Chili
En boca cerrada no entran moscas
- Jun 10, 2004
- 8,569
- 4,514
I see alot of topics on what's wrong with the game, some of it valid. But I seldom see rivalries mentioned. With 30 teams and the current playoff format, they are just not the same for me.
Those who remember the The Patrick & the Norris, The Adams & the Smythe divisions should understand what I'm talking about. Your playoff rivals were all within your division. To make the playoffs you had to finish ahead of them. If you made the playoffs, then you had to get out of the division. Some incrediblely good rivalries were built over that period.
Personally, I was following the Pens for most of the '80's, early '90's and the Patrick. You really learned to loathe the Flyers, Isles, Rangers, Caps & Devils. It almost seemed like their was a specific style of play for each division.
Then along came Mr Bettman who changed the playoff format and took away the identity of the divisions by replacing them with Northeast, Atlantic, Pacific, Central, etc. Honestly, I would have a hard time naming all of the teams in there correct divisions now.
The standings displayed by divisions are confusing for me. Unless your team is a division leader, you want to know where they rank among the top 15 in the conference.
To me, this has combined to reduce the number of true rivalries around the league. There are still a few good ones...the battle of Alberta, Habs/Bruins, Wings/Avs, battle of Florida, battle of Ontario but it is still a far cry from the old days.
I'd really like to see them address this. If nothing else bring back the division names. I used to get a kick out of Chris Berman talking about about the 'Chuck Norris' division. The current names are too bland. I would also like to see them bring back a similiar playoff format to what it was.
I'd like to see the NHL bring back the intense rivalries as part of the effort to rebuild the sport.
Those who remember the The Patrick & the Norris, The Adams & the Smythe divisions should understand what I'm talking about. Your playoff rivals were all within your division. To make the playoffs you had to finish ahead of them. If you made the playoffs, then you had to get out of the division. Some incrediblely good rivalries were built over that period.
Personally, I was following the Pens for most of the '80's, early '90's and the Patrick. You really learned to loathe the Flyers, Isles, Rangers, Caps & Devils. It almost seemed like their was a specific style of play for each division.
Then along came Mr Bettman who changed the playoff format and took away the identity of the divisions by replacing them with Northeast, Atlantic, Pacific, Central, etc. Honestly, I would have a hard time naming all of the teams in there correct divisions now.
The standings displayed by divisions are confusing for me. Unless your team is a division leader, you want to know where they rank among the top 15 in the conference.
To me, this has combined to reduce the number of true rivalries around the league. There are still a few good ones...the battle of Alberta, Habs/Bruins, Wings/Avs, battle of Florida, battle of Ontario but it is still a far cry from the old days.
I'd really like to see them address this. If nothing else bring back the division names. I used to get a kick out of Chris Berman talking about about the 'Chuck Norris' division. The current names are too bland. I would also like to see them bring back a similiar playoff format to what it was.
I'd like to see the NHL bring back the intense rivalries as part of the effort to rebuild the sport.