Viewpoint

In the world of hockey, professional hockey at least, the past dozen months may appropriately be remembered for being the year of the Ducks, but there was a Penguin who had a significant impact, as well.

But which story was bigger?

Was it the Anaheim Ducks becoming the first West Coast team in the modern era to win the Stanley Cup, rolling over the Ottawa Senators in five games in the final, the third straight final in which a Canadian team has lost?

Or was it Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby having a rather special season himself, inspiring his team to a 47-point turnaround (fourth biggest in league history) and their first playoff berth since 2001?

Ted Nolan called it excessive, which begs the question: What do the New York Islanders, or at least their coach, believe is appropriate punishment for an act they declared to be reckless and potentially dangerous?

Obviously it is a number less than the 30 games for which the NHL suspended Chris Simon for his kick/stomp on the foot/leg of Pittsburgh Penguins pest Jarkko Ruutu on Saturday night.

It is understandable, of course, that Nolan would not want to see his player lost for that long, or lose almost $300,000 in salary, and it is admirable that the focus of the organization is on Simon getting counselling.

But at the end of the day, there had to be a number and 30 seems like the right one.

For the eighth time in his NHL career, New York Islanders winger Chris Simon will be receiving supplemental discipline from the NHL.

High stick, knee, cross check, elbow, cross check, verbal comments and slashing were the priors. The latest is purposely stepping on an opponent's foot with his skate.

Make no mistake, the eighth time should be the final time.

So that 15-year, $67.5-million contract Rick DiPietro signed with the New York Islanders doesn't look so crazy now. Or does it?

On Thursday, the Philadelphia Flyers created a whopper of their own, re-signing centre Mike Richards to a 12-year, $69-million contract.

But remember, there is cost certainty and salaries are linked to revenues.

Wow is the first and last response.

It will be interesting to see how veteran winger Mark Recchi performs for his new team, the Atlanta Thrashers.

And his debut is likely to come on Wednesday night.

Clearly, though, the end had arrived for Recchi in Pittsburgh, but has the end arrived overall?

Recchi, after all, was given time playing alongside Sidney Crosby before finally being demoted to the fourth line and ultimately scratched, and couldn't produce much in the way of offence, a trend that dates back to the final quarter of last season. From that point through to now, Recchi only has a handful of goals after enjoying a very solid first half a year ago.

It was no doubt a bother waiting for him to make his decision and it will undoubtedly be a pain to clear the financial decks to fit him back in.

But in the end, the return of Scott Niedermayer will be worth the aggravation and the wait for Brian Burke and the Anaheim Ducks.

Notwithstanding the obvious skills, leadership and history of winning that Niedermayer brings, all of which is very important to the equation, the Ducks post-Stanley Cup had drifted into being an average, lethargic team, struggling to find consistency, and in need of fairly dramatic change.

History is a great teacher.

And often one that is underused, at least as it pertains to hockey.

Consider, for instance, the angst that is being felt these days in Ottawa, where the Senators have lost seven straight. Or in Montreal, where the Canadiens have started a free fall. Or in Calgary, where the Flames have struggled to find themselves and the guy who kidnapped the real Miikka Kiprusoff. Or in Toronto where, well, the panic never stops, it merely takes the occasional rest.

Hockey Night in Canada's Scott Morrison is in Pebble Beach, Calif., covering the NHL board of governors meetings.

It apparently ain't broke, so the NHL isn't going to fix it.

That, essentially, was the message Friday as the league's board of governors concluded their annual meetings.

"Most people feel that the game is going in the right direction," said Detroit Red Wings governor Jimmy Devellano. "I don't want to use the word satisfied, but there's a good feeling about the game, that the game is being played a little better than prior to the lockout."

In other words, Chicken Little take a deep breath. Scoring may be down, but the sky might not be falling. Not all would agree.

Hockey Night in Canada's Scott Morrison is in Pebble Beach, Calif., covering the NHL board of governors meetings.

As expected, the NHL turned back the clock on Thursday.

They may turn it back even further in a year or so.

Beginning next season, the league will revert back to the schedule matrix used prior to the lockout, four seasons ago. Put simply, that means every team will play each other at least once.

So, the games against division rivals will be reduced from eight to six, a merciful move for some, a concern for other teams. Games against conference rivals will remain at four apiece, with a single game against all of the other conference teams. Under the current system, teams play just 10 games against the other conference, missing five teams every year.

In the new/old system, that leaves three at-large, or wild-card games which, in the case of Canadian teams, will be played amongst themselves, which is a good thing.

Hockey Night in Canada's Scott Morrison is in Pebble Beach, Calif., covering the NHL board of governors meetings.

By the time the NHL's deepest thinkers leave this ocean-side resort Friday night, the league is expected to approve a new schedule matrix for next season.

That much everyone agrees on.

What not all of the teams and the board of governors gathered here can agree on, however, is what that matrix should be.

There are a handful of teams - mostly based in the east where they like the current eight games against division rivals and limited travel - who don't want any change at all.