he can protect his goalie without elbowing anyone in the head area, there is much more to the body than
that little noggin on the top.
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he can protect his goalie without elbowing anyone in the head area, there is much more to the body than
that little noggin on the top.
Ah man..........what a beaut. Joffrey Lupul beat Tim Thomas on a Phil Kessel pass to put the Leafs in tie with the Bruins just over the 7 minute mark in the 2nd. Leaf fans should check out that pass. It was really a pretty one, for sure.
the proposed realignment of the NHL is as follows:
conference A - anaheim, calgary, colorado, edmonton, los angelos, phoenix, san jose, vancouver
conference B - chicago, columbus, dallas, detroit, minnesota, nashville, st. louis, winnipeg
conference C - boston, buffalo, florida, montreal, ottawa, tampa bay, toronto
conference D - carolina, new jersey, islanders, rangers, philly,pittsburg,washington
from NHL.com
The four conferences are designed to alleviate geographic concerns among several current Western Conference teams that had been unhappy about their extensive travel through one, two, and sometimes even three time zones. Chief among those teams were the Red Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars.
Some of those teams argued that the late start of road games in the Pacific time zone were having an adverse effect on fan interest, especially among younger fans. Detroit General Manager Ken Holland said he noticed a problem in last season's Stanley Cup Playoffs, when the Red Wings had to travel to Phoenix in the first round and San Jose in the second round. Each of those cities is a three-hour difference from Detroit.
"We played a lot of road games in the playoffs last year in San Jose and Phoenix, and the games were on at 10 or 10:30 at night," Holland told NHL.com. "I would talk to fans and they would watch one or two periods and wake up in the morning to get the score.
"Six months ago our thought was we wanted to be in the East, but after looking at this alternative…we felt it was a great compromise and I would say that we're happy."
The new alignment also enables the NHL to create a balanced schedule in which all teams will play each other at least twice every season, once at home and once on the road, giving fans a chance to see every team and superstar in the League. The remaining games will be played within the conferences.
six times -- three home, three away -- for a total of 36 inter-division games. In the eight-team Conferences, teams would play either five or six times in a season on a rotating basis -- for a total of 38 inter-division games.
The teams in the seven-team Conferences will have 46 out-of-conference games, including 23 at home and 23 on the road. The teams in the eight-team Conferences will have 44 out-of-conference games evenly split between home and away.
"I think it's certainly very good for our fans in terms of almost every market," Nashville General Manager David Poile said. "I know our fans really appreciate to see everybody at least once every year and I think that was a strong move."
As a result of the new four-conference alignment, the Stanley Cup Playoffs will follow a different format as well.
The top four teams in each Conference will qualify for the playoffs. The first-place team in each conference would play the fourth-place team in the same conference; the second-place team would play the third-place team.
The four respective Conference champions would meet in the third round, with the survivors playing for the Stanley Cup.
A decision on how the League will seed the remaining teams for the semifinals will likely not come until the general managers meet in March.
"That's something I plan to do with the general managers at their meeting in the spring," Bettman said. "We'll figure out what they want from a competitive standpoint. This is a decision I'll let the GMs make."
Bettman acknowledged that in the four-conference format, there will be added travel for some teams due to the fact that every team has to visit every city at least once per season. However, he did say that the schedule can be made to be more efficient so there will be less travel between stops on road trips.
"We need to be more efficient and the schedule maker believes he can be," Bettman said.
He also conceded that there was a focus on the fact that there are two conferences with only seven teams as opposed to two with eight teams. However, he added that didn't seem to be an issue within the Board.
"Frankly it's not the seventh and eighth teams that are competing for a playoff spot," Bettman said. "When you look at the map of North America, it's not geographic perfection so we're looking for something that makes the most sense and most fans and most clubs as comfortable as possible."
conference A - anaheim, calgary, colorado, edmonton, los angelos, phoenix, san jose, vancouver
conference B - chicago, columbus, dallas, detroit, minnesota, nashville, st. louis, winnipeg
conference C - boston, buffalo, florida, montreal, ottawa, tampa bay, toronto
conference D - carolina, new jersey, islanders, rangers, philly,pittsburg,washington
from NHL.com
The four conferences are designed to alleviate geographic concerns among several current Western Conference teams that had been unhappy about their extensive travel through one, two, and sometimes even three time zones. Chief among those teams were the Red Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars.
