The Official 2011/12 NHL Thread

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

I'm not much of a fan when it comes to uneven conferences, but that might just be some OCD showing (It's not even, ahhhhh!). It is funny how the MLB has finally evened it out and then another league goes this way instead.

Overall it looks decent but, as with everything, a little tinkering wouldn't hurt. However, the travel time and costs will be greatly reduced for much of the league and that's a big plus.

My main concern is for the teams who finish fifth in their conference but have far more points than teams in another who do make the playoffs. That may be a nothing argument though. Wait and see I guess is the order of the day. See what's up in a number of years. Change can be exciting though

That's a valid concern, but with the current format you get teams in one conference making the play-offs while there are teams in the other conference with more points. So that will basically stay unchanged.

The uneven teams thing will change pretty soon I think. Right now with 30 teams it's impossible to have 4 conferences with an even number, but the new format has 16/14 split between Atlantic/East & Central/West. However, if the Coyotes move, say to Quebec or some other eastern location, then they'll simply flip them to one of the Eastern Conferences and you'll have 15 teams in the Atlantic/Eastern & 15 in the Central/West.

The only way to even it up completely is to add a couple teams, and that isn't going to happen anytime soon.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Another one gone - Kings fire Murray, name Stevens interim coach - NHL.com - News

An anemic offense that showed no signs of improvement and a failure to live up to expectations were enough to cost Los Angeles Kings coach Terry Murray his job.

Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi announced Murray's firing Monday afternoon. Assistant coach John Stevens will take over in the interim until a replacement is found.

"There's no timeline right now," Lombardi said. "We are looking at all our options."

Murray is the fifth coach to be fired this season after Bruce Boudreau, Randy Carlyle, Paul Maurice and Davis Payne.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

NBC analyst Mike Milbury charged with assaulting child - Puck Daddy - NHL*Blog - Yahoo! Sports

WCVB TV in Boston is reporting today that NBC and CBC hockey analyst Mike Milbury has been charged with allegedly assaulting a child at a local hockey rink last week.

According to WCVB, Milbury is an assistant coach for a youth team in Brookline, Mass. and the 12-year old alleged victim is a player from another team in the league.

It's almost hard to believe he is as bad an analyst as he was a GM. If this means he is off the air then Merry Christmas, hockey fans

My favourite tweet so far
http://twitter.com/bluelinestation

Adam Herman @BlueLineStation
REPORT: Mike Milbury was offered only $5,000 bond, but instead negotiated a deal for $1,000,000 plus a first round pick for his release.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

Chris Pronger Gets Hit In The Eye With A Stick - YouTube.

In other news, Pronger could be done until next season with his concussion. Career over?

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Habs fire Martin, name Cunneyworth interim coach - NHL.com - News

MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens fired coach Jacques Martin on Saturday morning.

Assistant coach Randy Cunneyworth will be taking over behind the bench as interim coach for the remainder of the season, while Larry Carriere, an assistant to general manager Pierre Gauthier, will become an assistant coach.

Cunneyworth played more than 800 games in the NHL for six teams, and has been a head coach for two American Hockey League clubs. He was also an assistant at the NHL level for two seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers. He was the coach of Montreal's AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs, last season before joining Martin's staff.

Carriere has spent nearly 40 years in the NHL as a player, scout and management, but he has never before held a coaching position in the League.

What a crazy year for coaches!

[Erik W.]

I have mixed feelings about the firing. On the one hand, he's had some pretty major strategic flaws this season (mainly in backing off on the forecheck way too much with the lead), but on the other hand over the last three seasons he's gotten more out of a band of rag-tag no-names and has-beens than I would think most coaches could get.

[Bluenoser]

As a Habs fan of 50+ years, I am rejoicing. It's about time! Now get rid of PG too.

[Bluenoser]

Very nice welcome Winnipeg Fans gave Selanne last night. Great stuff to see.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Hope all hockey fans had a great Christmas and New Year I took time out of the NHL and watched the Spengler Cup all last week. Really enjoy that tournament.

