Here's what the NHL would look like if it was geographically realigned:

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
Montreal Canadiens
New Jersey Devils
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Ottawa Senators
Toronto Maple Leafs

Metropolitan Division

Carolina Hurricanes
Columbus Blue Jackets
Detroit Red Wings
Florida Panthers
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Tampa Bay Lightning
Washington Captials

Western Conference

Central Division

Chicago Blackhawks
Colorado Avalanche
Dallas Stars
Minnesota Wild
Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues
Utah Mammoth
Winnipeg Jets

Pacific Division

Anaheim Ducks
Calgary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
Los Angeles Kings
San Jose Sharks
Seattle Kraken
Vancouver Canucks
Vegas Golden Knights

Nashville is further west than Detroit. Even Atlanta is further west than Detroit

(07-12-2025 08:07 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  Nashville is further west than Detroit. Even Atlanta is further west than Detroit

I think that move was more about putting Detroit with Midwestern teams.

(07-12-2025 08:07 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  Nashville is further west than Detroit. Even Atlanta is further west than Detroit

I wanted to align Nashville with Carolina and the Florida teams.

(07-12-2025 08:12 PM)andybible1995 Wrote:  

(07-12-2025 08:07 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  Nashville is further west than Detroit. Even Atlanta is further west than Detroit

I wanted to align Nashville with Carolina and the Florida teams.

Detroit is an old and influential team—they made a stink about wanting to go east and play eastern time zone schools. They got what they wanted.

Nashville on the other hand was a late 20th century expansion team and is on Central time. Though they are a mid-south team, they make more sense with the Midwestern schools and Dallas.

Instead of an 8×4 alignment, how about a 4×8 alignment?

Eastern Conference

Northeast Division

Buffalo Sabres
Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
Toronto Maple Leafs

Atlanitc Division

Boston Bruins
New Jersey Devils
New York Islanders
New York Rangers

Metropolitan Division

Columbus Blue Jackets
Detroit Red Wings
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins


Southeast Division

Carolina Hurricanes
Florida Panthers
Tampa Bay Lightning
Washington Captials

Western Conference

Northwest Division

Calgary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
Vancouver Canucks
Winnipeg Jets

Midwest Division

Chicago Blackhawks
Minnesota Wild
Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues

Southwest Division

Colorado Avalanche
Dallas Stars
Utah Mammoth
Vegas Golden Knights

Pacific

Anaheim Ducks
Los Angeles Kings
San Jose Sharks
Seattle Kraken

Detroit doesn't want to be in the Western Conference. Move Washington to the Southeast, Detroit to the Metropolitan, and Nashville to the Midwest.