly it is the playoffs, they havn't announced the playoff system yet but it is speculated to be 4 teams in each division make the playoffs and then the division winners each play each other in a west and east semi final. The problem is that it limits the possible playoff match ups or makes them much more unlikely to occur. Looking forward to another Canucks vs Hawks playoff battle? Chances are it won't happen. Sure it increases rivalries in each division but it limits rivalries over all. My solution is they keep this new system for the regular season and then revert to the current 8 team east/west seeding system we currently have. There will be more than enough rivalry games occurring in the regular season, they just need to ensure that playoff rivalries can continue the way they have been going.

My other major issue is the structuring of the C/D divisions. It makes little to no sense to put Tampa and Florida in with teams like Toronto and Buffalo. The Sabers play the Bolts and Panthers more than the teams in their own state? Cmon! This is obviously trying to utilize the marketability of the Canadians and Leafs to try and stabilize both of the Florida franchises. In my opinion , if the league needs to go out of their way to make the game successful in nontraditional hockey markets, than they are doing something wrong.

Also, Go team Canada! That is all.

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!

Apparently the NHLPA vetoed the restructure, thus ensuring next season the league will look just like it does now. Personally, I think this is stupid... we need a restructure of some kind. And this was announced awhile ago, so why wait until now to veto it? Seriously, it was like one minute everyone was fine with it and the next "bam, not happening".

No info yet on just why the player's association went against the plan. I will post more when I learn about it.