Hockey Night In DSP

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:38 pm

Sully wrote:Devils fired Julien?

I'm pretty shocked even though Lou has done this sort of thing before. Unlike pk, though, I hope they do win the Cup because I've been a fan of the Devils since they moved from Colorado. Of course, I'd give my left testicle for the Hawks to consistently make the playoffs and eventually win a Cup. Liking the Devils has made the last 10 years easier.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:56 pm

why try that move again?

they had INJURIES and cap issues.

i hope they suck balls in the playoffs.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:11 pm

I hate the Devils because of the defense-first, trapping style of hockey they've used for the last 10 to 12 years. Hell yes, it's been effective, and I tip my virtual cap in begruding admiration for that.

But the Devils probably are the most boring elite team in the NHL to watch. Even Lemaire, the godfather of the effective trap in the NHL, has his Wild playing more free-flowing hockey than New Jersey.

Plus Lamoriello just seems to be an egotistical DICK and rubs me the wrong way.

Take care,
PK

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:22 pm

Don't get me wrong pk, I understand why people would dislike Lou and the Devils, I just happen to like them. One of the rare outside-of-Chicago teams I actually root for. I love defensive play in all sports though so even if I wasn't a fan they wouldn't bore me.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:31 pm

They are one of those teams that i hate...but have a ton of players that i like.

gomez
madden
gionta
parise
rafalksi

brodeur can eat cock though

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:51 pm

Understood, Scoop. But as an Oilers' fan for the last 24 years, I like it when the firewagons are let loose on the ice. That's why this year's Sabres and Penguins are SO much fun to watch.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:19 am

Something must have happened in the locker room. Who would want to coach in NJ next? As some players have a no trade clause, if I were to be interviewed by Lou, I would demand a 'No firing clause before the playoffs begin' especially when I have 102 points going into the season and having played a lot of games without Gionta, Madden and P. Elias.

Does Marty Brodeur have some power into this?

Having said that, Lou is an astute man, but what happens if they exit in the first round of the playoffs? Will Lou be gone then? For NJ's sake I hope so. Which Habs connection will they bring in next season?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:00 am

10spro wrote:Having said that, Lou is an astute man, but what happens if they exit in the first round of the playoffs? Will Lou be gone then?

Not a chance. Lou has been GM in the Swamp for 20 years and runs that organization with an iron-fisted reign of terror. He's as bulletproof as the GM whose team wins the Stanley Cup this season.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:20 am

Buccigross' latest column at ESPN.com. Man, I love his stuff. His passion and respect for the game just drips from the page:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/s ... LHeadlines

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:53 pm

This is what saddens me about one of the original six teams in the NHL. Apparrently back on Mar 30th, the organization was literally giving seats for free in the game they beat CBJ 3-1 to those fans that had email connections to the Blackhawks. And even they were free, they couldn't fill up their stadium as only 14.000 fans showed their appreciation.

They signed a skilled guy in M. Havlat, changed coaches, yet they still have a lousy record and obvious fans that don't care about the team as they average only 12.000+ a game. Baseball couldn't start any sooner for the windy city but as a Hockey fan it's sad to see.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:03 pm

pk500 wrote:
10spro wrote:Having said that, Lou is an astute man, but what happens if they exit in the first round of the playoffs? Will Lou be gone then?
Not a chance. Lou has been GM in the Swamp for 20 years and runs that organization with an iron-fisted reign of terror. He's as bulletproof as the GM whose team wins the Stanley Cup this season. Take care, PK

You're probably right PK, but boy it would a nice change of scenery for NJ, but then again, you can't argue with his record. I still think that something clashed between him and Julien or a star player and the former coach. When he fired Ftorek a couple of seasons back, the team was actually struggling before the playoffs began. But not this team.

If you look at their March record they were a .500 team. So so for their standards but with their key injuries and all, they are second only to BUF in the East.

Games to watch tonight. The battle of NY and CAL-COL. Gotta root for those Avs, as their season is on the line.

laurenskye · Post by **laurenskye** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:08 pm

I'm really not trying to start a fight PK, I just hate it when a team REALLY mails it in.

