Highlights to here

Adam Proteau put out an invitation that I couldn't turn down. In one of his recent columns (http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/12878-Screen-Shots-My-utopian-NHL.html) he describes his ideal NHL. He asked hockey fans to tell him what their ideal NHL would look like. I sent him the email below, which is essentially a highlight reel of this blog. Here's hoping One Hockey Fan gets some lines on thehockeynews.com

Hi Adam,

Every now and then I rant a little on my blogspot about making changes to the good old hockey game. I couldn't pass up your invitation to pass on my ideas about improving the hockey industry. Here's a brief summary of some of my ideas:

The International Showcase

• Olympics
  
• Olympic participants must be under 25 years old.
• No NHL would lose more than one goalie and 4 skaters to Olympic participation.
• Of the 10 participating nations, the bottom 4 would have first selection. Then, an IIHF draft for the top 6 countries to select their players from the NHL.
• No league shutdown during the games, just a lighter schedule.
• World Cup
• Tournament held midway between Olympic years instead of All-Star game.
• 6 teams, two pools, 9 games total over 7-10 days.
• All games in North America in NHL cities.
• Other
• Between Olympics and World Cups replace All-Star game with a showcase game between reigning European club champion and Stanley Cup champion.

League Structure

• No conferences, 5 divisions of 6 teams
• Top 16 teams divided geograhpically into 4 pools (NE, SE, SW, NW) for initial home and away round robin playoff round
• Top 2 teams from each pool advance to best of 7 quarterfinals (1NE vs 2SE, 1SE vs 2SW, 1SW vs 2NW, 1NW vs 2NE) with home ice advantage determined by regular season points.
• Semifinals based on regular season points 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3.
• Relocate Phoenix back to Winnipeg, Nashville to Southern Ontario, Atlanta or Florida to Quebec City, and NY Islanders to Hartford
• Or bottom two teams relegated to AHL and top two AHL teams promoted to NHL (replace "minor league affiliation" with "player on loan" or "tier transfer" agreement)

Rules

• 4 on 4 in OT in playoffs.
• New arenas constructed to be able to have IIHF size ice. Targeted move to larger ice surface by 2020.
• Have shoot out at the beginning of every game and use results only if needed.
• No linesmen, three referees.
• Get rid of delay of game for accidentally putting puck out of play.

Hope you like.
-One Hockey Fan

The Solution for the Leafs

The solution is not trading Mats Sundin, although that might happen.

The solution is not firing John Ferguson Jr., althought that might happen.

The solution is not firing Paul Maurice.

The solution is not blowing up the team.

The solution lies deeper.

The solution to the Maple Leafs troubles is competition in their market.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are a gold mine. The ownership/board of MLSE has staked their claim and are cashing in. It doesn't matter at all what the product on the ice is. The ACC sells out every game. Even fans that don't go to games help the cause with their purchase of jerseys, hats, posters, t-shirts, underwear, socks, slippers, nail clippers, mud flaps, etc. etc. etc.

As long as this continues, the problems will go on and on.

The best thing that could happen to the Leafs is a team in Mississauga, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, or London. Sure, it would take a while to develop the fan base. Afterall, those Leaf fans are pretty darn loyal to the blue and white in spite of the perpetual mediorcaty. But, I would bet that there are enough disgruntled fans willing to defect.

Unfortunately, its not going to happen any time soon. Mr. Bettman won't let it happen on his watch.

So Leaf fans, its up to you. If you want to see a better product on the ice, unite and let your voices be heard. Go down to those NHL offices in Toronto and start begging for another team in the GTA or southern Ontario.

Mid-season adjustments

We're halfway through the 07-08 season and I figured it might be worthwhile to revisit my earlier predictions (in parentheses).

Northeast
x-1. Ottawa (x-1)
x-2. Montreal (4)
x-3. Buffalo (x-2)
4. Toronto (x-3)
5. Boston (5)

I still have no doubt that Ottawa will win the division. I thought that second would be a toss up between the Leafs and the Sabres, but the Habs have put things together in spite of slumping Mikey Ryder. Leafs fans take heart--the Leafs have improved enough to make the playoffs....next year. Ok, they still might make it ahead of the Sabres.

Atlantic
x-1. New Jersey (x-3)
x-2. NYRangers (x-1)
x-3. Pittsburgh (x-2)
x-4. Philadelhpia (4)
5. NYIslanders (5)

I had said that I wouldn't be surprised if the Devils tanked. I also said that Brodeur is "the safe bet." The Devils have overcome their tough road start and seem to be gelling under Sutter. I dropped the Rangers to no. 2 because Jagr seems to have forgotten how to tie his skates.

Southeast
x-1. Carolina (x-1)
2. Washington (4)
3. Tampa bay (3)
4. Atlanta (x-2)
5. Florida (5)

I had pegged this as the weakest division in the league. Has anyone seen a goaltender? The only good goalie in the division (Vokoun) doesn't have anyone skating in front of him. The wildcard here is Tampa. How can a team play so good at home and stink so bad on the road? If they get it together, they might make playoff spot no. 8.

Central
x-1. Detroit (x-1)
2. St.Louis (x-2)
3. Chicago (4)
4. Columbus (5)
5. Nashville (3)

St.Louis? Nope, not anymore. I thought that Andy Murray would get them into the playoffs. He will, next year. Nashville has tanked even more than I expected. I thought that the Jackets would tank it, but Hitch and Leclaire are giving them some sense of credibility.

Northwest
x-1. Vancouver
x-2. Minnesota
x-3. Colorado
x-4. Calgary
5. Edmonton

This is a quality division, and I made some quality predictions. No changes here.

Pacific
x-1. Anaheim (x-1)
x-2. San Jose (x-2)
x-3. Dallas (3)
4. Phoenix (5)
5. Los Angeles (4)

I thought that this would be the easiest division to pick. In spite of their rocky start, the Ducks and Sharks are should still end up in spots one and two. I'm glad that I didn't put any money on my bet "that the Kings will land a goaltender that wears No. 29 for a pretty good NHL East team." Then Brian Burke give Phoenix a free goaltender and its the Kings who are the cellar dwellers. Surprisingly the Stars aren't fading the way that I thought. All the same, please Wayne, follow the lead of your peers (Yzerman, Hull, Francis, etc.) move upstairs to the office.

There you have it. I'll check back after the trade deadline.