On Travel Travails with TSA
The Forechecker today has a fascinating breakdown of miles traveled by NHL clubs in 2008-09. The San Jose Sharks will migrate more than 56,000 miles, he tabulates, while only the New York Islanders will travel less than the Caps (28,321 miles). Of course, if the league wised up and reconstituted the Patrick division, there'd be even less travel for the team. Perhaps someone in Congress during our leaders' energy deliberations this year will offer that as an amendment.
It is sort of an interesting question -- could entrenched high oil prices force not just the NHL but other leagues to realign toward bus and train-friendly distances within divisions? Obviously, there are limitations with what can be achieved on that front out West. But in the years ahead, as there is certain to be no short-term solution to America's vexing energy challenges, we may see something like multiple games played against a common opponent, especially on weekends, as in Canadian Major Juniors.
The Caps are also aided this season by a modest slate of games on back-to-back nights -- just eight such over the 82-game schedule: one in October, three in November; two in January; and just one in February and March.
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