The National Hockey League Players’ Association has consented to the realignment proposed by the National Hockey League.
“The NHL Players’ Association confirmed to us today that it has consented to a revised Plan for Realignment, effective for the 2013-14 season,” NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement. “Our next step will be to bring the proposed Plan for Realignment to the NHL Board of Governors for its consideration. We will update the status of the process as future developments warrant.”
The general sentiment is that the NHL Board of Governors will approve the plan.
Under the proposed realignment, teams would be placed into a 14-team Western Conference or a 16-team Eastern Conference, with divisions outlined below.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Pacific Division
KINGS
Anaheim
Calgary
Edmonton
Phoenix
San Jose
Vancouver
Mid-West Division
Chicago
Colorado
Dallas
Minnesota
Nashville
St. Louis
Winnipeg
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
Carolina
Columbus
New Jersey
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Washington
Central Division
Boston
Buffalo
Detroit
Florida
Montreal
Ottawa
Tampa Bay
Toronto
On February 25, Darryl Sutter shared his opinions on the proposed plan, saying “I went through lots of…realignments in 35 years. I went through divisions, conferences, unbalanced schedules, unbalanced divisions, unbalanced conferences, so whatever they decide…you’re never going to be happy all the way around because of travel. It’s the way it works. My only issue, quite honest, with what they’re proposing is obviously…borders. It affects border crossings and backs-to-backs and adds a lot of time into your schedule. There’s nothing you can do when you’re on the west coast about time zones, because, hey, half the teams are in another time zone. So those are always the two things for you, are how your travel affects you. Other than that, it’d be nice to be put a little bit of pressure on the east so they’re not in their own bed and jammies all the time. It is. It’s easier for them come playoff time. I’ve coached only in the Western Conference, and the Eastern Conference has an easier path once playoffs start just because of the travel. Hey, Detroit’s always wanted to get over there. It’d be awesome being an old school guy to see Detroit, Toronto, you know, that sort of thing. But you know, we had the old division in Chicago, and there were three of us from the original six, and…it was pretty cool. Detroit, Toronto and Chicago. So that was pretty cool. The heritage guys, the history guys all liked that part of it.”
More notes and opinions on realignment will come as the plan progresses.
makes no sense to give us Edmonton over colorado
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CB14 Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 4:03 pm
@jet, Since Edmonton and Calgary are so close to one another, I think they had to keep them in the same division.
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jet Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 4:12 pm
@CB14, True, fine if every trip we play both, but that does not happen. Also, the Canadian teams whould be spread across the 4. The 3 eastern canadian teams should be split up also, but I do not know which one would not have to go to Florida.
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KC23 Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 4:22 pm
@CB14, Agreed. Being an old time King’s fan I like having Calgary and Edmonton. We’ve had some great playoffs against both of these teams over the years. Not to mention both Calgary and Edmonton have two of the most foolish GMs in the league.
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jet Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 4:36 pm
@KC23, and you don’t think Mr. T will be there this summer if they miss the playoffs. Let it fester has a little more rope, but he has not been honest with the fans about needing to rebuild and that window has closed. His only shot is to use the Nucks $s to buy some RFAs this summer. We should get a few firsts for Bernier
KINGCANADA88 Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:52 pm
@jet, You will NEVER see Calgary and Edmonton split because of their intense rivalry. SO they are a package deal. Their is no silver bullet with this, for the most part I like it. The LA VAN rivalry is gonna get nice and nasty! GKG
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IceGuy Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:09 pm
@KINGCANADA88,
Looks like it’s gonna be a bit tougher for Vancouver to get those President Trophies in the future.
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Pacific Division reminds me of the old Smythe Division, which had some huge playoff series back in the day as well as some great rivalry in the mix. Do miss that late 80′s early 90′s game. Much different now.
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Did they decide on the playoff seeding?
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The West actually makes a lot of sense, geographically. The East…not so much. I would have rather seen the 2 PA team or 2 NYC teams in the Central and the 2 FL teams in the Atlantic, but I know there are some rivalries they really don’t want to break up – NYR/NJD, NYR/PHL, as well as looking from a National TV perspective of having more games with Pit/Phil and Pit/NYR more times per year. With the Kings and Oilers in the same division, I have no sympathy for the Panthers and Senators. I think a slightly better version of the East would be:
Atlantic Division
Carolina
Columbus
Florida
New Jersey
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Tampa Bay
Washington
Central Division
Boston
Buffalo
Detroit
Montreal
Ottawa
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Toronto
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TheDryer5 Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 4:12 pm
@TheDryer5, But that’s just from a geographic standpoint. It obviously puts too many powerhouse market teams in the Central, and too few in the Atlantic. From a balance of power view, the current alignment is probably as good as it could be.
