16 afternoon games this year = poor play

[DJB]

We all know the Sens are either asleep, or just plain suck when it comes to afternoon games. Well this year we will have played 16 games that begin before 7pm local time. As compared to our fellow Ontario blue team which will play a total of 3.

I realize this is all for TV deals and such, but to me the Sens are getting the shaft here big time and certainly has played into our demise this year.

Anyone else with thoughts on this?

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[OgieO]

My thoughts are that our opponent also plays at the same time so it shouldn't matter. If a team sucks in the afternoon that's their problem, not the leagues.

 

[moz]

It's not the shaft, we played more Saturday afternoon games by request.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

I'm fairly confident I remember hearing that Melnyk/management liked afternoon games because they were more profitable?

 

[saskriders]

I'm fairly confident I remember hearing that Melnyk/management liked afternoon games because they were more profitable?

Are they more profitable if they cost us a playoff spot?

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

Are they more profitable if they cost us a playoff spot?

The players not being able to get up for afternoon games are to blame, not the time slot.

That being said, I hate afternoon games. Hockey is meant to be played at night, not in the afternoon. **** there were a couple of games at noon this season.

I hope it changes next year.

 

[Sun God Nika]

Yup, Afternoon games are Melynk's fault they get more revenue when Sportsnet airs the game compared to CBC, and if a game starts after 3PM CBC gets it on Saturdays, and Sundays(?)

 

[arglebargle]

The afternoon games actually end up selling out or coming close most of the time, even when the team is awful. They're here to stay and should be, from a business perspective.

It should not be difficult to fix this problem. Have them go to bed earlier, have an 8:00 AM morning skate, have them nap earlier in the day... it's not hard. Figure it out.

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

The afternoon games actually end up selling out or coming close most of the time, even when the team is awful. They're here to stay and should be, from a business perspective.

It should not be difficult to fix this problem. Have them go to bed earlier, have an 8:00 AM morning skate, have them nap earlier in the day... it's not hard. Figure it out.

Targeting families and kids. I get it, I just don't like it.

 

[Indrew]

I do agree that they suck in the afternoon. I'd also much rather watch a game at night.

That being said, it's up to the team from the coaches to the players to find a way to prepare for these early games. It's not all Leeder/Melnyk's fault. I feel dirty.

 

[pm88]

games in the afternoon are natural for football but its just odd when it comes to hockey

I'd rather watch games at night

 

[Ouroboros]

Did the Sens not have a winning record in afternoon games in the two seasons prior to this one? Pretty sure they did. It's probably just variance. They aren't that great in night games either.

Just not very good full stop.

 

[Super Cake]

Did the Sens not have a winning record in afternoon games in the two seasons prior to this one? Pretty sure they did. It's probably just variance. They aren't that great in night games either.

Just not very good full stop.

I think they sucked in afternoon games last season as well.

 

[Ouroboros]

i think they sucked in afternoon games last season as well.

4-3-3

 

[Scrub*]

We likely suck at afternoon games because most of the team is up late the night before getting hammered at the big rig.

 

[MainDotC]

My thoughts are that our opponent also plays at the same time so it shouldn't matter. If a team sucks in the afternoon that's their problem, not the leagues.

Agreed. Players should be playing to their potential at all times and stop making excuses.

 

[SenzZen]

We likely suck at afternoon games because most of the team is up late the night before getting hammered at the big rig.

 

[Xspyrit]

Personally, I hate Olympic years.

 

[LynxBud]

Afternoon games are so lame, as is Melnyk. I miss Saturday night hockey.

However, despite Melnyk and management being idiots and going for profits over success in the standings, it's really on the players.
As long as there's another team getting up at the same time and playing the same game, there's no excuse as to why the Sens suck in afternoon games.

The Sens are simply VERY unmotivated this year. Whether it's because of Melnyk being a cheapass or Alfie leaving, I don't care.
These players are being paid more money PER GAME than I see in several years. I am pretty poor, but still.

Anyway, was refreshing this year to hear some of what MacArthur has had to say.
Both he and Karlsson should have an A next year, but this team's a joke when picking captains. It's all about time-served.

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

Afternoon games are so lame, as is Melnyk. I miss Saturday night hockey.

However, despite Melnyk and management being idiots and going for profits over success in the standings, it's really on the players.
As long as there's another team getting up at the same time and playing the same game, there's no excuse as to why the Sens suck in afternoon games.

The Sens are simply VERY unmotivated this year. Whether it's because of Melnyk being a cheapass or Alfie leaving, I don't care.
These players are being paid more money PER GAME than I see in several years. I am pretty poor, but still.

Anyway, was refreshing this year to hear some of what MacArthur has had to say.
Both he and Karlsson should have an A next year, but this team's a joke when picking captains. It's all about time-served.

You claim Sens brass are idiots for choosing profit over points, but at the same time blame the players for blowing afternoon games. How is it management's fault if the players are at fault?

There is no rational reason why the Sens blew afternoon games. It wasn't some forgone conclusion that they would do just that, before the season when the schedule was made, management made a decision that they felt, and rightfully so, shouldn't affect the team's success one bit.

 

[SenzZen]

And we're not getting the shaft with afternoon games.

Have you seen the team play during the evening games?

 

[LynxBud]

You claim Sens brass are idiots for choosing profit over points, but at the same time blame the players for blowing afternoon games. How is it management's fault if the players are at fault?

There is no rational reason why the Sens blew afternoon games. It wasn't some forgone conclusion that they would do just that, before the season when the schedule was made, management made a decision that they felt, and rightfully so, shouldn't affect the team's success one bit.

So 100% of the fault has to be directed at the players..? Or..?

I fault management for choosing the afternoon games. I'm gonna go ahead and doubt that the players were in on this deal.
Then I fault the players for not showing up during these crappy time slots that management decided on.

Pretty simple, there's blame to go around. Not to mention it's my opinion. I think they're both to blame, more-so the players.

 

[Micklebot]

So 100% of the fault has to be directed at the players..? Or..?

I fault management for choosing the afternoon games. I'm gonna go ahead and doubt that the players were in on this deal.
Then I fault the players for not showing up during these crappy time slots that management decided on.

Pretty simple, there's blame to go around. Not to mention it's my opinion. I think they're both to blame, more-so the players.

You can only fault management if afternoon games actually put the team at a disadvantage. I'm not so sure they do, despite our teams best efforts to prove they are.

 

[Bileur]

This is on the coaching and the players. The schedule is what it is, this is not a situation where we have constant back to backs or three games in four nights. These guys are professionals and should be able to do what is necessary to be prepared to play NHL hockey at whatever time.

The coaching and the team know the schedule ahead of time. The guys should be professionals but it becomes necessary for the team to put in "day before afternoon game" protocols or curfews I'd expect the team to do so.

 

[arglebargle]

So 100% of the fault has to be directed at the players..? Or..?

I fault management for choosing the afternoon games. I'm gonna go ahead and doubt that the players were in on this deal.
Then I fault the players for not showing up during these crappy time slots that management decided on.

Pretty simple, there's blame to go around. Not to mention it's my opinion. I think they're both to blame, more-so the players.

No that's completely absurd. When west coast teams come east they play at 4:00 in the afternoon on their time, and the west has been crushing the east for a decade. There's absolutely no reason at all for this team to play like total garbage if the game doesn't start at 7:00 PM. The idea that it's at all the fault of the schedule is just pure insanity.

There are plenty of other teams who play just fine in afternoon games. This team just didn't prepare for them well enough this year. The solution is for them to HTFU and fix it.