Special DElivery: Wings win in realignment

Welcome to MiHockeyNow’s new blog, starring Darren Eliot. The famed TV analyst and Sports Illustrated columnist will discuss all things hockey in this exclusive blog for Michigan Hockey.

By Darren Eliot –

Realignment means Hockeytown just got stronger. Mr. Ilitch said the NHL promised him a move to the Eastern Conference and the NHL gave him a favorable position in the revamped four-conference format. OK, so it isn’t a “move” east, but it is a favorable situation on so many levels for the Red Wings. Mr. Ilitch wouldn’t let Commissioner Bettman off the hook and thus, the revamped NHL is a done deal.

In Detroit, this change is good for players and fans alike.  First, road game starts are no farther away than the one-hour Central Time zone for the entire eight-team conference. That’s good for the players from a body-clock perspective.  That’s great for kids wanting to watch the Wings on TV on a regular basis.

Travel, too, will be arduous, lessening road stress and muscle fatigue, which obviously benefits the athletes, but also is good for the game overall from a competitive edge perspective. Home-and-home series are much more doable again and nothing promotes rivalries more than back-to-back games forming a weekend series – great for both player intensity and fan interest!

At least during the regular season. Come playoff time, the first two rounds are within the newly minted conference, opening up the realm of intense battles year after year for the teams and the possibility of road trips for the fans. Now that’s hockey – especially with Chicago sharing the same conference space. OK, maybe it’ll take some time to warm up to the Winnipeg Jets as a constant combatant, but the Blue Jackets, Predators and Blues of St Loo all come along with your Red Wings and the Blackhawks from the Central.

Being joined as well by one-time Norris nemesis from Minnesota (they were North Stars then, Wild now), old hostilities should be quick to fester. Rounding out the Red Wings’ bracket are the Dallas “thank our lucky” Stars. They join the central region from the Pacific Division, which, with new ownership, makes them the biggest winner of all in this NHL shuffle. They save on travel, time zone issues and get to compete in a well-balanced grouping. Mr. Ilitch should expect a heartfelt thank you from Mr. Tom Galardi.

We all should thank Mr. “I” …Once again, he came through for hockey in Detroit.

– DE