The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Except the Panthers' attendance numbers have always been worse than they appear because they always counted freebies until this year, and they give away a lot. Business picks up in the winter due to snowbirds cheering for northeast and Canadian teams.

Nobody watches the Panthers on TV, either. They averaged 7000 viewers per telecast when they won the Southeast in 2012. Not households. Total viewers.

I bet the Wild average 7000 viewers in Duluth alone.

[Chrisksaint]

The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

There's actual interest in Tampa about the Lightning, night and day compared to the panthers. Nobody I know really knows they exist and the city of Miami fails to recognize it because they don't even recognize the Dolphins or Hurricanes half the time.

The radio PBP guy for the Lightning came in to read a kids book on Wayne Gretzky to my 1st grade class today which I thought was pretty cool.

[rdnk]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

It sucks for Florida because they were off to a good start in the 90s. However, the 2000s pretty much tanked any fanbase they had built. To be fair, I don't think that Miami is a great market for sports in general. Like most people here, I'd move them to Quebec City. They wouldn't even have to change anything in the divisions.

I think he was referring more so to teams that intentionally tank than teams that try as much as possible but just plain suck.

I'd like to think that none of the NHL teams intentionally tank. None of the horrible teams from last year sat around and did nothing. In the past you could argue that Pittsburgh and Edmonton may have done so; although you could also argue that they had awful management.

The franchise changing success of a player like Crosby, Ovechkin and others is why fans root to be terrible; what is a few years in exchange for up to two decades of being competitive? I agree it is a flawed system, but it is tough to argue against the relative parity in the NHL.

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

lol, the Hawks,Flyers,Leafs,Flames,Wild,Jackets,Canucks and Stars each had more people at a single home game of theirs this year than BOTH the Panthers games combined.

It sucks for Florida because they were off to a good start in the 90s. However, the 2000s pretty much tanked any fanbase they had built. To be fair, I don't think that Miami is a great market for sports in general. Like most people here, I'd move them to Quebec City. They wouldn't even have to change anything in the divisions.

As much as I'd like to see Canada get another team(Quebec City especially would be fun if we get to see Nordiques history restored to them too(and Coyotes finally stop being idiots and give the Jets back their history)),I'd choose Seattle or KC over a Canadian city, just for the fact that it's already a huge struggle to even make Bettman consider relocation or anything like that, and having a Canadian city as leading destination isn't gonna help at all in persuading him. So might as well let him keep his expansion in american market plan going and go to Seattle/KC.

It'd help out the conferences alot too because then we'd get back to 15 on each side and divisions would be evened out again.

[gopher_guy]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Heh. I always forget that Sam Rosen is the Rangers PBP guy (Kenny Albert does their radio broadcasts too, right?)

"The Islanduhs"

[ThreeKing]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

It's early, but the Sharks look LETHAL.

[slickdtc]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

It's early, but the Flyers look TERRIBLE.

Seriously though.

Hope we can take one from the Ducks.

[gopher_guy]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

It's early, but the Sharks look LETHAL.

And then the calendar turns to April...

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

John Scott scored a goal? *Hops in the survival bunker*

[ThreeKing]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Jamie Benn just got buck-nasty.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/jamie-benn-plays-keep-away-from-blue-jackets--scores-awesome-goal--video-001458366.html?soc_src=mediacontentstory

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

John Scott scored a goal? *Hops in the survival bunker*

Is there room enough for you and Tim Thomas?

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

As much as I'd like to see Canada get another team(Quebec City especially would be fun if we get to see Nordiques history restored to them too(and Coyotes finally stop being idiots and give the Jets back their history)),I'd choose Seattle or KC over a Canadian city, just for the fact that it's already a huge struggle to even make Bettman consider relocation or anything like that, and having a Canadian city as leading destination isn't gonna help at all in persuading him. So might as well let him keep his expansion in american market plan going and go to Seattle/KC.

The only way I see KC getting a team is if two teams need to be relocated in addition to expansion. I'd wager a lot of dough that Seattle, Las Vegas, and Quebec City will have teams within 10 years. The only questions are when and how.

It'd help out the conferences alot too because then we'd get back to 15 on each side and divisions would be evened out again.

Gonna be 16 aside. Expansion will happen, whether fans like it or not. With the CBA and TV deals locked up for awhile, owners will be looking for some of that sweet, sweet non-HRR cash.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Heh. I always forget that Sam Rosen is the Rangers PBP guy (Kenny Albert does their radio broadcasts too, right?)

"The Islanduhs"

"IT'S A POWER PLAY GOAL!!!"

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

I'd like to think that none of the NHL teams intentionally tank. None of the horrible teams from last year sat around and did nothing. In the past you could argue that Pittsburgh and Edmonton may have done so; although you could also argue that they had awful management.

The 83/84 Pens absolutely did. No lottery back then. Finish last, draft Mario.

The franchise changing success of a player like Crosby, Ovechkin and others is why fans root to be terrible; what is a few years in exchange for up to two decades of being competitive? I agree it is a flawed system, but it is tough to argue against the relative parity in the NHL.

I'd use a modified version of what the NHL used for the post-lockout Crosby draft.

Make the playoffs: get one ball
Miss the playoffs: get two balls
Miss the playoffs for consecutive years: get three balls

Unlike the 2005 draft, where they drew for all 30 teams, I suggest just drawing for the top 5 picks of the first round (so the worst team in the league is guaranteed no worse than the 6th overall pick and the top pick in the 2nd/3rd/etc. rounds). Bad teams are still more likely to get a top 5 pick, but there's zero incentive to tank. And if Chicago or LA fluked out and got a McDavid, then so be it. It'd make for great TV, wouldn't it?

[gopher_guy]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

John Scott scored a goal? *Hops in the survival bunker*

Spoiler