2013 NHL regular season

[kujay]

The theory about the Florida teams that I saw was that they wanted to get some Canadian teams in that conference so that Canadians that are in Florida for the winter can see their teams play more often?

 

Yeah I think that's it.

 

If you look at that map, they have to fly past everyone else to get to their divisional opponents. I think from a competitive standpoint, that's tough. But from a ticket selling standpoint, it's gold. Rangers, Bruins, Red Wings, Leafs, Canadiens coming in three times each? That's huge.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think it's a bit annoying how many people are saying how great this is, when really it's only great for a select handful of teams. It's great for one division, the NY/NJ/PA teams, DET and CBS and probably CAR, who go from a bunch of nondescript rivals to a bunch of big name ones. Chicago kind of gets screwed by losing a rival and gaining none, as opposed to Detroit losing Chicago but gaining others.

 

The time zone thing is a concern, but these aren't people with 9-5 jobs who have to wake up at the same early time every morning and get their kids ready to school after a rough business trip. And half the league still has to deal with much more substantial travel than the other half.

 

I don't think the plan is horrible, but I don't get the universal praise I've seen based almost exclusively on making life easier for Detroit and the almost ideal set-up of one division.

[WrigleyField 22]

I think it's a bit annoying how many people are saying how great this is, when really it's only great for a select handful of teams. It's great for one division, the NY/NJ/PA teams, DET and CBS and probably CAR, who go from a bunch of nondescript rivals to a bunch of big name ones. Chicago kind of gets screwed by losing a rival and gaining none, as opposed to Detroit losing Chicago but gaining others.

 

The time zone thing is a concern, but these aren't people with 9-5 jobs who have to wake up at the same early time every morning and get their kids ready to school after a rough business trip. And half the league still has to deal with much more substantial travel than the other half.

 

I don't think the plan is horrible, but I don't get the universal praise I've seen based almost exclusively on making life easier for Detroit and the almost ideal set-up of one division.

Isn't the time zone thing more about tv start times and thus ratings/revenue rather than player travel issues?

 

 

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[UMFan83]

I will say Chicago does get screwed by losing a long time historical arch rival, so I'm not ignoring that, but at least we keep the Blues rivalry, and we should be able to renew that old North Stars rivalry with the Wild in the new "conference"

 

It still sucks though and I'm against any proposal that has Detroit leaving our division/conference and only playing them twice a year.

[Banedon]

Ilya Bryzgalov's new helmet:

 

http://i.imgur.com/qo0nl9L.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Sei2pT0.jpg

[Banedon]

Hahaha. Mike Milbury trashes Ovechkin:

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/watch-mike-milbury-epic-alex-ovechkin-trashing-act-023336900--nhl.html

[kujay]

Hahaha. Mike Milbury trashes Ovechkin:

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/watch-mike-milbury-epic-alex-ovechkin-trashing-act-023336900--nhl.html

 

He's 100% right.

 

Watched almost the entire Toronto/Montreal game last night. I was struck by how bad Toronto played, and honestly Montreal didn't look all that much better. And people say the Eastern Conference is so much better than the West.

[jersey cubs fan]

And people say the Eastern Conference is so much better than the West.

 

They do? I haven't heard that sentiment in a while.

[kujay]

And people say the Eastern Conference is so much better than the West.

 

They do? I haven't heard that sentiment in a while.

 

I saw some comments, over in the Hawks thread I think, about people saying the Hawks wouldn't have been able to go on such a run if they were in the east.

 

I know it was only one game, but I was really underwhelmed by both Toronto and Montreal, both of whom are pretty far up the standings.

[Banedon]

And people say the Eastern Conference is so much better than the West.

 

They do? I haven't heard that sentiment in a while.

 

I saw some comments, over in the Hawks thread I think, about people saying the Hawks wouldn't have been able to go on such a run if they were in the east.

 

I know it was only one game, but I was really underwhelmed by both Toronto and Montreal, both of whom are pretty far up the standings.

 

I think part of that is that everybody wants to have their team be the ones that end the streak, and of course, the east teams aren't going to get that opportunity.

[kujay]

And people say the Eastern Conference is so much better than the West.

 

They do? I haven't heard that sentiment in a while.

 

I saw some comments, over in the Hawks thread I think, about people saying the Hawks wouldn't have been able to go on such a run if they were in the east.

 

I know it was only one game, but I was really underwhelmed by both Toronto and Montreal, both of whom are pretty far up the standings.

 

I think part of that is that everybody wants to have their team be the ones that end the streak, and of course, the east teams aren't going to get that opportunity.

 

That makes sense. The insecure, lifelong midwesterner in me says it's because the focus of attention isn't on them.

[Banedon]

And people say the Eastern Conference is so much better than the West.

 

They do? I haven't heard that sentiment in a while.

 

I saw some comments, over in the Hawks thread I think, about people saying the Hawks wouldn't have been able to go on such a run if they were in the east.

