The report goes on to say however that there are two hurdles preventing the Blue Jackets from jumping over to the Eastern Conference. The first hurdle is the Jackets would need a team from the East (such as Florida or Atlanta) to relocate to a Western City. This means that Phoenix potentially moving back to Winnipeg does not help Columbus’ situation. The next hurdle is a little more appealing to Red Wings fans and that is it has been whispered around the league that Detroit would be the first team to switch conferences if the opportunity were to ever-present itself.
It has been no secret that Detroit has been long desired to play in the East for the same reasons Columbus does. Like the Blue Jackets, Detroit spends a ton on travel costs to the West Coast and often times deals with player fatigue and awkward game times. Detroit too would also like to rekindle lost rivalries in Toronto, Montreal, New York (Rangers) and Boston and further develop a rivalry with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Dispatch also highlights that Detroit’s desire to move to East out-dates Columbus’ existence in the NHL.
So are the Wings close to becoming part of the Eastern Conference? Probably not.
Detroit faces the same hurdle that Columbus does in terms of needing an Eastern Conference team relocate to a Western Conference city. Detroit may also face another hurdle that could potentially play into Columbus’ favor. The NHL may still want Detroit to stay in the West due to the fact that Detroit is an attendance draw that could help ticket sales for struggling West Coast teams.
Source: Columbus Post Dispatch