How a Pandemic Solved the NHL's Divisional Alignment

Thanks to Canada’s strict COVID-19 protocols, the NHL stumbled upon the perfect divisional setup.

For years, the NHL has struggled with divisions because there are some squares that don’t fit into round holes, specifically the Florida teams, Carolina, and Detroit.

The NHL’s decision to split the difference led to divisions that have been exceptionally lame. Why are Columbus and Carolina playing so many games against the New York teams? Why are the Florida teams in a division with only Canadian and Northeast teams?

There was hope the addition of Seattle as a 32nd team would lead to an exciting overhaul of divisions, but the league simply moved Arizona from the Pacific to the Central division, moving yet another team out of place.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic and the NHL’s decision, forced by the Canadian government, to put all the Canadian teams in one division. Suddenly, magically, all was solved!

I can’t speak on behalf of Canadians, but I have to feel like they enjoy seeing the Canadian teams battling it out constantly. Hockey Night in Canada, available to me on NHL Network, feels so awesome knowing that every game will be an all-Canada battle.

It also helped focus the other three division between the American teams. The Islanders, my favorite team, are finally playing a steady stream of actual rivals – no Columbus or Carolina to be found. The West division feels like an honest-to-goodness West division, with Arizona in its rightful place. And the Central division is a much better home for the Florida teams and Carolina as a more natural fit with other Sun Belt teams like Dallas and Nashville.

Next year, Seattle will join the league and obviously slot into the West, which would only help the divisional setup further by shifting Minnesota to the Central where it belongs.

It does bring up one issue with the Canadian division needing an 8th team, but doesn’t it make all the sense in the world for Detroit – an Original Six team across a bridge from Canada – to become an honorary Canadian team?

Look at what we could get:

East: Boston, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, NY Rangers, NY Islanders, New Jersey

North: Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Detroit, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton

Central: Minnesota, Chicago, Columbus, Carolina, Tampa, Florida, Dallas, Nashville

West: Arizona, Seattle, Las Vegas, San Jose, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Colorado, Anaheim

Look at how beautiful that is laid out! None of the American teams have to deal with any significant issues with time zones. The Canadian teams do have different time zones but are perfectly split in half between eastern and western teams, so focused road trips could easily take care of those concerns.

What is there not to like?

There has been no indication from anyone at the NHL that these as permanent divisions are under consideration. Let’s hope that changes before the next season starts. It’s a beautiful set-up that would eliminate the stupid Eastern/Western Conference distinctions once and for all and give us a Final Four of the best teams seeded appropriately.

I firmly believe when we get to playoff time and long series between natural, actual rivals, there will be a groundswell of support to keep these divisions moving forward.

Gary Bettman and the league rarely makes good moves without being forced to, so I’m not holding my breath. But I remain hopeful. The NHL stumbled into perfection. Let’s see if they realize their luck. 

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