 

I know it was only one game, but I was really underwhelmed by both Toronto and Montreal, both of whom are pretty far up the standings.

 

From the PHT comments on the Hawks game:

 

obviously the blackhawks are really really good and what they are doing is historic… but let’s be honest they wouldn’t be don’t this if they had to play eastern conference teams day in and day out

[Banedon]

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2252611/magicpuck.gif

[biittner77]

Eastern Conference games are boring. Compared to the WC, they look like they're in slow motion, with the exception of Pens and Flyers. Either of those teams might be able to beat the Hawks on a given night. Boston is a good team. Everyone else is a rich man's or poor man's version of the Predators.

[UMFan83]

Maybe I'm nuts but I've felt like the West has been the better conference for awhile.

[kujay]

We watch more EC games than their fans watch of ours because of time zones and start times. They assume their play is better. We know better because we actually watch them.

[kujay]

This is crazy:

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2013/03/01/calgary_flames_fortunate_colorado_avalanche_match_ryan_oreilly/

 

And in addition to being a horrible GM, Feaster is one lucky SOB.

[NewUserName]

I think this year the East may actually be better than the West. But, I do not think it is significantly better and I think the West has been better to way better for some time.

[apete6]

I will say Chicago does get screwed by losing a long time historical arch rival, so I'm not ignoring that, but at least we keep the Blues rivalry, and we should be able to renew that old North Stars rivalry with the Wild in the new "conference"

 

It still sucks though and I'm against any proposal that has Detroit leaving our division/conference and only playing them twice a year.

 

What happens if they go to 32 with a 2nd Toronto area franchise and Quebec?

 

Do they move Detroit and Columbus back and call it a day?

 

Or just move Tampa and Florida to Seattle and Kansas City?

[kujay]

I will say Chicago does get screwed by losing a long time historical arch rival, so I'm not ignoring that, but at least we keep the Blues rivalry, and we should be able to renew that old North Stars rivalry with the Wild in the new "conference"

 

It still sucks though and I'm against any proposal that has Detroit leaving our division/conference and only playing them twice a year.

 

What happens if they go to 32 with a 2nd Toronto area franchise and Quebec?

 

Do they move Detroit and Columbus back and call it a day?

 

Or just move Tampa and Florida to Seattle and Kansas City?

 

Much as I would love for KC to get a team again, I don't see it happening anytime soon. I don't see how KC can get a team when they don't even have a recent track record of supporting an AHL team. Their highest level of hockey is the CHL Missouri Mavericks, who play at the (nice and new) Independence Events Center. They sell it out but it only holds about 6,000.

 

But other than Seattle, I'd think that has to be the next best "Western" city. Portland maybe. I really don't see the league moving teams around though or giving preference to KC over Markham or QC because of conference balance. As you said, they would just move Columbus back.

 

[expletive], Columbus might be ready to relocate west in a few years at the rate they are going.

[SpongeWorthy]

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2252611/magicpuck.gif

 

Somewhere Eddie O is pantless and yelling about getting pucks to the net

[kujay]

^LOL

[kujay]

I love when NHLN basically turns over their Saturday to CBC. Great games today, in particular Pitt and Montreal.

[Banedon]

Ilya Bryzgalov's new helmet:

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/qo0nl9L.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Sei2pT0.jpg

 

According to a report by Enrico Campitelli of the 700 Level, Lucasfilm contacted the Flyers and informed them that they wanted the color of Yoda and the saber color to be changed. Franny Drummond, the artist who designed the mask, told Campitelli that Bryzgalov might not have been permitted to wear the mask if those changes had not been made, via the 700 Level:

 

"We didn't realize we'd be offending anyone," Drummond told me this morning. "Yoda's Lightsaber was actually an orange-ish color before we changed it. We were going for a hint of the Flyers' colors in Yoda as well. There were no bad intentions. It was just a matching thing."

 

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2264951/Bryz_goalie_mask_comparision-700_Level.jpg

[seanimal]

I think this year the East may actually be better than the West. But, I do not think it is significantly better and I think the West has been better to way better for some time.

 

i'm curious what you base this on. not because i disagree, but because i'm having a hard time really pinpointing anything to say that one has a clear edge over the other this year

 

points-wise, there's what i would think a pretty clear argument that the top-half of the west is better than the top-half of the east so far. there's some parity there, so you know competition is tough, and all those jerks have to play the blackhawks. in a year when the blackhawks aren't the greatest thing on earth, there would be a leveling of points amongst those teams. my instinct is to say that the west is better, based on some of that, but it's pretty flimsy so i'm more inclined to think it's about even overall

 

and montreal is the best team in the east, which i think is pretty cool. not just by record, but by 5x5 goal differential, team +/-, etc. they're actually pretty close to the hawks so far, in terms of dominance. my guess would be those two teams in the final

 

then pens are horrible defensively and probably won't get past the second round, so i don't really care what they do. i think carolina and toronto are better