the hockey thread

[capt. scotty]

Pens have the best sweaters BTW. Anyone care to debate?

I debate they should never wear these jerseys again because they always lose when wearing them

[Jaimoe]

Pens have the best sweaters BTW. Anyone care to debate?

I like the baby blues, but I think all the Original Six jerseys are better. I love the old Leafs jersey, with the old-looking leaf. The 70's Bruins jerseys are my all-time favourite.

[capt. scotty]

Pens vs. Rangers in a half hour :goaliemaskface:

im more pumped for this than the Pitt game  ;D

[leopardfrog]

Being a canadian i think its refreshing that most of the threads are from americans it gives me hope that our game is catching on to new fans in various markets.Hockey will always be king in canada but the nhl needs the american teams to do well and last but not least go leafs go

[leopardfrog]

chicago jerseys hands down and keep the political correctness out of this we hear it enough as it is

[Jaimoe]

Being a canadian i think its refreshing that most of the threads are from americans it gives me hope that our game is catching on to new fans in various markets.Hockey will always be king in canada but the nhl needs the american teams to do well and last but not least go leafs go

Hockey needs to do well in traditional markets and markets that make regional sense. The NHL must stop going to US hockey outposts such as Phoenix, Atlanta (a bad pro sports town), Miami, Dallas, Columbus etc... Cut down the amount of teams, which would strengthen the league and get the NHL back on ESPN at all costs. Screw trying to "sell the game" to Americans. The NHL is almost 100 years old. Selling the game is no longer a smart or successful plan.

[capt. scotty]

Being a canadian i think its refreshing that most of the threads are from americans it gives me hope that our game is catching on to new fans in various markets.Hockey will always be king in canada but the nhl needs the american teams to do well and last but not least go leafs go

Hockey needs to do well in traditional markets and markets that make regional sense. The NHL must stop going to US hockey outposts such as Phoenix, Atlanta (a bad pro sports town), Miami, Dallas, Columbus etc... Cut down the amount of teams, which would strengthen the league and get the NHL back on ESPN at all costs. Screw trying to "sell the game" to Americans. The NHL is almost 100 years old. Selling the game is no longer a smart or successful plan.

I heard now that Columbus is finally competitive this year, theyre doing very well with ticket sales. Not only is it more north and in the hockey pipeline than those other cities, but unlike those other cities, the Jackets are the only pro sports team in Columbus.

Im pretty sure Dallas has some hardcore fans an does decent too.

The other 3 not so much and yes, they need ESPN.

[Jaimoe]

Being a canadian i think its refreshing that most of the threads are from americans it gives me hope that our game is catching on to new fans in various markets.Hockey will always be king in canada but the nhl needs the american teams to do well and last but not least go leafs go

Hockey needs to do well in traditional markets and markets that make regional sense. The NHL must stop going to US hockey outposts such as Phoenix, Atlanta (a bad pro sports town), Miami, Dallas, Columbus etc... Cut down the amount of teams, which would strengthen the league and get the NHL back on ESPN at all costs. Screw trying to "sell the game" to Americans. The NHL is almost 100 years old. Selling the game is no longer a smart or successful plan.

I heard now that Columbus is finally competitive this year, theyre doing very well with ticket sales. Not only is it more north and in the hockey pipeline than those other cities, but unlike those other cities, the Jackets are the only pro sports team in Columbus.

Im pretty sure Dallas has some hardcore fans an does decent too.

The other 3 not so much and yes, they need ESPN.

The Blue Jackets get barely any local press and zero buzz. It's obviously a college town first and foremost. Dallas has some core fans, but is it a city that can support a mediocre team over the long-haul?

[capt. scotty]

what does press have to do with selling tix and people watching on TV?!

I was actually going to mention the college town part due to Ohio State Fuckeye football, but I dont think that really affects how many fans the Jackets have.

from what Ive seen this year, the Jackets have gotten a ton of press. they're currently the 6 seed in the playoffs and Steve Mason is not only probably going to win the Calder trophy, but his name has been mentioned for the Hart.

[Jaimoe]

what does press have to do with selling tix and people watching on TV?!

I was actually going to mention the college town part due to Ohio State Fuckeye football, but I dont think that really affects how many fans the Jackets have.

from what Ive seen this year, the Jackets have gotten a ton of press. they're currently the 6 seed in the playoffs and Steve Mason is not only probably going to win the Calder trophy, but his name has been mentioned for the Hart.

Press and media covering a team is a form of promotion and helps sell tickets, especially now with the playoff worthy Blue Jackets. Is the NHL stronger in the States with the Versus deal? Mason could win multiple awards this year including the Calder and the Hart trophies.

