You would think that Red Wings would be the biggest proponents for the NHL’s proposed realignment plans. Given rigorous travel schedule the team deals with year in and year out it’s hard to imagine anyone on the Wings from players to management being against it.
However according to union representative Niklas Kronwall it was exactly those travel issues (as well as playoff issues) that had many players, including some of the Wings concerned…
“Anytime something like this gets raised every team is looking from their own point of view,” Kronwall said. “From our standpoint, we felt it was a fairy good compromise as far as the traveling goes, but at the same time, the unfairness of the playoffs – some teams being in eight-team divisions, some being in seven-team divisions, it’s tough to get away from.”
Ansar Khan of Mlive.com writes that Kronwall indicated that a large majority of players were in favor of rejecting the NHL’s proposed realignment plan but does mention that there is still time for both sides to agree on a plan.
“We’ll just keep going like we always have, so it’s not a major concern for us whatsoever,” Kronwall said. “There’s no doubt we would like our schedule to be a little bit different, with the traveling and all that. In saying that, this is how it’s been for the last however many years and it’s been just fine.”
Red Wings general manager Ken Holland and head coach Mike Babcock didn’t share the same sentiments as the players…
“I was out for dinner, I saw it come over and you’re disappointed,” Babcock said. “I’m a big fan of hockey. Our game has really grown, seems to be in a great spot. I like what’s going on. I thought it was all set up and ready to go. We were going to be in a situation with less time changes, less travel.
“The other thing I think is great for the fans is if you’re a team that doesn’t see (Edmonton’s Ryan) Nugent-Hopkins (every season), for example, your fans want to see that guy, he’s a star. I can’t imagine why we wouldn’t play everybody home and home. It just seemed to make sense to me.
“I understand there’s some things that need to be worked out. They got smarter people than me that figure that out.”
The rejected plan is assumed to be ammunition at the negotiating table when both sides try to work out a new collective bargaining agreement. The current NHL CBA expires on September 15th of this year.
Ref: Mlive.com, TSN.ca, NHL.com, AP (image)