Manoir

It is. However, when you add all the other rivalries throughout the league the probability of a traditional rival Finals matchup increases.I don't know, playing rivals every year in the playoffs kind of lessens the impact IMO. It should be big deal if teams like MTL-TOR meet in the playoffs, not something that should become routine.

I don't know about most hockey fans, but I personally don't like the whole playing against rivals every year in the 1st&2nd round of the playoffs. I could see it getting pretty boring playing STL and CHI every year in the playoffs. Also, this means that rivals like Det/CHI will never play each other beyond the 2nd round. I perosnally would keep whatever geographically-based schedule they have come up with and have no divisions/conferences and top 16 make the playoffs. You would get unique playoff matches and rivals could wind up playing each other in the finals. You could potentially have Det and CHI playing each other in the finals-I think that enhances the rivalry a lot more than playing in the opening rounds each year.

Oh man, can't wait for the BIG return tonight. Devils coach Peter DeBoer returning to Florida to face his former team!!!

On the bright side, the Wings now know how to get at least one point when they play Tampa.

Dipietro, Tim Connolly, and Andy Mcdonald-how many poolies have had their lives ruined by these 3?

No divisions or conferences. Top 16 make the playoffs. Have the western-based teams play each other more often but have each eastern-based team have the same amount of west coast trips. An added benefit is that in the playoffs teams like Detroit won't necessarily have to travel more than other eastern-based teams. Plus, now any Finals matchup is possible, could have a MTL-TOR Finals(very theoretically).

Maybe it's to announce that it has been discovered that Crosby was taking banned substances and the 2009 Cup victory is null and void.

"If I could spend money like the Flyers or Rangers, I'd win the Cup every year"- quote from Glen Sather in the mid 90's when he was GM of the Oilers.

I find that he came off really well in this interview.I think some coaches/teams overthink things and place way too much emphasis on trying to mold a team where every player has to act/think the same way. The Flyers were upset because Zherdev used a limo service instead of taking a ride with one of his teammates, how petty can you get?After reading this inetrview I not only hope some team signs him but that he thrives as well.

Nope, the Avs always whooped Osgood. I don't think he ever beat them and IMO he wasn't mentally tough enough back then to face those potent Avs teams. I think back then that's what seperated Osgood from Vernon/Hasek, you just got the sense that Vernon and Hasek were not as intimated by the Avs.

Sometimes I feel like the old lady from Titanic and wish I can go back to the time when all these players were in their prime.

I thought this would be about the infamous 1994 game 7 when the #8 Sharks beat the #1 Wings-still hurts.

I felt a range of emotions concerning Osgood throughout his career; joy, anger, sadness,hope-he was the hockey equivalent of the women I've known in my life.

That article totally misses the point. Entertainment is an integral part of sports. That's why there's music during the game,fireworks, slogans(Hockeytown), etc. Commodore wearing #64 is just plain fun-is that so wrong? This writer seems to think that wearing a Wings sweater is the hockey equivalent of having dinner with Queen Elizabeth.

I think my friend still has a Commodore 64-I'm going to bring it to the game when the Wings come to MTL and throw it onto the ice if Commodore scores.

So, Thornton for M.Koivu next week?

Apparently the plan is to have Leino as the #1 Centre playing with Vanek and Stafford, Sabres expect him to be a 70 pt guy.

It's a bit high, but I think a real good fit for Buffalo. With Roy, Vanek, Pominville, and Stafford there are plenty of scorers for Leino. Also, I'm kind of happy to see players going to a good market like Buffalo after so many left due to financial reasons.

This is a GREAT signing if he ends up wearing #64.

Don't forget that Holland is VERY fortunate that Datsyuk and Zetterberg became much better players than even the Wings envisioned. Holland was lucky that he did not have to go outside to replace Yzerman/Federov. This Summer is his first big challenge in a long time and when Lidstrom retires it'll be interesting to see what he does. By the way, how much would Ericsson have received had Lidstrom retired?

Don't forget that Holland is VERY fortunate that Datsyuk and Zetterberg became much better players than even the Wings envisioned. Holland was lucky that he did not have to go outside to replace Yzerman/Federov. This Summer is his first big challenge in a long time and when Lidstrom retires it'll be interesting to see what he does. By the way, how much would Ericsson have received had Lidstrom retired?

I think NO divisions and just a straight 1-30 seeding is the way to go. Every team gets an equal amount of travel and it protects against teams moving and throwing the conferences out of whack (if PHX moves to Quebec city for example). Playoffs would be top 16 which would not guarantee that the Eastern teams would not have to travel as much. The only issue would be to protect rivalries, but most of those are geaographically based anyways so you'd adopt a formula where a team plays another team that is within a certain amount of miles away x number of times.

If the Flyers end up with Brad Richards, I like what they're doing.

Crazy uncivilized Muslims, always resorting to violence.

Very impressive number for Nashville. http://puckthemedia.wordpress.com/2011/06/02/how-the-stanley-cup-final-did-in-both-nhl-and-non-nhl-markets2/ NHL Markets Local Ratings For Game 1 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final 1. Boston – 25.5/39 2. Buffalo – 7.2/11 3. Pittsburgh – 4.3/7 4. Minneapolis/St. Paul – 4.2/8 5. Detroit – 4.2/7 6. Columbus – 3.6/6 t7. Philadelphia – 3.3/5 t7. Nashville – 3.3/5 9. Washington – 3.0/5 10. Tampa Bay – 2.9/5 11. New York - 2.8/5 12. Denver – 2.7/5 13. Chicago – 2.6/5 14. St. Louis – 2.6/4 15. Raleigh-Durham – 2.4/4 16. Dallas – 2.1/4 17. Phoenix – 1.7/3 18. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose - 1.4/3 19. Los Angeles – 1.3/3 20. Atlanta – 1.3/2 21. Miami – 1.2/2 Non-NHL Markets Local Ratings For Game 1 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final 1. Providence – 16.7/24 2. Hartford – 5.5/8 3. Ft. Myers – 3.9/7 4. Richmond - 3.9/6 t5. Sacramento - 3.4/6 t5. Las Vegas - 3.4/6 7. Greensboro/Winston-Salem - 3.2/5 8. Baltimore - 2.9/5 9. Greenville/Asheville - 2.9/4 10. Austin - 2.8/5 11. Norfolk - 2.7/4 12. Orlando - 2.5/4 13. San Diego - 2.4/5 14. West Palm Beach - 2.4/4 15. Seattle - 2.3/5 t16. Albuquerque/Santa Fe - 2.3/4 t16. Tulsa - 2.3/4 18. Memphis - 2.3/3 t19. Knoxville - 2.2/3 t19. Dayton - 2.2/3 21. Oklahoma City - 2.1/3 22. Jacksonville - 2.0/3 23. Houston – 1.7/3 t24. Portland - 1.6/3 t24. Salt Lake City - 1.6/3 26. San Antonio - 1.5/2 27. Charlotte - 1.4/2 t28. Indianapolis - 1.3/2 t28. Louisville - 1.3/2 t30. Cincinnati - 1.2/2 t30. Milwaukee - 1.2/2 t30. New Orleans - 1.2/2 t33. Cleveland - 1.1/2 t33. Birmingham - 1.1/2 35. Kansas City - 0.8/1