NHL Season 08-09

[Arnwulf]

I wonder if NBC is aware that there are team other than the NY Rangers in the NHL, lol. I saw that they're only airing the first 2 games of the Stanley Cup Finals, and that's it. Sucks, I'd like to see more hockey on TV without having to buy Center Ice.

[Norelco]

So unless i'm mistaken atm the 5 biggest hockey town are (not necesatly in that order)

Detroit
Montreal
New York (for the Rangers fuck the islanders :D)
Pittsburgh
Boston

Do you mean biggest as in terms of city population or team support?

As lame as it sounds I'd throw Buffalo in the mix. They have one of the largest television watching populations (probably 2nd to detroit) in terms of NHL viewership, even for games in which the Sabres are not playing.

When the Sabres were in the playoffs 2 springs ago, during one of the home playoff games 10,000 fans had gathered outside of the stadium to watch (the game when Drury scored with 7 seconds left to tie against the Rangers and force it into OT). That's in addition to the already sold out 18,690 seat HSBC arena. 10,000 fans...right outside the stadium partying. It was amazing to see on TV. You can find a clip of it on youtube (Drury goal + mass crowd of people jumping/hugging/screaming). It brings a tear to my eye...because then management let Drury walk away.

[Soa]

Refs owned the Flyers so mmmm

Flyers played very poorly and definitely deserved to lose that game, no doubt about it.

However that was easily one of the worst officiated hockey games I've ever seen in my life. The Rangers had what, like 8 or 9 power plays? I was listening to the game on the radio with national announcers and even they were complaining about the one sided calls.

No matter though, looking ahead to the playoffs it looks like we'll probably get Pittsburgh in the first round and frankly they scare the shit out of me. Just an overall bad matchup for us.

[Brill Weave]

The bad thing about a Pittsburgh/Philly match up is you know whoever wins is going to the next round completely beat to hell and back. Because there's no such thing as a clean hockey game between these two lol. But on the positive side it will be some amazing chippy hockey to watch.

[Tythera]

I wonder if NBC is aware that there are team other than the NY Rangers in the NHL, lol. I saw that they're only airing the first 2 games of the Stanley Cup Finals, and that's it. Sucks, I'd like to see more hockey on TV without having to buy Center Ice.

Believe Center Ice doesn't give you more than parts of the first round of the playoffs either, if I read their stuff correctly. Unless they have some sort of other package that does.

[Saphirea]

The bad thing about a Pittsburgh/Philly match up is you know whoever wins is going to the next round completely beat to hell and back. Because there's no such thing as a clean hockey game between these two lol. But on the positive side it will be some amazing chippy hockey to watch.

I'm truthfully hoping for an old school Patrick division revival of Caps / Penguins. At least then I'll get every game since I live near DC.

But what you said is true, the two teams will both be beat the hell up.

[Makaveli]

Do you mean biggest as in terms of city population or team support?

As lame as it sounds I'd throw Buffalo in the mix. They have one of the largest television watching populations (probably 2nd to detroit) in terms of NHL viewership, even for games in which the Sabres are not playing.

When the Sabres were in the playoffs 2 springs ago, during one of the home playoff games 10,000 fans had gathered outside of the stadium to watch (the game when Drury scored with 7 seconds left to tie against the Rangers and force it into OT). That's in addition to the already sold out 18,690 seat HSBC arena. 10,000 fans...right outside the stadium partying. It was amazing to see on TV. You can find a clip of it on youtube (Drury goal + mass crowd of people jumping/hugging/screaming). It brings a tear to my eye...because then management let Drury walk away.

You cant have a hockey town w/o Minnesota and Philly throw out Pittsburgh, they needed Super Mario to save them from moving. Philly still sold out when they were in last the whole season a couple years ago.

[Brill Weave]

Spoken like a true Philadelphia fan who can't see past the fact people are saying something positive about Pittsburgh lol. I believe he's talking about current support. Which if I'm not mistaken the Penguins have sold out all of their home games for the last three years(I think?) Minnesota doesn't come close to that, at all. Philly at least has pretty damn good attendance.

But out of curiousity, how is it a stigma that Mario Lemieux had to save the Penguins from moving? It had nothing to do with public support of the team whatsoever. None. So can you clarify a little bit for me what your comment has to do with well, anything to be honest.

[Thoronas]

You're gonna talk about hockey support and mention ONE Canadian team? Really??

Last I checked Canucks had sold out EVERY game for the last 250 home games. That's not even counting Calgary or even Toronto. Toronto is the centre of the hockey universe.

[Chinch]

You guys don't know hockey if you don't mention Toronto as the #1 hockey town... We're the center of the hockey universe...

Also, I wouldn't put Pitts up there with the Steelers and Phillies taking a big % of the fans.

[Sepukku]

Last I checked, the Pens had a giant viewing outside during the playoffs every game last postseason, as well, seeing as I was outside at it for several of the games. And we've sold out 100 consecutive home games and growing.

Lastly, why NOT have Mario as the owner, hero, and savior? How awesome is that?!?!? That'd be like if Allen Iv... Terrell Owe... ummm, Eric Lin... I got nothing.

