NHL 2010-2011 Season

[risingstar]

Hamilton will never get a hockey club.
They'd put on on the moon first.

 

[The Craw]

it's a shame those southern teams can't build up a decent fanbase. i'd hate to see contractions but i forsee some relocations within the next few years. it just sucks that they pretty much have to cram every team into the northeast just to get people to go to games. even the Wild's fanbase is dwindling. they sold out every game for like 9 years but now they are getting empty seats as well.

 

[risingstar]

Contractions would likely be the best thing to happen to hockey.

 

[cokebabies]

Has the Wild's system changed at all? I haven't seen one of their games in at least a year, but every game I've ever seen of theirs has been a horrendously boring affair.

 

[Eli26]

it's a shame those southern teams can't build up a decent fanbase. i'd hate to see contractions but i forsee some relocations within the next few years. it just sucks that they pretty much have to cram every team into the northeast just to get people to go to games. even the Wild's fanbase is dwindling. they sold out every game for like 9 years but now they are getting empty seats as well.

Concerning Minnesota, the reason for the lack of interest is not for hockey in general. The State of Minnesota loves its hockey. It's a hockey hotbed and the number of kids who play hockey in that State is more than any place in the world, not Canada. The problem there is the NHL product is boring dull hockey and fans were going for years hoping there would have some form of pay off down the road, which unfortunately hasn't come yet. They also don't have that big flashy superstar they had to sell and market the games like they had with Marian Gaborik. Marty Havlat has lost his scoring edge that he showed in Ottawa and Chicago, and as good as Mikko Koivu is he's not a star you can sell fans on unfortunately. He's really good, but he's not the most exciting or flashy of players either. He's all about the hockey IQ.

 

[Eli26]

To add, a lot of cities will lose interest in their teams if they constantly miss the playoffs. Edmonton even was losing its fanbase at one point. Same with cities like Ottawa. It happens. But all it takes is a good winning season or some future faces that can attract fans to come back and sell out the place again. I mean look at Pittsburgh. lol

 

[Grenouille]

To add, a lot of cities will lose interest in their teams if they constantly miss the playoffs. Edmonton even was losing its fanbase at one point. Same with cities like Ottawa. It happens. But all it takes is a good winning season or some future faces that can attract fans to come back and sell out the place again. I mean look at Pittsburgh. lol

Well, it did help to get a generational talent. Might as well call the Consol Energy Center the House Sid built.

As to your point it's spot on. The dark days of the Dave Lewis era in Boston was marred by an empty arena. People in New England love their hockey and the Bruins, but the product at the time was atrocious. Once the B's showed some promise everyone is happy to pay for one of the most expensive tickets in the NHL.

 

[Deeznutz6]

I think the league needs to contract, might make the game better, you would eliminate alot of useless players

 

[The Craw]

Has the Wild's system changed at all? I haven't seen one of their games in at least a year, but every game I've ever seen of theirs has been a horrendously boring affair.

it's sort of changing. Lemaire had them playing defensive hockey for years. he's out of the picture now. i'm still not a big wild fan, cuz as you said, they are kinda boring.

Concerning Minnesota, the reason for the lack of interest is not for hockey in general. The State of Minnesota loves its hockey. It's a hockey hotbed and the number of kids who play hockey in that State is more than any place in the world, not Canada. The problem there is the NHL product is boring dull hockey and fans were going for years hoping there would have some form of pay off down the road, which unfortunately hasn't come yet. They also don't have that big flashy superstar they had to sell and market the games like they had with Marian Gaborik. Marty Havlat has lost his scoring edge that he showed in Ottawa and Chicago, and as good as Mikko Koivu is he's not a star you can sell fans on unfortunately. He's really good, but he's not the most exciting or flashy of players either. He's all about the hockey IQ.

the problem is that Minnesota fans, no matter what sport, are the biggest fair weather fans of them all. if the team is winning then seats are full. if they are losing then they stay at home. it's what killed the North Stars.

and i've always disliked Gaborik. he was injured all the time. he still is. they should have traded him years ago. he's too wimpy.

 

[Eli26]

it's sort of changing. Lemaire had them playing defensive hockey for years. he's out of the picture now. i'm still not a big wild fan, cuz as you said, they are kinda boring.

the problem is that Minnesota fans, no matter what sport, are the biggest fair weather fans of them all. if the team is winning then seats are full. if they are losing then they stay at home. it's what killed the North Stars.

and i've always disliked Gaborik. he was injured all the time. he still is. they should have traded him years ago. he's too wimpy.

