Sharks Gameday: The New Pacific

by Megalodon on Mar 26, 2011 5:00 AM PDT

A map of NHL team locations and divisions. Thanks, Wikipedia!

Saturday, Mar 26, 2011, 6:00 PM PDT
Jobing.com Arena

I hope you guys like playing the Coyotes, because the Sharks get to do it three more times this season.The 1st and 2nd place teams in the Pacific clash today at six, and if one team could happen to sweep all three games it would make a huge difference in the final standings. The NHL schedule-makers did a hell of a job here.

Are the Coyotes going to move to Winnipeg or what? I don't really follow that story, so just hear bits and pieces of it. Last year I thought the whole situation had been resolved so that the team would probably stay in Phoenix, but now it's sounding like the team might move? What's going on?

If the Coyotes do move to the worst city in Canada, the Pacific division will need to be reorganized. Look at that map up there, with the arrow I skillfully added showing the Coyotes moving to Winnipeg: obviously something would need to be done.

(As an aside, looking at that map makes me furious at how easy all the Eastern teams have it when it comes to travel. The fact that the Western Conference has been consistently better than the East for years despite the travel handicap, and that the Pacific division, which might have it the hardest on the travel front, is clearly the best division in the league...well, it brings a tear of pride to my eye.)

Anyways, what do you guys think would happen to the divisions? We'd probably get Colorado back in the Pacific, right? That's okay, since they suck. We need at least one bad team in the division.

Moving Vancouver into the Pacific is another possibility, since they are in the Pacific time zone. That would be rough because they're a really good team, but it would be good for the California teams because 1) they wouldn't have to leave the Pacific time zone as much and 2) it would really screw over both Vancouver and Dallas when it comes to travel.

Everything would be better if we could somehow kick Dallas out of the division. Looking at the map, you can see a logical division developing with California, Colorado, and Vancouver. Then you could have Calgary, Edmonton, the Winnipeg Coyotes, Minnesota, and stupid Dallas. It doesn't make much geographical sense for Dallas, but it's their own damn fault for being in Texas and ruining everything.

Prediction: Sharks win 5-1 and chase the Coyotes completely out of the United States. Goals by some dudes.

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(As an aside, looking at that map makes me furious at how easy all the Eastern teams have it when it comes to travel. The fact that the Western Conference has been consistently better than the East for years despite the travel handicap, and that the Pacific division, which might have it the hardest on the travel front, is clearly the best division in the league…well, it brings a tear of pride to my eye.)

Add to that the success of Vancouver, who I believe logs the most miles most every season, and maybe travel has its advantages.

I’d take Vancouver in the Pacific in an instant — they’re no saints, but they’re about a thousand times more likeable than those damn Stars.

www.battleofcali.com

by Earl Sleek on Mar 26, 2011 7:57 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Seriously: Dallas ruins everything.

I was almost going down and then I didn’t go down and then it came and it was too late to get down.
Battle of California

by Megalodon on Mar 26, 2011 8:59 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

How about new team in Oregon = actual Pacific Division!

Jon Casey fan since '84
Tweet me or Read me, but you WILL HEAR my opinion, damnit.

by stufflife on Mar 26, 2011 9:25 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Sounds good to me.

I was almost going down and then I didn’t go down and then it came and it was too late to get down.
Battle of California

by Megalodon on Mar 26, 2011 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions

Seriously

move a team to Portland or Seattle.

Also, F*** Dallas.

Proud member of the "Bring Back Semenov" Club
"The only crying allowed in hockey is when you lose a playoff series, retire or JR is speaking publicly." - Jamie Baker
"You are down with the homies, my friend." - Randy Hahn
Kent Huskins cares.

by PNK on Mar 26, 2011 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah that gets my vote.

GO SHARKS!
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin (see profile for more info on this quote)

by Angy on Mar 26, 2011 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions

Buzzkill time

Key Arena is only suitable for basketball and if Seattle wasn’t willing to build a new place for their NBA team, why would they do the same for an NHL team?
As far as Portland goes, Paul Allen owns the Rose Garden, and doesn’t want to share it with another owner or own an NHL team himself.

Go Sharks!
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by Nael M. on Mar 26, 2011 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions

if Seattle wasn’t willing to build a new place for their NBA team, why would they do the same for an NHL team?

Because hockey is greater than basketball … :)

by Angy on Mar 26, 2011 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions

I’m aware of these complications. I know it’s not realistic, but still.

I just think they’re the perfect market for a new NHL team.

by PNK on Mar 26, 2011 11:41 AM PDT up reply actions

Seattle has extremely passionate sports fans, their MLS stadium holds can hold 36,000 people, and they sell almost all their games!

