Around the NHL - Offseason Edition

[Irishguy42]

According to this, NBC's hockey schedule going where it hasn't been much before, I count 14... Which is ridiculous. If I didn't watch other games every night, getting the Center Ice package would be such a waste of money.

You're right. I'm bad at counting.

What's even worse is that the Caps have 19, and the Hawks have 18.

 

[Zibanejbread]

You're right. I'm bad at counting.

What's even worse is that the Caps have 19, and the Hawks have 18.

Good "diversity"... CHI, WAS, PIT, BOS, NYR were always on a lot and still are. At least it's not "Rivalry" night anymore.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Good "diversity"... CHI, WAS, PIT, BOS, NYR were always on a lot and still are. At least it's not "Rivalry" night anymore.

I understand Washington, as the Cup winners, to be near the top of the list, but what has Chicago done recently to be up there? It's the same with the f***ing outdoor games. Even their fans are tired of the outdoor games. How many Winter Classic/Stadium Series designs can you possibly have to sell jerseys to your fans?

 

[Griffinbw]

 

[Tawnos]

I understand Washington, as the Cup winners, to be near the top of the list, but what has Chicago done recently to be up there? It's the same with the ****ing outdoor games. Even their fans are tired of the outdoor games. How many Winter Classic/Stadium Series designs can you possibly have to sell jerseys to your fans?

Chicago is still one of their biggest draws. They're still tilted towards the big markets, but it's good to see them diversifying the schedule. If the experiment works, I'm sure they'll balance it out further.

 

[Irishguy42]

MRW I look at the great contracts Poile keeps signing

 

[bobbop]

Honestly I think it's very smart by Ottawa.

If an NCAA player plays 4 years in college they can become an ufa. Ottawa is a tire fire. If I'm them I'm not risking him walking.


I do the same thing if I'm them.

Everyone loves the NCAA...but still the vast majority of nhlers come via the chl.

Ottawa’s biggest job this year is getting Stone, Karlsson and Duchesne to sign extensions. This helps.

 

[bobbop]

Honestly I think it's very smart by Ottawa.

If an NCAA player plays 4 years in college they can become an ufa. Ottawa is a tire fire. If I'm them I'm not risking him walking.


I do the same thing if I'm them.

Everyone loves the NCAA...but still the vast majority of nhlers come via the chl.

Ottawa’s biggest job this year is getting Stone, Karlsson and Duchesne to sign extensions. This helps.

 

[Edge]

Chicago is still one of their biggest draws. They're still tilted towards the big markets, but it's good to see them diversifying the schedule. If the experiment works, I'm sure they'll balance it out further.

Agreed.

The theoretical decision is to follow the money, or the potential money.

In Chicago's case, they're in the same boat the Rangers were in toward the late 90s. Even as the team sucked, the ratings were still there.

One thing to understand about the approach to picking teams, it's not just about the market they play in. It's also about the connections that other locations have to that market.

So when we look at New York, Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia, you also have to factor in how many people outside those markets have a connection --- be it former residents, the team they grew up rooting for, grew up rooting against, etc.

Then you take into account where those populations move --- Florida, Vegas, Nashville, etc. and factor in the added bonus that there is competitive hockey in those markets.

It's not just names out of a hat.

 

[Zibanejbread]

I'm kinda surprised Buffalo isn't going to be shown more. They traditionally have one of, if not the, top markets in viewership. Plus a new #1 overall pick with Eichel I would think be a big draw - especially games against one of the other top markets.

 

[effen]

I'm kinda surprised Buffalo isn't going to be shown more. They traditionally have one of, if not the, top markets in viewership. Plus a new #1 overall pick with Eichel I would think be a big draw - especially games against one of the other top markets.

not all eyeballs are created equal. they have massive local numbers, especially share wise, but it's still not *that* many people compared to a potential nationwide audience. national advertisers aren't necessarily interested in 90% of views being from western new york for obvious reasons.

