2011-12 NHL season

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Adam Larsson is going to be big time. Just stopped by to state the obvious.

[Derwood]

Steve Mason is 0-7 with a 3.50 GAA

 

CBJ has 1 point after 7 games

[jersey cubs fan]

http://deadspin.com/5853456/the-rangers-made-the-most-out-of-losing-cliff-lee-and-so-have-their-fans

 

What we watched: The rapid, ongoing decline of Roberto Luongo, who in the last two years won an Olympic gold medal and helped Vancouver get within one victory of a Stanley Cup. Luongo is only under contract with the Canucks for 10 more years, but he has struggled mightily to start the season. And it got so bad last night—three goals in a span of 5:02 at Edmonton—that he was pulled for Cory Schneider.

The season is just nine games old, but Luongo has already allowed three or more goals in five of his six starts. And while he's not solely to blame, he is the target for much of the condemnation, and the backlash has already flirted with the ridiculous.

[17 Seconds]

ahh we have such fun at the expense of the canucks. so great

[Guest]

:shock: at the Jets/Flyers game.

[TruffleShuffle]

flyers and jets played the dumbest game in nhl history tonight.

[jersey cubs fan]

flyers and jets played the dumbest game in nhl history tonight.

 

WHY DID THEY GO FOR THE 2 POINT CONVERSION WHEN THEY NEEDED A FIELD GOAL ANYWAY??????

[frozenpondblue531]

Dallas is eliciting a [expletive] of bad publicity for horrible attendance. The announced attendances are all 5k-10k... but the actual number for a few of these games is guesstimated in the 2k-5k range. Dallas is a proven hockey market, so it's not in the same abyss as Atlanta (was), Phoenix, or Miami. Who knows how much the Rangers have to do with it, but I'm sure a big factor is the universal hatred of Tom Hicks down there. The team should be sold to Dan Gaglardi by the end of the year, so it's likely that market will recover with an actual owner, actual management team, and actual marketing team. The current perspective is at an all-time trough.

 

Phoenix, unsurprisingly, is doing a hair better. Of course, while Phoenix might have slightly higher attendance numbers, A LOT of that quantity was accounted from visiting team invasions by the likes of Winnipeg & Chicago fans. Greg Jamison's (former San Jose Sharks CEO) bid to purchase the Coyotes is beginning to lose its wheels, as many of the potential investors are pulling out after a more serious, in depth look at the market. It will likely be Jerry Reinsdorf (who we don't know how serious he is... is he being used to drive up the price to account for the NHL's previous losses, or is he legitimately trying to buy the team but on the cheap?) or Quebec Nordiques for the Coyotes.

 

Miami's (or Florida if you will, [expletive] Wayne Huzienga) local TV Ratings speak for itself (worst for just about any pro team), but the team is still safe for now. The ownership makes a lot of bank on the area, land, and development around the stadium. I'd still keep an eye on the Panthers this decade, however. If Hamilton or Hartford (or the unlikely scenario of a shared stadium with the Maple Leafs... though minimal chance of such under MLSE's ownership) comes about this decade, the Panthers are a real possibility if the situation fails to improve.

 

Another day, another stadium proposal on Long Island. Right by Belmont I believe. But no mass transit has kept Charles Wang quiet for the time being. If nothing's ever worked out, it might be Brooklyn or bust for the historic Islanders.

 

Columbus was able to successfully establish a real grassroots fan base despite its perennial loser status for the first 10 years. Unfortunately, the wheels appear to be coming off in 2011-2012, fueled by a 1-9-1 start. I still believe a new GM, and an offensive stud in the draft can turn things around.

 

That's it for dire situations in the NHL, limited to these 5 IMO. I think Dallas is 95% safe, Columbus 90% safe, Florida 85%, Long Island 75%, and Phoenix 40% to stick for the next 5 years.

 

Every other market/franchise appears to be doing well, except maybe Colorado. But many Avalanche fans flocked to the minor league Eagles, who are threatening the Avalanche's sellout streak in upcoming years. The hockey market is improving (i.e. youth hockey numbers), but people have decided to switch their egress hockey dollars to the Eagles and/or don't share goodwill with the Colorado owner.

 

Edmonton's on the verge of a new downtown arena after decades in a poorly located suburb (and still selling out). Matt Hulsizer's just purchased the St. Louis Blues, who have had fantastic local TV Ratings in spite of the Cardinals' run (and have generally drawn well even with some of the franchise's poorest hockey since the lockout).

