The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

Completely unexpected, the NHL already released the upcoming schedule for the next season. Ottawa fans wil be treated to visits by the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avlanche. It's a big deal since the new format allows for only 1 visit every three years from a Western division team, and it's the division that has all the remaining Canadian teams from the West. It's too bad there couldn't be an all-Canadian division, that would be tremendous. The owners though, would complain about the travel costs and all that so it'll never happen.

Without surprise, Ottawa will play in Toronto opening night but what's interesting is that the two teams will play each four times in October, both times in back to back format. A good way to kick off the season; the concept of back to back games is good for the fans and helps build rivalries from what would normally be a not-too-critical regular season game.

Ottawa fans know they'll see Chara back in Ottawa four times this year, but they will not see Martin Havlat play back in his old rink for some time.