NHL Off-Topic thread

[Money99]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

I think there's a diminishing interest when there are multiple tournaments in any sport, but definitely in hockey (at least in the USA). If there were 1 major international tournament that was the de facto "World Cup", I think that would garner some interest in the US, but the bandwidth is limited for anything more than 1 "tournament to end of all tournaments" per sport.

As far as I know, the Olympic ice hockey tournament is one of the most-watched events in the Winter Olympics in the States, and does good numbers throughout the US.

Not a soccer guy, but the Champions League is a massive success.
I have to think something similar would work for hockey. Problem is, the NHL is loathe to admit that any other league could be close to the talent it offers.
Imagine if the NHL teams were getting beat by a DEL or KHL team?
I'd still like to see something like that.

Ideally, it'd be great if the NHL season wrapped-up by the time the World Championships started.

[DrJones]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Not a soccer guy, but the Champions League is a massive success.
I have to think something similar would work for hockey. Problem is, the NHL is loathe to admit that any other league could be close to the talent it offers.
Imagine if the NHL teams were getting beat by a DEL or KHL team?
I'd still like to see something like that.

A Champions League for hockey would be such a massive success that one already exists and you're not even aware of it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champions_Hockey_League

And the NHL snobs are correct here. It is far and away the best league in its sport, as are the NBA and MLB. There are no mega-rich "superclubs" spread out amongst the leagues as there are in European football. KHL teams currently have a salary cap of $15M; the richest teams in Sweden, Finland, and Switzerland wouldn't come close to this. Meanwhile, the salary floor for NHL teams will be $53M next season. While a few ex-NHLers make decent coin in Russia, I doubt there are any players in Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, or Germany who currently make as much as the minimum salary in the NHL ($575K).

Now could a team from any of those leagues beat an NHL team in a single game under competitive circumstances? Sure. So could an AHL team. Wouldn't be much of a prestigious competition, though.

[DrJones]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Hockey has grown ALOT around the world since the Canada cup days. Even first world cup as well,and 2nd one also. Look at type of support the home country gets when hosting something like the world juniors, Finland this past year for example, huge turnouts to support the home country.

And the WC in 04, attendance over 12,000 outside of North America(which is big since those arenas held around 13,000), and North America games basically sold out every game.

I have no doubt the event will be well attended and put a lot of money in the NHL's pockets. I have a lot of doubt that people in Prague and Zurich (or Chicago) will particularly care, however. This isn't the Olympics. It's not even a true best-on-best tournament any more. How many people in Stockholm are going to stay up until 3am on a Wednesday to watch Sweden vs "North America YoungStars"?

[redsox4evur]

NHL Off-Topic thread

I have no doubt the event will be well attended and put a lot of money in the NHL's pockets. I have a lot of doubt that people in Prague and Zurich (or Chicago) will particularly care, however. This isn't the Olympics. It's not even a true best-on-best tournament any more. How many people in Stockholm are going to stay up until 3am on a Wednesday to watch Sweden vs "North America YoungStars"?

Yea my viewing of this event is solely going to depend on who is participating for Canada, US and Russia. If there a bunch of kids I have never heard of that should being the World Juniors, I will have no desire to watch. But if guys like Fowler, Morgan Reilly, etc are going to play I will check out some games if possible.


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[slickdtc]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Yeah that's how I feel too. I don't follow NHL prospects besides the Flyers, but I'm interested in rosters made of NHL players (like the Olympics).

It's not necessary viewing, but I have no problem watching international hockey between two random nations. Doesn't have to be USA or Canada for me.

I do think the format is a fun departure from the norm (with the under-23 team) and the chance for hockey to be on ESPN will be interesting for future possibilities though I'm happy with NBC/NBCSN's handling of NHL hockey over the last decade.

The games being held in Toronto make for perfect face off times. Looks like 3PM's and 8PM's for marquee matchups. I love the Olympics, World Cup (soccer) and other similar events being held during the day. Throw on a stream or radio broadcast, get home at 4PM for some live viewing or making time at night. Plus, competitive hockey a month before the actual NHL season? Count me in.

[redsox4evur]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Yeah that's how I feel too. I don't follow NHL prospects besides the Flyers, but I'm interested in rosters made of NHL players (like the Olympics).

It's not necessary viewing, but I have no problem watching international hockey between two random nations. Doesn't have to be USA or Canada for me.

I do think the format is a fun departure from the norm (with the under-23 team) and the chance for hockey to be on ESPN will be interesting for future possibilities though I'm happy with NBC/NBCSN's handling of NHL hockey over the last decade.

The games being held in Toronto make for perfect face off times. Looks like 3PM's and 8PM's for marquee matchups. I love the Olympics, World Cup (soccer) and other similar events being held during the day. Throw on a stream or radio broadcast, get home at 4PM for some live viewing or making time at night. Plus, competitive hockey a month before the actual NHL season? Count me in.