 

 

On a 2012 NHL Draft note, Alex Galchenyuk tore his ACL. Galchenyuk was expected to be a Top 3-5 pick, but now looks like a steal for someone else. I mention this because Galchenyuk (who is Russian and was born in Milwaukee) is a Chicago hockey product, playing his most critical year with CYA before become the OHL's #1 Overall draft pick with the Sarnia Sting.

[Vanilla Ice]

Dallas is eliciting a [expletive] of bad publicity for horrible attendance. The announced attendances are all 5k-10k... but the actual number for a few of these games is guesstimated in the 2k-5k range. Dallas is a proven hockey market, so it's not in the same abyss as Atlanta (was), Phoenix, or Miami. Who knows how much the Rangers have to do with it, but I'm sure a big factor is the universal hatred of Tom Hicks down there. The team should be sold to Dan Gaglardi by the end of the year, so it's likely that market will recover with an actual owner, actual management team, and actual marketing team. The current perspective is at an all-time trough.

 

Phoenix, unsurprisingly, is doing a hair better. Of course, while Phoenix might have slightly higher attendance numbers, A LOT of that quantity was accounted from visiting team invasions by the likes of Winnipeg & Chicago fans. Greg Jamison's (former San Jose Sharks CEO) bid to purchase the Coyotes is beginning to lose its wheels, as many of the potential investors are pulling out after a more serious, in depth look at the market. It will likely be Jerry Reinsdorf (who we don't know how serious he is... is he being used to drive up the price to account for the NHL's previous losses, or is he legitimately trying to buy the team but on the cheap?) or Quebec Nordiques for the Coyotes.

 

Miami's (or Florida if you will, [expletive] Wayne Huzienga) local TV Ratings speak for itself (worst for just about any pro team), but the team is still safe for now. The ownership makes a lot of bank on the area, land, and development around the stadium. I'd still keep an eye on the Panthers this decade, however. If Hamilton or Hartford (or the unlikely scenario of a shared stadium with the Maple Leafs... though minimal chance of such under MLSE's ownership) comes about this decade, the Panthers are a real possibility if the situation fails to improve.

 

Another day, another stadium proposal on Long Island. Right by Belmont I believe. But no mass transit has kept Charles Wang quiet for the time being. If nothing's ever worked out, it might be Brooklyn or bust for the historic Islanders.

 

Columbus was able to successfully establish a real grassroots fan base despite its perennial loser status for the first 10 years. Unfortunately, the wheels appear to be coming off in 2011-2012, fueled by a 1-9-1 start. I still believe a new GM, and an offensive stud in the draft can turn things around.

 

That's it for dire situations in the NHL, limited to these 5 IMO. I think Dallas is 95% safe, Columbus 90% safe, Florida 85%, Long Island 75%, and Phoenix 40% to stick for the next 5 years.

 

Every other market/franchise appears to be doing well, except maybe Colorado. But many Avalanche fans flocked to the minor league Eagles, who are threatening the Avalanche's sellout streak in upcoming years. The hockey market is improving (i.e. youth hockey numbers), but people have decided to switch their egress hockey dollars to the Eagles and/or don't share goodwill with the Colorado owner.

 

Edmonton's on the verge of a new downtown arena after decades in a poorly located suburb (and still selling out). Matt Hulsizer's just purchased the St. Louis Blues, who have had fantastic local TV Ratings in spite of the Cardinals' run (and have generally drawn well even with some of the franchise's poorest hockey since the lockout).

 

 

On a 2012 NHL Draft note, Alex Galchenyuk tore his ACL. Galchenyuk was expected to be a Top 3-5 pick, but now looks like a steal for someone else. I mention this because Galchenyuk (who is Russian and was born in Milwaukee) is a Chicago hockey product, playing his most critical year with CYA before become the OHL's #1 Overall draft pick with the Sarnia Sting.

Great to hear Carolina not be mentioned amongst the worst markets

[17 Seconds]

How is Tampa doing with attendance?

[frozenpondblue531]

Tampa's averaging 18948 through 4 home games. Tampa's local TV Ratings are also 400+% of the Florida Panthers' local TV Ratings. The Lightning sure reap the benefits of a well-placed arena, the fatal flaw of the Baseball's Rays. Tampa's relatively new ownership has marketed the team aggressively (and the timing of the marketing movement coincided with last year's breakthrough year). Yzerman as GM and a damn good team has helped too. Tampa actually has a road presence at games in Carolina & Florida's BankAtlantic Center.

 

Carolina is in a slight downtick, but nothing to fret about. The attendance is still above 15k, at near-average NHL ticket prices. Also, Charlotte's AHL team is in the top half for attendance (between 5k-6k). Hockey is successfully and legitimately growing in North Carolina.

