For one, what is the difference, it’s only 6 days, is it too hard to plan vacation to Cuba six days later, or perhaps it’s too late to go on a golf vacation with a couple of buddies? Or maybe the league is trying to push the date so they can add a few more games to the schedule, either way, the fans are getting a little peeved at the constant cat and mouse game between players and owners.

Unless the NHL is trying to squeeze the players for a reason that is not the above mentioned holidays, then I feel that the players should stop trying to win every little battle, it would be better anyway, as fans would have time to do a little partying, and then concentrate on hockey again instead of doing it while they are drunk. This is just another thing for the players and owners to quibble about, instead of making the game better, or player safety, they find some little insignificant problem to litigate about, more ridiculous tripe to ponder for the average fan.

One thing is for sure, it would be a good idea, if the NHL is not trying to hide other intentions by masking them with National partying. Why doesn’t the league worry about more important things right now, like safety, or making the schedule make some sense, instead of this. Sure it’s a good idea, but there are matters which need attention instead of this. If the league was serious in this matter, save it and bring it up during the next CBA meetings, and deal with more important issues.

It’s funny though, last week someone got injured, because every time there is a meeting about the topic, it gets pushed aside, but they have to come at the players with this, instead of safety, NHL wizards at it again!

- The biggest rumbling and evidence about the NHL Winter Classic this week came out of New York involving the Rangers. The Daily News of NY went as far to say that the Rangers have all but locked up to be the host, but with only the task of finding the right opponent. The game would be at Yankee Stadium, and it would be the last event in its history. And here is more evidence of this:

That photo was taken by a man who was touring the stadium and happen to stumble upon this evidence. Its an interesting placement for the rink. The picture is courtesy of the website NHL Tournament of Logo’s, and you can read the whole story here. I am all for NYR getting an outdoor game as I have said before, but I have a few problems with this idea and situation.

Baseball stadiums are unique venues. As you can see from the photo, the first rows near the dugouts will be closer than a football stadium but will they be high enough to see all of the action? I like how it will be a closer feeling to the rink, but I would rather have the NHL stick to keeping the Winer Classic in football stadiums. Another thing with this photo is that they would almost certainly build makeshift stands in the outfield, bringing the fans even closer. Wikipedia says that the stadium holds just under 58,000 for a baseball game. So an accurate guess with the layout above would be around 60-65,000 due to the fact that most of the outfield seats wouldn’t be used because of the makeshift stands that would have to be created in the outfield. I do not think that is enough people, which is why the Winter classic should stay in Football stadiums, where more people can get through the gate ($$$) and where putting the rink up wouldn’t be a logistical problem. If the Rangers have truly locked up the ‘09 classic, they should attempt to play it in Giants Stadium, which fits 80,000 no problem. I see a couple of advantages and disadvantages.

For one, filling Giants stadium wouldn’t be a problem. 40,000 tickets sold out in Buffalo in 37 minutes, which is a testament to the loyalty to the fans and what a fantastic event this is. Another advantage and disadvantage at the same time is that Giants Stadium is located in New Jersey. Its an advantage because the event wouldn’t be in the Bronx, but its a disadvantage because it might turn away the average fan FROM the Bronx who doesn’t want to travel. Regardless, I’m glad to see that the Rangers are heavily in the talks for the ‘09 classic. Rumored teams to play the Rangers are the Islanders, Bruins, and Red Wings. I believe the best choice would be the Bruins. The media would play off the Boston-NY rivalry heavily. If you chose the Islanders the Buzz might not grow as big because of the game being so local. If you chose the Red Wings it might become to bland. The Bruins play hard and have given NYR great games this season, and all I want is to see a hockey fight outdoors in the Bronx on National TV.

- Moving on to Franchise relocation. Being an old-tyme (get it, with a y!) Hockey-ist, I’ve never liked the rapid expansion into the Southern part of the US by the NHL. And to begin, if the NHL decides to expand past 30 teams they will surely regret it. The NHL has planted the seeds of the “New” NHL, now they need to water it from time to time and let it grow. I feel like the NHL is trying to “grow” hockey upon markets instead of trying to find Hockey markets and place teams there. There are many rumbles of possible cities for relocation above the Mason-Dixon line involving Kansas City, Seattle, Portland, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Milwaukee, and moving into Canada with Hamilton, Quebec City, Winnipeg and Saskatchewan. Teams that are involved in moving rumors are Florida, Tampa Bay, Columbus, Nashville, Atlanta, and Phoenix. First I will Rank each team in my opinion on who should move ASAP from 1 through 6.

