Re: Has UND lost in conference realignment?
You have to be careful of assuming too much down the line and many people here seem to be doing that.
1. the coaches I know, and I know a few, all are absolutely adamant that realignment will not hurt recruiting even a little bit, FOR ANYONE. You can disagree certainly, but most likely you are not in a position to know.
2. it is very, very easy to fall off the top and it's a slippery slope to get back up, as others have pointed out.As an example, Michigan football fired the coach and got in a new one that was more exciting, the next thing you know, they are trying mightily to get back to a top team and four years later haven't done it. So every team, no matter who, will have their time at the top and their time at the bottom. You can bank it.
3. College hockey in general is not a high interest sport and as such the ratings are pathetic and will remain pathetic. The few fans who are interested are generally in the rink, further depressing ratings. In other words, any money that comes in from tv will be pathetic. Advertisers don't pay for pathetic showings no matter what is on. Will the big ten get extra money from the big ten network, sure but the marginal revenue from hockey will not be big. Will the nchc get a big bump... no.
4. The ship has already sailed, worrying about it now is kind of a waste of time.
I think there are a lot of good things going on in college hockey, but this was not one of them. As Almington said, everyone is going to suffer here, some more than others, but everyone will suffer to some extent, and I agree with that.