 

For American teams, St. Louis is 6th in local TV Ratings, even in spite of the Cardinals.

[kujay]

The support for the Blues is strong, and it's confusing. When I first moved here in 2004, the team had been dismantled and was in clear rebuilding mode. And the fans were staying away. I got so many free tickets the first few seasons after the lockout.

 

And then Checketts bought the team and the fan base bought in 100%. But other than a brief playoff appearance in 2008, the team has underachieved horribly. I see some signs that the patience with the youth movement is running out, but the games still sell out.

 

I guess what I've learned is that there is a die hard base here that loves this franchise and if there is any reason to think the team is even trending in a positive direction, the seats will be sold.

[NewUserName]

The support for the Blues is strong, and it's confusing. When I first moved here in 2004, the team had been dismantled and was in clear rebuilding mode. And the fans were staying away. I got so many free tickets the first few seasons after the lockout.

 

And then Checketts bought the team and the fan base bought in 100%. But other than a brief playoff appearance in 2008, the team has underachieved horribly. I see some signs that the patience with the youth movement is running out, but the games still sell out.

 

I guess what I've learned is that there is a die hard base here that loves this franchise and if there is any reason to think the team is even trending in a positive direction, the seats will be sold.

 

Besides the Stanley Cup win, it is possible to say that the Blues have actually been a more successful franchise since the mid 70s or so than the Blackhawks. Heck they were a lot better of a franchise than the Wings until the mid 90s. I know they never won the Cup, but the Blues were very competitive for almost 30 yrs and had the longest consecutive playoff streak until the lock out I do believe. It is easy to see how they could have built up a very solid fan base through all of that. Also there is no NBA team there, so competition for tickets/viewers is probably lower. They also have had several players through the years that are easy for fans to love.

[kujay]

Yeah I tend to forget about all the success they had, 25+ straight years in the playoffs, etc., because I moved here after all that.

 

That 2001 playoff series against the Hawks was maddening.

[jersey cubs fan]

I know they never won the Cup, but the Blues were very competitive for almost 30 yrs and had the longest consecutive playoff streak until the lock out I do believe.

 

the Blackhawks had a longer streak that ended a couple years earlier.

[kujay]

Haha awesome! Minnesota scored to tie the game with their net empty and then beat the Wangs in OT.

 

And Koivu destroyed Kronwall right before making the pass that led to the GWG.

 

Never too early to scoreboard watch.

[17 Seconds]

Haha awesome! Minnesota scored to tie the game with their net empty and then beat the Wangs in OT.

 

And Koivu destroyed Kronwall right before making the pass that led to the GWG.

 

Never too early to scoreboard watch.

 

that koivu shot was a pretty obvious elbow, no? i enjoyed it.

[kujay]

Yeah probably.

[17 Seconds]

i loved tortorella trashing thornton after jumbo called the rangers soft (after a game where the rangers won 5-2)

 

"It surprised me, and I've never heard a player say that," Tortorella told reporters after Tuesday's practice, according to the New York Daily News. "Joe's a heck of a player, but here's a player popping off about our team, and Joe hasn't won a god d--- thing in this league. He could go down as a player, being one of the better players in our league never to win anything. So what he should do is just shut up. It was uncalled for, it was classless, and I've never had it happen like that before."

 

Thornton took a shot at the Rangers after the game, the Sharks' first loss on their six-game road trip.

 

"They were probably the softest team we played on the trip," Thornton said. "We should have had these two points."

[kujay]

I saw that. What a dumb thing for Thornton to say. Not that the Sharks and Rangers will ever meet in the playoffs. Well, Rangers probably have a better chance than SJ.

[TruffleShuffle]

tortorella is a douchebag too.

[TruffleShuffle]

the blue jackets fuckin suck

[Derwood]

the blue jackets [expletive] suck

 

I was kinda hoping the NHL would contract the team during the second intermission

[Drew Doughty]

steve mason's run as worst goalie in the nhl continues!!!! his game against toronto the other night was pitiful too. he really is an awful, awful goalie. i know they invested money in him, but at some point they have to get him out of the pipes as a starter. going away from a legit backup is one of the worst moves that team could have made. then again, he's not really a passable nhl backup with a 900 save% either. awful goalie, awful contract, awful handling of that situation in general.

[kujay]

Sounds like changes may be made this week in Columbus.

 

So I shell out serious cash to go to a game at the ACC, and the Leafs get throttled 7-0. Nice. Boston played a heck of a game, but the effort just wasn't there from Toronto.

 

Plus, when you're down 7-0, at least fight someone. There was no old time hockey.