For a long time now, the majority of Red Wings fans along with the organization itself have expressed their desire to move from the Western Conference to the Eastern Conference. This would eliminate the late starts during the playoffs (unless they play a west coast team in the finals) and undoubtedly save on travel costs.
Now with the rumored realignment of the NHL in the next couple seasons, it would seem that the Wings could have a good chance at making the conference switch.
Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock however doesn’t believe the Wings will be playing in the Eastern Conference if and when the NHL decides to realign itself.
“That’s not going to happen,” Babcock said during a question-and-answer session after giving a speech to the Livonia and Novi chambers of commerce Thursday. “And the reason that’s not going to happen, even though our owner has been promised it, is that if you’re Vancouver or Calgary, these teams, and you have a choice between keeping Detroit, Nashville or Columbus in the Western Conference, who are you going to keep? So when the vote comes out, we have no chance.”
So what does the coach think will happen?
“I think they’re doing three 10-team pools or something,” Babcock said. “I don’t know the answer to that for sure. But we’ll find out over time, we won’t be moving.”
Babcock was sure to mention that this is only his opinion. He wasn’t letting the public in on some secret plans of the NHL.
Source: Detroit Free Press