I'll play your game, you rogue. You better go look up your math:
1974-1993 = 19 years
1993-2012 = 19 years
You originally posted about the 19 year life span of each division.
I merely went and gave you facts that the Patrick was a more successful era. Even if an Atlantic team wins the Cup this year, the Patrick still wins in total.
You said "the Atlantic Division has exactly as much history/as many memories as the Patrick Division."
Which is wrong. There isn't "exactly" as much history and memories unless you're a Devils fan (and NYR fan to an extent). Hell, if you remove the Devils and Rangers out of Atlantic history, that era is thin. The Patrick, however, was much more entertaining and had more variety as i had posted.
This is very subjective. Everyone is going to value their own memories and nostalgia above everyone else's. Fans from 1993 til now are going to identify with Atlantic, fans who gained foothold from '74 through '93 are going to identify with Patrick, and fans who predate '74 are probably too busy bemoaning expansion to give half a crap about silly division names. Unless you're a "my nostalgia is better than your nostalgia" elitist, this is a moot point.
Facts don't lie. As a pure hockey fan, the Patrick was a better era. Since i was around from the 80's until now, i can say that in my own opinion. As a Devils fan, of course the Atlantic era was good to me but that doesn't mean it was better.
And that's great. Honor the past. That's exactly what these three trophies accomplish. Why double-dip with these guys when the dude who re-wrote the league's record book only gets a couple highways named after him?
Again, maybe if it wasn't for those who came before, there would be no one to come after? Just a thought as to why these men are so honored.
I do see what you're saying and that, yes, history should update it's modern contributors and builders. However, it's a fine line. The NHL is never going to change the trophies, so that's safe. I think the whole "overlooking the past history for updating the present" is an issue that will invoke many debates. That's probably why now, coming up on 2012, it's more practical to stick to generic labels for divisions and why bettman did it in the first place even though my view of him and his "changes" to the sport are always under a microscope.
Please tell me that's a joke and my internet sarcasm detector needs to go back to the shop.
I know leatherheads are much more "protective" of their legends then puckheads are, which means that Bill Belichek will never be on the SB trophy
Look, I'm not against the league reverting back to Smythe, Patrick, Adams and Norris. There IS a history there, and it'd be cool to see that history restored rather than sticking with generic geographic naming. One of the cooler aspects of this league is its naming tradition. It isn't the MVP, it's the Hart. It isn't the Goalie Of The Year, it's the Vezina. So on and so forth. But Patrick, Smythe and Norris still have their awards. No one's trying to take those away. So instead of clinging to a past that's already sufficiently honored, I'd prefer to spread the wealth to some people who really, really, REALLY friggin deserve it.
Do you really think in your wildest dreams that this league will ever name an award after Lou? Or Scott Stevens? Or Brodeur?
If the league hasn't named anything major after Bobby Orr (who should be honored with the "Norris" change) or Gordie Howe by now, then everyone else is a distant second including Gretzky and Lemieux and Lou, Stevens and Brodeur are not even in thought.
In the 90's? Everyone loved to think the Pens with Jagr and Lemieux were their big rivals. Pens fans had bigger hate for the Flyers, Rangers, Isles, even the Devils throughout the decade.
This is dead wrong. The Pens and Capitals were rivals back then and the Croby/Ovechkin era has given it a re-brith. I think you either do not know much about the Pens/Caps over the years or you are incredibly stubborn and refuse to listen to others.
