2009-10 NHL Thread

[Arnwulf]

I'd like to see what would happen if LA got a hockey team. Large populous city probably play in the Staples Center. Wether there is a survivable market there is another story. Maybe even Las Vegas?

Troll or not, this is the best post in this thread by far.

[Abraxas]

my tix are 99$/each for row 10 lower level seats

[Oxyminus]

Going to have to disagree with you on this Oxy. Regardless we can all revel in the Ovechkin suspension. While we're on the subject of the Rangers. I'm very surprised that Gaborik hasn't been hit with a serious injury yet. He's playing the way that everyone knew he could. His talent has never been questioned. So it's nice to see a perenially injured player producing and making people realize there are other players in the league not named Ovechkin, Crosby, or Malkin. I think if he's able to stay healthy and continue the pace he's on Gaborik will hit the 100 point plateau and at least 50 goals. Just my prediction.

I'm cool to agree to disagree -- cause you're wrong =p

I revel in the Ovechkin suspension cause it's about time the league discipline its stars, BUT he's on my fantasy team =(

[Absolutely Virtue]

While I agree that all these teams in the south and southwest are pretty shitty, people have awfully short memories when it comes to attendance. Fans come out to see good teams, and stay away from bad teams, in almost every city. Dedicated fans are the exception, not the rule. Where is the move to contract the Islanders? Here are their finishes in attendance the last 5 years:

2010 (this year)- 2nd to last
2009 (last year)- last
2008- last
2007- 3rd to last
2006- last

Plenty of "hockey" cities abandon their team when it sucks. Chicago was recently near the bottom, Boston was 26th in '08, and

wait for it

A moment of silence for 2004, when the Penguins were dead last.

I do agree that a pacific northwest team would be cool. Seattle has a pretty long hockey history, and they just lost the Sonics.

[Callisto]

Yeah Chicago was pretty rough for awhile, though the whole organization was totally fucked, not just their records. The revival isn't just due to the winning(obviously it helped a whole hell of a lot though), the whole culture was changed back to what it was before the awful late 90's/early 00's.

[Absolutely Virtue]

Bitch I called yall a bunch of frontrunners and I ain't changing my mind. You prolly got gay nipples like Crosby and Brill.

[Bregor]

Where is the move to contract the Islanders?

Somewhere, Mike Bossy shed a single tear.

I think the difference in "hockey cities" is that fans come out even if the team is competitive. It took winning a Cup to get people in Tampa to care about hockey, and frankly you can't expect that to happen to every one of Bettman's pet projects in the south. The Isles have been really bad for a long time, so I don't fault them their attendance slump, and Tavares has a chance to rejuvenate that franchise in a couple years. Besides, they've never strayed into "let's hope we get 50% capacity for the season" bad like Phoenix this season or St. Louis a couple years ago.

Besides, knowing Bettman, he'd just move the Isles to Houston or New Orleans anyway.

[CrosisX]

Houston i could see as a possibility. New Orleans though i have my doubts.

[BadKarma]

Going to have to disagree with you on this Oxy. Regardless we can all revel in the Ovechkin suspension. While we're on the subject of the Rangers. I'm very surprised that Gaborik hasn't been hit with a serious injury yet. He's playing the way that everyone knew he could. His talent has never been questioned. So it's nice to see a perenially injured player producing and making people realize there are other players in the league not named Ovechkin, Crosby, or Malkin. I think if he's able to stay healthy and continue the pace he's on Gaborik will hit the 100 point plateau and at least 50 goals. Just my prediction.

Hes on pace for 69 goals at this rate lol.

Also the Rangers cut Valiquette (aka Mr I gave up 19 goals in my last 3 starts)

[Thoronas]

From what I've read, the next city that has a chance of getting a team would be Kansas city since they have an arena ready to go. Only problem is no one Kansas is really making a push to get a team.

[Callisto]

I'm sure the dick who stole the Sonics will get around to it

Edit: wait sorry, he was from Oklahoma, not KC

[Izzy]

Fuck man, I just looked up tickets for the Sabres/Rangers game in MSG in two weeks...shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit ticket prices have went way the fuck up.

[Absolutely Virtue]

Ask yourself though- if you lived in Florida, or Phoenix, where it's nice all the time, would you care that much about sports? The reasons teams don't draw well (and I'm lumping basketball and baseball in here) is because there are so many other things to do down there. Let's face it, we go to basketball and hockey games in the winter because it's fucking miserably cold and there is nothing else to do.

People predicted fire and brimstone when the NFL left LA, and look what happened. Most people don't give a shit. Why? Because it's LA, and there is better shit to do.

[Absolutely Virtue]

And yeah individual tickets for Caps games are ridiculous. Season tickets are where it's at. Only I can't swing them for the Caps because I already have them for the Nats and the Wizards.

Case in point for my Wizards tickets. I'm in the lower bowl, and the face value on my seats is $85. But I only pay $50 per ticket for them.

[Callisto]

I'd definitely give up those Nationals tickets for Caps season tix lol

[Mytiwar]

Let's face it, we go to basketball and hockey games in the winter because it's fucking miserably cold and there is nothing else to do.

Maybe that's why I wish hockey was lasting the whole year around. I'm just stuck in my igloo.

[Ishido]

So the Hawks are apparently ready to sign Keith, Toews and Kane to extensions tomorrow, all in the 5.5-6.5 range. Keith's is rumored at 13 years.

This gives the Hawks ~57 mil wrapped up in 9 forwards, 5 defenseman, and 1 goalie.

If no one is willing to take on the worst contracts in the NHL (Campbell, Huet) the Hawks are royally fucked next year.

[Callisto]

I saw talks of Toronto taking Sopel and possibly another medium contract off of Chicago's hands if they lump a couple of draft picks in the trade. I unfortunately can't think of anyone else that would get taken that wouldn't be a crappy person to lose, but at least the people they brought up from Rockford earlier this season were very solid, so I'm not too worried about what they'll fill in with if they end up losing someone like Eager or Seabrook.

[Callisto]

That said, good lord it'd be nice if they found someone stupid enough to take Campbell off our hands.

[Izzy]

Looks like I got 4 tickets in section 115 at MSG for 125 a piece. Pretty good deal I think.