Wings to move East?

[commadore183 103]

A quick question: Why are the Wings a WC team? I've looked around and asked around here, but couldn't find the answer. Thanks.

[auxlepli 17]

It's not just this issue. It's every single one! Take your pick - schedule, new jerseys, expansion. It doesn't freaking matter with this guy. I can understand the tipping of the hand, but expansion has been leaked. So why not tell fans the truth. Like, "That depends on expansion, and right now I can't discuss that." It's not that hard.

[Jwo 7]

I would miss our rivalry with the Phoenix Coyotes if we moved to the East!

Not really. Maybe we should get Red Wings nation to flood the NHL office phone lines saying we are tired of late night games on work/school days.

[Kp-Wings 3]

A quick question: Why are the Wings a WC team? I've looked around and asked around here, but couldn't find the answer. Thanks.

Because the West is full of unpopular markets that can't draw fans, so they rely on the Wings fans who live in those areas for revanue.

Let's face it: the majority of teams in the Eastern Conference have excellent fan-bases that don't need the help of the Wings to sell out a game. The Toronto Maple Leafs could lose 81 straight games, and still sell-out the 82nd. Hell, you all seen how bad the Philadelphia Flyers were last season, and they were still in the top 10 for attedance in the league.

Look at the west, on the other hand. With teams like the Predators, Coyotes, Blackhawks, Blues, Blue Jackets, Kings, etc. These are all teams that either don't have fans (like Nashville) or their fans are so pissed off at the management that they no longer attend games (like Chicago). So they rely on the Wings coming into town to meet the montly revenue goals.

The Chicago Blackhawks will win a Stanley Cup before the Wings move east. It's not going to happen anytime in the near future, at least as long as Bettman is commish.

[Guest REDWINGS4LYFE]

red wings please stay west! i live in the west

[Hank 0]

I don't know if anybody else saw this or not, but I didn't see anything on here:

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...0328/1128/rss16

I sure hope Devellano's right.

I've never got the impression that Devellano is a blow-hard who makes stuff up. He's always very straight-forward with his thoughts.

I'm sure Bettman did tell Jimmy D. that they would move them over there, but this is Bettman speaking out of both ears.

[Spinner 6]

I think there should be a clause that states that wherever the Red Wings play, the games are to start at 7:30 eastern time. It's going to be a long night tonight. I may have to nap before the game.

[joey_corleone 0]

I would love to see it, but also am very skeptical until I see something. Why? Because Bettman has managed to completely ruin the game already, and I really see no hope for the NHL at this point...unless somebody like the players, the NHLPA, the ownsers, SOMEBODY stands up for themselves and gets our game back (with HOCKEY rules, not ******* basketball rules, and hockey teams in hockey cities -- I still feel bad for Quebec and Winnipeg)

I would love to see us playing the Leafs, Rangers, Bruins, Habs all the time!!! I'm sorry but I just can't get into this new NHL, especially the rules and the schedule. Det - Nash, Det-Columbus , Det-Phx ... ??? I just can't try and pretend these are real rivalries.

On another note, if this DOES happen, whats to stop Chris Chelios from signing with the Hawks AND the Wings and playing in 2 conferences at the same time?

Edited October 15, 2007 by joey_corleone

[auxlepli 17]

I would love to see it, but also am very skeptical until I see something. Why? Because Bettman has managed to completely ruin the game already, and I really see no hope for the NHL at this point...unless somebody like the players, the NHLPA, the ownsers, SOMEBODY stands up for themselves and gets our game back (with HOCKEY rules, not ******* basketball rules, and hockey teams in hockey cities -- I still feel bad for Quebec and Winnipeg)

I would love to see us playing the Leafs, Rangers, Bruins, Habs all the time!!! I'm sorry but I just can't get into this new NHL, especially the rules and the schedule. Det - Nash, Det-Columbus , Det-Phx ... ??? I just can't try and pretend these are real rivalries.

Adam Proteau made similar point in The Hockey News last week.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/en/news/news.asp?idNews=26098

I disagree regarding the rules. There's less clutching and grabbing now in hockey and that's much, much better IMO. As far as the teams, you'd rather see crappy Bruin and Leaf teams instead of a competitive Predator and Blue Jacket teams? If it's truly just about the game I don't understand how you could post that.

Edited October 15, 2007 by auxlepli

[Guest jaytan]

This came out of a story from the News' preseason package. I didn't believe him then and I definitely don't now. Buttman is a moron, but I don't think he would be dumb enough to tell Jimmy this at this point. Expansion is iffy as it is.