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KC23 Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 4:24 pm
@TheDryer5, The Atlantic division definately got the short end of the stick. Eight teams and both Florida teams for not so good travel.
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Having TB and Florida in the same division as the Canadian teams makes no sense. I would’ve much rather seen them break up the current Atlantic division teams so that the travel is more evenly balanced. I know it’s never going to be close to what the west coast teams have, but they could’ve made it a little harder for those teams.
Atlantic
Tampa Bay
Florida
Carolina
Washington
New Jersey
Ney York Rangers
New York Islanders
Boston Bruins
Central
Pitt
Philly
Colombus
Detroit
Buffalo
Toronto
Montreal
Ottawa
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 4:37 pm
@CB14, I like this better too. I haven’t bothered to read up on all the details of the proposals but I don’t get what the big deal is putting Boston in the same division as the New York teams. They seem hell bent on ’74 I believe.
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dMan Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:55 pm
@CB14, totally agree. As is, the Atlantic barely does any traveling, but Montreal travels all the way to Miami?! WTF?
I also think every division should have at least one Canadian team; so how about splitting the Florida teams and…
Atlantic
Boston Bruins
Florida
Montreal
New Jersey
New York Rangers
New York Islanders
Ottawa
Washington
Central
Buffalo
Carolina
Colombus
Detroit
Philly
Pittsburgh
Tampa Bay
Toronto
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Nykingfan Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 7:01 pm
@CB14,
Breaking up Philly/NYR is like breaking up LA/Anaheim
Not only is it a bitter rivalry but they’re so close they take a bus to each other’s location. It’s less than a 2 hour drive
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I don’t care how it turns out, just long everyone but the Kings get screwed.
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I’m okay with realigning and even with deciding playoff spots using top three in each division plus two wild cards… but please dont bring back the inter-divisional playoffs where each division will compete to produce a division winner who goes on to the conference championship. Every year pretty much the same teams met in the first two rounds in the 80s and early 90s and it got pretty repetitious and boring. I MUCH prefer having it so any team in the conference can face any other in any round.
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KC23 Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 4:25 pm
@bbb7, I agree 1000%.
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wobsse6 Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:25 pm
@bbb7, I could not agree more. In the early 80′s, the Rangers played the Flyers 5 out of 6 years in the playoffs. That was one of the main reasons they changed the playoff format to begin with…how soon they forget.
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@Gustavo
Stay put after the first period and ill find you…
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If there is na God, he or she will let us face either the Penguins or Flyers in the SCF Finals. Neither team plays any defense and their goalies suck.
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Mars Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 4:48 pm
@DesertKing, I was hoping for Philly.
But that has always been my dream matchup.
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Lake Forest Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:38 pm
@DesertKing, I wouldn’t mind NYR
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We will play the games as scheduled….try and win as many as we can…then we will park and ride….
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Once again it’s totally unfair, but this time it’s to the advantage of Western teams, so at least it’s good for us.
I think it’s ridiculous that they would even consider an arrangement where some teams have an intrinsically higher chance of making the playoffs than others. Yet here it is again.
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jet Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:12 pm
@simonsez, Let’s put a team in Portland and San Diego
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DesertKing Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:18 pm
@jet,
Palm Springs! oh, wait……
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jess Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:21 pm
@DesertKing, How bout the Mojave Yucca Smashers?
DesertKing Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:24 pm
@jess
“Stickers” as in cactus spikes
Duncanz Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:10 pm
@jest, My suggestion of ‘The Palm Desert Pimps’ narrowly missed being adopted at the last local body meeting..
All the Kings need to know is who, when and what time. We are happy to kick ass in any time zone on any day of the week wherever the game is played!
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Mars Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:16 pm
@King Alex, Agree’d
IF anything, What they need to do is get rid of the back to backs in effed up time zones.
What was it last year 7pm vs NYR then 1pm in Dallas? Seriously WTF.
But I agree, just tell us who and where.
