arnoldbuck 0 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 I just came across this and thought I would post it for a read for everyone. Though I would like to state that I would like to see a few more games between Detroit and the other Original teams, but I am not a person who is trying to move the Wings back east. Also I thought I would mention I really like the light Detroit comes across in though this article. The slow death of the magic of the Original Six -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Jeff Mackie Mediocre teams and changing schedules are sapping the life out of once-great NHL rivalries. It was the best Stanley Cup final that almost happened. The year was 1993. The Montreal Canadiens secured a birth in the final while the Toronto Maple Leafs came within an overtime goal of joining Les Habitants. Montreal vs. Toronto would have been the most compelling final series of a generation. It left fans who appreciate the sport’s history daydreaming about what could have been. Almost 15 years later, those fans would gladly settle for a match-up between any two of the Original Six Teams. That’s because it hasn’t been a good decade-and-a-half for the NHL’s original franchises when it comes to competing for the Stanley Cup. Since the New York Rangers claimed the title in 1994, only the Detroit Red Wings have advanced to the final, and they’ve been victorious three times. As for two Original Six teams playing each other for the Stanley Cup, you have to rewind 28 years to find such an occurrence. It happened in 1979, when the Canadiens defeated the Rangers. If you’re hoping that streak will come to an end in 2007, I’ve got some bad news: it won’t happen. Only the Red Wings are a sure bet to make the playoffs, while the Canadiens, Leafs, Bruins and Rangers are in tough to make the post-season. The Blackhawks have been out of contention since, oh, the Clinton administration (the first one if you’re reading this in the future). There is a decent chance, then, that the 2007 post-season will feature only one Original Six team, marking the first time that has ever happened. This collective mediocrity is why, with each passing year, the rivalries between Original Six franchises weaken. Combine it with the scarcity of inter-conference play, and you have a recipe for the death of traditional rivalries. Northeast Division teams Boston, Montreal, Toronto and the Rangers only play Detroit and Chicago once this season. And under the current schedule, teams visit cities in opposing conferences once every three seasons. So not only do fans in Detroit and Chicago miss out on regular visits from Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, they must also wait impatiently for three of their four traditional rivals to come their way. Perhaps more troubling, however, is the fact that these traditional rivals are playing fewer games of any consequence. You would think that having Toronto and Montreal in the same conference and division would yield a playoff meeting, or at least a regular season game of consequence. But no, these two franchises haven’t played a meaningful game since they met in the playoffs in 1979. Games between the Leafs and the Bruins, moreover, are so utterly uninspiring it makes you wonder if the players have any grasp of the rivalry. Out west, the hot Chicago-Detroit rivalry of the early to mid ‘90s has gone frosty with Hawks struggling through a rough decade. I think the NHL needs to schedule more games between these historic franchises, but I am not sure anyone would care. The Canadiens made a rare visit to Chicago earlier this season and only 11,095 people were impressed enough to show up. The Bruins have hosted a total of seven games against Toronto, Montreal and the Rangers this season and have averaged 14,344 in those games, less than their season average. The only hope of rejuvenating the Original Six rivalries lies in the competitiveness of the teams themselves. Detroit is doing its part. As for the other five, well, they’ve got a bit of work to do. Jeff Mackie is a former editor for The Hockey News. He has written about the NHL for thehockeynews.com and covered the AHL and OHL for Canadian Press. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bender 0 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 The only hope of rejuvenating the Original Six rivalries lies in the competitiveness of the teams themselves. Detroit is doing its part. As for the other five, well, they’ve got a bit of work to do. Exactly. Success breeds competition & healthy competition breeds success. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
auxlepli 17 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 2002 was an opportunity squandered by the Leafs again. I really really really wanted a Wings - Leafs SCF. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteLightning91 105 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 Maybe Illitch could buy the rest of the original 6 teams and that would take care of all these problems!!! No? Oh, ok. I guess John Ferguson and Bill Wirtz are kinda the same thing... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alienanxiety 23 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 I don't think this is a hockey-only problem. I have been seeing the deterioration of tradition, history, and culture for a while now - weather it be bad hollywood movies, s***ty reality television, or throw away pop music. We live in a completely disposable culture now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwingfan19 293 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 they should make an original 6 division, screw all those other lame teams. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheLegend19 1 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 I'm not concerned about meeting another Original Six team in the Finals. I'd be happy with a regular season game. --I don't think it's really fair to make the example of Montreal traveling to Chicago and only 11,000 people showing up. Chicago isn't going to draw fans, period (unless they are playing Detroit). If the Wings traveled to Toronto and only 11,000 showed up, then, I'd be concerned. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wingsfan31 0 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 All the other Original Six teams are owned by people/companies that see the team as an investment or are seemingly indifferent about the team's success. Wurtz and Jacobs don't give a crap about the Hawks and Bruins and the Habs, Rangers are Leafs are owned by large corporations or, in the Leafs' case, a portion of the team is owned by a teacher's pension fund. Yeah, I'm sure they are real interested in taking risks with their investment to win a Cup. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteLightning91 105 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 I don't think this is a hockey-only problem. I have been seeing the deterioration of tradition, history, and culture for a while now - weather it be bad hollywood movies, s***ty reality television, or throw away pop music. We live in a completely disposable culture now. Let me guess, them damn kids, with there pants down around there asses and forgetting about what it was like for you in Korea, won't stay off your lawn as well, eh? