Pierre LeBrun revealed which team will most likely be moving divisions with Seattle expansion

BarDown Staff

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Everyone was skeptical about how the Golden Knights would fare and if the city of Las Vegas was truly a hockey town when the NHL announced 'Sin City' would be getting a team.

Those worries were quickly put to bed, though, during Vegas' first season in the NHL and it's been incredible to see how the fans have embraced the team and how popular the Golden Knights have become.

With 31 teams in the league now, the natural course of action is to add another and on Tuesday, the NHL is expected to announce that Seattle will be getting a team in 2021. Expansion not only brings a new team in the league, but it also brings realignment with it and as Pierre LeBrun revealed, the proposed Seattle package that will likely pass has this team moving to the Central Division.

My sense is that the Coyotes have known for a year that they would likely be the team moving to the Central Division once Seattle begins play but I’m not sure how thrilled Arizona is about it ... owner Andrew Barroway declined comment when I asked him after the BOG Day 1 meeting
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 4, 2018

A reminder that the Arizona move to the Central Division is part of the expansion Seattle package the governors vote on tomorrow. And it will pass.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 4, 2018

The Central is one of the best divisions in hockey, if not the best division in hockey, and with the Coyotes still rebuilding, it's understandable why they'd be upset about having to move divisions.

Might make it difficult for Arizona to make the playo-HAHAHAHAHAHAA
— frAnK (@Flyerspoop) December 4, 2018

Why would anyone want to move into that division. Toughest in the league by a mile.
— John (@JohnHonke) December 4, 2018

It's a shame the natural Vegas rivalry won't burgeon
— calvnnhobs (@calvnnhobs) December 4, 2018

Why would they separate Vegas and Arizona when they're just a few hours from each other?
— Duck (@DuckJones1) December 4, 2018

They won't survive in the division, IMO. If they happen to move east (Quebec), though unlikely, Detroit or Columbus shifts to the west fairly easy.
— Kevin Mahoney (@kev13_wx) December 4, 2018

Colorado to the Pacific and Edmonton and Calgary to the Central makes the most sense.
— Ryan Ledoux (@Ryan_Ledoux) December 4, 2018

There goes that Vegas vs Arizona rivalry the NHL was trying to manufacture
— Eric Kwun (@ericsketch) December 4, 2018

It makes more sense to just go back to 6 divisions. Arizona, Dallas, So Cal teams, Vegas, Colorado is a perfect division.
— Imre Broce (@ImreBroce) December 4, 2018

Good luck to them in that division.
— Josh (@hankmardukas_88) December 4, 2018

The Coyotes haven't made the playoffs since the 2011/12 season and starting in 2021 (when Seattle will be entering the league), it's going to be that much tougher to make it to the postseason.

(H/T: Pierre LeBrun)