Just finished watching the third episode of 24/7 (anyone else watching it?) so I'm ready for the Winter Classic later today which has been moved back a couple of hours to 3pm EST.

Flyers-Rangers rivalry to be viewed on national stage - 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic - Rangers v. Flyers

The rivalry traces back to the Flyers' first season in 1967 and has featured 311 games, but for the first time the two sides will take it outdoors in a game that, while it is still for the requisite two points, means so much more for the national stage it will be played on and where the teams are in the standings right now.

The Rangers lead the Eastern Conference with 50 points, while the Flyers' 48 points puts them in fourth place. The Flyers will leap the Rangers with a regulation win Monday.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Are you kidding me?!

NHL delays realignment after NHLPA refuses consent - NHL.com - News

The National Hockey League announced today that it will not move forward with implementation of the Realignment Plan and modified Playoff Format recently approved by the NHL Board of Governors for the 2012-13 NHL season because the NHLPA has refused to provide its consent.

If this how Donald Fehr is going to be for the CBA we could be ****ed for another season. I'm sure if the players voted on this on their own, instead of doing what they were told to do as it sounds like, it would have gone through.

[Bluenoser]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

Are you kidding me?!

NHL delays realignment after NHLPA refuses consent - NHL.com - News


If this how Donald Fehr is going to be for the CBA we could be ****ed for another season. I'm sure if the players voted on this on their own, instead of doing what they were told to do as it sounds like, it would have gone through.

Ya, huge disappointment to me. I really liked the way they were heading with the new alignment.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

As MLBPA executive director Donald Fehr brought about the 1985 strike (just 2 days), and the 94 strike where no World Series was played. He was in the position for the lockout of 1990 (32 days). Also, the players refused to strike in 2002, which was why he left. And I just read he tried to block drug testing in the MLB. I know it's ten years since the last one but Jesus, NHLPA, THAT's the guy you wanted?!

If he is really going to stick with the excuse of uneven divisions then I think he is playing hardball for a two team expansion. Although if it goes to a lockout then I can see a franchise like Columbus teetering on the edge.

Now, word is the PA want a mockup schedule and the league have not provided one. I can think of one good reason why not: another team is moving. They knew about the Atlanta to Winnipeg move before the end of 2010 but it was not public knowledge until after the season.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

In other news, Jason Pominville has played 500 NHL games and passed 400 points (159+252)

[Bluenoser]

Another coach bites the dust - Arniel out in Columbus.

Blue Jackets fire coach Arniel; assistant Richards takes over

They fired the wrong guy, the GM, Scott Howsen, is the one who should be gone.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

Another coach bites the dust - Arniel out in Columbus.

Blue Jackets fire coach Arniel; assistant Richards takes over

They fired the wrong guy, the GM, Scott Howsen, is the one who should be gone.

They both suck. Arniel was given a free pass for months because he "didn't have a healthy roster". This is the NHL, son, no-one has a healthy team

[Bluenoser]

Well didn't take long for this to happen - Cammalleri is a Calgary Flame again.

Canadiens trade Cammalleri to Flames for Bourque

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Canadiens' GM Gauthier relieved of duties - NHL.com - News

The Montreal Canadiens on Thursday fired General Manager Pierre Gauthier. No replacement was named.

Canadiens President Geoff Molson will hold a press conference at 11:45 a.m. to discuss the move.

The Canadiens have won just two of their last eight games (2-2-4), and enter Thursday's games 15th in the Eastern Conference and 28th in the League.

Gauthier had held his current position since Feb. 8, 2010, when he replaced Bob Gainey. The Canadiens finished eighth in the Eastern Conference that season, but led by goalie Jaroslav Halak, they upset the Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals and defending Stanley Cup-champion Pittsburgh Penguins to advance to the conference finals, where they lost in five games to the Philadelphia Flyers.

[ZiggyPop]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

Canadiens' GM Gauthier relieved of duties - NHL.com - News

This has overtaken the media attention in Montreal over the federal budget. Big surprise.

Timing of the firing is still odd. I'm listening to press conference now and it's boooring. Now the speculation begins as who will replace Gauthier and Cunneyworth who will be re-assigned at season's end.