Talking about the BOA as the best rivalry in hockey is absurd, think Leafs-Montreal and you might be looking at the best rivalry. The BOA was an amazing battle once upon a time, and until they meet in the playoffs again it's going to be just that. Even the players and Sutter were saying during the regular season that they play eachother way too much to find the ability to get up for the big "rivalry" that once was. The league can say they are focusing on rivalries all they want, playing a team 12 times in the pre season and regular season is terrible.
And to answer your question about Oiler fans throwing their support behind the Flames last year, many did and many more across Canada did. Like i said, there really is no hatred between the clubs like there use to be and until we meet in the playoffs again i will say this trend will continue. Everyone hates the Canucks, why? Because we had a great series with them last season and that's what causes foes, something that happened 20 years ago can't continue with the intensity that it once had.
If bettman was serious about starting the whole rivalry thing again then he would have brought back the divisions that play each other in the playoffs.
|