Some of those teams argued that the late start of road games in the Pacific time zone were having an adverse effect on fan interest, especially among younger fans. Detroit General Manager Ken Holland said he noticed a problem in last season's Stanley Cup Playoffs, when the Red Wings had to travel to Phoenix in the first round and San Jose in the second round. Each of those cities is a three-hour difference from Detroit.
"We played a lot of road games in the playoffs last year in San Jose and Phoenix, and the games were on at 10 or 10:30 at night," Holland told NHL.com. "I would talk to fans and they would watch one or two periods and wake up in the morning to get the score.
"Six months ago our thought was we wanted to be in the East, but after looking at this alternative…we felt it was a great compromise and I would say that we're happy."
The new alignment also enables the NHL to create a balanced schedule in which all teams will play each other at least twice every season, once at home and once on the road, giving fans a chance to see every team and superstar in the League. The remaining games will be played within the conferences.
six times -- three home, three away -- for a total of 36 inter-division games. In the eight-team Conferences, teams would play either five or six times in a season on a rotating basis -- for a total of 38 inter-division games.
The teams in the seven-team Conferences will have 46 out-of-conference games, including 23 at home and 23 on the road. The teams in the eight-team Conferences will have 44 out-of-conference games evenly split between home and away.
"I think it's certainly very good for our fans in terms of almost every market," Nashville General Manager David Poile said. "I know our fans really appreciate to see everybody at least once every year and I think that was a strong move."
As a result of the new four-conference alignment, the Stanley Cup Playoffs will follow a different format as well.
The top four teams in each Conference will qualify for the playoffs. The first-place team in each conference would play the fourth-place team in the same conference; the second-place team would play the third-place team.
The four respective Conference champions would meet in the third round, with the survivors playing for the Stanley Cup.
A decision on how the League will seed the remaining teams for the semifinals will likely not come until the general managers meet in March.
"That's something I plan to do with the general managers at their meeting in the spring," Bettman said. "We'll figure out what they want from a competitive standpoint. This is a decision I'll let the GMs make."
Bettman acknowledged that in the four-conference format, there will be added travel for some teams due to the fact that every team has to visit every city at least once per season. However, he did say that the schedule can be made to be more efficient so there will be less travel between stops on road trips.
"We need to be more efficient and the schedule maker believes he can be," Bettman said.
He also conceded that there was a focus on the fact that there are two conferences with only seven teams as opposed to two with eight teams. However, he added that didn't seem to be an issue within the Board.
"Frankly it's not the seventh and eighth teams that are competing for a playoff spot," Bettman said. "When you look at the map of North America, it's not geographic perfection so we're looking for something that makes the most sense and most fans and most clubs as comfortable as possible."
i would like to see a change in the playoff format.
each round: 4, 15 minute periods with 15 minute overtime periods.
each round: 3 away games 1, 2, 3, then 4 home games 4, 5, 6, 7.
round 1: 1 vs 16
round 2: 1 vs 8
round 3: 1 vs 4
round 4: 1 vs 2
each round: 4, 15 minute periods with 15 minute overtime periods.
each round: 3 away games 1, 2, 3, then 4 home games 4, 5, 6, 7.
round 1: 1 vs 16
round 2: 1 vs 8
round 3: 1 vs 4
round 4: 1 vs 2
Looking at the conference/division layout, they could also push Detroit into the same conference as Toronto/Montreal et al, and save the Wings some traveling (making the conference an 8 team one and Detroit's old one a 7).
In some ways, the set up almost begs for 2 more teams to make 4 groups of 8 instead of 2 groups of 7 and 2 of 8, but I also know expansion is a tricky subject, especially as thin as the talent pool seems at times (not going to go near which markets deserve/don't deserve franchises...).
My beef with the way things are now is that most out of conference match-ups only happen once a season, and alternating the rinks mean things like Canucklehead fans only get to see someone like Croby or Ovechkin, or the lost Hab fans out west don't see them in their barns but once every 2 years. I'd like to go back to scheduling one home and one road game against every team again too.
On the whole its not perfect (everyone's definition of perfect will vary!) but not bad. Now they just need to revamp the point system for the standings, to makeevery game a 3 pt game: 3 pts for a win in regulation, 2 pts for an OT or SO win, 1 pt for a OT or SO loss. All that would change would be a bonus pt for a team able to get it done in 60 minutes and I think it would show who the stronger teams really are...
