RIP Detroit Rivalry!!-NHLPA Approves Realignment

March 3, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; A general view of the Joe Louis Arena during the National Anthem before the game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks . Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

The most played rivalry game will only be played twice a season and both teams will no longer be in the same Conference after one more vote.  The Detroit Red Wings will be packing up and heading to the Eastern Conference after the NHL Players Association approved the realignment package on Thursday. All that stands in the way to realignment for the 2013-2014 season is the vote of approval by the NHL Board of Governors.

Maybe after all the ridicule that Chicago fans were giving  NBCSN for rivalry night on Twitter they really had it  right the entire time.  Welcome to the Chicago Blackhawks Division, Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild. Yes, due to realignment for the first time in the Chicago Blackhawks team history the Hawks will not be in a division with a fellow original six team and they are stuck with Blues, Wild’s, and Avalanches of the NHL.

The most played rivalry in terms of games is the Red Wings vs Blackhawks rivalry and now they will only see each other twice a season.  Instead of three trips to Joe Louis Arena there will be three trips to Winnipeg. It will be a Bold new NHL world with all the playoff scenarios still to be worked out after the approval. The Red Wings return to their Maple Leafs rivalry and more Eastern Time Zone road games which they and their fans desired.

The new divisions look like this

Western Conference (14 teams)

Pacific- Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, LA Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks

Mid-West– Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, St Louis Blues, Winnipeg Jets

Eastern Conference (16 teams)

Central-Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadians, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers

Atlantic– Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals,Ottawa Senators

What do you think about this realignment? Are you excited about the new Jets/Hawks rivalry??

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