NHL Off-Topic thread

[pietasterp]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

I certainly like the trade from the Leafs' perspective.

[rdnk]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Leafs did fine; they'll open up cap space for 2017 and get some middling assets. If Cowen develops or they get something for Michalek/Greening/Cowen, then this can turn into a bigger win.

Ottawa is taking on a lot of long term cake, They better hope Phaneuf can contribute in a way he didn't in Toronto.

[carko32]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Leafs did fine; they'll open up cap space for 2017 and get some middling assets. If Cowen develops or they get something for Michalek/Greening/Cowen, then this can turn into a bigger win.

Ottawa is taking on a lot of long term cake, They better hope Phaneuf can contribute in a way he didn't in Toronto.

I think if he contributes for all 5 years as he did in Toronto this season, they will be satisfied.

Babcock lowered quality of opponents and gave him better starts and he also played with the best partner he had in years, so I think if he can keep up with that, he will be good for them. Ceci is a good player, definitely top4 Dmen, so I think they should for a great partnership, really give Ottawa two good options in the back.

[Majingir]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

So, nhl has asg in la and now draft in chicago, and winter classic might not be in Toronto either.......

Nhl/bettman seriously suck. Whats their problem? Ya,lets not hold any big event in your sports biggest market for their centennial year...

[slickdtc]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Maybe has something to do with weak CAD?

It sucks, but it's business. The NHL doesn't need to appeal to Canada because hockey is basically a birth rite there. They'll throw you guys a bone every now and then, but divert most of the attention towards the US market.

It's like how NBC shows 8 or so teams consistently. It would be fair to give every team a game, but the market size and therefore money aren't the same. NBC won't change until putting the smaller market teams on national broadcasts brings in more then Chicago, Philly, NY, etc. Which is never going to happen, so you're just holding your breath.

Sucks, but the way it is and not much that can be done to change it.

The best bet for change would be for a Canadian team to become dominant. Toronto is a huge market, so a sustained run of success and a Cup could do the trick. Or if McDavid continues his trajectory and keeps making the highlight reel for Edmonton.

[Majingir]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Even with a weak $, the amount of money the Leafs will make, is still so much more than basically every other city. Leafs already got high prices, even when the $ was strong, if you saw the types of prices the Jays/Raptors got for playoffs and Raptors got for all star weekend, you'll know they easily adjust based on $ value,and it still sells out within minutes.

Just don't get how you can't bother to award one of your most storied franchises, any sort of major event, for their 100th year. But LAs 50th year & St.Louis 50th year are more of a priority to celebrate.

[redsox4evur]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Even with a weak $, the amount of money the Leafs will make, is still so much more than basically every other city. Leafs already got high prices, even when the $ was strong, if you saw the types of prices the Jays/Raptors got for playoffs and Raptors got for all star weekend, you'll know they easily adjust based on $ value,and it still sells out within minutes.

Just don't get how you can't bother to award one of your most storied franchises, any sort of major event, for their 100th year. But LAs 50th year & St.Louis 50th year are more of a priority to celebrate.

It's pretty easily actually. It's having these major events in markets that will give them more exposure. I would bet that they would rather make less money at the singular event (ASG, Classic, Draft) and gain a bigger fan base there and increase sales to those teams games then make more money at this 1 event.

[Money99]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

It's pretty easily actually. It's having these major events in markets that will give them more exposure. I would bet that they would rather make less money at the singular event (ASG, Classic, Draft) and gain a bigger fan base there and increase sales to those teams games then make more money at this 1 event.

I think that's precisely it.
I also believe that NBC has a lot of say as to where the Winter Classic is played.
I'm not 100% positive on this, but I think I read on Puck Daddy that NBC doesn't want anything to do with Canadian locations.
They allowed the Leafs to play the Wings a few years back, but that had a lot to do with the rivalry and the fact that it's Toronto - a recognizable name even in non-traditional hockey markets.
But I don't think they'll ever allow a CDN team to host the event. Even TO.
The Skydome isn't exactly a famous landmark in the landscape of North American sports.

I think it stinks, but as a business decision, I get it.
The Winter Classic is supposed to draw new fans, and I'm not sure that happens if a game is played in Eskimo Stadium (Commonwealth Stadium).

[redsox4evur]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

I think that's precisely it.
I also believe that NBC has a lot of say as to where the Winter Classic is played.
I'm not 100% positive on this, but I think I read on Puck Daddy that NBC doesn't want anything to do with Canadian locations.
They allowed the Leafs to play the Wings a few years back, but that had a lot to do with the rivalry and the fact that it's Toronto - a recognizable name even in non-traditional hockey markets.
But I don't think they'll ever allow a CDN team to host the event. Even TO.
The Skydome isn't exactly a famous landmark in the landscape of North American sports.

I think it stinks, but as a business decision, I get it.
The Winter Classic is supposed to draw new fans, and I'm not sure that happens if a game is played in Eskimo Stadium (Commonwealth Stadium).

Yea that would make sense. Because they don't get the ratings from CAN. And ratings dictate ad money.

[Majingir]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

But don't they have some kind of $3 billion deal with Rogers? So how do they not care about their Canadian coverage as much...

[redsox4evur]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

But don't they have some kind of $3 billion deal with Rogers? So how do they not care about their Canadian coverage as much...

Like I said earlier the NHL is trying to grow still. It's the least popular league in the States. So that's why you are seeing the major festivities like ASG, Classic, draft in the US over Canada. The part about NBC makes sense because the ratings for these games don't take Canadandian viewers into account. So the rating is lower. And lower ratings means that ads to run your program will be cheaper because they don't reach as far.

[kehlis]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

But don't they have some kind of $3 billion deal with Rogers? So how do they not care about their Canadian coverage as much...

They don't have any deal.

NBC paid them 2 billion for exclusive American NHL rights which is why they have no desire to promote any of the Canadian teams.

[Kobalt]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Room for Leafs to go after some big FA in 2016......
Captain spot open up now. Just throw absolutely everything at Stamkos! High salary,NMC and instantly being named captain of the Leafs!

Leafs would be better off using that cap space on other things, I don't think Stamkos is worth 10M+, I'm not really a fan of him at all.

Regarding the trade, nice deal for Toronto. They get rid of Phaneuf's contract and get one of the worst defenders in the league in Cowen to help them tank.

[DrJones]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

World Cup, World Juniors, and (likely) a Heritage Classic is a decent haul for a team that's perpetually terrible.

[Money99]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Like I said earlier the NHL is trying to grow still. It's the least popular league in the States. So that's why you are seeing the major festivities like ASG, Classic, draft in the US over Canada. The part about NBC makes sense because the ratings for these games don't take Canadandian viewers into account. So the rating is lower. And lower ratings means that ads to run your program will be cheaper because they don't reach as far.

Not only that but the league knows that no matter what Canadians will always tune in to watch a game regardless of where it's played.
We're basically treated like Detroit Lions fans. They know we'll continue to show up regardless of how poorly we're treated, haha.