The Dee-troit Connection

Adam Proteau has an intruiging column in The Hockey News, the premise of which is this:

But what teams would provide the ideal conference and Cup final for each NHL franchise?

There’s no rhyme or reason to the answers. Some teams become the most bitter of rivals due to geography; others build mutual hate through previous playoff showdowns or divisional history. Let’s take a stab at identifying them in each of the 30 NHL markets...

We're only gonna steal those bits where Dee-troit is mentioned, for obvious reasons.  So let's get started...

Boston
Ideal Conference Final Opponent: Montreal
Ideal Cup Final Opponent: Detroit
Why? There isn’t much that’s more tantalizing to Bruins fans than any series against a fellow Original Six franchise.

Chicago
Ideal Conference Final Opponent: Detroit
Ideal Cup Final Opponent: New York Rangers
Why? The Original Six factor trumps all other contenders.
 
Colorado
Ideal Conference Final Opponent: Detroit
Ideal Cup Final Opponent: Montreal
Why? A Canadiens/Avs series would appeal more to Quebecers than Coloradans, but true fans of the Avs’ history would understand completely.
 
Columbus
Ideal Conference Final Opponent: Detroit
Ideal Cup Final Opponent: Pittsburgh
Why? The Wings have been Columbus’ only playoff opponent; and Ohio’s NFL rivalries with Pennsylvania make the Pens a natural fit as an ideal Cup opponent.


Detroit
Ideal Conference Final Opponent: Colorado
Ideal Cup Final Opponent: Toronto
Why? Chicago is Detroit’s longstanding rival, but the playoff dogfights the Avs and Wings have had push Colorado to the top. Detroit’s Norris Division days with Toronto gives the Leafs the edge over the Habs.

Montreal
Ideal Conference Final Opponent: Toronto
Ideal Cup Final Opponent: Detroit
Why? Beating the despised Leafs as well as the longtime rival Red Wings in a single post-season would make the entire Habs team that did it a shoo-in for sainthood in Montreal.


Nashville
Ideal Conference Final Opponent: Detroit
Ideal Cup Final Opponent: Atlanta
Why? The Preds and Wings have a brief-but-bearish playoff relationship; Atlanta is just a four-hour drive from Nashville.

New York Rangers
Ideal Conference Final Opponent: New York Islanders
Ideal Cup Final Opponent: Detroit
Why? One hopes the Isles and Blueshirts could meet again just to bring closure to the “Potvin Sucks!” chants. But who’s kidding who – Rangers fans are never letting that crap go.

Phoenix
Ideal Conference Final Opponent: Detroit
Ideal Cup Final Opponent: Buffalo
Why? Arizona has a lot of Wings fans, as well as Sabres supporters; that’s enough to make them the preferred opponents for this playoff-history-thin franchise.

Pittsburgh
Ideal Conference Final Opponent: Philadelphia
Ideal Cup Final Opponent: Detroit
Why? Because Penguins fans hate Flyers fans more than Heidi Montag hates the natural aging process. And because the Wings have been a solid Cup final rival for the Pens in each of the past two years.
 
Washington
Ideal Conference Final Opponent: Pittsburgh
Ideal Cup Final Opponent: Detroit
Why? Crosby vs. Ovechkin. And Washington’s only Cup final series came against the Red Wings in 1998.

So there you have it.  Detroit is a preferred match-up for ten out of the 30 NHL teams, according to one hockey pundit.  And I can't say that I disagree with any one of the proposed contests.  Hell, I hope to live long enough to see half of these.  But out of all of them?  Boston-Detroit, Rangers-Detroit, or Montreal-Detroit in a Cup final would be best... the rest would be gravy.  A Toronto-Detroit Cup final would be the tastiest treat of all... coz I remember the Norris Division days.  Original Six, baybee... Original Six!  Coz it's all about the history.

Read the whole thing, as it's said.