If you listen to this week's Puckcast, you'll hear us discuss where Winnipeg will fall in next year's likely re-alignment.

As reported by TSN, Winnipeg will land in the Central Division, while Detroit and/or Columbus move into the Eastern Conference. This will leave the Chicago Blackhawks as the only Original Six team in the Western Conference.

Boo fucking hoo.

Look, I'm not happy about the fact that the old traditional teams don't always make their way through the United Center. But you know what? I think it blows that every team doesn't travel through every city. It goes beyond the pale of the fact that there are six franchises in operation that were in operation at the end of the 1966-67 season.

Truthfully - How many great memories do we have of great Blackhawks/Rangers battles? Bobby Hull bearing down on Brad Park, or Glenn Hall stoning Rod Gilbert? Other than one incredibly lopsided trade, same basic thing goes for the Bruins. The Canadiens? Sure, there were those two Finals in the early 70s, but how many of us were around then?

The Hawks used to have a great rivalry with the Toronto Maple Leafs when they were both in the Norris Division. There's still Detroit, but let's face it - most Hawks players and fans can't ratchet it up for Niklas Lidstrom quite like we can for Roberto Luongo.

And there's the thing. Stick a bunch of teams in divisions, and they'll go at it with each other, simply because they're battling in the standings. Same thing with playoff opponents. The fact that the Hawks and Canucks have locked horns each of the past three years has made for a compelling rivalry, despite being almost 1800 miles apart.

So Winnipeg moves into the Central. Along with the Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars, and possibly the Columbus Blue Jackets. Short term? Great for the Hawks. Long term? Well...

Here's why it's foolish to get whipped into spin-dry over all this: There are a lot of franchises in as bad, or worst, financial straits than the late Atlanta Thrashers were. If Quebec City can ever get their shit together, they can build an NHL-caliber arena. Hell, just get a shovel in the ground, and you can probably sell the Board of Governors on Le Colisee as a stopgap. I'm pretty sure they'd be happy to stop paying the bills for the Phoenix Coyotes, and pocket a tidy relocation fee instead.

There are other teams that could very well shuffle around the continent. Columbus is bleeding money, and we're not just talking the Wisniewski contract.

Florida has loaded up for the 2011-12 season, but Dale Tallon was giving out years like they were candy, and this team will be loaded with cavities in a year or two.

The Islanders are mired in a hot mess with Nassau County government - it's just a matter of time before owner Charles Wang either sells or relocates if that pile of chicken shit doesn't magically become chicken salad.

The Blues are for sale, but Matthew Hulsizer might be looking at them after pulling out of buying the Coyotes. So for now, they appear to be stable.

But there are cities looking for teams. Not only Quebec, but also Seattle and Kansas City have been interested. Not to mention, the ever-looming spectre of Jim Balsillie, and the prospect of either Hamilton (bad idea) or a second team in Toronto (long overdue).

Looking at all this, there's really no way anyone can look at the possible re-alignment for the 2012-13 season as anything other than transient. I think it is shortsighted to think the NHL moving to Winnipeg was a conclusion, rather than a beginning.