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The Dallas Stars were hopeful their days in the Pacific Division would be over after this season.

This appears to not be the case anymore after the NHLPA did not approve the league's realignment plan by the NHL's deadline. The league will operate under the current divisions and playoff format for the 2012-13 season.

Plenty more on this later, but I can guarantee you the Stars will not be pleased with this development.

5 months ago Erin_and_kevin_at_rangers_tiny Erin Bolen 57 comments 0 recs  | 

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This is effing BS

I’m hella pissed if this really has legs.

"Napoli is Al Fucking Swearingen, pissing out the dull lump of Angel hubris from his penile shaft like a pus-slathered kidney stone." - TT from HH

by DonDrapersOPS on Jan 6, 2012 6:53 PM CST reply actions  

I tweaked the headline and verbiage a little bit

Since the PA did not “deny” realignment but did not approve it by the deadline instead, apparently. Semantics are semantics, but they can be important.

Still. Rage. Lots of rage.

Follow me on Twitter @ErinB_DBD

by Erin Bolen on Jan 6, 2012 6:58 PM CST reply actions  

It's Donald Fehr.

He probably is trying to get some concession from the league or something, but has no real legal footing in the leagues eyes.

Defending Big D Check it out
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"You guys are talking about living forever like it’s a real thing, but I bust out a man shoving his head into a vagina, and it’s srs time?"
--iorange555 8/23/2011

by Josh Lile on Jan 6, 2012 7:00 PM CST reply actions  

He actually does in this case

The NHLPA has to approve realignment, IIRC. So if they say no, it’s dead.

Follow me on Twitter @ErinB_DBD

by Erin Bolen on Jan 6, 2012 7:01 PM CST up reply actions  

That doesnt mean it isnt a power grab.

He has no reason to reject it.

Defending Big D Check it out
Twitter
"You guys are talking about living forever like it’s a real thing, but I bust out a man shoving his head into a vagina, and it’s srs time?"
--iorange555 8/23/2011

by Josh Lile on Jan 6, 2012 9:53 PM CST up reply actions  

I just destroyed the box of cereal I emptied.

"Napoli is Al Fucking Swearingen, pissing out the dull lump of Angel hubris from his penile shaft like a pus-slathered kidney stone." - TT from HH

by DonDrapersOPS on Jan 6, 2012 7:08 PM CST up reply actions  

This is insane!

Where did this come from? There was no hint that the realignment was contingent upon the NHLPA!!

I’m a fairly new fan and this alienates the shit out of me! I can’t stand the playoff format and staying up past midnight for West Coast games.

Are the east coast teams that opposed realignment behind this? It’s obvious the power brokers in the NHL are based in the east.

Way to kill the new fan base dumbshits!

I'm going to take a pillow case full of bars of soap and beat the shit out of you.

by fakeheadguy on Jan 6, 2012 7:09 PM CST via mobile reply actions  

The NHLPA has to approve all changes to the playoffs, IIRC

Which is where they had the right to do this.

In a little bit of further reading, the NHLPA says they were “willing to continue to negotiate” but the league wasn’t willing to go beyond today, which tells me they wanted something in the upcoming CBA negotiations in return, maybe Olympic participation guarantee or something about the percentage of revenue guaranteed to the players.

I hate labor situations, both sides of them.

Follow me on Twitter @ErinB_DBD

by Erin Bolen on Jan 6, 2012 7:11 PM CST up reply actions  

Can some explain to me....

why the NHL just can’t make 2 schedules, one for the format we have and one for the new one? I mean, is it really that hard?

by d1owls4life on Jan 6, 2012 7:12 PM CST reply actions  

If they do that

They don’t get the great PR victory over the NHLPA of today, I’d bet.

Though there may be something where they actually book dates while making the schedule, but I don’t know enough about the inner workings of scheduling to know that.

Follow me on Twitter @ErinB_DBD

by Erin Bolen on Jan 6, 2012 7:15 PM CST up reply actions  

I guess they could be booking the dates as they go.

Hadn’t thought of that.

All I have to say is…this blows. I wasn’t lukewarm on the playoff structure, but the realignment of the divisions had me full go on this.

by d1owls4life on Jan 6, 2012 7:18 PM CST up reply actions  

As a reactionary rabble-rabble protest

I just flipped the channel off the Rangers/Pens game and onto the Rockets/Thunder game.

TAKE THAT NHLPA!!!!!

