Top 5 Memorable NHL Moments of 2011

5. First Primetime Winter Classic

We already had the NHL's favorite overrated matchup in the Pittsburgh Sidney Crosby's and the Washington Alex Ovechkin's hanging over our heads, but then we encountered a rain forecast that was just too much for the ice to handle. On New Year's Eve the NHL announced that they were pushing the start time back from the classic 1 PM to a primetime 8 PM start. It seemed like a real disaster, but it actually became a sight to see.

The game wasn't all that exciting as we watched the Capitals dominate the Penguins for a 3-1 win. The NHL was also devastated to watch Sidney Crobsy go down with another concussion. However, the Classic turned out to be a major success. The National Hockey League showed that they could handle some poor circumstances and make the appropriate adjustments to ensure the Classic would run smoothly. I thought that the Classic should potentially always become an under-the-lights event, A, because it always will be colder at night which would be better for the ice, and B, who doesn't want to toe it up outside under the lights? Everyone has played pond hockey in the middle of the day, but very few have gotten the opportunity to lace up the skates with those lights glaring down on you.

Either way it was nice to see the NHL keep its composure when an obstacle was thrown its way. The Classic lives on!

4. Conference Realignment
This dramatic realignment is all Winnipeg's fault, though I'm pretty sure it'll do good things for the league. The "eastern"conferences each have 7 teams, while the "western" conferences have 8 teams. Each conference will have four playoff representatives, and that will make the playoffs far more elitist.

* New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Washington and Carolina

* Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Buffalo, Florida and Tampa Bay

* Detroit, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis, Chicago, Minnesota, Dallas and Winnipeg

* Los Angeles, Anaheim, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Colorado

The conferences are pretty even with each seemingly having 5 playoff teams vying for four spots. The geography of the conferences, especially in the East still has me confused. This conference realignment should have dramatic affects on what teams are playoff mainstays and those that miss out time and time again. However, if one conference finds itself loaded with bottom-feeders, then we could have a serious problem in terms of who deserves a playoff berth or not.

3. Boston Brings Lord Stanley Home
Boston has forever been known as a hockey town. But for the last thirty or so years, it was known for it's college Hockey, that is BU and BC, instead of it's pro team. Finally in 2011, the Bruins broke through the 40-year drought and drank from Lord Stanley's Cup.

The Bruins did it in the style that mirrored their city. They were tough, defensive and had phenomenal goaltender. Tim Thomas became a cult hero for the city of Boston. The Bruins also got a boost from the facade that was the "USA Vs. Canada" Stanley Cup, which was of course, a bunch of BS. But they did it.  They brought back NHL hockey excitement to one of the Original Six cities, and they added to the allure of "Titletown."


2. Sidney Crosby's Multiple Concussions
Sidney Crosby, whether you like him or not, was on pace to be a hall-of-famer and maybe one of the greatest players to ever play the game. But a slew of concussions have derailed the superstars last few seasons and unfortunately maybe his career.

Crosby hasn't played a full season since 2008-09 and has been on and off the ice since then. The concussion problem in the NHL has been headlined by the league's biggest star. If Crosby doesn't return from this latest setback, it could be a disaster for a league that is on the cusp of breaking out. Sidney Crosby is a household name and has certainly improved the NHL's popularity. So it would just truly unfortunate to see one of the league's stars to end his career at the brutally young age of 24.

The concussion issue has become a serious problem for the NHL and they've tried several options and policies to limit concussions, but anytime you have a serious contact sport like hockey, you will always have severe head injuries.

1. Winnipeg Jets Return To The NHL
For the first time since 1995, Winnipeg finally had a hockey team. Unfortunately for Atlanta the move had to be made, and benefits the NHL ten fold.

As you can guess, with the team moving back to the hockey crazed, but poor city of Winnipeg, the Jets sold out all of their season tickets within minutes. They came out with a sleek new logo and jersey scheme that sold just as well as their classic logo did back in the 80s and 90s. However, Being birthed out of the not-so-hot Atlanta Thrashers, the Jets started out their fresh 2011 campaign with a tough start, as they went 5-9-3 in their first 17 games. But since then they went 12-5-2 and now sit in eight place in the Eastern Conference also known as the final playoff spot.

Even if the Jets don't make the playoffs, the mere fact that they are not cellar dwellers should make Winnipeg fans ecstatic. A good product in its first season in the Manitoba capital city will do wonders for this season going forward. The hangover from the move is now over, and Winnipeg is still buzzing about their new Jets. It's good to get hockey out of the south and into the north where it belongs, even if that means moving another team(like the Panthers) to Canada.