The likely relocated Atlanta Thrashers will still play their games in the NHL Southeast Division for the 2011-12 season, based on everything that's been reported so far. The Winnipeg Free Press' Tim Campbell adds that an Eastern Conference team has reportedly been told to expect two trips to Winnipeg next season.
Having a division that includes teams in Manitoba, D.C., North Carolina and Florida would put each squad's sum frequent flyer miles up against the highest in sports. The NCAA's Western Athletic Conference, which boasts teams in Hawaii and Louisiana, merely scoffs.
Everybody has a scenario on what to do with teams after that -- here are four from our Red Wings blog alone -- though the most likely seems to be moving the Nashville Predators into the Southeast.
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