February 13, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Cory Emmerton (25) stops short and sprays St. Louis Blues goalie Jake Allen (34) in the first period at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The St. Louis Blues rivalry with the Detroit Red Wings is one that has stood the test of time, but in 2013-14 the rivalry will start to fade away.

Perhaps the Red Wings moving to the Eastern Conference will be good for the Blues in more ways than one.  The Rivalry will have a chance to heat up as we won’t play each other as often; there is the chance of a Blues versus Wings Stanley Cup.  The truth is though, for the most part, the Detroit Red Wings are going to be much less of a rival and just a team that Blues fans love to hate.

Perhaps it won’t be so bad.  The Blues will see more action from teams in the Midwest including the already much hated Chicago Blackhawks and the team that is annoying enough to be a rival in the Nashville Predators.  Adding in the Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, and the Dallas Stars will surely help new rivalries develop, but will we miss our spirited matches with the Red Wings be missed?

During the season last year I proposed that the Blues might be sparking a rivalry up with the Minnesota Wild, but there is something special about the Wings rivalry that will be gone.  We had to watch our beloved Brett Hull win the cup with the Wings.  We had to faceoff against Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom for so many years that it almost seemed automatic to hate the Wings.  I know I am going to miss going to the games.  I wanted to watch as the Russian Vladimir Tarasenko lit them up over the next 10 years and showed the entire nation of Russia that there was a new team to root for, but alas that will never be.

The rivalry was more than a disliking of the team though.  It brought Blues and Hawks fans together in a way.  At least we both hated the Red Wings, so we had that in common.  It allowed for friendly, and some not so friendly, banter between fans.  You would read articles from both sides that were humorous, hurtful, and downright funny.

I am going to miss the rivalry and the matchups.  What about you, Blues fans?  What will you miss most?  What are some of your favorite memories?  Let us know in the comments below.

LET’S GO BLUES!

-Alex Hodschayan

May 18, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Saad (20) is checked into the Detroit Red Wings bench by left wing Justin Abdelkader (8) in the second period of game two of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center. The Red Wings won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

For many Blues fans the NHL playoffs mean rooting for the Blues to win it all, but since we were eliminated early on this season we must now watch as other teams make a run to the cup.

Unfortunately for Blues fans, they have to watch as the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings face off in the second round.  Typically it would be easy to root against either team as they are natural enemies of the Blues, but this season we are watching them faceoff against one another.

Readers of this site know very well that I am not a fan of the Red Wings, but there is no team that I despise more than the Chicago Blackhawks.  Other fans in St. Louis may be hoping to see the Blackhawks win this series after the incredible season that they have had, but you will not get that from me.  This will be the only time in my entire life, thankfully as the Wings move to the East, that I will be in support of the Detroit Red Wings.

The Wings have had an incredible turn around this season and Coach Mike Babcock is certainly to thank.  After losing almost all of their talent on the backend, Babcock managed to take his team from struggling to beating perhaps the best team in the West in the first round of the playoffs.  Any hockey fan loves an underdog and if the Wings can defeat the Blackhawks as well they will be the Cinderella story of the season even if they don’t win the cup.  Don’t get me wrong, this is a one round support only.  If the Wings do eliminate the Hawks, my allegiance will end as soon as the final game is over, but I will still appreciate the fact that they eliminated the lowest of all teams in the NHL.

Don’t get me wrong though, the Blackhawks have had an incredible season.  They have played well, they make a record setting run, but I have never thought they were capable of winning the cup.  Chicago has benefited greatly from the shortened season and still has a long way to go to prove that they could beat an offensively minded team like the Penguins should they meet them in a cup final.  The Hawks offense can score goals and their backend is solid.  My only issue is, if the Red Wings can prove to play as well defensively and match the offensive production of the Hawks, does anyone really think they could best the Kings in a seven game series?  I don’t think so, not with Jonathan Quick in net.

Either way, this is a difficult series to watch for Blues fans.  We all hoped that somehow we would get to be the team to eliminate the Blackhawks, but maybe Detroit can do us a favor.  What do you think Blues fans, who are you rooting for in this series?

LET’S GO BLUES!

-Alex Hodschayan