Last night, the NHL Player's Association did not approve the league's newly proposed conference/playoff format that would accommodate the move of the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg. The re-alignment was viewed as bad for travel and an unfair playoff format. This could be viewed upon by fans as the start of long labor negotiations between the league and the players, but in fairness, there have already been some signs of that. Here's what I mean.
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| "Why did the NHLPA not approve our new re-alignment format? I don't know. They're always so good to us..." |
Last night, the NHL Player's Association did not approve the league's newly proposed conference/playoff format that would accommodate the move of the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg. The re-alignment was viewed as bad for travel and an unfair playoff format. This could be viewed upon by fans as the start of long labor negotiations between the league and the players, but in fairness, there have already been some signs of that. Here's what I mean.
- The Vancouver Canucks benched Roberto Luongo in favor of Cory Schneider for the team's game in Boston, thus hurting the league's desire for higher scoring games.
- John Tortorella keeps accusing NHL officiating as being "disgusting," but then apologizes, because he remembers that saying something interesting could generate better ratings.
- The Player's Association continues to threaten NBC and the NHL by telling them that if they don't get what they want, they will make sure the Florida Panthers make the playoffs.
