How do you feel about these games overseas?

[BOSSMANPC]

It condenses the pre season schedule so the Kings, Sabres, Rangers and Ducks do not have the same amount of time to evaluate the youngsters. The Sabres had 5 games in 7 nights three games in three nights in three different cities. I'm sure the other teams had similar schedules.

To me it's such a critical time of the year for the coaches and staff to evaluate their teams. I am too lazy to look up how other teams have started the season when playing over there. I think the Rangers got off to a good start if I remember correctly a couple of years ago.

Just wondering what everyone thinks of these games and are they worth it? Maybe at a different point of the season?

I'm not sure how Kings, Rangers and Ducks fans feel but frankly I'd rather the Sabres were staying here.
*********************************************************
From the Buffalo News. Note: they are not bitching about it but reading the story got me thinking about this...

The season opener in far-off Finland is Oct. 7 but the plane headed for their European adventure leaves Saturday, so training camp is essentially over for the Buffalo Sabres.

After taking Monday off, the team reconvened for practice Tuesday in First Niagara Center and it could have been any winter's morning.

There was just one practice group, rather than the three you need to survive a camp with 60-plus bodies. And there was a tidy total of 22 players on the ice: Four forward lines (plus Derek Roy skating in a non-contact role), seven defensemen and two goalies.

The Sabres will have a public scrimmage downtown tonight at 7. They practice Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings (and head to Washington for a game Friday night). Then they leave Saturday night for workouts in Mannheim, Germany and won't be back until Oct. 9.......

Sabres pared to more normal numbers - Sabres & NHL - The Buffalo News

 

[Slimpikins]

I didn't like it when the Sharks opened with two games in Europe because the crowds stunk. They weren't cheering for either team and I think it kind of kills the atmosphere.

I get all jacked up for the start of a new season and the first couple of games are finally on and it is quiter than a half full college arena.

 

[puckhead]

I know I wouldn't want my team to be involved with them.

the season is enough of a grind without starting off with a 10,000 mile road trip.
those games are fucked up, the next week or so when you are back are fucked up... it just puts you behind the eight ball from the start of the season. Especially for west coast teams who have a travel disadvantage anyways.

Nucks and Ducks had a thing in Japan a lot of years ago (Kariya was the draw), and both teams slugged out of the gate when they got back.
when the league is this tight to make it to the playoffs, you can't afford that.

 

[IPostedWhat]

I didn't like it when the Sharks opened with two games in Europe because the crowds stunk. They weren't cheering for either team and I think it kind of kills the atmosphere.

So you're saying that the Sabres should ask the Bills for advice on how to deal with that?

 

[jstewismybastardson]

I know I wouldn't want my team to be involved with them.

this

 

[BOSSMANPC]

I didn't like it when the Sharks opened with two games in Europe because the crowds stunk. They weren't cheering for either team and I think it kind of kills the atmosphere.

I get all jacked up for the start of a new season and the first couple of games are finally on and it is quiter than a half full college arena.

Good point Slim, there is no "Home ice" advantage as far as the crowd goes. It only comes into play for line changes.

You said they had shitty crowds? I thought these games had good attendance but I guess not and if that's the case why bother with them?

 

[BOSSMANPC]

I know I wouldn't want my team to be involved with them.

the season is enough of a grind without starting off with a 10,000 mile road trip.
those games are fucked up, the next week or so when you are back are fucked up... it just puts you behind the eight ball from the start of the season. Especially for west coast teams who have a travel disadvantage anyways.

Nucks and Ducks had a thing in Japan a lot of years ago (Kariya was the draw), and both teams slugged out of the gate when they got back.
when the league is this tight to make it to the playoffs, you can't afford that.

Good post Puck. I agree it hurts the west teams even more.

 

[Slimpikins]

Good point Slim, there is no "Home ice" advantage as far as the crowd goes. It only comes into play for line changes.

You said they had shitty crowds? I thought these games had good attendance but I guess not and if that's the case why bother with them?

The crowd numbers are good but the atmosphere sucks so when a good play happens or someone scores you only get 1/4 to 1/2 of the crowd cheering. The rest cheer for the other team or not at all. Kind of like a Phoenix Coyotes game

 

[BOSSMANPC]

So you're saying that the Sabres should ask the Bills for advice on how to deal with that?

A reference to the Bills "home games" in Toronto I gather?

 

[IPostedWhat]

A reference to the Bills "home games" in Toronto I gather?

yes

 

[BOSSMANPC]

yes

Not to get OT here but I'll tell you what. If the Bills are still on a roll and lose the game at Rogers Centre the fans here are going to go fucking nuts! They were already bitching in the past about the dome being closed against Miami and the cold weather is part of our home field advantage.