I still don't agree with the small market claim. If you ever lived in Detroit it is not exactly overwhelming with hockey lovers. There is actually a small (for the populus) group of hardcore fans. In Edmonton they live and breath hockey since they're born. I think they would out number the fans of hockey in Detroit.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:59 pm

laurenskye wrote:I'm really not trying to start a fight PK, I just hate it when a team REALLY mails it in.

I still don't agree with the small market claim. If you ever lived in Detroit it is not exactly overwhelming with hockey lovers. There is actually a small (for the populus) group of hardcore fans. In Edmonton they live and breath hockey since they're born. I think they would out number the fans of hockey in Detroit.

There's so much more to market size than fan base. Consider these variables, including fan base:

1. Exchange rate. It's not as bad as it was 15 years, but teams that earn Canadian funds are at a disadvantage to U.S. clubs because of the exchange rate.

2. Arena size. Joe Louis Arena seats 20,066 for hockey. Rexall Place seats 16,900. Both teams fill their barns to capacity just about every night. Let's say the average ticket price in both buildings is $50. That means the Wings rake $158,300 more in gate receipts per home game than Edmonton. With 41 home games per season, that adds up to an extra $6.5 million per season in revenue for Detroit -- or about the difference between Detroit and Edmonton's spending against the cap each season. Don't forget that those extra bodies at each game also buy parking spaces, food, beverages and souvenirs, raising the revenue for the Wings even further.

3. Suites. Joe Louis Arena has 81 suites, a small number compared to more modern buildings. Rexall Place has only 67 suites, even smaller compared to more modern buildings. Those 14 additional suites equal more revenue for the Wings, especially as I'm guessing they probably can charge more for a suite than Edmonton can.

4. Fan base. Metro Detroit has 4.4 million people. Metro Edmonton has 1.1 million people. The Wings simply have more people from which to draw. It's also a bigger demographic market, and those demographics allow the Wings to charge higher than television ad rates, program ad space and arena ad space than Edmonton.

5. History. Don't give me this mularkey that Detroit is less of a hockey city than Edmonton. That's horsesh*t. Christ, the word HOCKEYTOWN is plastered at center ice right at the Joe. Pro hockey has existed in Motown since 1925, with the Wings being formed in 1932. The Wings are a member of the NHL's Original Six. 'Nuff said. The Oilers have existed since 1972, when they were a charter member of the WHA as the Alberta Oilers.

In NHL terms, Detroit is a large-market team. Edmonton is a small-market team. There's really no debate.

As for mailing it in, I hate it, too. That's why I'm disgusted with this year's Oilers. I still love my team, but management better weed out the dead wood this summer and bring players to Edmonton who want to play and want to win.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:48 am

Marty Brodeur can break B. Parent's record with one more win for most wins in a single season as he ties the record of 47 wins. Right behind is R. Luongo with 46 wins. Two workhorses going for the record, impressive stuff in today's NHL.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:36 pm

how about CRL going DOWN.

and what about pit losing to buf...

could that be the eastern conf. final?

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:53 pm

That early trade J. Rutherford made for J. Johnson for Gleason and Belanger may be one of the worst one sided trades. Especially if Johnson ends up being the potential leader in LA everyone thinks he will be on D.

I saw him again last night in a match with VAN and he's very promising.
CAR had their share of injuries like all teams have, key players like Recchi and Weight were just rentals, but their main weakness was in goal IMO.

laurenskye · Post by **laurenskye** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 6:25 pm

Well Paul there is only 4 or 5 Canadien hockey teams for the entire country. That alone should give Edmonton about a thousand mile radius for fans that grow up with hockey as the sport it invented and live for.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:48 pm

It sucks the Pens lost, but at least Mark Recchi scored to celebrate the birth of his daughter on Monday. Our good friend is a cousin of the mother.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:50 pm

laurenskye wrote:Well Paul there is only 4 or 5 Canadien hockey teams for the entire country. That alone should give Edmonton about a thousand mile radius for fans that grow up with hockey as the sport it invented and live for.

