Some thoughts on the NHL

Just sitting around, I happened to be doing some reading on contraction and realignment. First, in MLB, then I ended up reading into the NHL. I had recalled an article that I read in The Sporting News magazine, way back in 2004, before the shameful lockout that probably damaged the credibility and popularity of the NHL forever. The article was trying to find a viable solution to the NHL's problems as far as a diluted talent pool, and a lack of skill on either side of the puck during any given game. As I recall, scoring was at pitiful lows, and attendance was dropping in various markets. I can attritribute this, as did most people at the time, to over-expansion.
To examine the NHL, beginning in 1990:

1990- 21 teams total
1991- San Jose Sharks added (22 teams total)
1992- Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning added (24 teams total)
1993- Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Florida Panthers added (26 teams total)
1998- Nashville Predators added (27 teams total)
1999- Atlanta Thrashers added (28 teams total)
2000- Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild added (30 teams total)

That is a nine-team increase in a matter of one decade. There is no possible way that the talent pool in any sport can simply adjust in that short of a period of time. In 1990, there were enough skilled players to put 21 competitive clubs on the ice. In 2000, I'd say there were enough skilled players to put 24 competitive teams at most on the ice. Today, in 2007, I'd say that there are enough for about 26 teams, 28 if you really wanted to push it.

So, what is the point of all this? Here, I plan on presenting my case for contracting 2 NHL franchises. By looking up different criteria, such as success in the past decade, historical significance, and just all-time success rate, I have come to choose two teams from the current pool of 30. They are the:

Florida Panthers- a team that has a little more than a decade of history, and at that, nothing much to note other than its trip to the Stanley cup against the Colorado Avalanche in 1996. Besides that, they play in the least historically-significant division in the game- the Southeast- and traded away the centerpiece of their franchise, in goalie Roberto Luongo, last offseason.

AND

Columbus Blue Jackets- Now let's be honest, what was NHL commisioner Gary Bettman thinking when he put a team in COLUMBUS, Ohio?! I mean, if you were even going to put a team in that state, why not Cleveland or Cincinnati? Why even in those locations? What about Hartford, Quebec, and Winnipeg, all cities who long for the return of their respective clubs after relocating in the late 1990s? The Blue Jackets have NEVER compiled more than 80 points in a single season since their inception in 2000, and have failed to be competitve, exciting, or marketable on a national level. Explain to me why this team still exists. Yes, they do have Rick Nash, but ONLY Rick Nash. Hence, why they will spend another season in the basement of the Central Division with their pals, the Chicago Blackhawks, who only escaped consideration from this list themselves because they are an 'Original Six' franchise, and as a hockey loyalist, or just a hockey fan in general, I cannot bring myself to even consider removing such a team from the NHL.

Now that those two teams can potentially be redistributed throughout the league, what to do with their now 4-team divisions, respectively. I say, reallign the entire NHL, back to the heyday of the late-1980s, early 1990s (I know, not that long ago) when Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemeiux were regarded as the two greatest players on the planet. Back when the NHL had two divisions in each conference, both of which created very exciting rivalries, and very interesting playoff races come years end. With the two teams I already mentioned gone, you are looking at two, 14-team conferences, both of which could then reallign into two divisions apiece, once again. So, without further adu, the new divisions:

Eastern Conference
Alantic- NY Rangers, NY Islanders, Boston, New Jersey, Washington, Philadelphia, Atlanta
Central- Montreal, Toronto, Buffalo, Carolina, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh
Western Conference
Midwest- Detroit, Nashville, Chicago, St. Louis, Minnesota, Edmonton, Calgary
Pacific- Vancouver, Colorado, Anaheim, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Dallas, San Jose

Well, that's my piece about the NHL. It's not going to see any consideration from the NHL, but hey, that's not why I wrote it. It would be good for the game, and that's what I care about. Maybe Commisioner Bettman will eventually come to the same realization.