[Brill Weave]

Not to knock Toronto, but I always thought of Montreal as the hockey capital of Canada, though Toronto(imo) is right behind them. This is one of those subjects where everyone here is going to argue over since obviously their team is the best etc etc. But we can all agree that Atlanta and Nashville are like dead last in team support lol.

[Ratatapa]

Ok sorry was at school.

Yes was talking attendance wise mostly

in Canada not to vent myself but there is no town higher then MTL for Hockey

The rest i wasn't sure, i was just talking about those town, about how they react (the fans) when the habs was at their arena, and you know that Habs doesn't go to vancouver alot .

But i talked to a friend long time ago and he said that canucks had usually alot and alot of empty seats compared to some town, that's why i didn't put them

[Chinch]

Ok sorry was at school.

Yes was talking attendance wise mostly

in Canada not to vent myself but there is no town higher then MTL for Hockey

The rest i wasn't sure, i was just talking about those town, about how they react (the fans) when the habs was at their arena, and you know that Habs doesn't go to vancouver alot .

But i talked to a friend long time ago and he said that canucks had usually alot and alot of empty seats compared to some town, that's why i didn't put them

Attendance wise Toronto would still rank among the highest... How the hell can you guys not realize that Toronto is a breeding ground for die hard hockey fans. People go even if they aren't that great.

Edit for link: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance

[Brill Weave]

Dood, it's Toronto. What else is there to do?

[Chinch]

Dood, it's Toronto. What else is there to do?

lol.

[Thoronas]

As much as I dislike the Maple Leafs they are in the only market where you could plop a new team into the mix and it would immediately be one of the top money earners in the league.

sports.theglobeandmail.com: Big dollars for second T.O. team

As for Montreal, I think the soul of hockey still resides in Quebec but financially it's just not as strong as Ontario (for now).

[Bweigelt]

Ok sorry was at school.

Yes was talking attendance wise mostly

in Canada not to vent myself but there is no town higher then MTL for Hockey

The rest i wasn't sure, i was just talking about those town, about how they react (the fans) when the habs was at their arena, and you know that Habs doesn't go to vancouver alot .

[But i talked to a friend long time ago and he said that canucks had usually alot and alot of empty seats compared to some town, that's why i didn't put them

As was mentioned the Canucks have sold out 250 straight games at home. Minnesota apparently has sold out every game since the Wild have been there, although I'm not sure how reliable that is. Also Calgary and Toronto have to be in the top 5.

Basically my top 5 would be:
Toronto
Montreal
Vancouver
Minnesota
Calgary

in that order. Detroit doesn't belong anywhere near the top of that list. They have terrible attendance for a team that is a perrenial cup contender. Edmonton, Buffalo, San Jose, Pittsburgh and either New York or Ottawa would be the next five.

[Ishido]

They finally played good defense for once, and Ozzie was on the top of his game. I just wish I could get any of their games in HD without paying my life savings to get it (on top of that I had to watch the blue jackets feed, though they were the least annoying of opponent feeds I've watched, they knew what they were talking about with both teams).

I know exactly what you mean, do you use ustream? I've been doing that for the past few games and it's a lot better than most alternatives (paying a shitton for whatever the NHL offers).

Altitude has by far the worst announcers, I watched the last Avs/Wings game on it and they are unbearable. Homerism to the extreme, they scream like it's a game winning goal on almost every Avs shot, and don't even mention in when the Wings scored. Literally, they didn't even say goal, score, nothing.

I really hope the NHL gets something better than the god-awful TV deals they have right now after the current ones expire.

Edit: Also while Detroit attendance isn't as good as it should be, they still sell out most of their games. The lower bowl in the Joe never looks full because not everyone who has tickets is actually showing up (which is a damn shame, but it IS Detroit).

[Tythera]

I know exactly what you mean, do you use ustream? I've been doing that for the past few games and it's a lot better than most alternatives (paying a shitton for whatever the NHL offers).

Altitude has by far the worst announcers, I watched the last Avs/Wings game on it and they are unbearable. Homerism to the extreme, they scream like it's a game winning goal on almost every Avs shot, and don't even mention in when the Wings scored. Literally, they didn't even say goal, score, nothing.

I really hope the NHL gets something better than the god-awful TV deals they have right now after the current ones expire.

Edit: Also while Detroit attendance isn't as good as it should be, they still sell out most of their games. The lower bowl in the Joe never looks full because not everyone who has tickets is actually showing up (which is a damn shame, but it IS Detroit).

Naw, I didn't know what to do so I ended up just getting Center Ice way back before the season started. I think next year I won't even bother, it's too much hassle and I really don't watch shit else on TV.

I found out U-verse will let me get FSN Detroit in HD, if I pay for the highest TV package at $105 a month! (yeah right) I'd pay something like $200+ to get all the games for Detroit in HD and nothing else, which is more than I paid for center ice. It doesn't seem like anyone has a deal anywhere close to that, so like I said I'm probably going to say fuck it.

If I still lived in the Detroit area I'd be a season ticket holder, but sadly my job out of college took me out of state