The Official 2024-25 Season Talk Thread

[pietasterp]

Quote: Originally Posted by DrJones

*Carolina is among the least desirable non-Canadian destinations for a contender (largely because RBA is a "love him or hate him" coach and Dundon is known as both a meddler and a cheapskate - the Canes' facilities are supposedly the worst in the league by far)

I've been to the 'Canes facility twice to see hockey games. It's a college basketball arena (NC State) that's been converted into an ice rink, and that's exactly what it feels/looks like when you go in there. It's not a terrible experience to be honest, it just doesn't seem like a 'real' NHL hockey arena. On the plus side, they have really good beer concessions where you can buy bottles/cans of all kinds of craft beers (not just the usual stadium mass brands), although of course they pour the beer into a plastic cup before they let you go back out to the rink.

Red Wings played one heck of a road game tonight. Dominated most of the game against the Sens, and in the end a broken stick scramble ending up in the back of our net was the difference. We scored a game-tying goal that was late by just a second or so.

I'm starting to suspect that it just might not be our year...

[Majingir]

Quote: Originally Posted by pietasterp

I've been to the 'Canes facility twice to see hockey games. It's a college basketball arena (NC State) that's been converted into an ice rink, and that's exactly what it feels/looks like when you go in there. It's not a terrible experience to be honest, it just doesn't seem like a 'real' NHL hockey arena. On the plus side, they have really good beer concessions where you can buy bottles/cans of all kinds of craft beers (not just the usual stadium mass brands), although of course they pour the beer into a plastic cup before they let you go back out to the rink.

Quote: Originally Posted by DrJones

*Carolina is among the least desirable non-Canadian destinations for a contender (largely because RBA is a "love him or hate him" coach and Dundon is known as both a meddler and a cheapskate - the Canes' facilities are supposedly the worst in the league by far)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/610...shared_article

Players were polled a while ago and Carolina was voted the worst facility by a lot.

[DrJones]

Quote: Originally Posted by pietasterp

I've been to the 'Canes facility twice to see hockey games. It's a college basketball arena (NC State) that's been converted into an ice rink, and that's exactly what it feels/looks like when you go in there. It's not a terrible experience to be honest, it just doesn't seem like a 'real' NHL hockey arena. On the plus side, they have really good beer concessions where you can buy bottles/cans of all kinds of craft beers (not just the usual stadium mass brands), although of course they pour the beer into a plastic cup before they let you go back out to the rink.

Interesting. Sounds like players don't like the dressing rooms. Attached a snippet of the player poll from The Athletic.

Quote: Originally Posted by pietasterp

Red Wings played one heck of a road game tonight. Dominated most of the game against the Sens, and in the end a broken stick scramble ending up in the back of our net was the difference. We scored a game-tying goal that was late by just a second or so.

Watched the Sportsnet highlight package on YouTube and... they didn't show the non-goal at the end. Time to fire another intern. (The NHL.com highlight package had it.)

[l3ulvl]

Quote: Originally Posted by pietasterp

Red Wings played one heck of a road game tonight. Dominated most of the game against the Sens, and in the end a broken stick scramble ending up in the back of our net was the difference. We scored a game-tying goal that was late by just a second or so. I'm starting to suspect that it just might not be our year...

It was funny to me when the team celebrated anyway lol, it wasn't even close. Winning the draw with 2.5 left and putting in the net was cool, but they knew it wasn't good

edit: 48 saves by Ullmark damn

bonus edit: 6 straight Ls for Detroit, just when it seemed they had it figured out

[TheMatrix31]

It's odd that Carolina is getting all this flak when like, they've been such a hot franchise for a couple years now.

How did they ever get to that point of success with this reputation.

[pietasterp]

Quote: Originally Posted by Majingir

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/610...shared_article Players were polled a while ago and Carolina was voted the worst facility by a lot.

Quote: Originally Posted by DrJones

Interesting. Sounds like players don't like the dressing rooms. Attached a snippet of the player poll from The Athletic.

I have no doubt the players hate it. I mean, at the end of the day, it is a college basketball arena. There are some nice college hoops stadiums for sure (especially in the pre-NIL days when schools had to pour money into crazy facilities to attract kids since they weren't paying them directly right? ), but even the nicest don't jive well with the logistics for hockey, and won't have the same amenities and facilities of a purpose-built professional sports arena.

I would guess that as far as player amenities, it's well below league average (as the players have made clear), and probably not unlike some of the old school buildings from the 60's and 70's that have long since been torn down. But I can't honestly say the fan experience is that bad, much as I want to rag on them as a non-traditional hockey market. And the stadium workers and ushers are friendly (unlike in Boston, where they'll just about let the crazy jabroni Boston fans harass and fight you if you're a visitor...they'll darn near join in).

Quote: Originally Posted by TheMatrix31

It's odd that Carolina is getting all this flak when like, they've been such a hot franchise for a couple years now. How did they ever get to that point of success with this reputation.

I dunno, the old Joe Louis Arena was a total dump (yes, the best hockey ever played in Detroit happened there, but everyone knew it was trash) and the Wings won 4 Cups there. Still, to your point, I think the Winged Wheel on the sweater helped recruit guys who wanted to play there, and it was also a little different era.

Quote: Originally Posted by DrJones

Watched the Sportsnet highlight package on YouTube and... they didn't show the non-goal at the end. Time to fire another intern. (The NHL.com highlight package had it.)

LOL. It honestly wasn't that close, to l3ulvl's comment. I thought it was weird that they even celebrated, as it was clearly late.

Quote: Originally Posted by l3ulvl

It was funny to me when the team celebrated anyway lol, it wasn't even close. Winning the draw with 2.5 left and putting in the net was cool, but they knew it wasn't good edit: 48 saves by Ullmark damn bonus edit: 6 straight Ls for Detroit, just when it seemed they had it figured out

Ullmark was the difference in that game. Talbot is fine, but he basically won't ever steal a game for you, and that's what you need once in a while.

[DrJones]

Quote: Originally Posted by TheMatrix31

It's odd that Carolina is getting all this flak when like, they've been such a hot franchise for a couple years now. How did they ever get to that point of success with this reputation.

Coaching, drafting, player development, asset management (well, except for Kotkaniemi).

Basic competence in these areas is underrated.

[DrJones]

Quote: Originally Posted by pietasterp

I dunno, the old Joe Louis Arena was a total dump (yes, the best hockey ever played in Detroit happened there, but everyone knew it was trash) and the Wings won 4 Cups there. Still, to your point, I think the Winged Wheel on the sweater helped recruit guys who wanted to play there, and it was also a little different era.

Mike Ilitch's pocketbook didn't hurt, either!