Category Archives: General

NHL Needs to Realign

Evander Kane

When the Atlanta Thrashers were sold and relocated to Winnipeg and became the second version of the Jets the NHL left them in the Southeast Division for the 2011-12 season because the schedule was already done and it was too late to re-do.

They were supposed to move for this season and a realignment plan was drawn up and it was rejected.  Then along came the lockout and all the CBA stuff and low and behold the Winnipeg Jets are still in the Southeast Division playing the Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers on a regular basis.  There’s no excuse or reason for this.

If you break out your map of North America there is no way Winnipeg is close to any of those cities.  So I looked at two ways of realignment.  One that is very close to the divisions we have now and one that is much more radical.  Both are based on geography.

Currently the NHL looks like this:

Eastern Conference Western Conference
Northeast Division Central Division
Boston Chicago
Montreal Detroit
Ottawa Nashville
Buffalo St. Louis
Toronto Columbus
Atlantic Division Northwest Division
New York Rangers Calgary
New York Islanders Colorado
New Jersey Edmonton
Philadelphia Vancouver
Pittsburgh Minnesota
Southeast Division Pacific Division
Washington San Jose
Carolina Los Angeles
Tampa Bay Anaheim
Florida Phoenix
Winnipeg Dallas

To see the realignment proposals, please click on the continue reading button below if you're on the home page.

Realignment Proposal A:

Eastern Conference Western Conference
Northeast Division Central Division
Boston Chicago
Montreal Detroit
Ottawa Minnesota
Buffalo St. Louis
Toronto Columbus
Atlantic Division Northwest Division
New York Rangers Calgary
New York Islanders Colorado
New Jersey Edmonton
Philadelphia Vancouver
Pittsburgh Winnipeg
Southeast Division Pacific Division
Washington San Jose
Carolina Los Angeles
Tampa Bay Anaheim
Florida Phoenix
Nashville Dallas


  • Nashville moves from the Central Division in the Western Conference to the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference.
  • Winnipeg moves from the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference to the Northwest Division in the Western Conference.
  • Minnesota stays in the Western Conference but changes from the Northwest Division to the Central Division.

Proposal A doesn’t take much effort and there’s very little involvement from other teams.  It keeps the four western Canadian teams together, moves Nashville into their true geographic alignment as it does for Minnesota.

Realignment Proposal B:

Eastern Conference Western Conference
Northeast Division Central Division
Boston Chicago
Montreal Detroit
Ottawa Columbus
Buffalo Toronto
Pittsburgh St. Louis
Atlantic Division Northwest Division
New York Rangers Calgary
New York Islanders Colorado
New Jersey Edmonton
Philadelphia Winnipeg
Washington Minnesota
Southeast Division Pacific Division
Florida San Jose
Carolina Los Angeles
Tampa Bay Anaheim
Dallas Phoenix
Nashville Vancouver


  • Pittsburgh stays in the Eastern Conference and moves from the Atlantic Division to the Northeast Division.
  • Washington stays in the Eastern Conference and moves from the Southeast Division to Atlantic Division.
  • Nashville moves from the Central Division in the Western Conference to the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference.
  • Dallas moves from the Pacific Division in the Western Conference to the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference.
  • Toronto moves from the Northeast Division in the Eastern Conference to the Central Division in the Western Conference.
  • Winnipeg moves from the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference to the Northwest Division in the Western Conference.
  • Vancouver stays in the Western Conference but would change divisions from the Northwest to the Pacific.

Realignment Proposal B is a bit more radical with more teams moving.  It would make Dallas, Nashville, Toronto and Winnipeg flip conferences in order to align the teams up geographically.  Washington would play with the more territorial rivalries of Philadelphia, New Jersey and the New York’s.  While Vancouver would play less Canadian road games for more in the Western United States.

So if you had to pick which realignment plan do you like best?  Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet me.

Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveMichaelsII

New Class of 2012 Inductees Revealed for CT Hockey Hall of Fame

HARTFORD, January 28, 2012:  Whalers Sports & Entertainment and the CT Hockey Hall of Fame today announced the seven inductees who have been selected to form the new 2012 class of enshrinees to the CT Hockey Hall of Fame.  The newly-selected hall of famers will be honored at the Connecticut Whale’s March 10 home game at the XL Center vs. the Norfolk Admirals, which will be “CT Hockey Hall of Fame Night”.

CT Hockey Hall of FameThe seven new CT Hockey Hall of Fame inductees are: Connecticut-bred Hockey Hall of Famer Brian Leetch,  ex-Hartford Whalers 56-goal scorer Blaine Stoughton, former Whalers goaltender Mike Liut, former Whalers captain Pat Verbeek, Connecticut Whale/Hartford Wolf Pack franchise icon, long-time captain and current head coach Ken Gernander, three-time Olympic medalist for Team USA and all-time NCAA women’s leading scorer Julie Chu, and one of the founders of the New England Whalers, William E. Barnes.

This new class of seven enshrinees will join the eight members of the storied Hartford Whalers Hall of Fame that have been adopted by the CT Hockey Hall of Fame.

Leetch, who was raised in Cheshire, CT, was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.  Leetch played prep school hockey at Avon Old Farms before going on to Boston College and an 18-year NHL career.  Drafted ninth overall by the New York Rangers in 1986, Leetch would go on to become the highest-scoring defenseman, and second-highest-scoring player overall, in Ranger history.  Leetch skated in 1,129 games for the Broadway Blueshirts in 17 seasons and totaled 741 assists, a franchise career record, along with 240 goals and 981 points, second only to Rod Gilbert’s 1,021 in Ranger history.

Leetch was captain of the Rangers from 1997-98 to 1999-00, and became the first American-born player ever to capture the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1994, the year the Rangers ended a 53-year championship drought by winning the Stanley Cup.  Following his Ranger tenure, and 15 games with Toronto in 2003-04, Leetch finished his career with the Bruins in 2005-06.

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Stoughton spent six seasons with the New England and Hartford Whalers, leading the NHL in goal scoring for Hartford during the 1979-80 season with 56. Stoughton would top 90 points twice in the NHL, and went on to skate in the 1982 All-Star Game. Stoughton would continue his relationship with Connecticut hockey during the 1984-85 season, in which he played for the New Haven Nighthawks.

Liut, a veteran of 15 WHA and NHL seasons, backstopped the Whalers from the 1984-85 season until 1989-90, guiding the Whalers to the seventh game of the Adams Division Championship series in 1986. Liut captured the Lester B. Pearson trophy during the 1980-81 season with St. Louis, and went on to post the NHL’s best goals-against average in 1989-90 with the Whalers (2.64). Following his playing career, Liut served three years at the University of Michigan as an assistant coach for their men’s hockey program.

Verbeek, a right wing hailing from Sarnia, Ontario, played six seasons for the Hartford Whalers from 1989-95 and ranks twelfth on the all-time list of games played as a Whaler with 433. Verbeek served as the eighth captain of the Whalers from 1992-95.  Verbeek totaled 192 goals as a member of the Whalers, fourth all-time, and 211 assists, also good for fourth all-time. His 403 total points in a Hartford uniform ranks third in franchise history, behind Ron Francis and Kevin Dineen. Verbeek also registered 1,144 penalty minutes with the Whalers, also third all-time. He was selected to represent Hartford in the 1991 NHL All-Star Game in Chicago, recording one assist.  A 19-year professional, Verbeek skated in a career total of 1,424 NHL contests with the New Jersey Devils, Whalers, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars, scoring 522 goals with 541 assists for 1,063 points, along with 2,905 penalty minutes, eleventh-most all-time in league history.

Gernander has been with the Whale/Wolf Pack since Day One and is the only player in franchise history to have his number (12) retired and raised to the XL Center rafters.  Gernander played the last 11 of his 14 professional seasons in the New York Rangers organization with their AHL affiliates in Binghamton (1994-97) and Hartford (1997-2005). He was team captain for 10 years, eight in Hartford, and is the franchise’s all-time leader in shorthanded goals (14), plus-minus (plus-93), games played (599) and playoff games played (78). He also ranks second all-time in goals (160), assists (187), points (347), power-play goals (50) and game-winning goals (30).

