It's a weird year in college hockey. Last I checked Quinnipiac is #1, the entire future Big Ten sucks except Minnesota, it's Michigan's worst season since the mid-80s, which is making me sad. Though at least we swept OSU last weekend and have five wins over MSU.
MSU's team is garbage this year. I'm still not sure why Anastos was hired to coach with zero experience.
It's a weird year in college hockey. Last I checked Quinnipiac is #1, the entire future Big Ten sucks except Minnesota, it's Michigan's worst season since the mid-80s, which is making me sad. Though at least we swept OSU last weekend and have five wins over MSU.
MSU's team is garbage this year. I'm still not sure why Anastos was hired to coach with zero experience.
This is literally the only thing making our season vaguely bearable. Though supposedly he's recruiting well, it's just hard to see because hockey players commit like 8 years before they actually show up on campus/are poached by the OHL, leaving you entirely without a goalie. The kid who was in net for the US U-20 team that won gold was committed to Michigan.
Self-righteousness is incompatible with coalition building.
Most of the big markets in this league are in the East. I tought to myself, why not ''spread the wealth'' a bit and send a few of them out-west?
How about this :
West conference
Great Lakes div. : Chicago - Detroit - Philly - Pittsburgh - Toronto
Prairies div. : Calgary - Edmonton - Minnesotta - Saint Louis - Winnipeg
Pacific div. : Anaheim - Colorado - LA - San Jose - Vancouver
East conference
Atlantic div : Columbus - New Jersey - New York Islanders - New York Rangers - Washington
North div. : Boston - Buffalo - Montréal - Ottawa - Québec
South div : Carolina - Dallas - Florida - Nashville - Tampa
At first I had Buffalo in the Atlantic and Columbus in the North but I switched them because Columbus could use the exposure boost that comes from being in the same division than the NY teams and Buffalo gets to keep it's rivalry with Ottawa.
Ok, the problem here is that none of the teams in the South have large populations of people following them (except maybe Dallas).
With Tampa and Florida in a division with Canadians, we at least get viewership and ticket sales from Canadians that come here for winter.
I don't want my teams to get shipped to Canada because no one here wants to watch a game between Nashville and Tampa.
Fuck, I don't want to watch a game between Nashville and Tampa.
mmmm so basically my south div is a train-wreckin the making eh?
You have teams like Toronto, Rangers ,Montréal , Philly, Pittsburgh that will print money no matter what division they are in. Heck, as long as Québec get it's team back they could put it with the California teams, I wouldn't care, I'd still watch I think the California teams WOULD care, tough . Then you have some teams like Columbus or Carolina that needs some external help to make money. You have to mix stronger and weaker markets together. Perhaps my Great Lakes div wasn't such a great idea afterall, too many big markets in the same division.
You also have to keep rivalries in mind. For example it would be a mistake to separate Pittsburgh and Philly or Edmonton and Calgary.
You also have to take time zones into consideration. Because of that I think Dallas, even more so than Winnipeg, is the team that needs the most to move to a new division pronto. You shouldn't have more than 2 timezones in the same division if you can help it.
I don't think it's possible to have a setup that makes everyone perfectly happy but we can try to make everyone at least somewhat happy
Here's another proposal of mine (assuming Phoenix moves to Québec) :
Western conference
Anaheim - Colorado - LA - San Jose - Vancouver
With Phoenix gone, I don't see any other combo that makes sense for the Pacific coast. Replace the Avs with the Yotes should they stay in Phoenix or move to Seatle.
Dallas have a connection with Minesotta, being the ex-North Stars. Also they have somewhat of a rivalry with Edmonton due to their past PO series. I also thik you have to have the Jets and Wild together since they are each other closest rivals by a good margin. Loosing Vancouver and gaining Winnipeg should make the Wild happy.
Boston - Chicago - Detroit - Nashville - Saint Louis
NSH and STL gets to keep Detroit and Chicago, which should make them happy. Chicago gets to keep it's rivalry with Detroit. Detroit gains a more interesting eastern rival in Boston. Boston gets to be with 2 Original 6 teams. I see this as a decent compromise for everyone. You could also replace Boston with Toronto. Toronto is the one team nearly everyone would like to see in their division, no matter where you put them some teams will be unhappy.
Eastern conference
Buffalo - Florida - Ottawa - Tampa - Toronto
You keep the BUF/OTT/TML triangle of hate alive and you help 2 southern markets with snowbird money.
Carolina - New Jersey - New York Islanders - New York Rangers - Washington
Easier travel schedule and more media exposure for Carolina. Washington gets to get out of the SE. The NYC area teams are kept together.
