A wild ride | The Columbus Dispatch

Klesla says it all - "It's been 10 years, we need to get to winning."

Thank you, Rusty. Now let's see if the rest of the team will buy into that...

Here is an idea, get rid of Rusty, he has performed well below his potential and should have been cut or traded years ago instead of signing him to more years.

When the Jackets were first granted entry to the NHL, the league said the plan was for them to start in the Western Conference and move to the Eastern after a couple of years. The realignment never happened and nobody has ever been able to give me a reason why. I just can't help but wonder if our fortunes would have been a little different had we been able to play in the weaker conference.

Tribucks wrote:

When the Jackets were first granted entry to the NHL, the league said the plan was for them to start in the Western Conference and move to the Eastern after a couple of years. The realignment never happened and nobody has ever been able to give me a reason why. I just can't help but wonder if our fortunes would have been a little different had we been able to play in the weaker conference.

Because which team in the East would want to move to the West? That's suicide. Even Pittsburgh wouldn't want to deal with
a)The Competition
b)The brutal travel to the West Coast.
It would take more expansion to give the Jackets a chance to switch to the East. And we all know that's not going to happen.

Tribucks wrote:

When the Jackets were first granted entry to the NHL, the league said the plan was for them to start in the Western Conference and move to the Eastern after a couple of years. The realignment never happened and nobody has ever been able to give me a reason why. I just can't help but wonder if our fortunes would have been a little different had we been able to play in the weaker conference.

I hardly think playing against the Capitals and Pens would have made a difference.

This article missed "The Coach"
Dan Singleton has been on the coaching staff as video director since day 1.
Check team pics, yo.

Franklin County wrote:

<quoted text>
I hardly think playing against the Capitals and Pens would have made a difference.

In the last two or three seasons, maybe not. Pre-Ovekchin and Crosby, they would have made the playoffs a LOT sooner playing in the East. Playing the Isles, Habs and Thrashers would have gotten more points and at least an 8th seed, even with a mediocre season. Guaranteed. Dougie Mac wanted them in the West.

Franklin County wrote:

<quoted text>
I hardly think playing against the Capitals and Pens would have made a difference.

Wow, really made a strong case there. 2 teams?!?!? What, would the Jackets play those 2 teams every night?

Chappelle, I think you missed my point. The switch was planned by the league and then completely disappeared without an explanation. It was never a question of finding an Eastern team who wanted to switch.

Fr. Co., if you think over the last 8 years the East has been the tougher league, you haven't followed hockey very long or very closely.

Tribucks wrote:

Chappelle, I think you missed my point. The switch was planned by the league and then completely disappeared without an explanation. It was never a question of finding an Eastern team who wanted to switch.
Fr. Co., if you think over the last 8 years the East has been the tougher league, you haven't followed hockey very long or very closely.

Ok, but without expansion (and there are too many teams now), how do you make a switch? If you do it geographically, the only team in the East that fits is Atlanta.
As I said before, the whole west coast travel hassle will keep any team in the Western Conference but in the Eastern time zone at a disadvantage. The only two teams in that boat are Detroit and the Jackets.

I see what you're saying (and agree) and it obviously hasn't bothered Detroit. I just thought it was strange that they said it would occur and then it didn't...and without explanation.

Tribucks wrote:

I see what you're saying (and agree) and it obviously hasn't bothered Detroit. I just thought it was strange that they said it would occur and then it didn't...and without explanation.

I think a lot of promises were made that are coming back to bite the Jackets. The arena lease deal comes to mind. As far as Detroit, raw talent has carried them through all kinds of issues for the past 15 years.