They are actually a lot closer to the east, and in the NBA the pistons are in the Eastern Conference
2007-03-04 14:54:21 · 13 answers · asked by Billy 2 in Sports ➔ Hockey
The conferences were re-aligned them on geographical lines in 1981. Given that Detroit is the furthest west of the "Eastern" teams (ie those in the Eastern time zone), my guess is that they went in there to provide more equity to the two conferences - approximately the same number of teams in each.
2007-03-04 15:11:33 · answer #1 · answered by rempelhg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because when they started tinkering with alignment and allowing teams to move, you needed to shuffle around. Back in the good old days of the Campbell conference, the Leafs and Wings were a great rivalry, and it was supposed to be a condition of Detroit moving to the West that they would still continue to play the Leafs (fat chance....the NHL schedule is so crappy now days, fans don't get to see the other conference until the finals!). Rumour had it if the Penguins moved to KC or Las Vegas, then the Red Wings would have been moved to the East to re-align the conferences again.
2007-03-05 04:34:20 · answer #2 · answered by Nice Guy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because there are at least 15 teams further east than them: Boston, Buffalo, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New Jersey, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Atlanta, Carolina, Washington, Florida, and Tampa Bay.
Of the Western Conference teams, the Columbus Blue Jackets are actually the furthest east.
2007-03-04 16:35:48 · answer #3 · answered by TheOnlyBeldin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the reason that the pink Wings are in the west is by way of the fact the NHL had to even out the conferences so there have been 15 in each and every and Detroit replaced into the main west of the east communities whilst the conferences have been realigned.
2016-12-14 10:58:41 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in relation to AW's answer, the Dallas Cowboys are part of the NFC East and the St. Louis Rams are part of the NFC West.
oh, and Nashville is West too. And so is New Orleans (both NFL and NBA teams).
It has to do with the evening out of conferences. Some cities are eventually stuck with it. (Except for Major League Baseball where they don't seem to mind 4-team and 6-team divisions.
as part of the original six, Toronto was a western team. It wasn't until my LA Kings came into realization in 1967 that a true West team emerged.
2007-03-04 16:19:35 · answer #5 · answered by 3dot3dash3dot 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because the Eastern teams are even further East. They want to put an even number of teams in each Conference.
Also I think it goes back to the old days. I think they have always been in the West and have natural Rivals there so they are kept there.
2007-03-04 15:07:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the NHL is stupid. There aren't enough teams in the west, as someone said before....heck, even Toronto was in the Western conference up until a few years ago. That one was just absurd.
2007-03-04 16:15:24 · answer #7 · answered by tlo_rancid182 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's because there's not enuf teams to make up 15 teams in the west, so some of the eastern teams are called "west"
2007-03-04 16:01:44 · answer #8 · answered by AW 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they have more teams on the east coast and try to keep same amount of teams in each conference
2007-03-08 10:20:21 · answer #9 · answered by jerry 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I may be able to figure that out right after I finish deducing why Dallas in the Pacific Division.
2007-03-08 05:09:54 · answer #10 · answered by txkathidy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