Columbus - Montréal- Philly - Pittsburgh - Québec
At first I had only one of PHI/PIT in this division but then I tought ''you have to pair them''. Columbus gets a major boost by getting out of the western conf and gaining media exposure in PA. Québec is too extatic to have their team back to really care who they are paired with.
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FWIW if you asked me ''What would your dream division be?'' I'd answer : Boston - Montréal - New York Rangers - Pittsburgh - Québec. I think every game in such a division would be epic But I don't think such a division will ever exist!
My apologies for the long ass post
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Pens don't show up to the 2nd. Other shocking stories for today include ice being cold and space vast. Its like I'm watching that pens/flyers series, no discipline at all.
We seem to be recovering. But there's no excuse for all those penalties and letting those goals. Paul martin is on fire this year, I can finally see why we picked him up.
If the Bruins can upgrade their top 6 forwards (sniper), bottom D-pair, and add some veteran depth, they should be able to make a deep run. They have the cap space to add parts, but maybe not the assets.
What's better, to realize in the first minute that your team is going to lose, or to watch them play 2 amazing periods of hockey only to forget that the game has 3 periods?
Posts
MSU's team is garbage this year. I'm still not sure why Anastos was hired to coach with zero experience.
This is literally the only thing making our season vaguely bearable. Though supposedly he's recruiting well, it's just hard to see because hockey players commit like 8 years before they actually show up on campus/are poached by the OHL, leaving you entirely without a goalie. The kid who was in net for the US U-20 team that won gold was committed to Michigan.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=416897
mmmm so basically my south div is a train-wreckin the making eh?
You have teams like Toronto, Rangers ,Montréal , Philly, Pittsburgh that will print money no matter what division they are in. Heck, as long as Québec get it's team back they could put it with the California teams, I wouldn't care, I'd still watch
You also have to keep rivalries in mind. For example it would be a mistake to separate Pittsburgh and Philly or Edmonton and Calgary.
You also have to take time zones into consideration. Because of that I think Dallas, even more so than Winnipeg, is the team that needs the most to move to a new division pronto. You shouldn't have more than 2 timezones in the same division if you can help it.
I don't think it's possible to have a setup that makes everyone perfectly happy but we can try to make everyone at least somewhat happy
Here's another proposal of mine (assuming Phoenix moves to Québec) :
Western conference
Anaheim - Colorado - LA - San Jose - Vancouver
With Phoenix gone, I don't see any other combo that makes sense for the Pacific coast. Replace the Avs with the Yotes should they stay in Phoenix or move to Seatle.
Calgary - Dallas - Edmonton - Minesotta - Winnipeg
Dallas have a connection with Minesotta, being the ex-North Stars. Also they have somewhat of a rivalry with Edmonton due to their past PO series. I also thik you have to have the Jets and Wild together since they are each other closest rivals by a good margin. Loosing Vancouver and gaining Winnipeg should make the Wild happy.
Boston - Chicago - Detroit - Nashville - Saint Louis
NSH and STL gets to keep Detroit and Chicago, which should make them happy. Chicago gets to keep it's rivalry with Detroit. Detroit gains a more interesting eastern rival in Boston. Boston gets to be with 2 Original 6 teams. I see this as a decent compromise for everyone. You could also replace Boston with Toronto. Toronto is the one team nearly everyone would like to see in their division, no matter where you put them some teams will be unhappy.
Eastern conference
Buffalo - Florida - Ottawa - Tampa - Toronto
You keep the BUF/OTT/TML triangle of hate alive and you help 2 southern markets with snowbird money.
Carolina - New Jersey - New York Islanders - New York Rangers - Washington
Easier travel schedule and more media exposure for Carolina. Washington gets to get out of the SE. The NYC area teams are kept together.
Columbus - Montréal- Philly - Pittsburgh - Québec
At first I had only one of PHI/PIT in this division but then I tought ''you have to pair them''. Columbus gets a major boost by getting out of the western conf and gaining media exposure in PA. Québec is too extatic to have their team back to really care who they are paired with.
--
FWIW if you asked me ''What would your dream division be?'' I'd answer : Boston - Montréal - New York Rangers - Pittsburgh - Québec. I think every game in such a division would be epic
My apologies for the long ass post
We seem to be recovering. But there's no excuse for all those penalties and letting those goals. Paul martin is on fire this year, I can finally see why we picked him up.
Not a good choice.
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If the Bruins can upgrade their top 6 forwards (sniper), bottom D-pair, and add some veteran depth, they should be able to make a deep run. They have the cap space to add parts, but maybe not the assets.
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/175479/realigned-nhl-thread-now-with-less-travel-unless-youre-the-lightning-or-panthers