 

[NYR94]

Good thing they dropped the "rivalry" moniker. Some of those Wednesday Night rivalries were a stretch.

 

[Tawnos]

I'm kinda surprised Buffalo isn't going to be shown more. They traditionally have one of, if not the, top markets in viewership. Plus a new #1 overall pick with Eichel I would think be a big draw - especially games against one of the other top markets.

I think if the Sabres really do improve this year, they will be on more next year. Hard to justify giving air time to the team that finished in last place last year, which is the 3rd time in the last 5.

 

[emodwarf]

I think if the Sabres really do improve this year, they will be on more next year. Hard to justify giving air time to the team that finished in last place last year, which is the 3rd time in the last 5.

Even if the Sabres improve, how many out-of-market people will want to tune in? They'd have to wind up extremely exciting and compelling for a casual hockey fan to attract the same number of viewers as a team in a serious DMA with far more in-market viewership, national name recognition, and fans living out of market.

Sabres could win the cup and a few months later more people would still rather watch Chicago on a Wednesday night.

 

[Tawnos]

Even if the Sabres improve, how many out-of-market people will want to tune in? They'd have to wind up extremely exciting and compelling for a casual hockey fan to attract the same number of viewers as a team in a serious DMA with far more in-market viewership, national name recognition, and fans living out of market.

Sabres could win the cup and a few months later more people would still rather watch Chicago on a Wednesday night.

This cuts both ways. One of the reasons they don’t have national name recognition because NBC never presents them nationally.

I agree that what you say is true about Chicago vs Buffalo. But years of neglect are more the problem than anything else. Buffalo has one of the best young centers in the game and now the most promising young D in the game. Had NBC done a better job promoting the Sabres when they were a top team in the East, going to two ECFs and winning the Presidents Trophy, they would draw more casual viewers now.

 

[sabremike]

Even if the Sabres improve, how many out-of-market people will want to tune in? They'd have to wind up extremely exciting and compelling for a casual hockey fan to attract the same number of viewers as a team in a serious DMA with far more in-market viewership, national name recognition, and fans living out of market.

Sabres could win the cup and a few months later more people would still rather watch Chicago on a Wednesday night.

You are badly underestimating the Western New York diaspora. I've seen games in Florida and Arizona that were basically Sabres home games. And as someone who has traveled when we are on the road we almost always have a strong contingent of fans in the building, particularly when we are not a disaster.

 

[Harbour Dog]

You are badly underestimating the Western New York diaspora. I've seen games in Florida and Arizona that were basically Sabres home games. And as someone who has traveled when we are on the road we almost always have a strong contingent of fans in the building, particularly when we are not a disaster.

Leafs vs Sabres is on the cusp of being a decade-long rivalry.

It will only take a year of that, and you guys will be one of the biggest television draws again. Anybody that says otherwise is just flat out wrong.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

Leafs vs Sabres is on the cusp of being a decade-long rivalry.

It will only take a year of that, and you guys will be one of the biggest television draws again. Anybody that says otherwise is just flat out wrong.

I’m not a huge watcher of non-Ranger games, but I’d watch the eff outta that (and root for the Sabres).

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[Irishguy42]

Hall-Malkin-Tarasenko

Easy

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

Good thing they dropped the "rivalry" moniker. Some of those Wednesday Night rivalries were a stretch.

I really miss those bloodbath rivalries teams used to have, seems like the grudges are forgotten after several games.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

Not a single Ranger in sight, next draft if we don't win a lottery, we have to trade up into top 3 and draft our top forward.

 

[Inferno]

Hall-Malkin-Tarasenko

Easy

Hmmm...what about mcdavid, barzal, and gaudreau...that's gotta be the fastest lone in history.

 

[Rongomania]

MacKinnon Laine Tarasenko would be downright murder as well .

 

[haohmaru]

Crosby Kane Scheifele