NHLPA puts kibosh on NHL realignment
It is unfortunate that the NHLPA has unreasonably refused to approve a plan that an overwhelming majority of our clubs voted to support NHL DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BILL DALY
The NHL’S bold plan to move to four conferences has been delayed after the National Hockey League Players’ Association denied approval for the new structure. The NHL board of governors approved the new format at a meeting last month, but needed the consent of the union to implement the changes. After weeks of negotiating, that approval never came. The two stumbling blocks centred around more onerous travel for some teams and the fact it would be easier to make the playoffs in some of the new divisions compared with others. The league set Friday as the deadline to secure NHPLA approval and when that didn’t happen, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league was forced to revert to the six-division format for the 2012-13 season. “It is unfortunate that the NHLPA has unreasonably refused to approve a plan that an overwhelming majority of our clubs voted to support, and that has received such widespread support from our fans and other members of the hockey community, including players,” Daly said in a news release. The new plan had called for four conferences, two with eight teams and two with seven teams. Every team would visit every NHL city at least once a year. The top four teams from each conference would make the post-season. The first two rounds of the playoffs were to be played within the conferences with the aim of increasing regional rivalries. NHLPA executive director Don Fehr said the union wanted specific data on the length of road trips, the number of back-to-back games and the number of border crossings from the league, but weren’t satisfied by what they received. They also wanted to talk about ways to make the playoff qualification field more level, but the nhl didn’t engage them. “Players’ questions about travel and concerns about the playoff format have not been sufficiently addressed,” Fehr said in a news release. “As such, we are not able to provide our consent to the proposal at this time. We continue to be ready and willing to have further discussions should the league be willing to do so.” The impetus for the change was the Atlanta Thrashers’ move to Winnipeg last off-season. This year the reincarnated Jets have taken the Thrashers’ place in the Southeast Division, but they had hoped to move to a more geographically friendly division in time for next season.
Now Winnipeg is forced to stay in the Southeast for at least one more season.
Jets governor Mark Chipman declined to comment on the issue when reached late Friday night. He said he will address reporters early today.
The proposal passed the NHL’S board of governors by a large majority — 26-4 — although some Easternbased teams did express concerns about increased travel.
Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold was one of the proponents of the plan and is disappointed it’s not going through in time for next season.
“To say I am disappointed in the actions of the NHLPA to deny consent to implement realignment for next season is an understatement,” he wrote in an e-mail to the Minneapolis Star-tribune. “Our fans were universally excited to be playing against Midwestern teams in the previous old Norris Division.
“I’m disappointed for our fans, our employees and our players. It appears everyone wanted this to happen except the leaders of the players’ union. I pledge to Wild fans to continue to pursue this realignment plan as aggressively as possible.”
The Detroit Red Wings, who were to join Minnesota, Winnipeg, Chicago, St. Louis, Columbus, Nashville and Dallas in one of the new divi- sions, are also upset.
“We’d be disappointed if it’s on hold for a year,” Wings general manager Ken Holland told the Detroit Free Press. “This is the first I’ve heard of it, but we’d be disappointed. We voted for realignment.”
The six other Canadian teams would also have had some new conference opponents.
Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton would be joined by Colorado, Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose and Phoenix. Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa would be placed with Boston, Buffalo, Florida and Tampa Bay.
The fourth division was to include the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey, Carolina, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington.