SAN JOSEOne of the more notable aspects of the new NHL realignment is that now, every NHL team will visit each other's arena at least once starting next season.
If youre a season ticket holder on the West Coast, you no longer have to worry about missing out Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos or Alex Ovechkin, while East coast fans will get to see Joe Thornton, Brent Burns and Co. in their buildings.
On Monday at Sharks Ice, before the realignment became official, I asked some of the Sharks players specifically about that aspect of the proposed plan. Here's what they had to say:
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Joe Pavelski: I think that, definitely, is good. Some guys play three or four seasons and youre like I havent even been there yet. It would be nice to see each building maybe once a year. Its fun to go to see different atmospheres and what teams are doing. It definitely, I think, evens it out a little more.
Patrick Marleau: Its nice to see each team every year. As far as a home-and-home, its kind of nice to get in everybodys building, but as far as travel, if its cut down a little bit thats alright, too.
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Joe Thornton: Realignment doesnt really matter to me, I just want to see everybody at least once. The travel isnt an issue for us because we travel so much anyway. Id like to see every team play each other at least once in each others building.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic: Thats a lot of traveling for a West Coast team, especially California teams. Theres nobody close.
I think out east everybody knows everybody. Out here too, you watch a game at 4:00. People watch their game at 7:00 there. Maybe the media and fans wont watch a game here at 10:30 at night. Media coverage for us its not as big, so maybe theres more coverage and more exposure.