Yea I can usually watch some random nations as well but I wouldn't go out of my way to do it. Like I'm not all that intrigued by Latvia v. Switzerland. But I could get behind a Latvia v. Sweden/Czech Republic game. I need some sort of notable stars playing in order to get behind it.

[pietasterp]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

For hockey, I think the nationalistic aspect of it has to come into play for anyone to care in the US. Americans love to get behind their national teams in competition (U-S-A!!!), as do most countries, but for a sport like hockey to capture America's attention, I don't think a "Champion's League"-like competition will do. It has to be Team USA and the competition basically has to be the Olympics. It helps tremendously if there's a "bad guy" country we can root against, for which Team Russia has played the part nicely for the better part of the last half-century (although, with much love and respect to our Canadian friends, I absolutely DESPISE losing to Team Cannuck....nothing personal, gentlemen - I'm sure you're all fine upstanding individuals, I just want to steal your country's soul on the ice).

I just think the bandwidth for US sports fans is too limited at this point to expect any more. Between the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college basketball and football, I don't think there's another country with more sports entertainment options pulling their attention in different directions than the USA. I mean, how many sports can one credibly be expected to follow?*



*I mean non-OS-types, obviously...people hanging around this board are what can charitably be referred to as "outliers"....

[DrJones]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

What the NHL has failed to grasp is that the addition of "Team Rest of Europe" and "Team North American YoungStars" totally saps the tourney of nationalism. Canada Cups were important because they were best-on-best. World Championships are important because of history. Olympics are important because of both. This year's World Cup is simply a cash delivery service for the NHL/NHLPA. I'll watch, sure, but I won't particularly care what happens.

[DrJones]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

It helps tremendously if there's a "bad guy" country we can root against, for which Team Russia has played the part nicely for the better part of the last half-century (although, with much love and respect to our Canadian friends, I absolutely DESPISE losing to Team Cannuck....nothing personal, gentlemen - I'm sure you're all fine upstanding individuals, I just want to steal your country's soul on the ice).

Team USA has been Canada's "bad guy" for at least the last 20 years, so the feeling is mutual.

[slickdtc]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Watching CBJ/DET on NBCSN and was just thinking, I like this PBP commentator. Couldn't remember his name but knew he's been around forever. Dave Strader.

Got me thinking, wonder who ESPN is going to have commentate for the World Championships. Wonder if Thorne will be back or if Steve Levy will go back to the booth. It's been so long.

[pietasterp]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Team USA has been Canada's "bad guy" for at least the last 20 years, so the feeling is mutual.

Yeah, but you own us on the ice, so it's not as much of a rivalry from our perspective...

Salt Lake 2002 still chaps my a$%. Man I wanted that one badly. So f'n pissed to this day. Only time I ever rooted against Stevie Y in my life (as a player, anyway), and given the emotions of the time, I would've been okay with Adam Deadmarsh giving Stevie Wonder the ol' BC 2-hander, NHL consquences-be-damned. And I absolutely LOVE Stevie Y - he's my all-time favorite player. That's how not clearly I was thinking during that gold medal game.

[redsox4evur]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

Watching CBJ/DET on NBCSN and was just thinking, I like this PBP commentator. Couldn't remember his name but knew he's been around forever. Dave Strader.

Got me thinking, wonder who ESPN is going to have commentate for the World Championships. Wonder if Thorne will be back or if Steve Levy will go back to the booth. It's been so long.

I'm thinking it will be Bucci and someone else. Because Bucci is the main hockey anchor over at ESPN. ESPN has shown some college hockey within the last few years but I can't remember who the commentators were.

[Majingir]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

ESPN better have good coverage, not people who don't take it seriously like some ESPN broadcasters i heard about basically mocking the fact they had to do nhl recaps on SC.


Someone's getting fired in Montreal. No, not staff related. Their twitter account had special message tweets for people using certain hashtag to celebrate 1 million followers on twitter. Automated replies i believe, with custom jersey pics on some......

Ya, like people didn't take advantage of that. Specifically people with nothing better to do with their life, aka racist twitter handle creators.

[jyoung]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

I'm thinking it will be Bucci and someone else. Because Bucci is the main hockey anchor over at ESPN. ESPN has shown some college hockey within the last few years but I can't remember who the commentators were.

If I remember right, it was Gary Thorne and Barry Melrose doing ESPN's commentary for the NCAA Frozen Four games.

[redsox4evur]

Re: NHL Off-Topic thread

http://www.tsn.ca/bankrupt-nhler-in-fight-with-parents-over-family-home-1.441730

Damn I feel so bad for Jack Johnson.


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