NHL 2010-2011 Season

[The Craw]

don't see why the american public wouldn't want to watch a sport where players are constantly knocking each other down and into the boards. knocking peoples teeth out. getting into fights. hitting players with sticks. blood running down their jerseys.

but they would rather watch people shoot free throws for 3 hours? gimme a break.

 

[Deeznutz6]

don't see why the american public wouldn't want to watch a sport where players are constantly knocking each other down and into the boards. knocking peoples teeth out. getting into fights. hitting players with sticks. blood running down their jerseys.

but they would rather watch people shoot free throws for 3 hours? gimme a break.

Exactly, or College sports, thats soemthing Ill never understand

Not sure why the Habs got to be in the heritage classic again also, should have been Leafs vs Sens, or Leafs vs Canucks.

 

[risingstar]

don't see why the american public wouldn't want to watch a sport where players are constantly knocking each other down and into the boards. knocking peoples teeth out. getting into fights. hitting players with sticks. blood running down their jerseys.

but they would rather watch people shoot free throws for 3 hours? gimme a break.

Hockey will never be embraced by the US because it is essentially seen as a Canadian game not an American one. Also, the game is dominated by foreign players, which is another X for the average yokel. You might as well try to sell Swedish films to Joe and Jill trailer park from Arkansas. Truth is, unless the sport can be turned into US flag waving, it'll never even be more popular than college rowing. It's another reason why soccer will never make it into the US, that is, unless the US wins a world cup (and even then...).

The average US fan does not want to see Winnipeg vs Ottawa even if it features the best hockey players in the world. They don't want to see New York vs Calgary either. It's simply in the mindset. Cities like Edmonton might as well be located on the moon. The average American sports fan has zero interest in Canada.

 

[Deeznutz6]

Hockey will never be embraced by the US because it is seen as a Canadian game not an American one. Also, the game is dominated by foreign players, which is another X for average yokel. You might as well try to sell Swedish films to Joe and Jill trailer park from Arkansas. Truth is, unless a sport can be turned into US flag waving, it'll never be more popular than even college rowing. It's another reason why soccer will never make it into the US, that is, unless the US wins a world cup.

Good point

In the NHL's defence Caps vs Pens is a no brainer, two of the more exciting teams, no one wants to watch a Raptors Vs Cavaliers street ball game... when trying to entice fans give them something to watch

 

[Deeznutz6]

Do the Habs score any goals with their sticks? Holy ____ these losers just throw it at the net and hope it goes in, they did the same thing against Boston

 

[praxitas]

I believe it was touched on earlier, but it comes down to star power and ratings. Like it or not the NHL is trying to get the game everywhere it can in the US and it will whore out the stars of the NHL to do so. I'm not trying to be disrespectful to some of the teams from the north, but it is a lot harder to sell Price/Cammalleri vs Kessel/Monster/Phaneuf.

Yes you have the original 6 aspect of everything, but if the NHL is trying to attract new fans you need to show off the best of the hockey world now. Crosby, Malkin, Ovechkin, Semen, Backstrom the list goes on and on and on. Let alone the intense rivalry from previous years builds intrigue.

Again, I am not trying to put down any other teams but as far as the NHL goes it is what it is. I would not be surprised to see a combination of either the rangers, leafs, canadians or lightning next year. If they go out west I could see a colorado vs canucks matchup.

 

[risingstar]

It's nice to see the Habs give us that 'right n schedule' December meltdown.
Price is starting to look slow and tired, like the Price of last year and the year before.
Here's hoping they get out of it. It's time to trade AK46.

 

[The Ringer]

Yeah it's not much, but some exposure on American network television is better than none I suppose.

There were rumors a few months ago about ESPN wanting to get a package of games again. I'd like to see it happen with them keeping Versus on board. The more hockey on television the better.

That would be too cool.

 

[Grenouille]

It's nice to see the Habs give us that 'right n schedule' December meltdown.
Price is starting to look slow and tired, like the Price of last year and the year before.
Here's hoping they get out of it. It's time to trade AK46.

All of which has somehow kept the skidding Bruins 2 points behind the Habs.

That's not much to celebrate since my team's been on the slide for almost two months now. People in Boston are calling for Julien's head if they drop the game tomorrow night to the Thrashers. Chiarelli and Neely have been on radio in the past few days defending Clod, but I think it's time to go if things aren't changed soon. They probably should have done it after the playoffs in hindsight.

 

[risingstar]

All of which has somehow kept the skidding Bruins 2 points behind the Habs.

That's not much to celebrate since my team's been on the slide for almost two months now. People in Boston are calling for Julien's head if they drop the game tomorrow night to the Thrashers. Chiarelli and Neely have been on radio in the past few days defending Clod, but I think it's time to go if things aren't changed soon. They probably should have done it after the playoffs in hindsight.

I'm at a point where I'm starting the see the Bruins as the second most underachieving team in the league behind Washington.

 

[Grenouille]

I'm at a point where I'm starting the see the Bruins as the second most underachieving team in the league behind Washington.

That's a fair assessment. They start out hot, cool down in the middle, and then will probably close the season hot so they can have a seeding somewhere in the 6-8 range. Then comes the playoff disaster.

The players are starting to feel the heat now too though. They had a chippy practice on Tuesday after Monday night's debacle. Just what they need are players going after one another in practice.

 

[Deeznutz6]

Another amzing episode of 24/7 last night, HBO is doing a great job with this

 

[risingstar]

Another amzing episode of 24/7 last night, HBO is doing a great job with this

What did you see?

 

[The Craw]

wish i could watch it.

how about some details for us non-HBOers?

 

[The Ringer]

^^^^^^

Pretty much that humpty dumpty Washington coach saying ____ and having food all over his face.

 

[The Craw]

so did the flyers take notes from the pens last night, so they know how to score a goal on Florida next time?

 

[Deeznutz6]

Copied this from Hockey buzz for you guys


24/7: Part Deux'

Wednesday's HBO Pens-Caps hockey special featured more swearing by Washington coach Bruce Boudreau -- who dropped the f-bomb seven times in a 25-second period -- but it shed more insight into areas never previously revealed. We saw Pittsburgh's Dustin Jeffrey getting sent back to the AHL by coach Dan Bylsma and GM Ray Shero, referees toasting themselves after the Pens-Rangers game, Mario Lemieux taking part in the staff's weekly pickup game, and a whole lot more of Sidney Crosby.

I was glad to see Mario skate seemingly without the back pain that haunted him throughout his career. Between Lemieux's back and Jaromir Jagr's groin, Penguins fans spent nearly 20 years wondering whether the superstars would be able to play on a game-by-game basis. If it was that tough as a fan, I wonder what it was like for the player. Here's to hoping that Mario's back holds out one more time, as it was revealed that he hadn't played in the last five years.

HBO shed some light on Crosby's habits and simple lifestyle. Crosby takes the circuitous route to the home team locker room at Consol as to avoid passing in front of the visitor's dressing room. He jogs, eats peanut butter & jelly sandwiches (perhaps a looming sponsorship?), relaxes with soccer, goes through an exact stretching routine, and then puts on his favorite cup protector that looks like it's as old as Gordie Howe.

Crosby also explains how Malkin jumps on the ice after the rest of the team and Sid. Three years of the Russian Superleague beats one year in the NHL, according to Geno. So much for those who say Crosby has to get his way all of the time.

The only thing HBO couldn't do is pry info out of Jordan Staal concerning his broken hand. He was asked how he feels and it seemed like he wanted to say more, but then shrugged his shoulders and simply said "alright." Teammate Chris Kunitz help deflect the question, asking Staal how he was feeling mentally (instead or in lie of his physical status). To that, Staal also said he was alright.

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[risingstar]

I just saw the Boudreau F-bomb segment on RDS (french espn type). Yeesh. I can't believe coaches still talk to players like that. Is that supposed to be motivating? He must be a total class act parent, I imagine.

 

[Grenouille]

Unbelievable atmosphere last night at the Garden for what felt like a must win game. Easily the best crowd I've been a part of since game 6 of the Buffalo series.

Onward and upward from here. Merry Christmas and Joyeux Noël to all the freaks that frquent the hockey post.

 

[risingstar]

Best wishes to everyone.
May we all meet in the playoffs (and crush the Flyers)!