NHL Hockey thread

[Grey Fox]

It seems like the model was trained on a lot of Cyrillic writing. Still can't draw fingers properly.

[Sophie Scholl]

With the Jackets in blow it up mode, I'm really glad the PWHL is so amazing. I've watched more hockey via their games than I had in the past few years combined of AHL and NHL games. I also plan on going to catch a few of the IIHF Women's Tournament games in person.

[viper37]

With the Jackets in blow it up mode, I'm really glad the PWHL is so amazing. I've watched more hockey via their games than I had in the past few years combined of AHL and NHL games. I also plan on going to catch a few of the IIHF Women's Tournament games in person.

The Women are impressive to watch.  Good hockey there, for the few parts I could watch.

[viper37]

This looks like the movie Slapshot:
https://www.rds.ca/hockey/lnh/lnh-bagarre-generale-entre-les-rangers-et-les-devils-des-le-debut-du-match-1.18480045


Right at the beginning of the game, as the puck drops, all players drop their gloves to fight one another.    All players except the goalies are involved in the fights and the crowd is cheering.

The coaches were insulting one another and this game had the most penalty minutes since a 2014 game when John Tortorella tried to assault the locker room of the opposing team.


There is no such thing as violence problem in modern major league hockey.
Repeat after me: there is no such things as a violence problem in modern major league hockey.

[viper37]

The Coyotes are done for.  Moving to Salt Lake City for the next season.

The new owner is paying 1.2 billion$ to the NHL, the current owner receives 1 billion$ of those.

Link

[viper37]

While Israel conveniently diverted everyone's attention away with its attack on Iran, the NHL's governor board could easily proceed to ratify the official move of the Coyotes to Salt Lake City.


Their arena has a capacity of 12 000 seats for hockey.  Plans are in motion to expand it to 17 000, apparently.  No name has been announced for the team yet. 


Meruelo, the current former Arizona Coyote owner has 5 years to buy a plot of land and build a modern arena on it if it wants to bring back the franchise to this desert.  Although he does not require public funding or tax rebates, there are major obstructions to his project: city infrastructures, notably the water needed in a desert city that is already stretched for this resource.


This does not feel like satire:
NHL to expand to every city in North America except Quebec City

If you don't have an NHL ready arena don't worry. Just not speaking french or having a rich history of loving hockey is enough for us!"

[Barrister]

This does not feel like satire:
NHL to expand to every city in North America except Quebec City

If you don't have an NHL ready arena don't worry. Just not speaking french or having a rich history of loving hockey is enough for us!"

Ryan Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz, and soon-to-be owner of the former Arizona Coyotes, is spending $1.2 billion to buy the Coyotes.

Is there anyone out there willing to spend $1.2 billion to buy a team in Quebec City?

It's a real shame, but money is the only language the NHL will listen to.  I don't think PKP had $500 mil a decade ago to get an expansion team back when Vegas entered the league, and I'm sure he doesn't have $1.2 bil now.

I'd love to see the Nords back.  But the NHL's actions are more easily explainable than just being anti-french bigots.

[Grey Fox]

No, there isn't and PKP doesn't have 1.2B USD to spend on this.

Just like with a MLB team, no one is really interested in paying with their own money.

[HVC]

Hamilton doesn't speak French and will never get a team either.

[Barrister]

No, there isn't and PKP doesn't have 1.2B USD to spend on this.

Just like with a MLB team, no one is really interested in paying with their own money.

Winnipeg is so lucky to have gotten back in to the league when we did. 2011 the price was $170 mil IIRC.  Now it's 1.2 bil.  I know Winnipeg has the wealthiest man in Canada as part of it's ownership group, but almost no chance he'd step up to finance a hockey team at that price.

[viper37]

This does not feel like satire:
NHL to expand to every city in North America except Quebec City

If you don't have an NHL ready arena don't worry. Just not speaking french or having a rich history of loving hockey is enough for us!"

Ryan Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz, and soon-to-be owner of the former Arizona Coyotes, is spending $1.2 billion to buy the Coyotes.

Is there anyone out there willing to spend $1.2 billion to buy a team in Quebec City?

It's a real shame, but money is the only language the NHL will listen to.  I don't think PKP had $500 mil a decade ago to get an expansion team back when Vegas entered the league, and I'm sure he doesn't have $1.2 bil now.

I'd love to see the Nords back.  But the NHL's actions are more easily explainable than just being anti-french bigots.

The price was not 1.2 billion$ a decade ago though.

The NHL sunk money in Arizona.  Now they recoup their costs.  It's fair.  But they could have made money elsewhere.

I know it ain't about racism or language.  It's about expanding markets.  Montreal dominates Quebec and the NHL already dominates Canada.  One more team in Quebec will not increase the amount of $$ for the TV rights in the next bidding round.  Even if it was in Hamilton, I don't think Rogers would be more.

But in the US, there are still new viewers to get.

No matter what they do, we are still going to watch the games.  The NHL teams arenas in Canada are still going to be filled, the merchandises is still going to sold and the games are gonna be watched.

Maybe if we really increase our pop to 100 million soccer watchers there's something to be done.

[viper37]

No, there isn't and PKP doesn't have 1.2B USD to spend on this.

Just like with a MLB team, no one is really interested in paying with their own money.

PKP alone, no.

PKP with others, if he was willing to listen, yes.


The MLB needs a tax-payer funded stadium.  Until then, ain't going to happen.  This is the way it works for most cities.

[Valmy]

Ah the NHL playoffs...a war between contenders sure that this year is their year and the Washington Capitals who are probably the shittiest playoff team since back when 80% of the league made the playoffs. A team that is either able to win 2-1 or lose 7-0.

The Caps cannot even suck properly these days.

[Barrister]

No Viper!

Do you honestly think the NHL believes there is more money to be made in fucking Utah?  That there's some horde of mormons out there that'll become huge hockey fans if only there is a team placed in Salt Lake City?

No.

It is honestly as simple as the fact they found a guy who would spend $1.2 billion to put a team there.

If Saskatoon had someone willing to spend $1.2 billion to put a team in Saskatchewan, that's where the team would be going instead.

It's just that cold.  It's all about franchise value.

[Barrister]

In more proper hockey talk - YOUR Winnipeg Jets face off against the Colorado Avalanche.

So I mean the Jets have had a pretty good season, securing second in the Central.  They were tops of the league at one point, and Connor Hellebuyck seem to be the favourite to win the Vezina.  They also just crushed the Avs 7-0 earlier in the week.

I like the Jets against the Avs (though it's not going to be as easy as 7-0 suggests), but getting past Dallas in the second round would be a different story.