Realignment expectations
Just last night I was thinking about the NHL, and more specifically about how it’s a travesty that the Red Wings are in the Western Conference even though Detroit is obviously in the Eastern time zone. I was also thinking about how so many hockey pundits wail & moan about how to "fix" the NHL, when one of the most obvious problems is that there are too many teams. So, as I drifted off to sleep, I thought about how I’d fix things via contraction & realignment.
Then, just a little bit ago, I visited ESPN.com and saw the article on how the NHL is considering another realignment, shifting from the current 6 division (3 in each conference) structure to a more sensible (IMO) 4 division (2 in each conf.) structure. You can read more about the proposal here. Among the stated goals of any realignment are to develop more consistent rivalries, minimize time-zone disruptions (thus benefiting television ratings), & decrease travel costs (fiscal and physical). I agree with these goals, and I would even take a few additional steps. More specifically:
- Eastern Conference - North Division: Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto
- Eastern Conference - South Division: Carolina, New Jersey, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Philadelphia, Washington
- Western Conference - North Division: Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis
- Western Conference - South Division: Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton, Portland, San Jose, Vancouver (Note: Portland is relocated from Pittsburgh, as Pittsburgh seems bound & determined to drive the Penguins out of town…)
- 12 games - Rotating Home & Home vs. one division from the "other" conference (sort of like baseball rotates non-rival interleague play).
- 24 games - 2 Home & Home vs. the "other" division’s teams.
- 40 games - 4 Home & Home vs. the 5 divisional rivals.
- The top 4 teams from each division make the playoffs (i.e., 16 out of the 24 teams).
- Round 1 is divisional, with teams ranked 1 through 4 - this is where bitterness can be bred!
- Round 2 would see the 4 winners re-seeded based on regular season conference finish, thus minimizing divisional inequities & the chance for anti-climactic conference finals.
- Round 3 would be the normal conference finals.
- Round 4 would be the normal Stanley Cup Finals.
The combination of a regular season focus on playing the same teams (while maintaining a reasonable sense of geography, time-zone, and history), a hearkening back to the divisional playoffs structure that made rivalries in the 80’s so special, and contraction (which will strengthen the talent pool & retrench the league in more sustainable, hockey-friendly areas) would go a long way towards getting the NHL back to it’s rightful place as a major North American sport.
-ghp
Thanks to The Captain
The Captain — Steve Yzerman — has announced his retirement, closing a 22-season career.
Click here to view a slideshow of Yzerman photos
Some brief career stats:
- 22 seasons — all in Detroit
- 19 seasons as captain — the longest tenure in NHL history
- 1,755 points — 6th all-time
- 1,063 assists — 7th all-time
- 692 goals — 8th all-time
- 1,514 games played
- 3 Stanley Cups — 1997, 1998, 2002
- 1 Olympic Gold Medal — 2002
I remember the day that the Wings drafted Stevie Y back in 1983. He was the first draft pick under the new Ilitch/Devellano regime. Pat LaFontaine was the pick that most folks wanted, as he was a local boy from Waterford, MI. It didn’t take too long, however, for us to all see just how lucky we were that Stevie fell to us at the #4 pick.
I was at the game vs. Buffalo in 1988 when, just after netting his 50th goal of the season, Stevie lost his edge & went knee-first into the goal post & hurt his knee. I’ll never forget just how quickly the mood of that arena changed from joy to devastation. Back in the late 80’s Stevie was an offensive machine, surpassed only by #99 & #66 - but I wouldn’t have traded #19 for either of them!
Over the course of the 90’s, it was amazing to see the transformation that he underwent, morphing from Stevie Y into The Captain. He was always an offensive threat, but he became the consummate leader & a stellar defensive player as well. While many would hail Mark Messier as the best captain of the 90’s (if not of all-time), once again I would maintain that the title rightly belongs to #19.
I’ll never forget those wondrous nights in 1997, 1998, & 2002 when The Captain hoisted The Cup. Particularly in 2002 when he played the post-season on a right knee that would’ve kept most normal folks from even walking, he showed otherworldly dedication, leadership, & willpower.
And now, he leaves the game with that same level of dedication, leadership, willpower, and class fully intact. Outside of Detroit, he won’t get the same level of accolades as Gretzky or Lemieux did, but he certainly deserves them. I look forward to his taking some well-deserved time off with his family, and I have no doubt that he will soon get involved in the Wings’ front office such that he eventually will lead the organization to at least as much success as Joe Dumars has had with the Pistons.
My dad had Gordie Howe as the Wings icon during the same relative years of his life that I’ve had Steve Yzerman. I grew up as a legacy Wings fan, knowing how great Mr. Hockey was (meeting the man in 1993 was a surreal treat!). But when it comes to Mr. Hockey vs. The Captain… well, I wouldn’t make that trade. Nope.
So, as an age-group peer, and a life-long Detroit Red Wings fan, I thank you Steve Yzerman for making the past 23 years so very, very enjoyable & memorable. Men like you are why sports will always be relevant & meaningful!
-ghp
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-ghp
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