[EAZYE]

Being a canadian i think its refreshing that most of the threads are from americans it gives me hope that our game is catching on to new fans in various markets.Hockey will always be king in canada but the nhl needs the american teams to do well and last but not least go leafs go

Hockey needs to do well in traditional markets and markets that make regional sense. The NHL must stop going to US hockey outposts such as Phoenix, Atlanta (a bad pro sports town), Miami, Dallas, Columbus etc... Cut down the amount of teams, which would strengthen the league and get the NHL back on ESPN at all costs. Screw trying to "sell the game" to Americans. The NHL is almost 100 years old. Selling the game is no longer a smart or successful plan.

Getting the games back on ESPN would help a lot.  The nearest nhl team from me is 180 miles away.  I remember 15 years ago I begged my parents to get ESPN 2 because they had NHL hockey night at least twice a night.  I've always liked watching hockey because I thought it compared a lot to indoor soccer, something I can easily relate to.  Them not being on TV isn't the only reason why I don't follow it as closely anymore but I would say it's more than 60% of the reason.

That being said 15 years ago when I really enjoyed watching hockey, I jumped on the Red Wings bandwagon, so GO DETROIT!  or are they even any good anymore.

[Jaimoe]

Being a canadian i think its refreshing that most of the threads are from americans it gives me hope that our game is catching on to new fans in various markets.Hockey will always be king in canada but the nhl needs the american teams to do well and last but not least go leafs go

Hockey needs to do well in traditional markets and markets that make regional sense. The NHL must stop going to US hockey outposts such as Phoenix, Atlanta (a bad pro sports town), Miami, Dallas, Columbus etc... Cut down the amount of teams, which would strengthen the league and get the NHL back on ESPN at all costs. Screw trying to "sell the game" to Americans. The NHL is almost 100 years old. Selling the game is no longer a smart or successful plan.

Getting the games back on ESPN would help a lot.  The nearest nhl team from me is 180 miles away.  I remember 15 years ago I begged my parents to get ESPN 2 because they had NHL hockey night at least twice a night.  I've always liked watching hockey because I thought it compared a lot to indoor soccer, something I can easily relate to.  Them not being on TV isn't the only reason why I don't follow it as closely anymore but I would say it's more than 60% of the reason.

That being said 15 years ago when I really enjoyed watching hockey, I jumped on the Red Wings bandwagon, so GO DETROIT!  or are they even any good anymore.

Detroit are the defending Stanley Cup champions and second place in the Western Conference.

The NHL is on TV in the US: the NHL Network and Versus. There is talk of getting the league back on ESPN.

[EAZYE]

i couldn't tell you who they have now, when i watched them it was fedorov, yzerman, coffey, lidstrom, etc.... which of course makes me hate, the avalanche, stars, devils, just to name a few

[capt. scotty]

i couldn't tell you who they have now, when i watched them it was fedorov, yzerman, coffey, lidstrom, etc.... which of course makes me hate, the avalanche, stars, devils, just to name a few

they still have this guy.

they do have NHL game on NBC every sunay afternoon this time of the year too.

[Jbones72]

I have a friend who works at NBC Sports and they are happy with the ratings for the game of the week and especially the Winter Classic. I agree they should get back on ESPN during the week, but I don't think hockey will ever get much more popular here than it is now.

[capt. scotty]

Just another ho-hum win by the Pens over #2 seed Devils by a score of 6-1. Im honestly starting to think we can make another cup run. Pens are now 15-2-3 under Disco Dan Bylsma and just completed a 6-1-1 homestand. Huge game vs. red hot Carolina whose only 1 pt behind the Pens next.

Big reason for the record is thanks to Marc Andre Fleury as well. Has been playing lights out almost every night. I think I heard today that over the last 3 seasons he is 28-5-3 in the month of March. Stellar. If he starts to play whole seasons with consistency, watch out.

We're now tied with Philly with 92 points and the Devils I believe are now only 6 points ahead of both teams.

A little over a month ago I didnt think we'd make the playoffs. Now I think we can beat any team in the East in a best of 7 series. Bring on the playoffs!!  8-)

[.Walt]

anyone else going to watch college hockey on the deuce today? Bemidji State is playing in the semi's of the frozen four. I know Bemidji usually gets in because they play in such a small and shitty conference, but it's the only Minnesota school left. After this year they'll be playing with the big boy's...they're moving to the WCHA. Good luck with that Bemidji! Gopher rejects!! But I'll be cheering for them today!

[capt. scotty]

I could never get into college hockey for whatever reason. I think because I didnt know any of the players was a big reason.

[Jaimoe]

I could never get into college hockey for whatever reason. I think because I didnt know any of the players was a big reason.

I only know the players that play in the world junior championships. Some of the US players are from the college ranks. The Leafs signed two big US college players last week: Christian Hanson from Notre Dame (and son of Slap Shot's Dave Hanson; yep one-third of the Hanson brothers) and Tyler Bozak, from the University of Denver.

[capt. scotty]

Yeah, I saw Christian Hanson got his first goal a couple days ago