"Napoli is Al Fucking Swearingen, pissing out the dull lump of Angel hubris from his penile shaft like a pus-slathered kidney stone." - TT from HH

by DonDrapersOPS on Jan 6, 2012 7:15 PM CST reply actions  

The more I think about this

And the more rhetoric is thrown around, the more I think this is what the NHL wants you to do – be angry at just one side.

I’d be willing to bet a considerable amount of money that the NHL is no saint in this either, though they played it brilliantly from a PR standpoint.

Follow me on Twitter @ErinB_DBD

by Erin Bolen on Jan 6, 2012 7:17 PM CST up reply actions  

They are most definitely not a saint.

They have set an arbitrary deadline it seems like. Yes, the schedule maker needs time, but come on. The NBA handled their scheduling issue just fine it seems like.

by d1owls4life on Jan 6, 2012 7:20 PM CST up reply actions  

Yah

The more I think about this, the more this is both sides trying to get something for nothing, essentially. And the NHL handled it much, much better from a PR standpoint by announcing something as if it were done before all the i’s were dotted and t’s crossed, putting immense pressure on the other party to just fall in line and essentially give up its negotiating rights. Because it was so publicly popular, the other side becomes the bad guys.

It’s just the start to CBA fun. Aren’t you all excited? I think I just might go hang myself.

Follow me on Twitter @ErinB_DBD

by Erin Bolen on Jan 6, 2012 7:23 PM CST up reply actions  

I was being

facsi…fastiee…facit…I was trying to be funny.

(and I was switching over to Rockets/Thunder anyway)

"Napoli is Al Fucking Swearingen, pissing out the dull lump of Angel hubris from his penile shaft like a pus-slathered kidney stone." - TT from HH

by DonDrapersOPS on Jan 6, 2012 7:24 PM CST up reply actions  

I figured

But I just can’t get this out of my head, and you phrasing like that made me go, “Huh, I bet the NHL actually doesn’t mind that reaction right now.”

Which is stupid, because both sides are supposed to be in this together. I wonder if they remember that sometimes.

Follow me on Twitter @ErinB_DBD

by Erin Bolen on Jan 6, 2012 7:26 PM CST up reply actions  

My money's on your hunch.

"Napoli is Al Fucking Swearingen, pissing out the dull lump of Angel hubris from his penile shaft like a pus-slathered kidney stone." - TT from HH

by DonDrapersOPS on Jan 6, 2012 7:33 PM CST up reply actions  

Were the Eastern Conference the only ones allowed to vote?

It’s not like the West are stuck on planes or anything.

Tonight's forecast... a freeze!!!
James Neal - 45 points. Alex Goligoski - 46 points. Nieuwendyk lost?

by Great British Stars Fan on Jan 6, 2012 7:31 PM CST reply actions  

This is such crap.

I was so looking forward to the new conference and only 4/5 late nights starts…

DIY: do it yourself hockey! - Razor

by diamondicegirl on Jan 6, 2012 7:34 PM CST reply actions  

I have lots of bad words

that if I wrote them here I’d probably get fired.

I’m sure both sides had a part in this, but the fact of the matter is that the fans, the ones who pay to go to games, who travel to see their team on the road, who shelling out a boatload of dough on season tickets and apparel and beer, are being forgotten — by BOTH sides. We, as fans, are the ones that suffer from this type of labor dispute.

And honestly, the NHL should remember that their fanbase isn’t as big as the NFL or MLB, so if they have any type of work shortage coming up (again) for the second time in 5-6 years, they’re going to hurt themselves so much long term that they are going to kick themselves hard in the shins.

by Taylor Baird on Jan 6, 2012 7:50 PM CST reply actions  

From what I have read on twitter

Eastern teams are unhappy with the new traveling schedule, and the way the playoffs will be ran are a big issue too.

Let's make it trend #LetDirkDropThePuck, @J0RDANSALEH follow me on Twitter

by jordan.saleh on Jan 6, 2012 8:20 PM CST reply actions  

Figures.

"Napoli is Al Fucking Swearingen, pissing out the dull lump of Angel hubris from his penile shaft like a pus-slathered kidney stone." - TT from HH

by DonDrapersOPS on Jan 6, 2012 8:23 PM CST up reply actions  

take that back

everybody was just retweeting an unreliable source.

My bad.

Let's make it trend #LetDirkDropThePuck, @J0RDANSALEH follow me on Twitter

by jordan.saleh on Jan 6, 2012 8:28 PM CST up reply actions  

Nah

I like to rage against East Coast Bias, whether it exists or not.