After retiring as a player after the 2004-05 season, Gernander was an assistant coach under Jim Schoenfeld for three years and is now in his fifth season as head coach, the longest-tenured head man in franchise history. He retired as the AHL’s all-time leader in career playoff games played (123), and is the second all-time leading scorer among American-born players with 624 points in 973 games.

Chu, born in Bridgeport, Conn., became the all-time leading women’s scorer in NCAA history during her time at Harvard University while serving as team captain, and played in the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics for Team USA. Among her many awards and accolades, Chu has been named a four-time All American, is the all-time NCAA assist leader, a three-time NCAA Frozen Four finalist, and won an NCAA championship as an assistant coach with the University of Minnesota-Duluth women’s team during the 2007-08 season. Chu has played professionally for the Canadian Women’s Hockey League’s Montreal Stars.

Barnes was a founding partner of the original New England Whalers along with Howard Baldwin, going on to spend time with the New York Islanders and winning a pair of Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the early 1990’s. Barnes, serving as the Vice President of Marketing for the Whalers, played a key role in developing the Whalers’ logo during the 1979-80 season and was known around the league as the “Dean of NHL Marketing Directors.” He earned this designation with such innovations as integrating telemarketing into ticket sales strategies, and by being a leader in the development of dasher-board and in-ice advertising.

Barnes was involved in a number of charitable organizations before his passing in 2006.

This will be the first class of inductees since 1990, and further details are available at cthockeyHOF.org.

There will be an induction ceremony before the March 10 CT Hockey Hall of Fame Night game, which faces off at 7:00 PM, and the new inductees will also be recognized on the ice during the first intermission.

Fans can take home a special souvenir of the March 10 night, as 5,000 Hall of Fame posters will be given away, courtesy of SuperCuts.

There will also be a special meet-and-greet event on March 10 — details to be announced soon.

Tickets to CT Hockey Hall of Fame Night, and all 2011-12 Whale home games, are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Save on your tickets, and get the best seats, with a ticket plan for the Whale’s 2011-12 AHL campaign, which are on sale now. For information on season seats and mini plans, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366 to talk with an account executive today.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

2012 NHL All-Star Game Rosters

2012 NHL All-Star Game

Here are the 2012 NHL All-Star rosters for the game that will be played on Sunday, January 29th at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada at 4 p.m. The 2012 NHL All-Star Game presented by Tim Hortons will be televised by CBC and RDS in Canada and NBC Sports Network in the U.S.

Team Chara Team Alfredsson
POS PLAYER TEAM POS PLAYER TEAM
G Tim Thomas Boston Bruins G Henrik Lundqvist NY Rangers
G Jimmy Howard Detroit Red Wings G Jonathan Quick LA Kings
G Carey Price Montreal Canadiens G Brian Elliott St. Louis Blues
D Zdeno Chara Boston Bruins D Erik Karlsson Ottawa Senators
D Kimo Timonen Philadelphia Flyers D Kris Letang Pittsburgh Penguins
D Ryan Suter Nashville Predators D Shea Weber Nashville Predators
D Brian Campbell Florida Panthers D Dan Girardi NY Rangers
D Dion Phanuef Toronto Maple Leafs D Keith Yandle Phoenix Coyotes
D Dennis Wideman Washington Capitals D Alexander Edler Vancouver Canucks
F Joffery Lupul Toronto Maple Leafs F Daniel Alfredsson Ottawa Senators
F Pavel Datsyuk Detroit Red Wings F Jason Spezza Ottawa Senators
F Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguins F Claude Giroux Philadelphia Flyers
F Marian Hossa Chicago Blackhawks F Steven Stamkos Tampa Bay Lightning
F Corey Perry Anaheim Ducks F Daniel Sedin Vancouver Canucks
F Phil Kessel Toronto Maple Leafs F Milan Michalek Ottawa Senators
F Patrick Kane Chicago Blackhawks F Henrik Sedin Vancouver Canucks
F Jarome Iglinla Calgary Flames F James Neal Pittsburgh Penguins
F Marion Gaborik NY Rangers F John Tavares NY Islanders
F Jordan Eberle Edmonton Oilers F Scott Hartnell Philadelphia Flyers
F Tyler Seguin Boston Bruins F Jason Pominville Buffalo Sabres
F Jaime Benn Dallas Stars F Logan Couture San Jose Sharks

