OT: NHL related

[miker183]

Unimaginable, but if things hold, all seven Canadian NHL teams will be shut out of the playoffs.

This hasn't happened since 1970, and at that time, Toronto and Montreal were the only two NHL teams. Hard to believe after the blistering start Montreal had this year. In a league where critics always say, "everybody makes the playoffs in the NHL" this is a very weird occurrence.

For anyone that cares.

 

[superfan01]

Almost as terrible as the Rangers 1 Stanley cup in the last 76 years.

 

[ClassOf02]

That is a really interesting factoid. There would be a lot of grumpiness north of the border. Montreal's collapse this year is stunning -- their coach is done.

 

[miker183]

That is a really interesting factoid. There would be a lot of grumpiness north of the border. Montreal's collapse this year is stunning -- their coach is done.

Agree, with the conflict with Subban and Therrien, something's gonna give. I find Subban a bit lazy, immensely talented though. But, the guy just donated about $10 million to a Children's Hospital, so he's certainly involved in the Montreal community.

 

[lilphilw]

the Canadians lost their starting goalie early on and it's been all down hill since. All the other Canadian teams don't look too good right now and don't think any of them will contend for the cup for a couple years. Also how embarrassing are the oilers? 3 number 1 overall picks in what 6 years? And they're still in the basement

 

[cicero grimes]

Toronto surprises me as I thought Lou's arrival would have a more immediate impact. Time will tell but yes, having no teams from the Great White North in the playoffs is a real surprise.

 

[miker183]

Toronto surprises me as I thought Lou's arrival would have a more immediate impact. Time will tell but yes, having no teams from the Great White North in the playoffs is a real surprise.

Would think that Babcock would make the more IMMEDIATE impact. But, I think they need to retool what they have; they're in much better shape than Edmonton or Calgary. At least they have some kind of framework to build on. Thinking Montreal has a shattered locker room.

 

[cicero grimes]

Would think that Babcock would make the more IMMEDIATE impact. But, I think they need to retool what they have; they're in much better shape than Edmonton or Calgary. At least they have some kind of framework to build on. Thinking Montreal has a shattered locker room.

Yes, Montreal is just crazy.

 

[masice520]

There's def something to be said about the pressure of playing in a Canadian city vs a US city. That is pretty hard to believe though.

 

[rurichdog]

Good thing they brought Winnipeg back from the dead. Maybe they can resurrect the Quebec Nordiques and keep them out of the playoffs too.

 

[miker183]

Good thing they brought Winnipeg back from the dead. Maybe they can resurrect the Quebec Nordiques and keep them out of the playoffs too.

I shouldn't have liked this . . . but I did.
I think Winnipeg is doing well with attendance, but how long that lasts? ???

 

[radio43]

Good thing they brought Winnipeg back from the dead. Maybe they can resurrect the Quebec Nordiques and keep them out of the playoffs too.

The Nordiques will be resurrected, it will be the New Jersey Devils moving there in a few years.... Open seats at the Marty Brodeur Ceremonies.... Really?

 

[tico brown]

the Canadians lost their starting goalie early on and it's been all down hill since.

I wonder if their fans blame Chris Krieder for that as well lol?

 

[rurichdog]

The Nordiques will be resurrected, it will be the New Jersey Devils moving there in a few years.... Open seats at the Marty Brodeur Ceremonies.... Really?

No way. My beloved Islanders never unpacked in Brooklyn...they'll move before the Devs.

 

[lighty]

In a league where critics always say, "everybody makes the playoffs in the NHL"

People who think that are obviously not sports fans. Otherwise they would say the same thing about basketball.

 

[robcac26]

The Nordiques will be resurrected, it will be the New Jersey Devils moving there in a few years.... Open seats at the Marty Brodeur Ceremonies.... Really?

I'm not sure what world you're living in. There has been no negative mention of the Devils' finances since the new owners took over, and the Brodeur jersey retirement was sold out a long time ago, it was nearly impossible to get tickets.

It is far more likely that the Coyotes and Islanders move.

 

[mikemarc1]

The Nordiques will be resurrected, it will be the New Jersey Devils moving there in a few years.... Open seats at the Marty Brodeur Ceremonies.... Really?

Ha.

 

[RUaMoose]

People who think that are obviously not sports fans. Otherwise they would say the same thing about basketball.