It’s like therapy or something.

"Napoli is Al Fucking Swearingen, pissing out the dull lump of Angel hubris from his penile shaft like a pus-slathered kidney stone." - TT from HH

by DonDrapersOPS on Jan 6, 2012 8:30 PM CST up reply actions  

PuckDaddy just put up a blog on this

saying the PA rejected it because they weren’t consulted, and the league responded badly to their requests for more information, such as scheduling examples to show the duration of road trips.

by Jeff D on Jan 6, 2012 8:24 PM CST reply actions  

Yes

That might be the center of the links post tomorrow because it’s a brilliant recap of what a brilliant PR move this was by the NHL.

I think there were better ways for the PA to handle it, but the more I think about it, the more I realize they were backed into quite a corner.

Follow me on Twitter @ErinB_DBD

by Erin Bolen on Jan 6, 2012 8:26 PM CST up reply actions  

This is just irreprehensible

I was starting college during the first lockout 5 years ago and obviously had other things to occupy my time, if it gets to another one I do not know what I will do!!!! =’(

by Ottersaurus on Jan 6, 2012 8:48 PM CST reply actions  

I get the point of the NHLPA and labor unions...

But come on! Even if this is an attempt to shove back against the NHL, it was poorly handled. You have to know when to fight and when to back down, and this certainly was not the time to fight. Donald Fehr, you should be ashamed! A great deal of the fans, and I’ll bet many of the players, found this realignment to be a pretty decent plan. While it wasn’t without flaws, arguing over semantics against something that the vast majority of people found to be good is foolish and an awful PR move.

All this is leading to is another lockout thanks to the moron Fehr. What possible reason could the players have for not liking it? Crosby, who like it or not is the face of the NHL and therefore, the NHLPA, said "I think that’s pretty much what we’re used to except we’re adding a couple teams. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. I think everyone’s probably happy with that. Washington’s a pretty good rival. I don’t see anyone being disappointed about this." Travel time did not increase substantially for any team but the Florida ones, and it decreased for most teams.

"If the laws of physics no longer apply in the future, God help you."

by Virginian Star on Jan 6, 2012 8:51 PM CST reply actions  

As for the "not having a say in it" argument,

your approval is to see if there are any gross oversights that will slight the players, not to do the league’s job or to come up with meaningless criticisms.

Sorry for the rant, but I’m just really angry right now. If the NHLPA were disbanded today, I’m not sure that I would mind. At least fire Fehr. Otherwise, we’ll be stuck without hockey for yet another year, and that would get rid of many of the casual fans interested in the sport.

"If the laws of physics no longer apply in the future, God help you."

by Virginian Star on Jan 6, 2012 8:53 PM CST up reply actions  

Travel would become worse for many teams in the Central and Pacific????

What is Fehr smoking?

Texas Rangers - back-to-back American League Champions
TracyJean1972: YouTube channel
@TracyJean: Twitter account

by TracyJean on Jan 6, 2012 9:07 PM CST up reply actions  

Well....

The teams on the West Coast will have twice as many games on the East Coast every year now….those games would supplant all of the trips to Dallas, Detroit, Chicago, etc, so I’m not sure how it’s that much worse. Unless you consider that teams might end up taking one long-assed road trip across the country each year, lasting up to 3 weeks.

Not sure how it’s worse for the Central, though. That’s fewer trips to the west coast, especially for Dallas. More trips to the East Coast, but who cares?

by Jeff D on Jan 6, 2012 9:12 PM CST up reply actions  

Something tells me

The backlash on this is going to be so bad that the two sides will get their shit together and come up with something within a week

by Jeff D on Jan 6, 2012 9:07 PM CST reply actions  

Oh boy...

Trevor Daley is my cup of tea.

by Henri Muroke on Jan 6, 2012 9:10 PM CST reply actions  

Jim Lites doesn't understand why the NHLPA would disapprove this and finds it depressing after "we fought for this for years"

Minnesota’s owner is “disappointed” and one of Winnipeg’s owners is going to have a news conference tomorrow. They probably need tonight to compose a statement that does not consist solely of four-letter words.

Texas Rangers - back-to-back American League Champions
TracyJean1972: YouTube channel
@TracyJean: Twitter account

by TracyJean on Jan 6, 2012 9:29 PM CST reply actions  

Yeah, Winnipeg is getting royally screwed.

