2010-11 NHL Playoff Thread: HOUSE RULES: ENGAGED

[Thoronas]

I'll save a seat on the wagon for you Isladar. I'll even suit you up in a 'Nucks Jersey. Anyways, Hoping Preds can contain Selanne and put a claw in the ducks tonight.

I was rooting for Nashville to win the series until I realized we'd have to play them in the second round. After the play in the Van/Chi series a Van/Nsh series would be hockey on valium.

[Deader2818]

So far, I was pretty right about the Ducks come playoff time which is why i wasnt really sure why people thought they would be the dark horse in the west. Yeah, they have offense, but no defense. Giving up about 4 goals a game isnt going to get you very far. This isnt the 80s

[Deader2818]

I was rooting for Nashville to win the series until I realized we'd have to play them in the second round. After the play in the Van/Chi series a Van/Nsh series would be hockey on valium.

You could get lucky and the Sharks choke.

[Deader2818]

I was rooting for Nashville to win the series until I realized we'd have to play them in the second round. After the play in the Van/Chi series a Van/Nsh series would be hockey on valium.

You could get lucky and the Sharks choke.

[Valisk]

You could get lucky and the Sharks choke.

YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN!

[Thoronas]

You could get lucky and the Sharks choke.

That would be the best possible outcome in my mind at least for exciting hockey. LA's got a ways to go before I consider it a possibility.

Edit:

YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN!

Oh you

[Thoronas]

Bolland is in, Seabrook is out. Daniel Sedin seen cringing.

Edit: John Scott on defense tonight. lol

[Selamis]

I would much rather have Jordan Hendry play than John Scott at defense...because Scott is not good, lol.

[Chips]

Bolland is in, Seabrook is out. Daniel Sedin seen cringing.

Edit: John Scott on defense tonight. lol

Does Chicago seriously not have anyone else but Scott? lol

[Selamis]

Bickell is back in tonight and Ryan Johnson will play as well.

[Valisk]

Edit: John Scott on defense tonight. lol

Tomorrow, you'll replace Franzen's beat up face with Torres's beat up face.

[Selamis]

http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/1...bob_normal.jpg
TSNBobMcKenzie Bob McKenzie



One game for Steve Downie.

Edit: And One for Kunitz too.

[Selamis]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=5...id=DL|NHL|home

In a deal that brings more nationally televised hockey to American fans than ever before, the National Hockey League and the NBC Sports Group have reached agreement on a record 10-year television and media rights deal, taking the partnership through the 2020-21 season.

NBC remains the exclusive network home and Versus the exclusive cable home of the NHL in the United States. It marks the first-ever national distribution of all Stanley Cup Playoffs games, including, for the first time, exclusive coverage starting with the conference semifinals. The agreement also calls for the NBC Sports Group to televise 100 regular season games per year and introduces a national NBC broadcast on Thanksgiving Friday. The announcement was made today by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Sports Group.

In the regular season, NBC will continue to broadcast a national "Game of the Week," along with its coverage of the NHL Winter Classic and "Hockey Day in America." Versus will telecast an exclusive national "Game of the Week," plus NHL Premiere Games, NHL Faceoff, the NHL All-Star Game and any future NHL Heritage Classic outdoor games in Canada. NBC and Versus remain the exclusive home of the Stanley Cup Final.

The NBC Sports Group's commitment includes building a new studio for NHL Network at its existing facility in Stamford, Conn.

"This is the most significant U.S. media rights partnership in the League's history," said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. "NBC Universal / Comcast is one of the most important, connected and 'wired' media companies in the U.S., and as the potential of the NBC Sports Group is realized, the importance of our relationship will become more apparent to hockey fans and our business partners.

"NBC Sports and Comcast have been fantastic partners. They have provided incredible coverage of our sport and have teamed with us to deliver the best TV viewership figures in three decades. It is a credit to our players, our great game and our outstanding fans that Brian Roberts, Steve Burke, Dick Ebersol and their teams would make a commitment of this scale. We also know the best is yet to come."

More details to come on NHL.com.



There goes my hopes of ESPN getting the rights back, looks like we're stuck with Versus and NBC. Which by default means Pierre and Mike. =/

[vagus]

NBC isn't that bad compared to VS. However no ESPN means no major growth.

[Deader2818]

Well, I read that over the next year, Versus is suppose to be re-branded as NBC Sports network.

[isladar]

From what I'd briefly read I was under the impression that the NHL was being offered space on ESPN2? I'm not sure if that equates to major growth.

[vagus]

From what I'd briefly read I was under the impression that the NHL was being offered space on ESPN2? I'm not sure if that equates to major growth.

If more house holds in the US have ESPN2 vs. VS. then yes its major growth. I hear VS. is only on specific cable companies.

[Valisk]

The NBC Sports Group will televise 100 regular-season games per season, and NBC will have a new telecast the day after Thanksgiving in the new contract.
This deal would easily exceed the $120 million contract the NHL had with ESPN from 1999-2004.
''Everybody has enormous respect for ESPN,'' Bettman said. ''Six years ago we decided to go in a different direction, for a variety of reasons, and it has worked well for us. This for us is a great place to be. Versus' coverage of our game has been extraordinary. Hockey fans have found it and have been telling us on a regular basis that the coverage is terrific, and I think it's going to get better.''
In the current contract, Versus pays the NHL about $75 million per year but NBC doesn't pay at all because of a revenue-sharing agreement with the league.
That will now change.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/N...artners-041911

I'm assuming the bolded line means no ESPN coverage at all.

Edit:

Versus also will maintain a national game of the week, the All-Star game telecast, and other outdoor games played in Canada. Versus also will increase its number of regular-season telecasts from 50 to 90 games.

With the merger of Comcast and NBC Universal, the company now consists of 20 television networks and more than 40 digital platforms. Versus has gone from 64 million homes in 2005 to more than 79 million homes.

[Deader2818]

Versus is own by comcast but has grown to be included on dish network etc, as part of the sports package.

The only thing I really miss about the NHL being on ESPN was NHL2nite but I do have to say, Versus has been adding a lot more hockey related shows the past year.

Also, Mark Purdy of San Jose Mercury News wrote a piece yesterday about how Staples Center is a horrible venue and how it will be a non-factor in this series to which Puck Daddy wrote this blog:

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/...urn=nhl-wp2958

Now, its not as loud as places in Montreal etc, but it gets pretty damn loud there. I was at game 4 vs the Canucks last year and it left my ears ringing (up until we blew a 3-2 lead).

Put yeah, prob not the best idea to get the fans riled up before a pivotal game 3, lol.

[Palin]

It's honestly fine. If we got on ESPN we'd see talk about lockouts come before NHL coverage. Having a dedicated network to us and the NBC family behind us is a good thing. VS will be retuned NBC Sports, pick up an extra 30 games a year, and all playoff games are going to be covered.

This is a good thing for hockey growth, as much as I hate NBC games.