The Ditch part deux

Looking at the potential division realignment
We already know that a 56-game season starting in Mid-January is looking likely, and that it will come with a temporary realignment of the NHL’s four divisions.

That alignment will feature an all-Canadian division and three other temporary divisions.

On Wednesday, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported that current alignment could look like this:

• Boston, Buffalo, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington

• Carolina, Columbus, Detroit, Chicago, Florida, Minnesota, Nashville, Tampa Bay

• Anaheim, Arizona, Colorado, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Jose, St. Louis, Vegas

• Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg

Some quick thoughts…
• The first is that would be an absolutely brutal alignment for the Sabres and their attempt to end the NHL’s longest current playoff drought.

That division is absolutely loaded. Buffalo and New Jersey are — on paper — the two weakest teams in the division and neither one of them is a complete pushover. A very good team in that division is going to miss the playoffs, and it is going to take quite a one-year turnaround for the Sabres to earn a spot in that setting.

They are better on paper after their offseason, but they still have enough flaws and good teams around them to make this a tough draw.

This is also by far the best division for rivalries.

• Carolina should be happy with this alignment.

In the original report, the Hurricanes and Penguins spots were swapped. This is a much more manageable alignment for the Hurricanes as there is a strong argument to be made they are the second best team in this division after Tampa.

It is also a nice break for Columbus to get away from the rest of the Metropolitan Division.

Every team in this division after Tampa has some kind of a significant flaw. Who can possibly challenge the Lightning here?

• The Blues being with the Pacific teams would be a disappointment to have them away from Chicago and Detroit.

The only rivalry that exists now for the Blues will be those matchups against Alex Pietrangelo. This division also seems to have a pretty significant gap between the top-four (Colorado, Dallas, St. Louis, Vegas) and the bottom-four (everybody else). It would be a significant upset if one of Anaheim, Arizona, Los Angeles, or San Jose overtook one of the top-four teams.

• The Canadian division is definitely interesting on a short-term basis, but it just does not seem to be something that is viable on a long-term basis due to time zone differences and the travel schedule it would require.

For this year though it is going to be an incredibly competitive division.

Toronto is the best team on paper, but that has not meant much in recent seasons. Ottawa is the one team clearly rebuilding and at the bottom of the pack, but there is not much separating the rest of these teams.

NBC - PRO HOCKEY TALK

 

I always wanted re-alignment, but not because of Covid, but because I think it could be done better logistically.

Anyway, it is just temporary (1 season), but it doesnt seem to make sense to me.

 

Will...........Fantasy Hockey alert.

2021 NHL Draft..........Kent Johnson for the UNI. Michigan.....put him on your Radar.

 

thats a cool helmet

 

OK Guys Trivia Question.........in Memory of Alex Trebek.

Name these Goalies Left to Right..........

 

1) is Cheavers ... thats all I got.

 

1) is Cheavers ... thats all I got.


WHAT ???.......come on Will ......# 3 will Blood on his face.......Probably the BEST goalie Ever.

 

Is Cheavers correct for the first one?

 

My guess for the Candien is Jaque Plante?

 

Parent might be the Flyer?

 

Well, that’s Ken Dryden the GOAT G.

 

Mr. Goalie will always be the GOAT in my book.

 

Is Cheavers correct for the first one?

Yes.....

My guess for the Candien is Jaque Plante?

Yes......

Parent might be the Flyer?

Yes.....

Well, that’s Ken Dryden the GOAT G.

He was GREAT and won the "CUP" as a Rookie.

Mr. Goalie will always be the GOAT in my book.

BWW I always liked Glenn Hall when he was a Blackhawk and he did not wear a mask.....then he went too St Louis with Jaques Plante and he wore a mask to finish his career.

So you guys have 3 of 4 correct.........now the tough one .......who is the Vancouver Canuck Goalie ???.....The Flying V.

There is a prize if you get it right.

 

There is a prize if you get it right.

NO Cheating you can't Goggle.......lol

I'm betting Dan get's it right.......that is a Hint.

 

It’s Gary Bromley.

 

Meanwhile...

NHL still eyeing mid-January start; games in arenas, hubs possible

Talks continue between the NHL and NHLPA as they iron out details on how the 2020-21 season will play out.

Speaking on a panel at the World Hockey Forum in Moscow, Commissioner Gary Bettman said that a mid-January start remains the target and there’s been no decision yet on whether teams will play in their own arenas or in hubs again.

“… It is clear that we will not be playing an 82-game schedule for the regular season, which we normally do, but we’re going to try and play as many games as possible,” Bettman said via NHL.com’s Nick Cotsonika.

Bettman has been getting advice on the medical side, including from Dr. Anthony Fauci, who recommended the league go with hubs. The current COVID-19 regulations in each market will play a big factor in how the NHL proceeds with formulating the regular season schedule.

“If enough teams can’t play, again, without fans, in their own facilities, then we may have to move more and more towards a hub,” Bettman said. “It may be that some teams are playing in other buildings. It may be that a whole group of teams have to play in other buildings.”

Bettman noted that as they will attempt to play as many games as they can, teams will be doing so within their divisions. Those divisions, as has been reported, will likely feature a one-year realignment that will see all seven Canadian teams grouped together due to the Canada-U.S. border restrictions.

“We may have to, only for the regular season, have the Canadian teams play each other in Canada in one or more cities and then we have to realign the remaining 24 teams in the United States,” Bettman said.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Columbus, Newark, Las Vegas, Edmonton, Toronto could end up as short-term hubs.

NBC/NHL/Bettman/Willie

 

It’s Gary Bromley.

With the Skelton mask....he played for the Sabres and Canucks.

that is Bromley before his Skelton mask playing the Sabres.

Tim gets the prize.