# NHL season begins Jan 13 with new divisions **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** hockey-nhl\ **Created:** [December 21, 2020, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521 "2020-12-21T08:59:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2021, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/41 "2021-02-03T05:49:58Z")
Yeah, they were supposed to play the Pens this week twice, but now both games have been postponed indefinintely. ☹ Kris Letang is hurt too, although he hasn’t been playing up to his normal speed this season, so maybe some time off will be good for him, even if it’s because of a shitty event? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2021, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/42 "2021-02-03T16:47:22Z")
The constant postponements have made fantasy hockey almost unplayable this season. I’m about to ask my league to just call it a season and refund the money. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2021, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/43 "2021-02-04T01:45:24Z")
**Guin** : Forgot to mention that your former goalie Mr. Murray is having a very very very very very sad time in Ottawa, leading me to one of the grimmest predictions I’ll ever make: in this covid-shortened season, The Ottawa Senators will end up having the worst winning percentage in NHL history. ('74-'75 Capitals finished at .131…the Sens will be worse.) They are really looking Dr. Sadguts right now. Whoa Jets team captain (and 🔥firebrand 🔥 at pracitces / in dressingroom Blake Wheeler is currently at -9 in ten games, which might not sound like much of a ‘thing’, but is quite the kerfuffle there. The inestimable coach Paul Maurice quite vehemently came to his defense with a little bit of the ole piss n’vinegar 🙂 that he’s known to dish from time to time: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcX0I-PPXow) Heh weird seeing Laine in a Blue Jackets uni. (and HA! having to play for Torts now!). ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2021, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/44 "2021-02-04T03:12:35Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > …one of the grimmest predictions I’ll ever make: in this covid-shortened season, The Ottawa Senators will end up having the worst winning percentage in NHL history. I predict the Red Wings will give them a run for the money. ---
**Author:** ![bmoak1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@bmoak1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak1)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/45 "2021-02-05T02:33:58Z")
So will the Rangers. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/46 "2021-02-12T17:14:32Z")
My goodness - not NHL, but… > **[WHL's Red Deer Rebels living inside home arena in order to compete in...](https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/whl-red-deer-rebels-living-inside-home-arena-in-order-to-compete-in-covid-19-era-172241194.html)** > > The WHL's Red Deer Rebels are taking living at the rink to the next level. Not sure what I think about this. Good, I spose? Think I’d want curtains, or something, put up, there. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/47 "2021-02-15T20:59:27Z")
Why? Everyone living there are teammates and they shower together. Plus, there no crowds at the games. All in all, I think this turns into a pretty memorable experience for the players. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2021, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/48 "2021-03-07T02:04:15Z")
**Guin** : You should be very happy Brian Burke came on board as Pres. of Hockey OPs - since the Cup winner (Anahiem - '07) came on board Feb. 9, Pens have gone 9 - 4. And super crazy that your new GM, of all people, is Ron Hextall. Sure, he’s had successful managerial experience elsewhere, but still - Ron Fucking Hextall. Ha! Nuts! ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2021, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/49 "2021-03-07T13:23:35Z")
So, Tom Wilson got a 7 game suspension for his hit on Brandon Carlo. Some things never change. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2021, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/50 "2021-03-08T03:40:00Z")
Wilson reminds me of Marchand, (only in the following way, mind you) - how they’re both generally disliked but _every team would kill to have them_. Sure, you can say that about a number of players, but nowhere _near_ to the same degrees as those two - the way they can quite singlehandedly affect a game, often not in the prettiest fashion. (wow Marchand is such a weird one to figure out, with his occasional, epic points-getting flashes / seasons) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/51 "2021-03-10T03:49:39Z")