Ever heard of Calgary? Check a map: It's 180 miles from Edmonton.

I think the Flames have a couple of fans, and call me crazy, the two teams just might even compete for regional and provincial sponsors, advertisers and corporate spenders.

For the record and remedial purposes, there are six Canadian teams in the NHL: Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal.

Take care,
PK

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:09 pm

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/s ... id=2826005

good read on the coaches on the "hot seat"

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:23 pm

10spro wrote:This is what saddens me about one of the original six teams in the NHL. Apparrently back on Mar 30th, the organization was literally giving seats for free in the game they beat CBJ 3-1 to those fans that had email connections to the Blackhawks. And even they were free, they couldn't fill up their stadium as only 14.000 fans showed their appreciation.

They signed a skilled guy in M. Havlat, changed coaches, yet they still have a lousy record and obvious fans that don't care about the team as they average only 12.000+ a game. Baseball couldn't start any sooner for the windy city but as a Hockey fan it's sad to see.

It truly is sad what has happened with the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks get very little press here in Chicago. Even the talk radio shows won't really talk hockey. Things seem to be headed in the right direction but I think the Hawks will never regain the attention of the city until Bill Wirtz is no longer associated with the team. Back in the old Chicago Stadium you would be hard-pressed to get a seat for a game. Teams used to hate playing in Chicago. It would get so loud during the national anthem that you couldn't even hear Wayne Mesmer finish it. It really is a shame that the league can't intervene and make Wirtz sell or step down since he obviously has not done anything for the team since he broke them up shortly after losing the Stanley Cup. I will always be a Blackhawks fan and I'll likely have to continue to wait patiently for their return to glory. Hopefully that wait isn't too much longer.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 4:05 pm

Scoop, I remember those glorious Blackhawks' days. Starting with Eddie the Eagle and the best days of JR, teams feared going into that loud stadium. It just seemed like yesterday though, so it's hard to acknowledge todays' empty stadium.

If you want to advertise a free game here in VAN, the lineups would be 10 street long blocking literally any traffic into the downtown core.

laurenskye · Post by **laurenskye** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 4:58 pm

pk500 wrote:
laurenskye wrote:Well Paul there is only 4 or 5 Canadien hockey teams for the entire country. That alone should give Edmonton about a thousand mile radius for fans that grow up with hockey as the sport it invented and live for.
Ever heard of Calgary? Check a map: It's 180 miles from Edmonton.

I think the Flames have a couple of fans, and call me crazy, the two teams just might even compete for regional and provincial sponsors, advertisers and corporate spenders.

For the record and remedial purposes, there are six Canadian teams in the NHL: Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal.

Take care,
PK

Ok, let me put it this way: take the entire canadien population and divide it by 6 teams. Sure Montreal and Toronto have a larger fan base but that still leaves a hell of a lot of people that I'm sure as kids growing up in the 80's would have a team with Gretz and Mess as there favorite, as I've never met a canadien that liked an American team.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 5:12 pm

laurenskye wrote:Ok, let me put it this way: take the entire canadien population and divide it by 6 teams. Sure Montreal and Toronto have a larger fan base but that still leaves a hell of a lot of people that I'm sure as kids growing up in the 80's would have a team with Gretz and Mess as there favorite, as I've never met a canadien that liked an American team.

Fair enough, let's do the math:

Canada population: 33 million

Divide that by six teams, and you have a potential fan base of 5.5 million people per team in Canada.

U.S. population: 300 million

Divide that by 24 teams, and you have a potential fan base of 12.5 million people per team in the U.S., more than double that of the Canadian teams.

Take care,
PK

laurenskye · Post by **laurenskye** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:24 pm

And you think the US population cares about hockey like Canada? Come on. Not to mention that the only hockey player half of the US has heard of is wayne. They had the greatest team ever assembled and you don't think they have the fan base that Detroit does? Sure you see Redwings jerseys in the stands now but what about during the "deadwings" era? There will always be banwagon jumpers but a canadien team that was as great as they were is legendary. Much greater than a team from Atlanta that moved there.