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kp-Wings 3 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 I agree with everything in that article. There's really nothing that can be done to restore the others as far as this season goes. You look at the figures here. Chicago has been bad for a while now, and Bill Writz is more concerned about saving money at all costs rather than build a team that can win. The same basically goes for Boston, where Jeremy Jacobs will try and find every possible way to be a cheapskate. The other three teams (Toronto, Montreal, NY Rangers) are run by big corperations as previously mentioned earlier. Toronto is the biggest debacle, having the Ontario Teachers assosiation running half the team. The Rangers more or less have a bad GM. Despite his past management savvy in Edmonton, Glen Sather is just a shadow of his former self. He would have, for one, been smart to not get Jaromir Jagr. While you do get a player with a lot of skill, you all get a moody, self centered baby who is perhaps the biggest locker room cancer in the league next to Sean Avery. Now do you wonder why they suck? As far as Montreal, I really don't know the ownership situation up there. I guess people can't perform up there though, being with all the history in that team and so fourth. So there you have it. I think these teams will turn around soon, and I really hope they do. Even with past rivalrys, I'd so much rather root for a good Chicago team rather than a good Anaheim or Nashville team. Same goes for a good Toronto team over a good Atlanta team or Florida team. I'd like to see a few of them turn it around. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jenova0 0 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 Have you seen the Habs goaltending since Patricia Roy left? That wiill explain everything. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JayUp88 1 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 i would love to see some heated wings and leafs games Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kp-Wings 3 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 Have you seen the Habs goaltending since Patricia Roy left? That wiill explain everything. Huet was pretty good until he got hurt. And let us not forgot: Theodore was in his prime in Montreal. He won the Vezina and, even bigger than that, the Hart trophy. Those Habs teams had the goaltending, just no offense. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
arnoldbuck 0 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 It would be awesome in the seasons to come (would take a little organization) to have an evetn similar to the Hockey Day in Canada. Except have the Original Six play eachother. Or maybe over the course of the week and have them play multiple teams. But then again, if Detroit really is the only exciting dominant team, the enjoyment of having these traditional teams play eachother might be out-weighed by crappy hockey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Tunbo Batman Report post Posted March 16, 2007 the habs have had this insane obsession with goaltending these last 20 years. it worked for a short while, but now theyre pathethic. investing everything in goaltending is NOT a good idea ok? what did they squander their 5th overall pick 2 years ago? Price (a run of the mill goalie). what was their only deadline move this year? they got a goalie. their button is stuck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theman19 47 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 Let me guess, them damn kids, with there pants down around there asses and forgetting about what it was like for you in Korea, won't stay off your lawn as well, eh? completly and utterly unwarrented. If you're going to make fun of someone because they bring up a point about the degrading of our culturly values (pretty flipping obvious if you ask me) there is zero reason to do it in this way. Keep it intellgent or keep it shut. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kp-Wings 3 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 the habs have had this insane obsession with goaltending these last 20 years. it worked for a short while, but now theyre pathethic. investing everything in goaltending is NOT a good idea ok? what did they squander their 5th overall pick 2 years ago? Price (a run of the mill goalie). what was their only deadline move this year? they got a goalie. their button is stuck. As far as I've heard, Carey Price is a really good goalie in Juniors, and has the potential to be a really good NHL goalie at the same time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheLegend19 1 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 I agree with everything in that article. There's really nothing that can be done to restore the others as far as this season goes. You look at the figures here. Chicago has been bad for a while now, and Bill Writz is more concerned about saving money at all costs rather than build a team that can win. The same basically goes for Boston, where Jeremy Jacobs will try and find every possible way to be a cheapskate. The other three teams (Toronto, Montreal, NY Rangers) are run by big corperations as previously mentioned earlier. Toronto is the biggest debacle, having the Ontario Teachers assosiation running half the team. The Rangers more or less have a bad GM. Despite his past management savvy in Edmonton, Glen Sather is just a shadow of his former self. He would have, for one, been smart to not get Jaromir Jagr. While you do get a player with a lot of skill, you all get a moody, self centered baby who is perhaps the biggest locker room cancer in the league next to Sean Avery. Now do you wonder why they suck? As far as Montreal, I really don't know the ownership situation up there. I guess people can't perform up there though, being with all the history in that team and so fourth. Having corporations own athletic teams is a huge no-no. For example, the Chicago Cubs. Owned by the Tribune company, the team has money. Problem is, the corporation is so interested in the investment, that they will not spend. Winning means nothing to them, because they have found other ways to make a profit. That is why Steinbrenner, Illitch, and Cuban are good for sports. They are fans, and they will do anything to make their team win. Spend anything, do anything, doesn't matter; as long as their team is champion. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteLightning91 105 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 completly and utterly unwarrented. If you're going to make fun of someone because they bring up a point about the degrading of our culturly values (pretty flipping obvious if you ask me) there is zero reason to do it in this way. Keep it intellgent or keep it shut. Yessir Drill Sgt. Sir! Coming from someone who has a transformer as their avatar, I'm not really too concerned... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
