NHL Realignment? Yes, According to Craig Leipold

Ever since the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg, there has existed an imbalance between the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference, bringing an NHL divisional realighment to the minds of owners.

There have been rumors in the past that the NHL is considering a massive overhaul in which the current NHL characteristics would be cleared for a landscape featuring a two conference format with 2 divisions each. Those rumors have always been pure speculation stemming from mysterious voices... until now.

Craig Leipold, during a radio interview with KFAN Minneapolis, may have let the cat out of the bag and let the public in on the NFL plans for realignment during the 2012 season.

"Our division would include the Winnipeg Jets, us [Minnesota Wild], the Blues, the Nashville Predators, the Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks, and maybe the Columbus Blue Jackets... maybe not depending on if they go east or west. I am all in favor of that. I think that is a grand slam, home run, hat trick for our team.

We're all Central Division now. All of our teams, except for Columbus, all of our teams will be Central Division. We'll play less teams in Canada. We will play every team home and away at least one time."

Whoops.

The man behind the Minnesota Wild

As the former owner of the Nashville Predators of the NHL, Craig Leipold is now the majority owner of the Minnesota Wild hockey team. Leipold has been a majority owner since January 10, 2008.

Besides owning a multi-million dollar organization, Craig Leipold actively participates in the community organizations and charity benefits for children. Craig Leipold has been recognized for his involvement, including the title of Nashville Sports Council "Sports Person of the Year," "Nashvillian of the year" by the Easter Seals and the "1999 Father of the Year" by the Nashville Father's Day Council.

Craig Leipold currently lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota with his wife and five children and attends many Minnesota Wild games - look for him on the Suite level or wandering around on the lower level, too!

Minnesota Wild Starting Over - Breaking News

I sort of feel like I should have known this was coming. New owner wants to clean house, no surprise, I guess.

Minnesota Wild Sold

Craig Leipold, former owner of the Nashville Predators, has bought the Minnesota Wild and all its entities for an undisclosed amount of money. Leipold is a resident of Racine, Wisconsin and is said to be a real hockey guy. In fact when current Minnesota Wild owner Bob Naegle informed Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty that Greg Leipold was coming to the Wild, the Governor said, “Oh good the Wild could always use another defenseman.” Leipold has a repuation as a passionate hockey guy and this MN Wild Freak thinks although the move is oddly timed (middle of the season) it should be seamless to fans. If anything, it will be interesting to see a new owner roaming the concourses of the Xcel Energy Center or at least roaming the Xcel suite level.