1. Nashville. As much as Business is reportedly coming back, the franchise is in trouble. Bettman did now allow Basile to buy the franchise because of his intentions to move it to Hamilton in Ontario. I have a feeling this franchise will be on the move in the next five years though. The following isn’t enough to support a franchise with greater market opportunities out there.
2. Florida. Florida for this season so far is ranked last in % filled in total attendance. (ESPN) Although you don’t hear about many problems from Florida, you don’t hear much of anything either. When your home city is named Sunrise, your just not a hockey town. Its bad enough Florida has two teams, and at least one has to go. Sorry Panthers, but you don’t have a cup unlike your in-state foes on the west coast.
3. Next up would be Columbus, who edges out Florida in total attendance by 1.2%. The same goes here. As much as there aren’t many problems, there also aren’t many positives coming out of Ohio.
4. Phoenix. A move back to Winnipeg could be in the cards for the former-Jets. Winnipeg is pressing hard for a franchise and Phoenix hasn’t enjoyed much success in the desert since its move. There are two problems though. First, Jobing.com arena is almsot brand new and in sparkling condition. Second, Winnipeg needs a new arena. Don’t look for this to happen anytime soon.
5. Atlanta. The All-Star game might not have been a big hit on TV, but fans packed Phillips Arena all weekend. Phillips arena is another obstacle as it too like Jobing.com is in fantastic shape. Atlanta will still be around past 2015 but if its still below the 90% mark after that, they could be moving.
6. Last is Tampa Bay. Again, hockey and Florida don’t really mix, but the league will be reluctant to move Tampa as it in its short history the already have a ring on their fingers. Plus as I watched the Islanders visit them, there was a good show in the stands, especially in the 100 seats.

So basically I want to obliterate the South-eastern division, but its just a clear fact that Hockey isn’t America’s sport, so why should the NHL try to force it in area’s where Ice doesn’t even form once a year? Hopefully in the next ten years we see a northern migration. My top US cities would be Salt Lake and Las Vegas. My top Canadian cities would be Winnipeg and Quebec/Hamilton. I just worry about the affect of putting a team in Quebec city due to the strong Montreal following.

There’s a little rant for you. I’ll be doing more of this over the summer. Rangers at Panthers, Friday night at 7:30, let’s go Rangers. - Rob

Holland thinks that the league’s new salary cap system “is forcing teams to become more predatory” in their attempts to acquire talent.

“I think what you’re seeing this summer is how the salary cap world is going to work,” Holland said.

Holland goes on to say that management will have to change their “approach if they don’t want their pool of budding stars to get picked over.”

“If you have a premier RFA, you better address it. If not, you’re opening yourself up.”

However, Gerry Johannson, the agent for Edmonton Oilers forward Dustin Penner told The Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson that he does not believe the RFA offer sheets will be as prevalent some some would suggest.

“It is a tool that can be used effectively, but I still don’t see a lot of offer sheets coming … maybe one or two a year,” said Johannson.

“It still has to be a fairly unique set of circumstances. It has to be the right team making the offer and the right player you’re making the offer for. I’m not sure how many times that will all line up together.”

“I think every general manager will look around the league now and have an offer sheet in mind, but only for the right player.”

Club executives “representing the six current divisions” met in New York with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman earlier this week to “produce a new-look alignment and schedule.” The executives will now take their proposal back to “other clubs in their respective divisions for feedback,” and could be approved at a board meeting during the NHL All-Star Game week in Dallas. The proposal would need the support of 20 of the league’s 30 governors to become reality. The proposed changes would take effect as of next season.

Among the proposed changes is a “schedule configuration,” where teams would play its “division rivals six times each and its conference rivals either three or four times each and non-conference teams once each.”

As well, the proposal includes realignment that would see the “reduction in the number of divisions from six to four.” The Eastern Conference and a Western Conference will remain, but each would include a seven-team and an eight-team division.

The new-look NHL could look something like this:

Eastern Conference

The Atlantic Division would keep it’s name and consist of the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and four teams from the current Southeast Division (Washington, Carolina, Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Florida).

The Northeast Division would also retain its name and encompass all of its current teams (Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Buffalo and Boston), while adding Pittsburgh and the remaining team from the current Southeast Division or one of Columbus, Chicago, Minnesota, Dallas, Detroit, Nashville, and St. Louis.

Western Conference

The eight-team division would include teams from the Pacific or Mountain time zones, namely Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose, Colorado and Phoenix.

The seven-team division would be made up of teams from the Central or Eastern time zones, such as Columbus, Chicago, Minnesota, Dallas, Detroit, Nashville, St. Louis, or the remaining team from the current Southeast Division.