That I am, that I am! And are you kidding? – he has his roots here in [Pittsburgh](https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/a-trip-down-memory-lane-with-the-hextalls/c-321956138)! His father played for the Penguins, and so that’s pretty much where he got started. I could watch that footage of Ryan Reaves knocking down Wilson all day long. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/52 "2021-03-10T05:52:54Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > And are you kidding? – he has his roots here in [Pittsburgh](https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/a-trip-down-memory-lane-with-the-hextalls/c-321956138)! His father played for the Penguins, and so that’s pretty much where he got started. Ah, yes. 🤦‍♂️ Probably had a hockey card of him when I was kid. One of those fucking Hextalls. 🙂 Cross your fingers Pittsburgh doesn’t take a nosedive under RH like Philly did for his three years at that helm. No idea how crazy he was about getting fired, but I’m sure he has at least a small axe to grind whenever he’s up against what’s been the Pen’s most long-standing, fiercest rivals. (For shits and giggles, take a guess at their lifetime head-to-head): Flyers W/L against Penguins: 159 W - 105 L - 30 T All those years - 70’s, early 80’s - going into the Spectrum, averaging fewer than 7,000 fans per game at home, shaky finances, and gossip about going to another town, and then, _BOOM_… …Mario came along. (Sure, Jagr helped kick in another gear years later…) ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/53 "2021-03-10T14:22:47Z")
This new Eastern division is a tough one. The only real loser team is Buffalo, and even they have a good amount of talent. The Devils can’t get out of their own way, again. After that, the Rangers are bristling with talent and just need to find a way to make it work. Then, you get to the Pens, Bruins, Caps, Flyers, and Isles. With this format, every game is a four-pointer. Just brutal! Somehow, the Isles are on a streak, but they were bottom feeding on the Sabres and Devils. I’m hoping they can keep it alive with three more Devils games coming, because at some point, they will have to face the top teams again. No one in the Metro division really needed to have the Bruins added for 8 games! ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2021, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/54 "2021-03-11T02:13:46Z")
One thing I love about these new divisions is that there’s not only way less travel, but with way more doubleheaders, that makes for even _less_ travel, yet. I’m sure the players have been appreciating that. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2021, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/55 "2021-03-11T17:38:19Z")
I wish this article was more clear. [Report: Sharks considering voiding Evander Kane's contract](https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/report-sharks-considering-voiding-evander-kanes-contract/) Ok, Evander Kane isn’t known for his brains and the money phone crap told me he was definitely financially illiterate, but how exactly would an NHL team void his contract? And why would they? Kane isn’t going to jail if he declares bankruptcy, he can still play good hockey. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/56 "2021-03-12T16:57:08Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > but how exactly would an NHL team void his contract? No idea, but, in any case, the Sharks said yesterday it’s not happening. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/57 "2021-03-16T15:35:03Z")
A 19 year old Russian player [died after being hit in the head](https://www.tsn.ca/russian-hockey-player-timur-faizutdinov-19-dies-after-being-hit-in-head-by-puck-1.1608456) with a puck. I can’t imagine… ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/58 "2021-03-16T17:00:43Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > A 19 year old Russian player [died after being hit in the head](https://www.tsn.ca/russian-hockey-player-timur-faizutdinov-19-dies-after-being-hit-in-head-by-puck-1.1608456) with a puck. There is no statement there about whether 1) his helmet had come off 2) he was hit somehow where the helmet doesn’t cover, or 3) somehow he was hit hard enough that the helmet didn’t protect him. I would think different responses to correct this would apply in each case. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/59 "2021-03-16T17:10:15Z")
Another article said the puck hit his helmet. Scary stuff. My kid plays hockey, and we all convince ourselves that the precautions are enough, but a hit in the wrong place can be deadly even with all the equipment. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521/60 "2021-03-24T15:39:25Z")
I guess we have proof that there are such things as make up calls by the refs: [https://twitter.com/bestofmatt/status/1374533125406097408?s=21](https://twitter.com/bestofmatt/status/1374533125406097408?s=21) He’s been removed from the active officials roster. Still, it’s definitely a concern as gambling becomes bigger in the game. It’s one thing to fix the outcome of a game, but a first penalty? Easy enough to find hooking almost anywhere you look. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-season-begins-jan-13-with-new-divisions/928521.md?page=4)