In some ways, the set up almost begs for 2 more teams to make 4 groups of 8 instead of 2 groups of 7 and 2 of 8, but I also know expansion is a tricky subject, especially as thin as the talent pool seems at times (not going to go near which markets deserve/don't deserve franchises...).
My beef with the way things are now is that most out of conference match-ups only happen once a season, and alternating the rinks mean things like Canucklehead fans only get to see someone like Croby or Ovechkin, or the lost Hab fans out west don't see them in their barns but once every 2 years. I'd like to go back to scheduling one home and one road game against every team again too.
On the whole its not perfect (everyone's definition of perfect will vary!) but not bad. Now they just need to revamp the point system for the standings, to makeevery game a 3 pt game: 3 pts for a win in regulation, 2 pts for an OT or SO win, 1 pt for a OT or SO loss. All that would change would be a bonus pt for a team able to get it done in 60 minutes and I think it would show who the stronger teams really are...
I think it was important to leave detroit in the west, although their travel now is a bit easier. They
are an important part of the west, one of the original six teams, and they are happy with the change, and
don't mind staying out of the east now with the new arrangement.
every team will play every team at least twice, (home and home), so that problem has been solved as
well.
lots of improvement in the 'times changes'for teams, but it was impossible to make it perfect, and of course
some will complain.
The downside, (and it was like this long ago too) is that it can 'work' that a team could be out of the
playoffs with more points than another team in another bracket who is 'in' the playoffs.
That is unfortunate, but if one thinks of each conference as a different league alltogether, who cares, just make sure you play well enough not to get into that sitiuation.
I remember when canucks were a poorer team for many years, and sometimes made the playoffs over another
team who had more points, but this does keep each conference more able to keep up with everyone else
so that 'their' own fans don't get disgruntled each year by seeing their team get left out, a team
like that will at least get one playoff round before they are 'done'.
It is good for the locals, annoying for another team far away, but also easily forgotton as soon as,
the lower team is eliminated after a round.
When phoenix finally moves, then the east will have one conference with 8 teams
and the west, 'one' with seven.
And also, it seems the NHL has a bit of a hidden agenda to make sure a new franchise
is going into southern ontario at some point, so that could make the east have 8
teams in their conferences.
So then, working on that theory, we would need one more team in the west, so we'll
have to see how that plays out, maybe Seattle???, please please please!!!!!!!!!.
I like it.
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yay! now i can watch the leafs lose under the ownership of 2 bitter rivals.
i don't see how 2 competing companies can run the leafs. also, bell owns the habs. i don't want to see talent being given to the habs when the talent should only go to our leafs.
i don't see how 2 competing companies can run the leafs. also, bell owns the habs. i don't want to see talent being given to the habs when the talent should only go to our leafs.
yay! now i can watch the leafs lose under the ownership of 2 bitter rivals.
they don't own more than they are legally allowed for each team, and they don't care about the
teams, they only care about money, they are the suits, not real people, they have much bigger
things in mind.
they can pretend they like each other if the bottom line shows big profits.
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yay! now i can watch the leafs lose under the ownership of 2 bitter rivals.
In all honesty, when I saw this I thought "out with one group of dysfunctional suits pretending to run a sports franchise and in with a new group". This was a corporate joint venture, in many ways similar to the way one auto maker has the rights to commercials in a given period on the telecasts, or the way different oil companies own pieces of Syncrude. The GM (or more likely some intermediate exec like VP of hockey operations) will answer to a board of directors whose priority is profit margins, and not so much the product on the ice.
And how exactly is that going to be any different than the way it was run for years? That, as I understand it, is a complaint of many fans throughout the league about many franchises. I just think the Leafs are poster boys for it, personally.
That's what Toronto has been all about since the 1970s. In the Harold Ballard days, he'd trade away talent if it improved the bottom line.
Thats just it: nothing really WILL change, as far as the fans are concerned. The only thing that will change is the direction the profits flow: they go into different peoples' bank accounts than before this sale. TenPenny was right in that this has been the Leaf Way since Ballard was in charge... and unfortunately for their fans, it looks to be the way of their future too.
Looks like the song is over for Sid The Kid-So Long It's Been Good to Know You!
Sidney Crosby out of Penguins' practice[
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has sat out the last two games as precaution after taking some hits in a game against the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins last week
Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby did not suit up for practice with his teammates on Monday.
