Episode 47 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 05-26-2023

Episode 47 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast discussions.

#1. As much as just about everyone is going to want to blame and hang this on the league, I commend the league for trying to grow and spread the game into new markets. Let’s remember that first and foremost, that’s the job of the commissioners and the responsibility of the league to do so, for both the survival of the league and for the sake of the sport itself.

#2. Let’s continue to chart new ground and stray from the regular episode theme with a mind-blowing expansion team concept. Let’s address multiple discussion, desires and badly wanted changes that have been bouncing around for at least the last 15 years. Expand to a 42 teams league, that’s right I said a 42-team league. Let’s knock it down to 2 conferences, no more divisions. You have (2) 21 team conferences, an Eastern Conference and a Western Conference, with a very cut and dry and concise geographical split that leaves no team at a travel disadvantage.

All the political jockeying and leveraging gone.

The 21 Eastern conference teams are as follows-

Montreal Canadiens

New Expansion Quebec Nordiques

Toronto Maple Leaf’s

New Hamilton ONT Expansion Team

Ottawa Senator

Buffalo Sabers

Boston Bruins

N.Y. Rangers

N.Y. Islanders

New Jersey Devils

Philadelphia Flyers

Pittsburgh Penguins

Columbus Blue Jackets

Detroit Red Wings

Chicago Blackhawks

New Milwaukee Expansion Team

Washington Capitals

Carolina Hurricanes

Nashville Predators

Tampa Bay Lightning

Florida Panthers

                                                                                  

The 21 Western Conference teams are the-

Vancouver Canucks

Calgary Flames

Edmonton Oilers

Winnipeg Jets

New Saskatoon S.K. Expansion Team. This gives Canada just about an across the province representation. But if too radical or unthinkable, New, New Orleans

Seattle Kracken

New Portland Oregon Expansion team

New Salt Lake City UT Expansion Team

San Jose Sharks

New Sacramento C.A. Expansion Team

L.A. Kings

Anaheim Ducks

Las Vegas Golden Knights

Dallas Stars

New Houston TX Expansion Team

New Austin TX Expansion Team

Minnesota Wild

St. Louis Blues

New Des Moins IA Expansion Team

New Kansas City MO Expansion Team

New Oklahoma City OK Expansion Team

And this addresses something that the vast majority has repeatedly asked for. The top 16 teams for each of the 2 conferences make the playoff, thereby leaving only least 5 with the least amount of points from each conference not making the playoffs, which exponentially enhances the playoffs for the league and its owners, greatly enhances revenue for the league, its owners and its players, and allows the majority of the league a viable chance to make the playoffs.  Its league balanced, fair, opportunistic, levels the playing field, and creates both a rabis and exciting playoffs for the fans and league with no downside.