Sub 0.500 teams rarely if ever make the playoffs in the NHL. In the NBA's EC, that happens routinely.

 

[rufeelinit]

Still trying to get used the Isles in Brooklyn. Not the same as the Coliseum particularly last year. It was a dump and needed to be replaced but too bad the could not find an alternative on the Island. Leafs are a major rebuild even with Lamoriello and Babcock. I think the hope is that they finally get it right since that franchise has been down for awhile despite a very passionate fan following. I dislike the Rangers but have to give them props for beating both the Blues and Stars on the road this week. Have they changed the format of the playoffs so that they seed by division rather than conference which would mean Rangers vs Isles in the first round if the season ended today?

 

[mikemarc1]

Yes. Format changed last year I think.

Top 3 in each division make it..then two wildcards (top 2 remaining per conference).

 

[RU#1fan]

Would think that Babcock would make the more IMMEDIATE impact. But, I think they need to retool what they have; they're in much better shape than Edmonton or Calgary. At least they have some kind of framework to build on. Thinking Montreal has a shattered locker room.

Correct.
Subban is the problem in the locker room.

 

[brista21]

I'm not sure what world you're living in. There has been no negative mention of the Devils' finances since the new owners took over, and the Brodeur jersey retirement was sold out a long time ago, it was nearly impossible to get tickets.

It is far more likely that the Coyotes and Islanders move.

Absolutely. The Coyotes really should be moved, it shouldn't take such herculean, long-term efforts to keep a team in town. And the Coyotes should go to Quebec or to a more hockey friendly US market. The Islanders need to figure out a long-term solution in Nassau County or Queens which would be much closer to the Nassau/Suffolk core fanbase than Brooklyn.

 

[RU#1fan]

Good thing they brought Winnipeg back from the dead. Maybe they can resurrect the Quebec Nordiques and keep them out of the playoffs too.

I think the Hartford Whalers return before the Nordiques.
The Carolina Hurricanes are drawing about 12,000 fans at best in Raleigh. Yikes .

 

[DontTedonMe]

Absolutely. The Coyotes really should be moved, it shouldn't take such herculean, long-term efforts to keep a team in town. And the Coyotes should go to Quebec or to a more hockey friendly US market. The Islanders need to figure out a long-term solution in Nassau County or Queens which would be much closer to the Nassau/Suffolk core fanbase than Brooklyn.

Aren't something like 2000 seats at BC obscured view because the dopes that designed it never envisioned hockey being played there. That's real vision I tell ya. I mean you have an NHL hockey team 20 miles away that needs a new joint and is having problems getting voter buy in. You didn't need to be Nostradamus to see the Islanders would be a future tenant

 

[brista21]

Aren't something like 2000 seats at BC obscured view because the dopes that designed it never envisioned hockey being played there. That's real vision I tell ya. I mean you havein.hockey team 20 miles away that needs a new joint and is having problems getting voter buy in. You didn't need to be Nostradamus to see the Islanders would be a future tenant

Yup, hockey capacity is the lowest in the league. Not only are there about 2000 obstructed view seats, there's a few sections that they don't even open/sell because the views would be so poor. And yes exactly, in a market with 3 pro hockey teams, no one bothered to see there was a good possibility that the Islanders might end up a tenant someday. Even if it was a part-time tenancy, where they played a half a dozen games or so a year there. If they get a new arena out on the Island more, I bet they'd still want to play a few preseason and regular season games a year in Brooklyn just for the exposure that those game got.

 

[robcac26]

I think Seattle would be a good market, and Kansas City has a brand new NHL-ready arena waiting for a tenant. The NHL supposedly has been considering Las Vegas, but I think that would be a disaster. I doubt Hartford will happen, they're barely supporting an AHL team. Also, the Penguins might have been playing in Hamilton, Ontario for a few years now if the sale to Jim Balsillie wasn't rejected by the league because of how clearly-stated his intentions were to move the team there.

 

[lilphilw]

After the excitement in Winnipeg, they haven't been selling out every game is one of the smallest arenas in hockey. They got an ahl team and lost a lot of season ticket holders. Plus they're bad this year

I could actually see the islanders moving somewhere with their issues finding an arena. They're trying to leave the Barclays now with how bad the seats and structure are and who knows what solution they'll come up with. but the NHL is already looking to add two more teams overall and I believe Seattle would be one of the locations.