Metropolitan?

I'm still struggling with this new divisional name anointed to the New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania-DC-Ohio-Carolina division. I get that they aren't truly the Atlantic Division with the Blue Jackets being quite inland, but "Metropolitan"? This may be one of the worst names in the history of the NHL. The population is dense in the area so I understand the reference, but why is the NHL trying to push "metropolitan" as a geographical region? I'm not sure anyone has associated the eight teams making up the division as a metropolitan. The Rangers, Islanders, and Devils? Yes. Everyone else? Not so much.

According to deputy commissioner Bill Daly in an email to ESPN, "A number of alternatives were considered for Metropolitan, but due to the make-up of our divisions, none were perfect. So that was, obviously, the toughest one to nail down. But, ultimately, you have to come to a resting place."

There are so many things wrong with his statement that need to pointed out, but the biggest one is "you have to come to a resting place". That reeks of laziness and an unwillingness to teach fans about the history of the game. As the curators of this game, the NHL Offices in New York should be ashamed of this statement and decision.

The NHL had incredible names before in the Smythe, Norris, Patrick, and Adams divisions. They harkened back to the days of the men who molded the game in their visions, and provide a link back to the history that is slowly being erased by the geographical names. The four men whose names adorned the divisions before the changes made by Bettman and Company were arguably more important than the current regime in helping the game evolve into what the current regime inherited.

Personally, I've never been a fan of the geographically-named divisions, and this new Metrosexualpolitan Division is the dumbest name of all. In my protest of these stupid names, I'm officially changing the names here on HBIC. Going forward from this day forward, the old names will be used when describing the new divisions.

Ladies and gentlemen, HBIC welcomes back the Patrick Division.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!