The alignment talk was largely brought on by their renewed existence and now they’re stuck having division rivalries with Florida for another year.

by cms1171 on Jan 6, 2012 10:20 PM CST up reply actions  

FDHIOWNVLPNWN

That is all.

DIY: do it yourself hockey! - Razor

by diamondicegirl on Jan 6, 2012 10:06 PM CST reply actions  

As an EST zone Stars fan....

This really, really, really sucks.

No.

Really.

#$&#&$(#&(&#(&$#!

by Eskie on Jan 6, 2012 10:12 PM CST reply actions  

i used to be in in CT/NY i feel your pain

in CA now, but trust me, i’m on the other end of this. 4:00 games. 4:30 games. work. miss the first 2 periods.

this is just plainly unacceptable.

by agvdstars on Jan 7, 2012 12:34 AM CST up reply actions  

At least you have a viable option

to dvr the game and avoid sports news for a couple hours till you get home. Not much you can do with a 10pm start time unless you want to tape it and watch 24 hours later.

by 1paniolo on Jan 7, 2012 9:24 AM CST up reply actions  

Good

Now the Stars have a better mathematical chance to make the playoffs next year. I guess I’m in the minority, but I’ll take that over staying up late for a few extra games.

by seanathan on Jan 6, 2012 11:27 PM CST reply actions  

Red Herring.

On a purely mathematical basis this is true. But in reality it depends if you are in a strong or weak division. Example: last year if the Stars were in the Central Division we would have been in the playoffs. (more games against teams we regularly beat vs playing in the much tougher Pacific)

by 1paniolo on Jan 7, 2012 9:27 AM CST up reply actions  

This
On a purely mathematical basis this is true.

Is all that matters.

by seanathan on Jan 7, 2012 9:55 AM CST up reply actions  

This is such S

I’m so sick of these 9:30 game times. F this crap.

by Trillmike on Jan 6, 2012 11:55 PM CST via mobile reply actions  

Nah....

If they do, they have the flexibility to move them into the same conference as Montreal/Toronto/Ottawa.

by Jeff D on Jan 7, 2012 12:12 AM CST up reply actions  

Unlesashing my hfboard rant

Who the hell do you think you are NHLPA? What right do you have to decide how the league is run? You’re not the league, you’re not the schedulers, and you’re certainly not the people who go to the trouble of setting up the TV rights and all those other fancy tid bits that allow you to become millionaires on national TV.

You know in England we have a Players’ Union, but they have no say in how the league is run. Sure it hasn’t changed dramatically in it’s construction, but there is no CBA, there is none of this lockout rubbish because “oh no, I have to fly to deepest darkest Anaheim, how will I ever cope”.

It’s not about you idiots. It’s not about what feels right for you. I don’t care you have to fly, I know that’s not popular with you lot who like to have busses and trains to games, which is utterly unfathomable to 100% of the Western Conference, but seriously have you (the East, mainly) ever played for a Western team, or have any idea what it’s like to be a Western fan (one that lives in the UK anyway!?)?

Honestly, it sounds like these guys are on minimum wage and the office Christmas party got cancelled. If your on HALF A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR you should MAN UP and PUT UP with it. This was right for us fans, it was right for the West and it was right for the league. So yeah whatever there are unbalanced divisions, doesn’t actually remove the fact that in reality the 8 team conferences will have more whipping boys than the 7 team conferences, making the smaller ones almost certainly more competitive.

Seriously I don’t get it, they get enough money as it is to play a game. THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD WHO CAN’T EVEN AFFORD CENTRE ICE TO WATCH THESE GAMES.

I love the game and would hate to see a lockout.

The only teams I slightly feel for are the Panthers and Lightning, I guess it isn’t ideal, but it’s still in the same timezone and the flights are no different to what Vancouver would have to do in flying to Phoenix and Anaheim.

Sorry Jets, sorry Wild, sorry Stars, hell sorry to the whole of California you’re still going to Texas an ungodly amount.

Fortunately I can sleep easy knowing the Stars players were unanimous in voting for this and there’s been a lot of excitement for this to happen.

Good luck in getting a Western team to give you a contract when yours runs out in New Jersey, Parise.

/rant

Tonight's forecast... a freeze!!!
James Neal - 45 points. Alex Goligoski - 46 points. Nieuwendyk lost?

by Great British Stars Fan on Jan 7, 2012 6:09 AM CST reply actions   1 recs

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