Media Talking Conference Realignment
May 15, 2011

The Calgary Sun's Eric Francis wrote about the Thrashers-to-Manitoba story today. See the full story here:

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/05/15/clock-ticking-on-future-of-thrashers

As he also suggested on Saturday's HNIC Hotstove segment, his key question is whether the NHL has given the green light to ASG and TNSE to proceed with their discussions. Additionally, he moves the discussion over to realignment saying that his source has told him that there is not enough time to consider conference realignment in the next three weeks before a schedule must be released.

If the schedule maker has three weeks to play around with different scenarios such as Winnipeg versus Atlanta in the SE division, then there is also time for other scenarios like Detroit moving in the eastern conference and a potential series of moves to rebalance the divisions.

The schedule dropped in the last week of June last year, which is earlier than other years, when it usually came down the first week of July. So a delay could occur beyond this three week window without harm.

If there were several versions of a schedule last year between Manitoba and Glendale as was the rumour, then it is very possible that over the course of the last few months that the NHL schedule makers could have plotted all sorts of scenarios that include conference realignment.

The fans and the hockey media would be OFFside to assume that the schedule makers are only starting their work right now. Knowing how Gary Bettman is always several steps ahead of what is public knowledge, it can be easily suggested that the NHL Commissioner may have asked his staff to provide several schedules months ago for Glendale to Winnipeg and Atlanta to Winnipeg options.

Now the next three weeks may be for the governors to debate and haggle over the various scenarios before finally making a decision. The outcome may be like predicting the weather and Winnipeg may very well stay in the SE division for one year. But to confirm such before the governors make the final call seems callous. And hockey fans will not know their decision until after a relocation to Manitoba is announced.

This extended stay in the eatern conference happened with Calgary's first season coming out of Atlanta and offers Manitoban fans extra eastern conference team visits to Manitoba. There is even a chance that True North may receive a bonus payment for staying in the east for that one season before taking their rightful and potentially previously bargained position to be in the NW division. This compensation is very possible, much like how Jets' former owner Barry Shenkarow extracted extra cash out of his fellow governors when Winnipeg was forced to move to the Smythe for the sake of the New Jersey Devils move from Colorado.

Have a difference of opinion? Is it surprising to you that the media is talking about 'how' and 'when' a return occurs instead of 'if'? Post your thoughts over at the forum's boards www.ManitobaMythbusters.com/forum

Chris
Preisdent, www.myNHLincludesWinnipeg.com
~ The Reality May Surprise You! Excite You! ~