The league is still of the thought that its continued exposure to U.S. markets will grow the game throughout the country, so they want to receive more “media coverage” in the U.S. not less. That is why the National Hockey League want the Penguins to remain somewhere in the United States, if not Pittsburgh.

That means that if the Penguins were to relocate, it would be to one of four cities considered the “top four candidates” to get an NHL team: Kansas City, Houston, Las Vegas and Oklahoma City.

According to Wes Goldstein of CBS SportsLine.com, Seattle and Portland have also expressed “more than passing interest in acquiring a new tenant for the ready-made facilities now available in their cities.”

Apparently the Maple Leafs have been trying since the autumn to convince the league to terminate Sundin’s $4.56 million club option for the 2007-08 season. The “behind-the-scenes” lobbying efforts have been shut down thus far, and that has left the Leafs brass furious.

While “clubs such as the New Jersey Devils have had favorable rulings on salary issues involving the new collective bargaining agreement,” the Leafs feel that the league is not giving them the same opportunities.

What the Leafs would like to do is work out a new “cap-friendly agreement” with their captain, and improve the cap situation to this year’s team as well.

Sundin’s current cap hit (his average salary) stands at $6.3 million, but re-signing him “for a couple of years to say, $800,000 to a million a season less than $6.3 million,” would give the Maple Leafs more cap room not only down the road, but this season as well.

NHL revenues are supposed to increase “three to four percent” from the “opening base of $2.178 billion,” to somewhere between $2.224 and $2.265 billion. That would place the players’ piece of the pie at somewhere between $1.192 billion and $1.215 billion, 53.6 percent of the total gross revenues.

If the actual revenues fail to meet projections, the 10 percent escrow will go to the owners. Otherwise, the money from the escrow would be paid back to the players.

According to LeBrun, his sources are telling him that the NHL will present team owners with their estimates at this week’s owner’s meetings in Palm Beach, Florida.

Although many believed that revenues would “flatline” this season, it appears at at this point that NHL revenues will experience what is described as “medium growth.” This in spite of attendance being down “one per cent across the board.”

So what accounts for the projected rise in revenues?

After lowering prices last year — as a thank you to NHL fans for having to go through the lockout —, many clubs raised tickets prices this season, “so gate receipts overall are up compared to last year at this time.”

And what does this mean to hockey fans?

The team-by-team salary cap is once again expected to rise.

Last season, teams had $39 million to put together their rosters. An increase in revenues saw the cap rise to $44 million for this season. Current projections do not have the cap jump as much as it did from last year, but a moderate increase is expected.

The Reebok designed uniforms have already been “tested” by NHL players, and Commissioner Gary Bettman said that the players “have been thrilled” with their future apparel.

“The new uniform design has been in development for more than three full years,” Bernadette Mansur, senior vice-President of communications for the NHL, said Thursday. “The system will afford the players increased protection and facilitate peak performance on the ice.”

Since the 1940’s, the basic outfit was made up of the “big, square shirts, bulky pads and wide socks with horizontal stripes.” Now, the new leg pads are designed to “stay in place when a player moves” so they do not “ride up toward the waist.”

“The new uniform takes advantage of developments in new fabrics,” he said. “But the change was done not for the stylistic. It was done for performance and safety. It was time. Our basic uniforms haven’t changed in 40 years.”

The new uniforms will make their debut on January 24 at the all-star game in Dallas.

“It is becoming more probable that Kansas City will get a hockey team in the very near future.”

The executive in question is Tim Leiweke — the lone Governor for the Kings.

Now, it is unclear if Leiweke meant that the NHL will be expanding to Kansas City, or if a current team will move there.

However, his words should not be dismissed easily — Leiweke may have some inside information.

A new, 18,500-seat, $276 million sports arena is currently being build and scheduled to open in Kansas City sometime in 2007 (327 days from the time this article was written). According to McKeon, the Sprint Center, as it’s called, is a joint venture between the city of Kansas City and AEG. AEG just happens to be the Kings’ parent company.

Furthermore, on its website, AEG even advertises the Sprint Center as a possible destination for an NHL franchise.

Will be Kansas City’s new home for the best concerts and sporting events such as the Big 12 Championship Tournament and an NBA or NHL franchise.

Leiweke may be on to something here…

According to Hotchkiss, the NHL will review expanding to Winnipeg, Quebec City, and perhaps even adding a second team in Maple Leafs nation, Toronto.

“I think we have an obligation (to see if those markets can work),” Hotchkiss said yesterday. “There were great fans in those cities to support those teams. “Speaking as a Canadian our team had some great games against the Winnipeg Jets and Quebec Nordiques.”

However, don’t expect anything to happen in the near future.

“With 30 teams now, I don’t see expansion in the short term. Our focus should be on where we are.”