from Cathal Kelly of the Globe and Mail,

The Canadian division is a solution to a problem no one wanted to talk about until COVID-19 forced them to. It makes societal concerns the central organizing point of the league, rather than geography. It creates the most interest where the biggest audience exists. That isn’t stacking the deck. That’s just good planning.

A permanent all-Canadian division means that, for a quarter of the league at least, the regular season starts to matter again. It isn’t just six months of jockeying for a slightly better playoff position. It recreates, in a very small, but still significant way, the glamour of the Original Six. Man, they could even take the train.

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from Damien Cox at the Toronto Star,

If this turns out to be successful, what are the chances that the all-Canadian alignment could become a permanent feature of the NHL?

Well, don’t hold your breath. Here are the biggest road blocks:

- As demonstrated most vividly by the transfer of the Atlanta franchise to Manitoba, Canadian NHL teams supply much of the league’s oxygen in terms of excitement and interest. For some American teams, Canadian teams are a big draw. The two Florida clubs rely heavily on Snowbird interest when the Leafs and Habs come to town. Out west, Arizona and Vegas also benefit when Canadian teams drift in to play.

Those U.S. teams aren’t likely to be willing to give up those gates on a permanent basis.

- There aren’t many strong rivalries between U.S. and Canadian teams, but the ones that do exist are important. Boston and Montreal is the most noteworthy, and neither team would be inclined to be separated for good. The proximity of Toronto and Buffalo has produced an inconsistent rivalry, but the Sabres certainly benefit by the dates when the Leafs come to town.

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