All fans are fair weather fans to a point. Nobody likes a losing team. Even I had to walk away from my Pens a few times when they were losing. Don't get me wrong, I have patience, but 4 years of losing seasons? Yeesh. I supported them from a distance at times, and still defended them when they were trashed. Even took pokes and jabs from fans when I wore my Francis 10 Pens jersey. No crappy Chinese knock off since they didn't exist then. btw They are crap jerseys! Pure nylon.. sweat like a pig in those. Anyway, ADD aside, focusing back to the topic... Nobody wants to feel crappy, negative feelings, or frustration when their team is ____ting bricks. Pittsburgh tanked because of money issues by unloading all their top end talent away for picks and prospects, and knew they could score some good picks with those basement bottom finishes in the process to rebuild their organization. Seemed to work. New owner, Championship, and arena later... things are looking back to good. Okay, minus this debacle of a season thus far. Where in the World is Carmen Sa-- errr Evgeni Malkin?

 

[Deeznutz6]

All fans are fair weather fans to a point. Nobody likes a losing team. Even I had to walk away from my Pens a few times when they were losing. Don't get me wrong, I have patience, but 4 years of losing seasons? Yeesh. I supported them from a distance at times, and still defended them when they were trashed. Even took pokes and jabs from fans when I wore my Francis 10 Pens jersey. No crappy Chinese knock off since they didn't exist then. btw They are crap jerseys! Pure nylon.. sweat like a pig in those. Anyway, ADD aside, focusing back to the topic... Nobody wants to feel crappy, negative feelings, or frustration when their team is ____ting bricks. Pittsburgh tanked because of money issues by unloading all their top end talent away for picks and prospects, and knew they could score some good picks with those basement bottom finishes in the process to rebuild their organization. Seemed to work. New owner, Championship, and arena later... things are looking back to good. Okay, minus this debacle of a season thus far. Where in the World is Carmen Sa-- errr Evgeni Malkin?

He missed two golden opportunities last night

Staal cant come back soon enough

 

[The Craw]

All fans are fair weather fans to a point. Nobody likes a losing team. Even I had to walk away from my Pens a few times when they were losing. Don't get me wrong, I have patience, but 4 years of losing seasons? Yeesh. I supported them from a distance at times, and still defended them when they were trashed. Even took pokes and jabs from fans when I wore my Francis 10 Pens jersey. No crappy Chinese knock off since they didn't exist then. btw They are crap jerseys! Pure nylon.. sweat like a pig in those. Anyway, ADD aside, focusing back to the topic... Nobody wants to feel crappy, negative feelings, or frustration when their team is ____ting bricks. Pittsburgh tanked because of money issues by unloading all their top end talent away for picks and prospects, and knew they could score some good picks with those basement bottom finishes in the process to rebuild their organization. Seemed to work. New owner, Championship, and arena later... things are looking back to good. Okay, minus this debacle of a season thus far. Where in the World is Carmen Sa-- errr Evgeni Malkin?

i got my 68 Jagr jersey from '93 still hanging in my closet. i never wear it. i just like knowing i have it. he was my favorite player for years.

 

[The Ringer]

What was the length of the Caps streak last season?15?

 

[The Craw]

What was the length of the Caps streak last season?15?

14 .

 

[Grenouille]

Just scored some tix for tonight's game. Off to Boston.

 

[The Ringer]

14 .

thanks

 

[The Ringer]

Just scored some tix for tonight's game. Off to Boston.

Say hello to Halak for me.

 

[The Craw]

i'll probably be watching that game tonight. where are you sitting? you should wear a big neon yellow shirt like this fan i saw at a montreal game a few weeks ago. whenever the action would get to his end of the ice he would stand up and turn around and start waving his arms like a windmill so he could be seen on TV. i swear if a guy in front of me kept doing that i'd slap him in the balls after the 3rd or 4th time.

 

[The Craw]

Say hello to Halak for me.

Halak-ness monster FTW.

 

[Deeznutz6]

i got my 68 Jagr jersey from '93 still hanging in my closet. i never wear it. i just like knowing i have it. he was my favorite player for years.

Is that the one that says Pittsburgh diagonally?