Redwings 1926

Unlike the Nets, the Islanders name and logo actually has history behind it, what the 4 straight Stanley Cups they won in the early 80s, and their intense rivalry with the New York Rangers. From what I've read, nothing about the Islanders name is changing. Hopefully that's true, and if I were the NHL, I would not approve a name change.

We shall see. The playoffs are a whole different season. Seriously, how many of you thought that the defending Stanley Cup champion Red Wings would get swept by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the 1st round of the 2003 playoffs, or lose in the 2nd to the Calgary Flames in 2004, and to the Edmonton Oilers in the 1st round in 2006? In 2006, they steamrolled through the regular season with 58 wins, and then looked flat as day old beer in their 1st round playoff series against Edmonton. With that said, I don't put much stock in the regular season...

Yes. The Maple Leafs fans have suffered long enough. As a Detroit Lions fan, I must say that I feel their pain. Plus, I always like to see the Original Six teams do well. I'd rather see them hoist the Cup than someone like Anaheim.

Time will tell, but it's starting to look that way. I know they had a lot of lean years and high draft picks, but you still have to have a competent front office, and with the way they bounced back from 2010, I'd say that they do. There's only 8 players on their current roster that were on that 2010 team. I hate to say it, but I think what also helped the Blackhawks' organization turn around was the passing of long time owner Bill Wirtz. When that happened, and his son Rocky took over, that organization seemed to experience quite a culture change from top to bottom. It was like watching someone flip a switch. Either way, it sure would be nice to see another Red Wings Blackhawks Stanley Cup final someday.

They need to just go back to the all black ones they had back in the early 90s, during their last couple of years in Minnesota and their first few years in Dallas.

Despite the fact that I would love to curb stomp some of their fans, I'd still rather see the Blackhawks win the Cup than see the Penguins get anywhere near it!! The efforts of the media, and the league, to shove all things Crosby down our collective throats as the "Face of the NHL" have finally wained, and if the Penguins get back to the Finals, I have a feeling that their little boy-crush on him would be rekindled. Do you remember the guys in the booth during the 2008 and 2009 Stanley Cup Finals'? They might as well have had black and gold pompoms and face paint because they were all over Crosby like a bunch of tween girls at a Justin Beiber concert. If I have to endure one more SCF like that then I just might have to go all Joe Pesci on them!! lol

Except if the Kings go to the Finals, it might be a ratings bust, with the SCF being overshadowed by Lebron James. With Chicago and Boston, we'd have two storied franchises, with huge fan bases, and it would be the first Original Six SCF since 1979. I don't think I could stomach another Penguins Stanley Cup. The media has finally gotten off of Cindy Crysby's junk, and I want it to stay that way.

Blackhawks or Bruins!! I want to see an original 6 matchup, and as frustrated as I am for the Wings blowing a 3-1 series lead, it would be nice to say that we at least lost to the champs. That would be helpful going into next season.

Right, and after one incident these grown men need to be told what's good for them? That sounds like a bit of an elitist view if you ask me, something there is far too much of in our society these days. Everyone's trying to tell others what to do for "their own good". The reason this accident made the news is because it very rarely happens. If it happened as often as some of you are implying then something would have been done about it years ago.

With all of the games the Red Wings will be playing against the Maple Leafs now, it sure would be nice to have that. But, let's face it. Michigan, the birthplace of the auto industry, isn't exactly known for it's wonderful public transportation. It's probably about accessible there as whiskey is in Tehran.

In all honesty, I don't see any of those teams leaving their current markets. It's pretty much been confirmed that the Islanders will be moving to Brooklyn in a few years. The Devils have a brand spanking new arena right in downtown Newark. As for the Panthers? Being in a division with all of those northern teams should help their attendance. As one who grew up in south Florida, I've been to a lot of Panthers games, usually to see the Red Wings. I've seen them play other popular teams, like the Flyers and Canadiens as well, and during every one of those games, the arena was packed.

Putting the Devils in a different division from the Islanders and Rangers wouldn't make any sense. They all practically play in the same city. I think the idea of a team coming to Quebec City is more wishful thinking than anything else. There are much larger markets that would love an NHL franchise, like Portland and Seattle. Given all of the Candadiens' history, why would anyone in that province support anyone else but them? It'd be like putting a team in Grand Rapids. Hell, if I were the league, I'd approve of them moving to Milwaukee before Quebec. With this setup, the Red Wings will be back with their traditional, regional arch rival, the Maple Leafs. Splitting those two up back in 1999 was a mistake.

You probably have to go to Windsor. The train station in Detroit closed in 1988. I'll miss the Blackhawks rivalry, but look forward to playing the Leafs more, and certainly won't miss those late starts.

I'm with the camp that says the more protection these guys have, the more risks they take.

My answer is a resounding NO!! These are grown men capable of making their own decisions. All of this fear mongering and obsession with safety that's further pussifying every aspect of society has got to stop. At this rate, we might wake up one day only to find that we are not allowed to leave our own house because of "what could happen". Like life, there are certain risks involved with this sport. If you really think a rich, pampered athlete suffering from a stupid eye injury is such an atrocity then I suggest you pick up a history book, and read about the gladiators of ancient Rome.