Also selected to participate in the game but aren’t playing:

  • Mikko Koivu, Minnesota Wild
  • Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
  • Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
  • Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Former Whaler Mark Howe To Enter Hall of Fame

Earlier this week the Hockey Hall of Fame came calling for four new members of the Class of the 2011.  They were Doug Gilmour, Ed Belfour, Joe Nieuwendyk and Mark Howe.

Mark HoweFor Howe this is very special, as his father Gordie Howe is also a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.  This isn’t the first time the younger Howe has followed in his famous father’s footsteps.

First in 1973 as an 18-year old Mark along with his father and older brother, Marty signed a contract to play together in the WHA with the Houston Aeros.  The deal brought the elder Howe out of retirement with the lure of playing with his sons.

Then in the summer of 1977, the Howe family signed as free agents with the New England Whalers.  Howe played with the Whalers through the end of the WHA, which included the historic collapse of the Hartford Civic Center roof in January 1978, and came with the team as they moved to the NHL for the 1979-80 season.  Howe would stay in Hartford until he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers on August 19, 1982 for Greg Adams, Ken Linseman, and 1st (David Jensen) and 3rd (Leif Karlsson) round picks in the 1983 NHL Draft.

While with the Whalers Howe scored 123 goals in 5 seasons adding 273 assists for 396 points in his time in Hartford.  He also played in 23 playoff games scoring 13 goals and assisting on 11 others for 24 points.  As a Whaler Howe averaged over a point per game.

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While in Hartford though Howe’s career nearly ended when on December 27, 1980 in a game against the New York Islanders in Hartford he slid into the net and hit the pointed metal center and suffered a five inch gash on his thigh.  He was impaled by the metal and many thought he may never play again.  He narrowly missed the base of his spine and he also could have bled to death.  The injury prompted the NHL to change the design of their nets so that the injury could never occur again.

After 10 seasons in Philadelphia where he really came into his own and cemented his hockey legacy, Howe followed his dad once again, this time joining Gordie’s original team the Detroit Red Wings for the final three years of his Hall of Fame career.

Much like his famous father, Mark showed the Howe family trait of longevity by playing for four teams in a 22-year career.

His final career numbers between the WHA and NHL are 1355 games played, 405 goals and 841 assists for 1246 career points.  He also played in 176 playoff games, scoring 51 goals and 102 assists for 153 points.

Among his awards in his career, Howe was the WHA Rookie of the Year in 1974, winner of the NHL Plus/Minus Award in 1986 and the Bobby Clarke Trophy in the same year.  He also played in four NHL All-Star games (one as a Whaler and three as a Flyer).

He won two WHA Championships while in Houston, a silver medal playing for the United States in the 1972 Olympic games in Soporo Japan and four Stanley Cups as a front office member of the Detroit Red Wings, where he is currently the director of pro scouting.

The Howe’s are the 3rd father and son player duo in the Hall joining Bobby and Brett Hull and Lester and Lynn Patrick.

This, like the induction of Ron Francis, is a great time in Whalers history.  Howe is one of ours to be revered and it’s wonderful that he achieved this great honor.

Photo credit: WhalerNation.tv

Avon’s Ben Smith Sends Blackhawks To Game 7

Chicago Blackhawks Ben Smith (C) reacts with teammate Marian Hossa (R) after his game-winning goal against the Vancouver Canucks in overtime of Game 6 in their NHL Western Conference quarter-final hockey game in Chicago, April 24, 2011. On the left is Vancouver Canucks Daniel Sedin.

The defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks have been playing with their backs to the wall since they dug themselves a 3-0 hole against the Vancouver Canucks.  But after a 7-2 win in Game 4 at the United Center and a 5-0 shutout in Vancouver the Hawks have been rejuvenated.

