Fanfare for Rivalry Weeks

Can you feel the excitement in the NHL-air?

Surely you noticed the plethora of billboards, newspaper ads, tv spots about the next two weeks? And talk radio is abuzz with enough chatter about the NHL's first Rivalry Weeks to make you forget all about who won the Colts-Patriots matchup yesterday.

Maybe if the NHL weren't guided by such incompetency...


I have to give the league credit for coming up with a positive in terms of scheduling and making the most out of the 8 divisional games each team will play against each other.
Twice this season, including the last two weeks of the regular season, every team will play from 7-9 straight games against their divisional rivals. Yes, it's only November, and the end of the season Rivalry Weeks will have more importance and excitement - but, does anyone even know it's happening right now?
I wouldn't be surprised if a number of dedicated hockey fans had no idea these Rivalry Weeks were even taking place and won't until some time next week when they start cursing the NHL schedule makers because the Preds are playing the Blue Jackets and Blackhawks for the second week in a row!
Again, I give the NHL credit for having a good idea and attempting to make the 8 divisional games mean more and hopefully be played with more vigor than usual. But, ultimately, it's the same problem as having a great on-ice product filled with young superstars, but no one is watching because you're on the VS network.
One step forward, two steps back.

The NHL obviously knows nothing about selling the game. Do the next two weeks even have a proper name? Is it Rivalry Weeks? I think I made that up.
God help us all.