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It was someone here who said to make north-south conferences so that east coast/west coast teams would be in the same divisions to even out travel and remove the huge travel advantage of eastern teams. I know it’ll never happen, so maybe that travel advantage could be used to offset the 7% easier time the west is supposed to have in making the playoffs.
This isn’t my opinion, but I was wondering what everyone thought about it.
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The Penguins need TM.
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jet Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:11 pm
@DesertKing, the Oilers need TM, but Hextal first.
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Duncanz Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:17 pm
@jet, Hextal of Rexall.
S’got a ring to it!
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DesertKing Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:19 pm
@Duncanz,
That’s like “Asphalt”. Sounds like a rectal disease.
jess Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:19 pm
@DesertKing,
Quick Pittsburg! Throw up the Heavy Stick signal!
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DesertKing Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:22 pm
@jess,
I guess when you are down 4-1, and you look down the ice and see Bryzgalov in net, you know you still got a chance.
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shiny Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:43 pm
@DesertKing, sure . I bet teams are dying to put picks past that Star Wars mask
shiny Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:45 pm
@DesertKing, pucks* oy, I can’t type tonight
Duncanz Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:57 pm
@DessertKing, …or Halak/Elliott
Columbus in the “Atlantic” division and Boston in the “Central” division is odd, to say the least.
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jess Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:20 pm
@Pumpernicholl, yep
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This is the only place where you will see the Kings and their division listed first.
Thanks JR!
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Neil Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:21 pm
@Munchrat, Dallas and J.R. tonight !!!!…How was that for Duncanizing???
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DesertKing Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:25 pm
@Neil,
Victoria Principal?
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Neil Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:33 pm
@DesertKing, J.R. for Jon Rosen !!! P.S. Stoll would hit on Victoria !!
DesertKing Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:34 pm
@Neil
He would score with her and not go wide right.
shiny Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:44 pm
@DesertKing, Stoll only scores when the playoffs are on the line
Munchrat Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:46 pm
@Neil, eeeeexxxxxxcccellenttt.
How’s that for Mr. Burnsing?
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Philly & Pitt on pace for a 9-7 nail-biter.
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DesertKing Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:28 pm
@Michael J.,
Only question is who gets to 10 first?
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shiny Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:37 pm
@DesertKing, will that determine the winner?
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DesertKing Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:38 pm
@shiny,
The last shot. Bryz just gave up the tying goal.
shiny Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:39 pm
@DK, you don’t say… the force is clearly not with him tonight
Waiting and refreshing LAKI for the game thread to start!
LGMFKG!
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shiny Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:47 pm
@Mars, I feel like people get real quiet before the game thread, like a crowd waiting for the doors to open
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Duncanz Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:55 pm
@shinny, Some of these fools get themselves sidetracked driving home from work and eating dinner..
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Watching this game is like looking at a dead flower floating off in a cold bryz..
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shiny Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:52 pm
@Duncanz, that intense, huh?
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Duncanz Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:00 pm
@shinny, lol, that lightweight..
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Neil Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:20 pm
@Duncanz, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS_yyRk_dj8 Dead Flowers !!!! Rolling Stones !!! You are Duncanizing without knowing it !!!!
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Duncanz Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:53 pm
@Neil, Richards!!!!!
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Gave to go to work so going to miss tonight’s game. Have fun supporting the Kings tonight on the blog.
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DesertKing Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 5:52 pm
@DesertKing,
Have not gave. Uggggghhhh! I feel like the Bryzgalov Fleury of spelling.
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Munchrat Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:33 pm
@DesertKing,
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Munchrat Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:35 pm
@Munchrat, I never misspell a word, but I often mistype them.
Duncanz Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
@DessertKing, Check in, I’ll give you my virtually failsafe impressions in real time!
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SLIM Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:08 pm
@DesertKing,
Will miss you’re smart funny posts…
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Duncanz Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:12 pm
@SVELTE, You did that on purpose, didn’t you..
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SLIM Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:15 pm
@Duncanz,
Whatcha mean”
SLIM Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:21 pm
@Duncanz,
Hold on….I WAS being sincere…
What spin did you see?
Mars Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:27 pm
@DesertKing, If we lose. I am blaming you. Just so you know.
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It seems in the West…
You have to work hard to score…
And in the East…
You just have to shoot on net…
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Mars Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:44 pm
@SLIM, Good for us when we make the SCF this year.
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Did I see a save there a few minutes ago???
