Flyers, Penguins might remain together in realignment

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Starting bright and early this morning at a cliff-side resort in Pebble Beach, Calif., the NHL's largest collection of brains, power and money will begin formally arguing to hash out the long-awaited realignment plan.

At times, it will get ugly. In some organizations, even the general manager and owner do not see eye to eye.

A little more than a month ago, many believed the Flyers and Penguins would be at the center of the action. Initial proposals floated throughout the league had the two Keystone State rivals skating in separate "conferences."

(Under the new four-division setup that commissioner Gary Bettman is championing, they no longer will be called "divisions.")

Now, I'm not so sure it is the case that the Flyers and Penguins will be split up.

The most recent proposal leaked through CBC's Elliotte Friedman on "Hockey Night in Canada" on Saturday has the Flyers and Penguins sticking together after the backlash from Ed Snider and Mario Lemieux.

Their conference also would include the Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Capitals and Hurricanes.

In early November, that conference also featured Florida and Tampa Bay, who seemingly have moved to a conference with Boston, Buffalo, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. While it's strange geographically, the belief is that the Canadian snowbirds would aid attendance in the Sunshine State in the winter months, as those teams generally draw well on the road.

The Flyers have been very public in their stance about continuing their rivalry with Pittsburgh in a schedule that would feature six games against conference opponents and a home-and-home series with the league's remaining teams.

Flyers president Peter Luukko has said it would be "unacceptable" to play without the Penguins. But if I'm reading the tea leaves correctly, the Flyers' public stance isn't the same as their private thought. Knowing that Sidney Crosby and the Penguins have a solid foundation to continue on-ice success for years to come, the Flyers aren't exactly jumping up and down to face Pittsburgh four extra times a season.

Should a serious proposal gain traction in Pebble in which the Flyers and Penguins aren't skating in the same conference, would either team have enough clout to stop it? That seems unlikely. Any change to the alignment requires a two-thirds majority - or 20 out of 30 teams - to pass. Teams from Pennsylvania make up just two votes.