http://www.hockeyjournal.com/nhl/Fischler Report/200609/20060904Fischler.htm Section about 2/3rds down talks about how the NHLPA will have one marketing leader on each team to help lead the players to promote the team off the ice. (Fischler says they should start by each player sitting at this locker for ten minutes after the games to respond to media questions.)
Here's who I think each team should use: Anaheim - S. Niedermayer Atlanta - Kovalchuk Boston - Boyes Buffalo - Miller Calgary - Iginla Carolina - Staal Chicago - Havlat Colorado - Sakic Columbus - Nash Dallas - Modano Detroit - Shanahan Edmonton - Smyth Florida - Bouwmester Los Angeles - Avery (You might not like him, but he gets his name out there) Minnesota - Gaborik Montreal - Kovalev Nashville - Kariya New Jersey - Gomez NY Islanders - DiPietro NY Rangers - Jagr Ottawa - Alfredsson Philadelphia - Forsberg Phoenix - Roenick Pittsburgh - Duh! Tampa Bay - Lecavalier Toronto - Sundin Vancouver - Luongo Washington - Again, Duh!
Did St. Louis and San Jose get kicked out of the league? I still want to see someone mock up a photo of Kovalchuk pointing to some product as part of the company's marketing campaign.
For me: Anaheim-Niedermayer Atlanta-Kovalchuk Boston-Bergeron Buffalo-Miller or Drury Calgary-Iginla Carolina-Staal Chicago-Havlat Colorado-Sakic Columbus-Nash Detroit-Lidstrom or Zetterberg Dallas-Turco or Modano Edmonton-Smyth Florida-Jokinen or Bouwmeester or Horton Los Angeles-Frolov or Norstrom Minnesota-Gaborik Montreal-Kovalev or Rivet Nashville-Kariya or Sullivan New Jersey-Brodeur New York Isles-DiPietro New York Rangers-Jagr Ottawa-Alfredsson or Heatley Philadelphia-Forsberg Phoenix-Roenick or Jovo Cop Pittsburgh-Crosby St. Louis-Tkachuk or Guerin San Jose-Thornton Tampa Bay-St. Louis or Lecavalier Toronto-Sundin or Tucker Vancouver-Naslund or Luongo Washington-Ovechkin
For the Panthers -- Bouwmeester is too quiet to be very marketable and Jokinen is too ugly. I'd go with Nieuwendyk until he retires.
I think this is a step in the right direction. The NHL will have an interesting opportunity in the next few years with several "high profile" minority prospects coming to the fore (guys like the Stewarts, Al Montoya, Setoguchi, etc). The league should work on promoting the diversity of the NHL in addition to it's more colorful and well-spoken athletes.
Rabid I couldn't agree with you more. The NHL needs to look at all avenues and the minority community is a good start. I am sure a lot of minority groups would want to work with teams to get their message out and vice-versa. Along with this clubs need to start bringing minorities into the front office as well. My only hesitation is that the star player doesn't always make the best person to represent the team. You need someone who can speak well about the game but also shows enthusiasm about the game plus let it be someone you can understand. For instance I would not put Jagr out there for the Rangers. I would probably go with Ortmeyer for the fact that he is someone the everyday fan can connect with due to his work ethic and style of play.
I'm gonna open up this ****** robe and wiggle my **** at em. And do you know why? Because I want you to have a heart-attack and die so we don't have to do this **** anymore. You and your ****ing fashion shows.
As soon as I saw this thread my mind instantly went to Slap Shot. I will watch it again tonight. Or maybe, just maybe, the Rangers can add Bobby Granger to their roster.
The Kings have an advantage by having Avery and Elisha Cuthbert. Speaking of them, not sure if any of you have caught this but Avery has been on a couple of MTV's programs. Sure he's not Mr. PR but he's the only player I can recall to make more than one appearance on MTV. Speaking of which, didn't Mark Messier also appear on MTV once with the Stanley Cup?