 

[The Q stache]

I hated it when the Hawks were in Helsinki, but it didnt hinder them as they started hot and won the cup that year.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

Unless you have a team that is well known in that country, the crowds do tend to be quiet.

But when the Sens opened in Stockholm, the crowd was pretty noisy because they were cheering for Daniel Alfredsson.

The Rangers games in Stockholm this year should be pretty noisy because of King Henrik, so there should be a home game feeling for the Rangers.

The Sabres/Ducks game in Finland features a few Finns on both sides, but I assume Anaheim will win out with Saku Koivu and Selanne.

Sabres/Kings in Mannheim could be quieter since Germany isn't as big of a hockey country as Finland or Sweden, but with Hecht and Ehrhoff, both having played for the German national team (Ehrhoff much moreso than Hecht) could make things interesting.

 

[rares]

I know I wouldn't want my team to be involved with them.

the season is enough of a grind without starting off with a 10,000 mile road trip.
those games are fucked up, the next week or so when you are back are fucked up... it just puts you behind the eight ball from the start of the season. Especially for west coast teams who have a travel disadvantage anyways.

Nucks and Ducks had a thing in Japan a lot of years ago (Kariya was the draw), and both teams slugged out of the gate when they got back.
when the league is this tight to make it to the playoffs, you can't afford that.

+1

Agreed 100%. Never again for my Sharks, please.

The whole thing is total fail for the reasons mentioned above.

Good luck to the other Guinea pigs involved in this experiment. Glad the Sharks won't ever do it again.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Unless you have a team that is well known in that country, the crowds do tend to be quiet.

But when the Sens opened in Stockholm, the crowd was pretty noisy because they were cheering for Daniel Alfredsson.

The Rangers games in Stockholm this year should be pretty noisy because of King Henrik, so there should be a home game feeling for the Rangers.

The Sabres/Ducks game in Finland features a few Finns on both sides, but I assume Anaheim will win out with Saku Koivu and Selanne.

Sabres/Kings in Mannheim could be quieter since Germany isn't as big of a hockey country as Finland or Sweden, but with Hecht and Ehrhoff, both having played for the German national team (Ehrhoff much moreso than Hecht) could make things interesting.

sabresfan, Didn't you attend the game in Stockholm when you were over there?

 

[BOSSMANPC]

+1

Agreed 100%. Never again for my Sharks, please.

The whole thing is total fail for the reasons mentioned above.

Good luck to the other Guinea pigs involved in this experiment. Glad the Sharks won't ever do it again.

What compounds the problem with the Sabres is their schedule is top heavy with road games very early in the season. I think the first 4 out of 5 are on the road when they get back. I need to check the schedule I could be off a game or two but it is road game top heavy.

 

[Destroydacre]

I hate the overseas games. It takes the teams that go over there several weeks to recover even when they have a week off after returning to North America. It happened to the Sharks last year in Europe and in 1998 (IIRC) when they opened in Japan. There's no reason for it. It's a waste of money and a strain on all teams involved.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Yep, just checked it.....

Oct 14 CAR 7:30 PM
Oct 15 @PIT 7:00 PM
Oct 18 @MON 7:30 PM
Oct 20 @FLA 7:30 PM
Oct 22 @TB 7:00 PM

 

[DChero]

I'm actually on the other side of the argument and here's why:

1) I don't believe it takes 6 games to evaluate a handful of players on the bubble. We already know what 75% of the NHL/AHL lineups will look like. I would think 4 games (2 a piece) is more than enough time for an evaluation. No one expects a player to develop in camp, they develop during the season. Camp is just a time to test where they are currently.

2) Playing oversees is a financial endeavor to grow the game. I agree that it's an uphill battle, but the more talent this league can pull from, the more established it will be. Getting your favorite team/players some more publicity there will only add to your fanbase.

3) Fuck Dallas.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

I'm actually on the other side of the argument and here's why:

1) I don't believe it takes 6 games to evaluate a handful of players on the bubble. We already know what 75% of the NHL/AHL lineups will look like. I would think 4 games (2 a piece) is more than enough time for an evaluation. No one expects a player to develop in camp, they develop during the season. Camp is just a time to test where they are currently.

2) Playing oversees is a financial endeavor to grow the game. I agree that it's an uphill battle, but the more talent this league can pull from, the more established it will be. Getting your favorite team/players some more publicity there will only add to your fanbase.

3) Fuck Dallas.

Well I agree with #3. But it's not only the evaluation of talent it's working on the teams chemistry like defensive and forward pairings along with special teams. A lot of this is done in practice and if you don't get the practice time it makes it harder.

Again these are just my thought's and that's why I'm curious to hear what others have to say about it.

I probably should have put up a poll asking if people wanted their teams to participate in these games but from what I see the general consensus would be no. Am I wrong?