I just got done talking to a bunch of Blackhawks fans, so I am a little amped up about this game now. All I did was go to a Blackhawks forum, and state my opinion about the proposed realignment, and was basically called names the whole time, so screw them. I want to see a "snowman", in favor of the Red Wings on Sunday. I respect the Blackhawks organization, and all of their history, but cannot stand their jealous, ignorant, and insecure fans. If anyone out there has a case of "penis envy", it's Blackhawks fans. Go Red Wings!!

I can see the case for a new arena, but would still be pretty sad to see it go. It may not be all that old, but there is still a lot of history there. That may not mean much to those who grew up going to games at the old Olympia, but for someone who is still in his 20s, it's been there all my life. For someone who watched them win their first Stanley Cup in 42 years, the "Russian Five", Scotty Bowman, Steve Yzerman, McCarty, Shannahan, even other characters such as "The Bruise Brothers", Dino Ciccarelli and Paul Coffey, the place has meaning. I just hope they don't knock it down like they seem to do everything else. More of our memories reduced to rubble... I agree. I too am sick of our throw-away/newer is always better mentality. Just look at the respect that places such as Olympia, Tiger Stadium, and even Yankee Stadium got for all of their years of service. Yeah, they were scrapped as if they were ratted out, old Toyota Corollas. In reality, and while sticking to car terms, those places were "barn finds", more along the lines of a 71' Hemi Cuda, or 67' Sting Ray 427. You don't scrap that sort of thing. You restore it, and I am sick of people saying that it can't be done.

I'd like to see what he would do in that situation. I have a hard time believing that he would just stand there and allow himself to get creamed out of concern for the other guy's safety. Give me a break!! The only thing going through someone's mind in that situation is protecting themselves, and rightfully so. He sounds like just another homer who's feeling butthurt because someone on his team wasn't able to land the big hit. Seriously, saying the guy on the Oilers should be penalized for ducking to avoid a hit is like saying a guy who ducks to avoid a punch to the face in a bar fight should be arrested. Just think. The poor guy throwing the punch could throw out his shoulder, hit a solid object and break a few bones, or hit an innocent bystander. Oh my gawl!! I'm sure he wouldn't be saying that they should be penalized.

That could take years, and right now, the league needs to address more urgent issues, like the fact that a team from western Canada plays in the Southeast Division, or the fact that two teams in the eastern timezone play in the Western Conference. If we sit back and wait on the Coyotes then nothing will change. We'll still be complaining about the same issues 5 or 6 years from now. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if Phoenix stays or goes. If they do move then one thing I am willing to bet is that it won't be somewhere in the eastern timezone, sorry Metropolitan Toronto. The Maple Leafs, Senators, and Sabres would fight it to the death, and there are too many decent sized markets in the western US that would love to have an NHL franchise, aka Seattle, Portland, and even Kansas City.

You know the Panthers and Lightning will love having Detroit, Toronto, Montreal, and Boston in their division. All of those teams have TONS of fans in Florida. Every time I saw the Redwings play in either of those cities, it was like watching a game at the Joe Louis Arena. Initially, I thought it was just that way because the Redwings played in a different conference, but nope, it was the same way when I saw Montreal play the Florida Panthers back in 2007.

I agree, and it baffles me that not all Wings fans feel the same way. Seriously, how many times have the Redwings won it all when they had to play multiple playoff series' in the Pacific time zone. I can't think of any. Like I said, I suspect those Wings fans who are against this are mostly those who live out west and are used to seeing them so many times a year.

Moving east would be one of the best things that could happen to the Redwings, unless you thing they like all of those west coast trips, and 10:30 pm playoff games. Many of you talk about how the Redwings will lose many of their rivalries, but just keep in mind that none of those even hold a candle to the one they had with Toronto back in the day. Not playing Chicago and St. Louis as much would be the only negative. I won't miss San Jose, Anaslime, or Colorado. I don't see how anyone can be against the Wings being reunited with two traditional rivals in Toronto and Montreal and not having to worry about all of those west coast trips every year. I suspect it's for selfish reasons.

I am too young to remember 1984, but I don't think it was anywhere near as bad as Vancouver last night. That looked more like LA in 1992, or Detroit in 1967. There must be something in the water in Vancouver, or maybe it's all the wackjobs beautiful places like that tend to attract.

Amen to that!! Given Detroit's history, it always amazes me that nothing like this happens after a championship win or loss. Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't remember any riots going on when the Redwings won or lost a championship series, or the Tigers in 06, or Pistons. After last night's display, I had a hard time feeling any sympathy for the Vancouver fans. I know it's not fair, but seeing people getting roughed up for trying to protect their private property made me sick. It makes me hope the Canucks never get anywhere near another Stanley Cup final. It's this sort of thing that gives the league a bad name. Check out some of the comments on ESPN and see what some are saying. Many seem to believe the league approves such behavior. I know it's ESPN, but still...

I knew someone was going to bring up either the Red Bulls, Mighty Ducks, or even Pistons. Red Bulls is still subtle enough to sound like yet another weird team name, like Redwings, or White Sox. It may be pushing the limit, but it's not as though they are calling them the "The New York Bank of Americas", or something else blatantly obvious and unappealing from a branding standpoint.