Comments on: NHLPA head Donald Fehr’s statement on realignment issue

By: buffalomafia

buffalomafia — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 01:53:31 +0000

@takingbovadaoney I can agree with that 100%! Salute’!

By: takingbovadasmoney

takingbovadasmoney — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 23:43:36 +0000

Better yet two 14 team conferences. Dump Columbus and Phoenix. Home and home v. opposing conference and four games against each in conference team.

By: buffalomafia

buffalomafia — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 23:16:12 +0000

Plain & simple idea! Two 16 team conferences. The top 8 make playoffs in each conference where #1 seed plays #16 seed!

Also you play every team out of your conference more than once a season!

By: 1943mrmojorisin1971

1943mrmojorisin1971 — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:41:41 +0000

I’d say that’s a fair stance. You don’t accept a radical change like this blindly. If the NHL can’t produce a sample schedule with travel details then why should the players agree to a change without any real idea of what that entails?

By: dlk75150

dlk75150 — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:39:23 +0000

I guess the Stars are not represented by the players union b/c if they were the union would see how upside down the whole thing is right now. NHLPA is a sorry representation of all players favoring some teams over others.

By: takingbovadasmoney

takingbovadasmoney — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:33:45 +0000

@mallettehead. realignment is needed. eastern time zone teams playing in the west? Detroit and Columbus have over 20 start times after 8:30.

By: takingbovadasmoney

takingbovadasmoney — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:14:46 +0000

If the owners increased the cap I bet the travel issue would no longer be a problem. the disparity in the divisions is a problem, and yet another reason for contraction. Get rid of two teams and that would no longer be an issue.

By: mallethead329

mallethead329 — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:13:12 +0000

This realignment plan does stink. Just leave well enough alone. We all know what will probably settle this. MONEY. One point however, if Donald Fehr believes he will do to the owners in the NHL what he did to the owners of MLB, he’s dead wrong. Hockey, as popular as it has gotten, is still a “niche” sport. You either love or hate hockey. There is not an unlimited amount of money to be thrown around here, and there aren’t the idiot owners MLB has. Also, hockey players have never seen themselves as the arrogant jerks most MLB players are. All players want is their fair share as revenues increase. Labor strife is the only thing that can ruin this sport now.

By: bertilfox

bertilfox — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 13:59:03 +0000

Good idea, NHLPA. Hire the guy who brought Major League Baseball the year without a World Series! That’ll be GREAT for your sport.

He is not looking out for players or the sport. His only concern is maintaining the influence of the Almighty Union.

By: pastabelly

pastabelly — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 11:34:58 +0000

This realignment plan is awful. The NHLPA is right on many accounts. The current proposal marginalized some existing rivalries and some square pegs are being fit into round holes.

By: acieu

acieu — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 09:35:48 +0000

God made the AHL so the NHL could skip a season now and then and there would still be hockey. Bring on the labor strife as its nice to see NHL players skating in the AHL and ECHL.

By: mikemj

mikemj — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 08:00:42 +0000

I’ve sided with unions every time until now. Get Fehr out of there! Old time hockey fans have been begging for the return of divisional playoffs and now that we’re about to get it this jag makes it a negotiating ploy. Travel should actually be better for most teams and who makes the playoffs is already unfair and lets face it, if you’re not good enough to make the NHL playoffs you really don’t have a complaint.

By: somekat

somekat — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 07:24:53 +0000

I agree that they should of reject it, just not the reasoning. They should of rejected it because the whole system was terrible. In general, it forced rivalries down people’s throats instead of letting them create themselves, and it destroyed any chance at a rivalry with a team outside your division.

As far as the playoffs, it’s ridiculous that a first place team in one division could realistically be worse than 4 teams from the other division, and not only get a higher seed like they do now, but not have to play any of those teams until the semi finals. I can see getting a higher seeding with less points even if you are in a weak division, you should get something for a division crown. But to make it so a team could, again, hypothtically, make the finals with only even a chance of playing one of the top 4 other teams in the conference in one round is terrible

By: vanfoodman

vanfoodman — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:41:51 +0000

For now, this will play out just like the owners want, as I expect player and union bashing to begin with this announcement. We’ve all got to realize this is a PR war. The realignment scheme is just a red herring. It’s the beginning of a prolonged war of words between the PA and the owners. Culminating in a new collective bargaining agreement. Don’t believe the hype. Each side will be trying to spin you for the next several months. Pay special attention to your local media as they will be being manipulated by both sides.

By: cbjfan75

cbjfan75 — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 04:41:24 +0000

Rediculous

By: stakex

stakex — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 04:40:29 +0000

I still believe this is all just setting up for a very large CBA battle this summer. The league wants this, and the NHLPA can take it hostage to use at the table.

With that said, I would agree with the PA that there are some legit concerns over the plan. It does seem like it would be easier to make the playoffs in the smaller divisions, and if the travel for some teams would be dramatically increased that could be an issue. It would seem strange the NHL would not have resonable responses to such issues, or that they would not be willing to discuss possible changes to satisfy the NHLPA. Of course, who knows how much truth bending is going on by BOTH sides in this whole debacle.

One thing is clear though, this is not a good start to a CBA year.

By: terriers4

terriers4 — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 04:36:13 +0000

I’ve hated the idea since they announced it, worst idea ever nhl.

By: hwentworth

hwentworth — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 04:06:54 +0000

It took them a month to figure that out? Seems they operate like every other union in the world.

By: sanjosecupcrazy

sanjosecupcrazy — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 03:49:42 +0000

Go players. You guys are right-on in this one. This whole realignment stunk from the beginning.