OT: Pros and Cons of the Last 4 Months in the NHL

[Any Colour You Like]

What are the pros and cons of the things that have happened to the NHL in the last four months? There's been a lot, that's for damn sure.

CBA Ratified:
Pros:
HOCKEY!
Enough of this useless ****ing bickering!
Cons:
Less cap flexibility

Four-conference realignment
Pros:
Being able to play every O6 team twice a year (much rather play NY twice than DET 6 times)
More geographically sensible divisions
Minnesota, Winnipeg, Dallas in the division
Cons:
Detroit gone (won't miss 'em that much anymore, though)
Tampa and Florida with Ottawa, etc.

Your turn.

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[x Tame Impala]

Pro:

24 game unbeaten streak

Con:

4 regulation losses since then and Hossa + Sharp injured

 

[Bubba88]

Pro:
I saw Briere, Wheeler, Ehrhoff, Goc and Benn live

 

[CPHawksFan]

Con:

Waiting/wondering if there would be an NHL season

Pro:

With shortened schedule, every game means much more than usual

 

[BobbyJet]

Cons:

Hawks will be in the West and Wings go East next season.
Still too many cheap shots and concussed players. Salaries for the top players remain out of control and with the cap going down there should be concern, especially from the NHLPA
The officiating has been dreadfully inconsistent. And it now seems that the interference and stickwork infractions that were closely scrutinized early on, are now being ignored. As the playoffs draw nearer, this is not good news for the skilled teams and is great news for the muckers. Staged fighting needs to be penalized further and the instigator rule revised or eliminated.
It is time to expand the use of the video review and introduce a new “challenge†rule similar to that of the NFL. The hybrid no touch icing is long overdue as well. Throw out the 2 minute minor for starting a fight while wearing a visor. Call more diving and tack on a misconduct to stop it once and for all.


Pros:

The NHL is more unpredictable then ever. Hockey on every night. Even though it is only 48 games this season will be a survival of the fittest.
The resurgence (so far) of 3 Canadian franchises: Hab, Sens and Leafs.
Of course Hawks great start and winning streak.
The resurgence of Patrick Kane.
Crosby is healthy and playing better than ever.