Unleash the Zambonis, it is hockey season! It has been quite exciting with Philly taking the spotlight once again. Starting out the worst than in the league, losing their first 3 games, not to mention only scoring as many goals in that stretch. Craig Berube, former Flyers bruiser and Assistant Coach, will be the interim coach, and completes the cycle for Philadelphia coaching changes this year, with every head coach getting the axe from the previous post, because heaven forbid it is actually the fault of our owners and general managers (yes, I am looking at you Ruben Amaro, Jr. and Ed Snider).

On the other side of the league, Ken Hitchcock has his team picking up exactly where they left off last season as the St. Louis Blues made it rain on Tim Thomas in his second game back as an NHL starter, rattling off 5 goals in 2 periods.

In case you haven’t heard, Detroit, Columbus and Winnipeg have all switched conferences, with the Winged Wheels making the new Atlantic Division not quite the cakewalk it would have been. For the full breakdown, look below.

2012-2013
Atlantic             Northeast          Southeast
Philadelphia       Boston              Winnipeg
Pittsburgh          Toronto             Tampa Bay
NY Islanders       Montreal          Washington
New Jersey         Buffalo              Florida
NY Rangers        Ottawa              Carolina

Central            Northwest        Pacific
Detroit               Colorado           Los Angeles
Chicago             Vancouver        Dallas
Nashville            Edmonton         Phoenix
St. Louis             Calgary             San Jose
Columbus           Minnesota         Anaheim

2013-2014
Atlantic         Metropolitan
Boston           Philadelphia
Toronto           Pittsburgh
Montreal        NY Islanders
Buffalo           New Jersey
Ottawa           NY Rangers
Detroit            Washington
Tampa Bay     Columbus
Florida           Carolina

Central            Pacific
Chicago          Vancouver
Nashville         San Jose
St. Louis         Anaheim
Colorado        Los Angeles
Minnesota       Calgary
Winnipeg        Edmonton
Dallas             Phoenix

Some notable trades in the offseason include Boston and Dallas, where Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley have been traded for Loui Eriksson and also Detroit signing Daniel Alfredsson, shocking Ottawa as their captain for the past 14 years left in hopes of finally winning a Stanley Cup Championship before he retires.

Stay tuned as this season unfolds, there is plenty more hockey to play this season than last, and that is something everyone is happy to agree upon.