Blogger is Back!

And apparently my post yesterday on Potvin, and his Sucking, will return soon. Good job, Blogger team, for getting things back so quickly!

Today's news snippet is this guy - according to some Philly paper, some anonymous NHL source claims that Winter Classic 2012 is going to definitely be Rangers at Flyers. Rumors have been circulating for a while, but this is the first time anyone halfway-reputable has claimed it's confirmed. On the one hand, I'm thrilled, and I'm already thinking about driving across Pennsylvania hung over on New Year's Day (lest I spend New Year's Eve in Philly). On the other hand, does the NHL really just not believe in the Western Conference anymore?

Presidents' Trophy Winners
2007: Buffalo Sabres (East), tied in points with Detroit Red Wings (West)
2008: Detroit Red Wings (West)
2009: San Jose Sharks (West)
2010: Washington Capitals (East)
2011: Vancouver Canucks (West)

Stanley Cup Winners
2007: Anaheim Ducks (West)
2008: Detroit Red Wings (West)
2009: Pittsburgh Penguins (East)
2010: Chicago Blackhawks (West)
2011: Undetermined

Winter Classic
2008:Penguins at Sabres (East)
2009:Red Wings at Blackhawks (West)
2010:Flyers at Bruins (East)
2011:Capitals at Penguins (East)
2012:Rangers at Flyers (East)

Over the 5 seasons preceding Winter Classic decisions, 3 of 5 Presidents' Trophy winners were from the West (with a fourth season being tied in points), 3 of 4 Stanley Cup winners were from the West (with this year's yet undetermined), and 1 of 5 Winter Classics will have been Western Conference games (while the Flyers and Penguins will have each gotten two games, and 22 teams will have gotten none).

Look: I know that the Winter Classic is a big NHL marketing event, and you need to pick the teams with the biggest markets, not the best teams. But hockey is not basketball: you can't market it by spotlighting 3 or 4 star players in 5 or 6 big markets. That's how Bettman's previous sport works, but it's not how ours does. Sometimes you have to market hockey with good hockey, too. And let's be honest: the West is where the better hockey is.

All that said, selfishly, I'm thrilled, and I'm gonna do everything I can to go.