[Jwo 7]

I think there should be a clause that states that wherever the Red Wings play, the games are to start at 7:30 eastern time. It's going to be a long night tonight. I may have to nap before the game.

I agree.

[StormJH1 231]

DO NOT EXPAND THE LEAGUE! CONTRACT! ARE YOU BLIND????

Thank you!

Added to the list of problems the NHL doesn't need:

1) Ripping the most popular team out of the West, where they are sorely needed for ticket sales;

2) Adding ANY additional teams to the league, particularly in poor Western hockey markets;

3) Becoming the first major sports league to expose themselves to Las Vegas culture and accusations (legitimate or unfounded) of game-fixing and betting scandals.

I think being in the West has benefitted Detroit as much as it's hurt. It's ridiculous to argue that being in the West has anything to do with poor ticket sales when we've had extremely lucrative sales since the whole Western/Eastern concept developed.

All of Detroit's division rivals are either in the Eastern timezone, or only one hour away. Other teams (MIN and DAL) have it worse, because every single away game against division rival is in a different time zone, often starting at 9:30pm.

[joey_corleone 0]

Adam Proteau made similar point in The Hockey News last week.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/en/news/news.asp?idNews=26098

I disagree regarding the rules. There's less clutching and grabbing now in hockey and that's much, much better IMO. As far as the teams, you'd rather see crappy Bruin and Leaf teams instead of a competitive Predator and Blue Jacket teams? If it's truly just about the game I don't understand how you could post that.

Yes, there may be less clutching and grabbing and holding which I think is good, but what about the penalty calls that make it seem like you can't even finish your check or look at somebody the wrong way? I'm being honest when I say half the time I have no idea what they are even calling anymore. It's almost as if they blow the whistle at random intervals and then pull a penalty out of a hat to call. That is horrible. The shootout is horrible. I will admit it is exciting as hell, but terrible way to end a hockey game, let alone a way to potentially decide who makes the playoffs. Why? Because hockey is a team sport. The best team should win, not the team with the best goalie or best offensive players only. I would like to see more hitting, less cluthing and grabbing like you said, and lay off on the lame penalty calls.

As far as wanting to see crappy Boston, Toronto teams over good Nashville teams...absolutely. In a heartbeat. I had more fun at the Chicago game and the Toronto pre-season game actually then at Calgary. Not to say Calgary was not a good game, it was a great game. Something about a good old fashioned original 6 matchup is exciting and you can feel it in the air. The players seem to also, because it seems teams rise to the occasion when they are playing a rivalry. Also, since when are the jackets "competitive"?? They are as big of a joke as Boston...more of a joke actually. Another thing to keep in mind is that while Nashville might be competitive now, that won't always be the case. So, looking at the big picture, I'd still rather see the wings and Toronto, NY, Montreal, Boston because there will be times in the future where those teams will be good (not to say NY is not good, I think they have a shot at the cup).

Then there is the whole timezone thing. Everybody is sick of this 10:30 bullcrap. The Wings constantly get crapped on come scheduling time. The west coast trips are especially brutal come playoff time, and it is an unfair advantage to other teams that don't have to deal with it.

As far as no fan base in other cities, I don't care. Of course the world doesn't revolve around me, and the NHL wants to make money so of course it matters to them. Maybe if they didn't put hockey teams in Anaheim, Florida, Nashville, Atlanta, etc where nobody gives a crap about hockey they would not have this problem

.

[Gary Bettman 0]

The Red Wings will not move into the Eastern Conference. Mr. Devallano seems to be getting his sources mixed up. Our inital plans for the new team in Kansas City was to then move the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Eastern Conference. After all, the city of Columbus is further east.

Besides, the Red Wings have some great divisional rivalries going on right now with teams like Nashville, St. Louis, and Chicago. It's all very exiting hockey in my opinion.

[omnipotent_hudler 0]

The Red Wings will not move into the Eastern Conference. Mr. Devallano seems to be getting his sources mixed up. Our inital plans for the new team in Kansas City was to then move the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Eastern Conference. After all, the city of Columbus is further east.

Mr. Bettman, I'm just wondering if you'd care to comment on your impending death. The word is that Chris Chelios has already sent out his assassins(ironically, Russians who were pissed at the idea that Chris Chelios would be stuck in their country). Where will the funeral be held? How will your family cope? In which arena will your corpse be hung from the rafters as a symbol of the resurgence of the NHL?

Thanks.