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Duncanz Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:41 pm
@Michael J., Yes, fans buying Bryzgalov jerseys at the Flyers team store can save 75% …… which coincidentally precisely matches his save % tonight.
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Mars Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:43 pm
@Duncanz, Burrrrrnnnnn
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Maybe this is a naive question but what does this buy the NHL? What was wrong with the alignment we already had? Why did it need to change?
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:22 pm
@HockeyNerd, Dallas and Denver in the Pacific and Winnipeg in the Southeast for starters but I believe the main motivation is TV ratings in markets where games would be show at odd hours. If I’m not mistaken, I believe the current format cuts down on those issues big time. Basically, you can count on it being about the money.
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HockeyNerd Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:33 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), Makes sense.
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SLIM Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:22 pm
@HockeyNerd,
I think most things in these days…
Have much to do with cronyism and Money….
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Cav Pilot Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:43 pm
@HockeyNerd, This was all about putting Detroit in the East. Nothing more, nothing less.
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Ok, it’s official. I want the Kings to play Philly in the SCF. Their goaltending blows… and they have no defense and how funny would it be for LA East to play Philly West? Bahahaha
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jess Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:37 pm
@shiny, They won’t make it that far.
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shiny Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:37 pm
@jess, I know, they suck too badly. But I can dream!
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HockeyNerd Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:39 pm
@shiny, I want Pittsburgh and I want the Kings to sweep in 4. Tired of everyone acting like no other team exists but them and no other player exists than Crosby. Let’s being East Coast Hockey down a couple of notches.
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Duncanz Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:44 pm
@HockeyPhone, Would we stand any type of a chance vs Crosby, Malkin and the ‘Flower’??
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Mars Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:42 pm
@shiny, That has always been my dream matchup..Ever since I was a lil kid.
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….Except perhaps the cure is worse than the disease:
1. Divisions with an unequal number of teams is never good.
2. Columbus and Boston should be switched.
3. Winnipeg is going to singlehandedly keep those border crossing officials employed….
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shiny Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:39 pm
@HockeyNerd, yeah, what’s with Winnipeg being in the West??
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Mars Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:41 pm
@shiny, Detroit constantly bitching.
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shiny Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:45 pm
@Mars, so the league punishes Winnipeg??
Mars Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:56 pm
@shiny,
More or less.
Detroit had been wanting the east for quite some time, Buttman kept proMISSing Ilitch, Holland and Babcock to move east for an easier travelling schedule. They miss their jammies and wanted less time zone movement.
I think its so theyt can go ruff up the east. Whatever.
Play the hand you are dealt, make the most of it instead of lobying and bitching and moaning.
Only a minute left for Philly to tie. Can they do it??
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Mars Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:41 pm
@shiny, I hope so. Screw the east 3 pointers all around!
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shiny Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:43 pm
@Mars, I like it! Funny, Flyers had 2x as many hits and couldn’t eek out a victory. Poor Gags
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shiny Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:41 pm
@shiny, nope
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I say let the wigs figure it out..
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Kids lost the remote. Literally just manually changed the channel from Disney on 289 to 692
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Munchrat Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:57 pm
@Lake Forest, You need the cell phone > TV remote app.
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Duncanz Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:59 pm
@Look Hardest, Lol, check the toybox … or the toilet.
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The Blue Jackets have been
Winning since JJ got injured and off the ice…
Interesting…
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Munchrat Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:58 pm
@SLIM, That’s because they have to pick it up without their leader…
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@Lake Forest, desperate much?
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Looks like expansion teams going to Seattle and Kansas City would keep the time zone strategy intact, and balance out the east and west.
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Mars Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:58 pm
@Belexes, Not sure if they want to expand or move yet, Expansion would thin out the market, but allow more players, while moving PHX and the panthers makes sense too.
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shiny Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 7:00 pm
@Mars, how about moving both FL teams? I don’t see a huge market for hockey in that state. PHX needs to move
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Munchrat Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:59 pm
@Belexes, Seattle would be a huge mistake
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shiny Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 6:59 pm
@Belexes, ugh, the league is struggling as it is. Do they really need an expansion and take some of the most underrated players in the league??
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I’m out of town so no center ice package.
I find out the game is on NHL network..Only in Canada. Wtf????????
Did Dallas or LA pick up and move north of the border?
It makes absolutely no sense that the game is not on in the states.
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