Darren Ford runs Jetsowner.com, a site that has advocated the return of the NHL to Winnipeg for the better part of the last decade. In case you can't tell from the Jet-o-Meter, he's fairly optimistic that this latest round of Phoenix Coyotes strife will result in the former Jets becoming the future Jets.
There was talk yesterday that the NHL had a schedule prepared in case there was NHL hockey in Winnipeg next season; Ford's site reports that the plan would include realignment (via CBC Sports):
Last week I was informed that not only has Winnipeg been included in the 2010-11 NHL schedule, but we are to be in the NW division while Colorado moves into the Pacific division. This would make our rivals, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Minnesota. Believe me, it is surreal actually typing this, not as fantasy but as a reality.
The Colorado Avalanche have history in the Pacific. When the Quebec Nordiques relocated to Denver, the newly-christened Avalanche were part of a 7-team Pacific Division that included the California teams, the Alberta teams and the Vancouver Canucks. That changed in the 1998-99 season, when the NHL expanded to six divisions and Colorado went from being mislabeled as a coastal team to being in the "Northwest," part of a 4-team division that became five when the Minnesota Wild joined in 2000.
We touched on realignment and the return of the Jets last week, and noted that most readers were in favor of the Avs moving to the Pacific rather than the Vancouver Canucks, who share a time zone with the California teams.
If the Jets return and the Canucks remain in the Northwest, then it's four Canadian teams (along with the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames) along with the Minnesota Wild. Which means all Canadian NHL teams would be restricted to two divisions. Which means intense regular-season hockey, but which also increases the chances that only a few will advance to the Stanley Cup playoffs each season. Which no doubt pleases Gary Bettman in some small way.
We imagine this isn't necessarily pleasant news for Avs fans from a television, travel or competitive standpoint; the Pacific Division features two playoffs teams (Sharks and Kings) and two successful franchises reloading (Ducks and Stars).
Of course, Colorado was a playoff team and has its own potential for sustained success with players like Matt Duchene(notes). So perhaps we'll just paraphrase Rorschach from "Watchmen": "None of you seem to understand. We're not locked in here with you. You're locked in here with us!"
