When asked about the most exciting part about hockey, NHL rivalries will sure be one thing that comes to fans’ minds. Luckily, we have lots of historical and current rivalries going on in the league — except in the Central Division.
For a long time, the Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings shared one of the most intense NHL rivalries. However, after the 2001-02 season, the rivalry died out, and is nonexistent today. With the Red Wings now in the Eastern Conference, there is also little hope that it will ever return.
Avalanche fans are now trying to force a rivalry with the Minnesota Wild, which is based on the first round of the 2014 playoffs, which included Matt Cooke injuring Tyson Barrie on a dirty knee-to-knee hit.