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You are here: Home / NHL / Canucks / POLL: Which rival should the Kings play on NHL Opening Night?

POLL: Which rival should the Kings play on NHL Opening Night?

January 4, 2013 By John Hoven

Brown Bettman Stanley Cup by IkiriWhat hook might the NHL use to try and lure fans back to the game should the lockout end in the coming week?

It’s a question many have pondered, as most of the ‘tools’ used in 2005 won’t be available this time around. Back then they rolled out a slew of rule changes and ideas designed to make the game more fan-friendly.  And for the most part they worked too, as the general consensus was the game was better when compared to the hooking, grabbing and trapping era that preceded it.

This time around, realignment and all teams playing a more balanced schedule are two of the items on the table.  Ultimately, both will be good for the league and its fans.  However, neither concept can be implemented until next season due to the 48-game schedule that would start in a few weeks if the NHL and NHLPA sign a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Additionally, beyond the removal of the trapezoid, there aren’t any major rule changes expected to take place initially either. So, what can the NHL do to create some excitement?

Well, Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports the league is planning on scheduling a full slate of rivalry games – including the Flyers against the Penguins.

Which leads to this… if this idea plays out, which team should the Kings play on Opening Night?

For LA, the answer takes on additional meaning.  It encompass both the thought of who’s their biggest rival at the moment  and which team they should they raise their Stanley Cup banner against.

One’s brain quickly jumps to the Anaheim Ducks.  After all, that’s their most natural rival given the geographic proximity of the two teams.

Yet, a few other options easily work themselves into the thought process.

What about Vancouver?

After meeting the Canucks in the playoffs two of the last three years, not only do Kings fans and players seem to have a particular disdain for them (Drew Doughty puts his hatred level at a full-blown 10), but they’re probably the most hated team in the NHL as well.

What about the Phoenix Coyotes? There’s certainly some bad blood coming out of the Western Conference Finals – despite Shane Doan trying to downplay things in this interview.

Plus, there’s always San Jose. The Kings lost a five-game playoff series to the Sharks two seasons ago and they’ve been the best team in the Pacific Division for the past few years.  Plus, who doesn’t like a good NoCal / SoCal feud?

What do you think? Which team would be the ideal opponent for the Kings on Rivalry Weekend?

(Yes, this assumes the lockout ends soon.)


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Filed Under: Canucks, Coyotes, Ducks, HockeyBlog, Kings, NHL, Sharks Tagged With: Anaheim, Canucks, Coyotes, Doan, Ducks, Flyers, hockey, Kings, lockout, Los Angeles, Mayor, MayorsManor, NHL, Penguins, Phoenix, Playoffs, poll, San Jose, Sharks, Stanley Cup, Vancouver

About John Hoven

John Hoven is a former member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association and co-hosts Kings of the Podcast. He's also the founder and editor of MayorsManor.com, which has been named Best Sports Blog in Los Angeles and Hockey Blog of the Year. Click "ABOUT OUR TEAM" below for a full bio.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shakes says

    January 4, 2013 at 8:29 am

    Vancouver because we’ve had a playoff rivalry spanning several decades (unlike Phoenix & SJ & Anaheim) AND it happens to be at a peak now. Also Anaheim is too obvious…that’s a geographic rival, Vancouver is a true hockey rival

  2. Doughty99 says

    January 4, 2013 at 11:45 am

    My money is on Anaheim. That worthless city houses such a pathetic franchise that I worry they’ll have no other rival to play and we’ll draw them by default

    Silver lining: seeing how much crow Brian Hayward can stuff into his face hole during the banner ceremony.

  3. Tom Ram says

    January 4, 2013 at 12:18 pm

    New Jersey Devils! Just so the Kings can stick it, one more time, to Illya KovolDONNAchuk!!XP Karma is a bitch and revenge is so sweet;)

    • lee says

      January 4, 2013 at 3:10 pm

      I second that!!!

Trackbacks

  1. Knee-jerk decision @ LA Kings Hockey Club Podcast says:
    January 5, 2013 at 10:49 pm

    […] According to solid sources, an opening contest for the Kings, which would include the pregame Stanley Cup ceremony and banner raising, is being slated to be hosted at Staples Center on either January 16th, or January 19th. […]

  2. Gift-wrapped Return @ LA Kings Hockey Club Podcast says:
    January 6, 2013 at 10:16 pm

    […] start training camp, which would last approximately one week, as early as Wednesday. As far as an opening regular season date is concerned, Staples Center has an evening (7:30PM) slot available on January 16th, or a matinee […]

  3. NHL Lockout nears end, 48-game season likely starts January 19 says:
    January 6, 2013 at 10:50 pm

    […] As reported on Friday, the NHL is said to be planning a series of rivalry games to jump start the post-lockout schedule. MayorsManor ran a poll to see who the readers wanted LA to face and Vancouver came out on top, receiving 35% of the votes, followed by Anaheim at 25% (full results here). […]

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