NHL 2009 Official Thread

[Grey Fox]

I lost 5 bucks tonite since I lost the "huet will no play a second in the playoffs" bet. -1
Keenan got fired +1
Hawks win +1

When all is done, a pretty good day.

[C.C.R.]

Insert fork, pronounce done, Go Penguins...

[Neil]

Insert fork, pronounce done, Go Penguins...

Ew, gross.  Go anyone but the Penguins.

[Grey Fox]

So & the Final only start the 5th. By that time, everyone will have forgotten the NHL.

[Barrister]

So & the Final only start the 5th. By that time, everyone will have forgotten the NHL.

Who?

[Ed Anger]

Since it seems to be Pens vs Wings, I tentatively toss my support to the Pens, mainly because Satan is on the Pens.

Even though Crosby looks like he is 15 years old.

[saskganesh]

So & the Final only start the 5th. By that time, everyone will have forgotten the NHL.

see above. NBC/NHL/CBC.

[Grey Fox]

It has nothing to do with the CBC, in the Commish eyes Canada has no value.

[saskganesh]

as the highest payee for the rights to the SC final, it has everything to do with CBC.

[Strix]

It has nothing to do with the CBC, in the Commish eyes Canada has no value.

Can you blame him? Canada has roughly the same population as the NY/LA TV market combined. The NHL is a business. Bettman might be the face of the NHL but it's the owners and players who are pushing for more money.

[Grey Fox]

It has nothing to do with the CBC, in the Commish eyes Canada has no value.

Can you blame him? Canada has roughly the same population as the NY/LA TV market combined. The NHL is a business. Bettman might be the face of the NHL but it's the owners and players who are pushing for more money.

Yet 40% of the NHL revenues come from 6 teams.

[Strix]

It has nothing to do with the CBC, in the Commish eyes Canada has no value.

Can you blame him? Canada has roughly the same population as the NY/LA TV market combined. The NHL is a business. Bettman might be the face of the NHL but it's the owners and players who are pushing for more money.

Yet 40% of the NHL revenues come from 6 teams.

If your point is that no one cares about the NHL in the US than you are correct.

If your point is that Canada can provide just as much potential revenue growth as the US than you are incorrect.

Canada has six teams because the NHL hasn't caught on in the US. If the NHL does ever "arrive" than there will be a lot of pressure to move a lot of those teams south of the border. I hope for your sake that Bettman isn't still Commish if it happens because you will quickly be reduced to the Canadians and Leafs.

[saskganesh]

to borrow a sports saying, "potential" is for losers. it's like saying "she has a nice personality"

if it's about money, which it is, it's very rare for successful businesses to ignore their core customers.  if the NHL wants to lose millions for decades running shitty teams in bad sinking markets, because it might lead to a network TV deal in an era when networks are battling a full zamboni of niche cable and online providers it's their perogative. I think they just like the expansion fee crack cocaine myself.

[Neil]

as the highest payee for the rights to the SC final, it has everything to do with CBC.

Why?  Even though the CBC shovels money at them, it's clear that they have no influence whatsoever on the NHL's decisionmaking process.  Given that Hockey Night In Canada is the only thing on the CBC that isn't abysmal, I'm less than shocked that even a moron like Bettman managed to figure out who wears the pants.

[Neil]

Canada has six teams because the NHL hasn't caught on in the US. If the NHL does ever "arrive" than there will be a lot of pressure to move a lot of those teams south of the border. I hope for your sake that Bettman isn't still Commish if it happens because you will quickly be reduced to the Canadians and Leafs.

The funny thing is that hockey had already 'arrived'.  It used to be the #3 sport in the US, after all.  It took a lot of Bettman's mismanagement to destroy that position.