Rick Moldovanyi

As soon as the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg we started talking about realignment. It’s already known that the Jets will be moving out of the Southeast Division after this season, but only recently has the NHL sat down to actually discuss the league realignment plan. The NHL Board of Governors’ first formal discussions on realignment took place yesterday and the goal is to have a plan in place by December.

“Obviously we have to make arrangements to move Winnipeg west, and we had an opportunity to explore the issues,” Commissioner Gary Bettman told NHL.com. “No conclusions were reached, but it’s something I’m hopeful we can resolve at the December meeting.”

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There was a lot of excitement last night as the new Winnipeg Jets played their first preseason game in Winnipeg. There was significantly less excitement in Columbus as the other halves of the Jets and the Blue Jackets took to the ice at nearly the same time. Whose idea was that anyway?

Regardless, we’re betting that there will be even more excitement on October 9, when the Jets play their first regular season game against the Montreal Canadiens at home. But will the new Jets get to play their first playoff game this year as well?

It’s no secret that the Atlanta Thrashers weren’t a very successful hockey team. They qualified for the playoffs only once in their history and they were swept in the first round. It’s no wonder the team struggled to attract fans and sell tickets. Last season it looked like they would actually contend for a playoff spot, but that fell apart rather quickly as the season went on. Will this year be any different?

As we’ve learned in Edmonton, Toronto, Minnesota and others, playing in a hockey mad city isn’t enough to make you a contender.

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The new NHL season is upon us and we’re excited. We’re excited enough that pretty much anything to do with hockey will ignore almost anything else in our lives and pay attention.

Goal songs are a big part of the NHL arena experience. Teams like the Chicago Blackhawks and the New York Rangers have shown us the importance of having a song that simultaneously pumps up your own fans and annoys the opposition to no end. As the new season is here, some teams have decided to change their goal songs. A few have even let the fans have some input.

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As we prepare for the start of the 2011-2012 season, we can’t help but look back at seasons past. We also love talking about jersey designs, as you’ve probably noticed from previous posts. Today we’re going to head back a quarter of a century and see how the NHL looked 25 years ago. This how the 1986-1987 NHL season looked.

In the image above you can see Jimmy Carson of the Los Angeles Kings celebrating a goal against the Hartford Whalers. Carson is perhaps most famously known as one of the players who was sent to Edmonton in exchange for Wayne Gretzky. You’ll also notice that neither team is wearing white at this game. The Kings had gold home jerseys and they wore purple on the road. The Whalers, of course, were wearing their distinctive green uniforms with the classic logo on the front.

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Whether you’re looking for more money, a different contract length, a promise of increased ice time or just more love from your team, you’ve decided to hold out for a new contract. Well, you’re not the first person to try this tactic. Does it work? Will it damage your relationship with your teammates? Will it pay off?

Find the answers to these questions and many more as we look back at some other players who have held out for a new contract!

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