I'm warning you! I have ADHD and I know how to use it!!!
Good job Giants, now win 3 more world series titles and then you just might be worthy of being mentioned in the same league as the A's.
THAT IS NABOKOV IN NET NOT NITTYMAKISHUTUP!!!!!!!!!!
San Jose: Being Kept save from ferocious enemies by the Sharks and Earthquakes since 91 and 96.

by Diamondback15 on Mar 26, 2011 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions

Being a Niner fan

I know how passionate Seahawks fans are. Sucks playing in Qwest.

by PNK on Mar 26, 2011 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions

If Colorado was in the Pacific division this season instead of Phoenix, the other four Pacific teams would probably be solidly in the playoffs.

If I was an Avalanche fan I would be lobbying hard to keep the Coyotes from moving.

I was almost going down and then I didn’t go down and then it came and it was too late to get down.
Battle of California

by Megalodon on Mar 26, 2011 9:59 AM PDT reply actions

It would a decade of 4 teams from the pacific making it to the playoffs.

Also a decade where Colorado didn’t make it at all.

by Diamondback15 on Mar 26, 2011 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions

GO SHARKS!

Not sure if it means anything that one of my cats threw up while I was reading this.

by Angy on Mar 26, 2011 10:09 AM PDT reply actions

That’s good luck!

I was almost going down and then I didn’t go down and then it came and it was too late to get down.
Battle of California

by Megalodon on Mar 26, 2011 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions

I would like to pay someone to come clean it up. My boys aren’t here and damn cats know they are only allowed to throw up during the week when I can make the boys clean it up. ugh!

by Angy on Mar 26, 2011 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions

From a household that has cats AND dogs (but no Coyotes, Ducks, or Kings)…Nature’s Miracle solution is your friend. :)

Managing editor of From The Rink
www.fromtherink.com

by Mike Chen on Mar 26, 2011 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions

I’ll have to look into that. I’ve had pets all my life, just have always cleaned it the old fashioned way – clothesline clip to the nose and hope for the best, or better yet, make those younger than you do it. :)

by Angy on Mar 26, 2011 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions

I think that means cats are stupid. And vomit too much.

Jon Casey fan since '84
Tweet me or Read me, but you WILL HEAR my opinion, damnit.

by stufflife on Mar 26, 2011 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions

The Sharks even make animals sick.

by Scottyknow on Mar 29, 2011 2:38 PM PDT up reply actions

I really hope Pheonix keeps its team.

I think they are just starting to expand their fanbase after two successful seasons in a row. Plus, being a Sharks fan in the 90s, I know what it feels like to get no respect as a fanbase.
It would also be hilarious to see Canadiens fume about a successful desert hockey team.

Plus, the NHL is being smart in trying to expand in US markets, instead of Canadien markets, why? Because being passionate about hockey can only do a little to overcome population factors.
US population: about 300 million
California population: 36 million
Canada population: 33 million
Suck it Canada.

Note: I am not making this up, California has more people than Canada………. plus we have a national guard…….(thinks devious diabolical thoughts)

by Diamondback15 on Mar 26, 2011 11:56 AM PDT reply actions

Time to start a new trend – make it 4, CaliFOURnia!

Jon Casey fan since '84
Tweet me or Read me, but you WILL HEAR my opinion, damnit.

by stufflife on Mar 26, 2011 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Bring back the Golden Seals!

by PNK on Mar 26, 2011 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions

The California division!

by PNK on Mar 26, 2011 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions

If Vegas is a possibility, then why not Tahoe?

Jon Casey fan since '84
Tweet me or Read me, but you WILL HEAR my opinion, damnit.

by stufflife on Mar 26, 2011 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Small local population and the air travel situation stinks. At least a Vegas team would be able to get kiesters into seats by comping tickets to slot-machine zombies.

by burrowowl on Mar 26, 2011 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions

You answered that like you thought I was serious.

If I could post a Zoolander pic right now…

Jon Casey fan since '84
Tweet me or Read me, but you WILL HEAR my opinion, damnit.

by stufflife on Mar 27, 2011 7:11 PM PDT up reply actions

I think the '90s Sharks fanbase gets plenty of credit.

The Sharks were and continue to be viewed as a model for teams in “non-traditional hockey markets.”

by meetyourmako on Mar 26, 2011 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Maybe the longer travel schedules actually make the players perform better. Time spent in pressurized cabins with recycled air may have some beneficial physiological effect on the professional hockey player, enabling him to out-perform lesser-travelling counterparts from the eastern conference.

To scientifically test this theory, we’ll need to form a super-condensed 15-team conference in roughly the area currently held by the Atlantic Division, where the existing population density could support it. Add teams in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and several more in New York City. If the new teams (plus the Devils, Rangers, Islanders, Bruins, and Flyers) underperform the rest of the league, it would confirm the hypothesis.

Anybody think I could get a grant for this?

by burrowowl on Mar 26, 2011 4:03 PM PDT reply actions