I mean, as much as we are going balls deep with analytics in our decision making, it does make sense that we won't value the role of an in person scout that highly going forward. Especially when there is enough film out there on every player that it might be cheaper to just pay for the tape of players we're targeting rather than the full salary and benefits of an employee.
Hard to say you deserve an NHL team when the AHL squad hasn't attracted more than 4600 (average) since 05-06 (exception being 10-11 when they were rebranding as the Whale). For comparison, Charlotte hasn't had <4600 since 03-04...when they were a struggling ECHL team under Don McAdam who'd long worn out his welcome...
You can’t take the pro team away and have them put the Rangers minor league team in their place and expect it to do well in the early days. It had been made clear the league thought CT fans would have plenty of other teams to root for like the Rangers.....and then they literally put their minor league team there. I had left already but I would’ve had nothing but the middle finger for that. To this day I’ve gone to see two games with my nephews.
Honestly I think they'd do just as well as in Charlotte...lots of college kids can't afford to go to Canes games, but they could absolutely afford an AHL game. If there was an AHL team while I was @ State, I'd have had season tickets or at least a hefty mini-plan (too much schoolwork to make all the games). Just like while Atlanta has failed to hold their NHL teams, I think AHL could absolutely thrive there (and why I don't understand why Houston lost their team and hasn't been replaced). And I get what @bleedgreen is saying, it's kind of like what happened in Greensboro when the Monarchs got ousted for the Canes, the Generals just never quite caught on the same and there's still resentment about hockey there. I remember when they tried to draw on the Whaler market with the "Connecticut Whale" rebranding...I don't believe it went over too particularly well (kinda like some people freak out when the Canes do Whalers, but way way worse).
That I 100% understand and agree with... it's like when Canes moved Albany River Rats and Checkers ECHL were leaving, there was no way the AHL squad was going to be anything other than the Charlotte Checkers...just too much history not to carry on the identity. I think that Hartford market just got wrecked, combine that the area has stagnated and it just doesn't seem (from an outside perspective) like a suitable NHL market anymore, as passionate as the remaining fans are
Holy “Getting-all-your-replies-in-at-once” Batman!The thing about this is, you really can't judge a city based on sole population alone because the raw numbers don't tell the whole story. Jacksonville (FL) is a good example of this, largest city in the state but nowhere near the size of Orlando, Miami, or Tampa/St Pete in metro numbers. Hell even Cary isn't that much smaller than Salt Lake City (the actual city), and they've got the NBA and MLS.
I was just thinking about this. The only NHL-only state is Nevada, and that is now no more now with the Raiders in town. Maybe the Canes should try Myrtle Beach and give those Palmetto Staters something to root for besides college students playing pigskin
No joke, if you put Cary in SC it becomes that states largest city, and by a pretty good amount too. SC has weird annexation laws but still.
The N&O article someone posted in another thread stated that Dudley is a "jumper", he did his work here and now he's off to help another team turn things around. Sounds like that was the plan all along anyways.
They are. Friend of mine lives in Farmington and states this is true. Hartford FWIW was facing bankruptcy not that long ago but I don't think they ever actually filed.
There was not a lot of enthusiasm for that name. Why I don't know, but I remember some folks on the AHL section here at HF expressed their discontent with the change.
You're supposed to respond to each individually so you can get more licksWell I am trying to keep my post count down these days
Licks and likes have the same effect emotionally.
Depends very much on who is doing the licking.
I’m at a point in my life I’m not in a position to turn them down
I am young and need validation.
I remember the story of the first Faniversary the Whalers Booster Club holds every year where they had a door raffle. One of the prizes was a pair of tickets to a Pack playoff game. The guy who won them got the tickets, pulled out a Bic lighter and proceeded to burn them while being cheered enthusiastically by all in the room. I'd have rather seen the HCC bulldozed to the ground than host a rags farm team.
Imagine being Wayne Gretzky and having your Olympic gold crusade thwarted by some Czech bois.
Ya just love to see it. The best of the best going up against each other, knowing only one can come out on top. I really hope we get to see NHL players at the olympics again soon.
Ya just love to see it. The best of the best going up against each other, knowing only one can come out on top. I really hope we get to see NHL players at the olympics again soon.