Tonight in Game 6 in Chicago the Blackhawks forced the Canucks to 7th heaven when Connecticut’s very own Ben Smith found the twine with 4:30 to play in the first overtime period.

No one, this side of the New York Mets, collapse like the Vancouver Canucks.

Game 7 is Tuesday night, who will be the hero?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tEdmKnFvHHA?rel=0&hd=1

Photo credit: Reuters Pictures

Congrats To Avon’s Ben Smith

Chicago Blackhawks center Ben Smith (57) scores a goal on Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard (35) in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Detroit, Friday, April 8, 2011.

Ben Smith of Avon, CT scored his first NHL goal Friday night for the Chicago Blackhawks in their must win game against the Detroit Red Wings.  Smith’s goal came in the first period at the 6:07 mark to give Chicago a 2-0 lead in a game they eventually won 4-2 at Joe Lewis Arena in Detroit.

On the play, Blackhawks Cup hero Patrick Kane knocked the puck away from Detroit’s Valtteri Filppula in the high slot and the puck ended up on Smith’s stick between the hashmarks and he beat Red Wing goalie Jimmy Howard for his first NHL marker in his fifth NHL game.  Later in the game he nearly had a second goal but was robbed by Howard.

Smith, who was born in North Carolina, grew up in Avon Connecticut and attended Westminster School in Simsbury where he played hockey for former New England Whaler Tom Rowe.  He went on to play his college hockey at Boston College winning two national championships (2008 and 2010) and was named MOP of the 2010 Frozen Four.  Chicago selected him in the 6th round of the 2008 NHL Draft.

Photo credit: AP Photo

2011 NHL All-Star Game Rosters

2011 NHL All-Star Game

Here are the 2011 NHL All-Star rosters for the game that will be played on Sunday, January 30th at the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC at 4 p.m. The 2011 NHL All-Star Game presented by Discover will be televised on VERSUS, CBC and RDS.

Team Staal Team Lidstrom
POS PLAYER TEAM POS PLAYER TEAM
G Cam Ward Carolina Hurricanes G Tim Thomas Boston Bruins
G Henrik Lundvquist New York Rangers G Marc-Andre Fleury Pittsburgh Penguins
G Carey Price Montreal Canadiens G Jonas Hiller Anaheim Ducks
D Zdeno Chara Boston Bruins D Niklas Lidstrom Detroit Red Wings
D Marc Staal New York Rangers D Duncan Keith Chicago Blackhawks
D Mike Green Washington Capitals D Shea Weber Nashville Predators
D Dan Boyle San Jose Sharks D Dustin Byfuglien Atlanta Thrashers
D Kris Letang Pittsburgh Penguins D Keith Yandle Phoenix Coyotes
D Erik Karlsson Ottawa Senators D Brent Burns Minnesota Wild
F Eric Staal Carolina Hurricanes F Patrick Kane Chicago Blackhawks
F Daniel Sedin Vancouver Canucks F Martin St. Louis Tampa Bay Lightning
F Alexander Ovechkin Washington Capitals F Jonathan Toews Chicago Blackhawks
F Rick Nash Columbus Blue Jackets F Steven Stamkos Tampa Bay Lightning
F Ryan Kesler Vancouver Canucks F Henrik Sedin Vancouver Canucks
F Patrick Sharp Chicago Blackhawks F Brad Richards Dallas Stars
F Jeff Skinner Carolina Hurricanes F Danny Briere Philadelphia Flyers
F Claude Giroux Philadelphia Flyers F Martin Havlat Minnesota Wild
F Corey Perry Anaheim Ducks F Anze Kopitar LA Kings
F Patrik Elias New Jersey Devils F Matt Duchene Colorado Avalanche
F David Backes St. Louis Blues F Loui Eriksson Dallas Stars
F Paul Stastny Colorado Avalance F Phil Kessel Toronto Maple Leafs

Also selected to participate in the game but aren’t playing:

  • Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Ales Hemsky, Edmonton Oilers
  • Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Tobias Enstrom, Atlanta Thrashers
  • Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames