Ongoing NHL Thread Part IV - A New Hope

[Bloody Brian Burke]

You kinda contradict yourself there. Having more traditional, established markets in the playoffs isn't going to have as much of an appreciable impact on NHL popularity as would having more upstart markets in the playoffs would. It's simply a matter of potential long-term gains vs. short-term losses.

I think there's always going to be a deeper well of fans to convert in the larger, already-tapped markets. Teams get bad, people become apathetic, then they become good and suddenly a city like NYC or Toronto or Montreal or LA or another locale where fans (especially young fans) began to lose interest are rabid again about their club.

It's great that smaller markets like Vegas and Nashville and TB have become very serious about their hockey teams but one deep playoff run by the Flyers or Canucks can very likely result in as many new fans, as a new franchise making inroads could.

I mean, how many kids on Long Island realized this spring that they're Isles fans? And how many of their parents realized their games are suddenly worth watching on MSG or driving out to the games? Awakening a fanbase in an area with 8 million people is just as good or better than gaining a new fanbase in a transient desert oasis with a permanent population of 2.5 million I would think.

/I also think the lack of "stars" factor I mentioned is doing nearly as much damage to the product and in generating fan interest. Compare it to the NBA where 12 of the top 20 scorers are still alive in round 2 and not one of their top 20 missed the playoffs.

In regards to the Eastern conference.... Both wild card teams are winning. Is playoff restructuring changing that?

Sorry Kucherov and Ovechkin couldn't win in the first round.

Nothing there was a shot against the teams or their fanbases who are having success this spring, just a small, dumb analysis of what I think is going to be some very visible apathy toward the sport by the general population and, as evidenced in this thread, some pretty hardcore hockey fans too.

I also purposely mentioned the last few years as well so as to not make it sound like sour grapes concerning this year alone.

 

[BGDave]

/I also think the lack of "stars" factor I mentioned is doing nearly as much damage to the product and in generating fan interest. Compare it to the NBA where 12 of the top 20 scorers are still alive in round 2 and not one of their top 20 missed the playoffs.

This is a huge factor. Yuge, even.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

This is a huge factor. Yuge, even.

This isn't a shocker but the NHL playoffs would be much more of a spectacle if Connor McDavid were playing in it. Even if he has the personality of a forklift we're all less fortunate for his current situation.

 

[dare2be]

/I also think the lack of "stars" factor I mentioned is doing nearly as much damage to the product and in generating fan interest. Compare it to the NBA where 12 of the top 20 scorers are still alive in round 2 and not one of their top 20 missed the playoffs.

No argument there. However, basketball (and baseball) success as a team is more influenced by the "stars", while hockey is more of a true team sport (aside from a hot goalie stealing the show on occasion). I would think that year in and year out the "stars" factor in both baseball and basketball generally is higher in the playoffs than it would be in hockey, which may be a factor in their heightened popularity (and because they are more readily and cheaply available for youth leagues and pickup games, which is also huge.)

So in summation, I think the stars factor has a greater impact than the market factor.

 

[thedddd]

It is hard to make a compelling argument to watch St Louis play Dallas or Carolina vs NYI.

The other two series I am into just to root against Boston and San Jose.

As for the star power unless you watch hockey regularly I doubt people know any of the players.
To prove that I work with a team in Raleigh and the one person was going to the Canes game, so I asked the group who is your favorite player. Not one person could answer until someone said Staal since that was his son’s favorite player and bought him a jersey. Naturally he didn’t know his first name.

 

[thedddd]

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... I hope one of the Islanders spears Justin Williams through his asshole and the stick comes out his eye socket.

Eat a dick, Carolina fans. You undeserving bandwagoning, fuck biscuits!!!

Don Cherry is that you?

 

[dash]

I just realized that either Jay Bouwmeester or Roman Polak will be playing in the Western Conference final.

 

[Comeds]

This may come across as sour grapes, but has there ever been a less interesting second round of playoffs? Ever??

I have watched the Battle of Winterfell twice and will probably watch it a couple of more times this week. Just cant get excited about any of the 4 series.

Nah, its probably me.

I turn these games when they are almost over just to see if they are close or going to OT. I do not like any of the teams left and hate a lot of them. I'm indifferent to a couple but indifference is not enough to make me watch.

I've been watching Fosse/Verdon over and over.

 

[forty_three]

I have on a number of occasions uttered the words "Fuck Gary Bettman". I have never meant them more emphatically than I do right now.

Fuck.

Gary.

Bettman.

Having known a guy who killed himself and his autopsy revealed he had CTE, and knowing that the only thing he had in common with so many other guys who died either by their own hand or other means who were later realized to have CTE is the repeated concussions. Knowing that I also suffered a number of concussions in my youth and knowing that CTE can only be diagnosed post mortem, and cannot be treated while alive...

FUCK GARY BETTMAN

 

[gob]

I have on a number of occasions uttered the words "Fuck Gary Bettman". I have never meant them more emphatically than I do right now.

Fuck.

Gary.

Bettman.

Having known a guy who killed himself and his autopsy revealed he had CTE, and knowing that the only thing he had in common with so many other guys who died either by their own hand or other means who were later realized to have CTE is the repeated concussions. Knowing that I also suffered a number of concussions in my youth and knowing that CTE can only be diagnosed post mortem, and cannot be treated while alive...

FUCK GARY BETTMAN

The issue I have with this subject is that (from what I understand), there is a lot of evaluation of "bad" brains, but not "control" brains.

 

[forty_three]

The issue I have with this subject is that (from what I understand), there is a lot of evaluation of "bad" brains, but not "control" brains.

Fair point, but the evidence even with that fact is beyond "Anecdotal".

I have already signed mine over when I am done with it. But mine will go in that "bad" pile. 5 concussions here.

 

[BGDave]

Still a ways to go, but we could be looking at the 4 Wild Cards = 4 SemiFinalists

At this point, Colorado is arguably the weakest link preventing this from happening.

Just feels wrong.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Still a ways to go, but we could be looking at the 4 Wild Cards = 4 SemiFinalists

At this point, Colorado is arguably the weakest link preventing this from happening.

Just feels wrong.

FUCK GARY BETTMAN

 

[gob]

Fair point, but the evidence even with that fact is beyond "Anecdotal".

I have already signed mine over when I am done with it. But mine will go in that "bad" pile. 5 concussions here.

Just the engineer in me... Every time the plant sends me an issue to figure out what's wrong they get a copy/paste "can you also send me a good sample? That will help me determine what the issue could be"

 

[wings-pens2166]

Fair point, but the evidence even with that fact is beyond "Anecdotal".

I have already signed mine over when I am done with it. But mine will go in that "bad" pile. 5 concussions here.

yeah, that's why it'll go it in the "bad" pile

 

[DragonfromTO]

No argument there. However, basketball (and baseball) success as a team is more influenced by the "stars", while hockey is more of a true team sport (aside from a hot goalie stealing the show on occasion). I would think that year in and year out the "stars" factor in both baseball and basketball generally is higher in the playoffs than it would be in hockey, which may be a factor in their heightened popularity (and because they are more readily and cheaply available for youth leagues and pickup games, which is also huge.)

So in summation, I think the stars factor has a greater impact than the market factor.

I disagree with you regarding baseball. Roster depth is important in a game where so many players play and you can't even choose who gets the opportunity to make a difference when you need it. You can throw Gretzky over the boards whenever you want to or set up a play to get the ball in Jordan's hands when you need a score but Willie Mays only gets to bat 4/5 times when it's his turn (and I suppose also only gets to field if/when the ball is hit to him).

In a single game a starting pitcher is the one spot that can have that kind of big effect but afterwards that player won't throw/contribute in the next 4 games so that cuts into the overall value.

 

[DragonfromTO]

I turn these games when they are almost over just to see if they are close or going to OT. I do not like any of the teams left and hate a lot of them. I'm indifferent to a couple but indifference is not enough to make me watch.

I've been watching Fosse/Verdon over and over.

I recorded the first one and then forgot about it (and missed out on recording the episodes that followed as a result, although as we all know that's pretty meaningless these days). It's good?

 

[Comeds]

I recorded the first one and then forgot about it (and missed out on recording the episodes that followed as a result, although as we all know that's pretty meaningless these days). It's good?

I do not know, I'm not really watching it. It's got Sam Rockwell in it though, so how bad can it be?

 

[tducey]

Re: The playoffs and the wild card. I don't like what's happening either. It has cheapened the regular season by having wild cards advance this far. What's worse is neither Colorado or Columbus make the playoffs if a 1-4 division playoff system existed.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

John Erskine was either drunk as shit or trying to kill himself Tuesday night.

Former NHL defenceman Erskine severely injured in highway accident - TSN.ca