An all-Canadian Division would see to the rivalry between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames intensify significantly. The teams have been at each other’s throats for over four decades and, no matter how poor the rosters have been since the Flames moved from Atlanta to Calgary in 1980, a matchup with the Oilers is always a must-watch as it’s pretty much what one should expect when fuel is poured on fire. The realignment would mean they’d have to face each other even more than usual and fans surely won’t hate that.

The Oilers, Flames, and Vancouver Canucks would not have to travel to California as much, while the Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, and Ottawa Senators would likely enjoy not having to play each other. The Winnipeg Jets, though, would be left out in the cold as they’re the only Canadian team currently in the NHL’s Central Division and could have their playoff prospects affected by an all-Canadian realignment.

While most of the teams would benefit from the proposal, it would lower the Jets’ chances of making it past the end of the regular season and they probably aren’t huge fans of the idea. Of course, they’d be aware that the NHL simply can’t proceed like it’s business as usual. For the league to have a shot at a successful term, there’s plenty that will need to be adjusted. There’s no way this all works out perfectly for everyone.

"The fact is the NHL and the NBA have shown that putting people in one location, no travel, is effective," senior lecturer in the economics of sports, gaming, and gambling at Concordia University, Moshe Lander, explains. "Allowing players to move about is not effective. Once you start allowing people to escape a bubble, you're inviting disruption."

The NHL implemented bubble locations in Toronto and Edmonton for the playoffs, with only players and support staff from the 24 teams allowed into hotels and arenas. The league conducted 33,394 COVID-19 tests over the course of 65 days - the tests yielded no positive results.

As mentioned above, nothing’s set in stone just yet and a vote is required to get a temporary re-seeding of the NHL’s teams underway. Previous reports indicated the league was running out of time to have its season begin in January. The Board of Governors’ vote will go a long way into getting things started.