Crosby has sat out the last two games as a precaution after taking some hits in a game against the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins last week.
In a following practice, he complained of a “slight headache."
Crosby is expected to talk to the media after the team's practice.
"It was not a one-time incident in the game. He took a couple hits in the game and didn’t feel 100 per cent after the game, so that was an indication,” coach Dan Bylsma told reporters last week. “He went and saw Dr. [Michael] Collins the next day. His ImPACT test was exactly what it was when he returned to play.
“Dr. Collins said there is no indication of a concussion at this point in time. After practice [Wednesday], he had a slight headache. He knows his body well. It’s been a long 10 months. And as a precautionary [move], he is just kind of taking tonight’s game off and through the weekend."
Crosby missed 41 games last season and seven playoff games following two concussions he suffered in early January. He was forced to miss the first 20 games this season while recovering from concussion symptoms.
He made a spectacular return on Nov. 21 against the New York Islanders, scoring two goals and two assists.
Sidney Crosby out of Penguins' practice[
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has sat out the last two games as precaution after taking some hits in a game against the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins last week
Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby did not suit up for practice with his teammates on Monday.
Crosby has sat out the last two games as a precaution after taking some hits in a game against the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins last week.
In a following practice, he complained of a “slight headache."
Crosby is expected to talk to the media after the team's practice.
"It was not a one-time incident in the game. He took a couple hits in the game and didn’t feel 100 per cent after the game, so that was an indication,” coach Dan Bylsma told reporters last week. “He went and saw Dr. [Michael] Collins the next day. His ImPACT test was exactly what it was when he returned to play.
“Dr. Collins said there is no indication of a concussion at this point in time. After practice [Wednesday], he had a slight headache. He knows his body well. It’s been a long 10 months. And as a precautionary [move], he is just kind of taking tonight’s game off and through the weekend."
Crosby missed 41 games last season and seven playoff games following two concussions he suffered in early January. He was forced to miss the first 20 games this season while recovering from concussion symptoms.
He made a spectacular return on Nov. 21 against the New York Islanders, scoring two goals and two assists.
probably a good idea for him to re evaluate, but a player has to be an elite player to do that, if
other players tried to sit out with a bit of a headache, even if they had concussions in the past,
it wouldn't be appreciated by coaches/mgr.
i'm glad he is doing whatever he needs to do, but I must confess there has been far too much attention
on him over the past months, it has become such an issue that he is now looked at much differently than
any other player, and in my mind he is a top performer, but is still just a player in the NHL, and I
don't want to continually hear about everything he does, next thing it will be his bowel movements, are
they regular, oh my he missed a day, what now, call in the proctologists.
sorry for the sarcasm, just the way I feel at this point.
hope you are back soon sydney,
and booth, hodgson, volpatti, and all the rest of the players who are suffering 'out' of
their lineups and trying to heal enough to be playing again.
other players tried to sit out with a bit of a headache, even if they had concussions in the past,
it wouldn't be appreciated by coaches/mgr.
i'm glad he is doing whatever he needs to do, but I must confess there has been far too much attention
on him over the past months, it has become such an issue that he is now looked at much differently than
any other player, and in my mind he is a top performer, but is still just a player in the NHL, and I
don't want to continually hear about everything he does, next thing it will be his bowel movements, are
they regular, oh my he missed a day, what now, call in the proctologists.
sorry for the sarcasm, just the way I feel at this point.
hope you are back soon sydney,
and booth, hodgson, volpatti, and all the rest of the players who are suffering 'out' of
their lineups and trying to heal enough to be playing again.
I just this minute heard very disturbing breaking news concerning 'mike millbury', sports analyst, ass-hole,
big mouth, etc., and someone I have disliked for some time.
He has also called the sedins, 'sisters' and made other comments about the canucks, 'recently', about how
they dive and whine about situations.
He has been charged with assault on a 12 year old boy at a hockey game, where 'it seems' he is an assistant
coach with a boys hockey team.
I will listen to follow up comments on this situation, but at this point it is startling and disgusting.
big mouth, etc., and someone I have disliked for some time.
He has also called the sedins, 'sisters' and made other comments about the canucks, 'recently', about how
they dive and whine about situations.
He has been charged with assault on a 12 year old boy at a hockey game, where 'it seems' he is an assistant
coach with a boys hockey team.
I will listen to follow up comments on this situation, but at this point it is startling and disgusting.