Goodbye Phoenix Coyotes

[Gabber]

Tomorrow night the Phoenix Coyotes will play their last game of the season as the Dead Wings will trounce them. It will also mark the last NHL game to play in Phoenix as the team will be moving to Winnipeg.

My opinion...any naysayer?

[Voobrazheniye]

Actually, I read an article that the NHL really does not want to have them go back to Winnipeg. That city wasn't able to support a franchise previously, and the article said that nothing really has changed there to warrant the team returning.

[Gabber]

the Cdn dollar was in the dumps way back when and the owners could not continue paying salaries in US dollars. Things have changed. The only other solution would be to move the team to a city in Ontario

[Sveta's Hero]

Will they take the name "Jets" again?

I'm actually a little surprised how this series is turning out. Henrik Zetterberg hasn't played a single game. Pavel Datsyuk and Jimmy Howard have stepped up big time.

[Voobrazheniye]

the Cdn dollar was in the dumps way back when and the owners could not continue paying salaries in US dollars. Things have changed. The only other solution would be to move the team to a city in Ontario

At various times I have heard ideas about a team moving to places like Windsor, London or Hamilton. But there is a LOT of resistance from the Leafs and Wings, who don't want another team in their areas of fan interest.

[Sveta's Hero]

At various times I have heard ideas about a team moving to places like Windsor, London or Hamilton. But there is a LOT of resistance from the Leafs and Wings, who don't want another team in their areas of fan interest.


It would be very strange to have another NHL team right across the river.

Windsor has the Spitfires of the OHL. That's good enough:crazy:

[Gabber]

Windsor is too small so let me ask you this. Do you want to see a team in Winnipeg or Quebec City? Those are the options on the table. Screw Quebec, they'll want federal government handouts as usual.

[Sveta's Hero]

Windsor is too small so let me ask you this. Do you want to see a team in Winnipeg or Quebec City? Those are the options on the table. Screw Quebec, they'll want federal government handouts as usual.

I say let them go back to Winnipeg and bring back the Jets name.

[Voobrazheniye]

Well... the Wings certainly looked great in finishing off Phoenix. They showed a real playoff killer instinct. I didn't think it would have been so easy, considering Detroit's goaltending problems and the injuries to some of their top guys.

As for Phoenix... I never really liked the idea of a team in that city. I mean, how can people get into hockey in a city where it can hit 100 degrees or more anytime between May and October? I have never been in favor of NHL expansion to the Sun Belt. It seems to be working OK in Dallas, but Florida, Georgia and Arizona? Just doesn't seem natural.

Having the team leave Phoenix makes sense. But the question is: where do they go from here? As I said before, I don't think Winnipeg has changed enough to support a team; ditto for Quebec City. Southern Ontario makes the most sense, if they can work it out with the teams who already have dibs on that fan base.

Another alternative is league contraction. Maybe if the talent is a little more concentrated, the quality of play would be better.

[Gabber]

these are the bottom 4 teams for attendance:

Thrashers 41 536,145 13,403 72.3 41 16,681 90.3 82 15,062 81.428
Blue Jackets 41 520,652 13,350 73.6 41 16,498 89.6 82 14,963 81.9
29
Coyotes 41 500,533 12,208 71.3 41 16,685 90.9 82 14,446 81.430
NY Islanders 41 453,456 11,059 68.1 41 17,313 92.9 82 14,108 81.0

the bolded part is the percentage of tickets sold per game and italicized is attendance. It was nice to see that 18 of 30 teams in the NHL had over 98.5 percent capacity average at home games. Check this link out, it's kind of interesting.
http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance

Tampa Bay is doing ok for a sunbelt team but with Stevie Yzerman at the helm I doubt anything can go horribly wrong.

As i said in another post, if the Canuck dollar remains strong, Winterpeg is a good fit. Hamilton is too close to Buffalo but they would be a great option too.

[Voobrazheniye]

That link is really an eye-opener. I knew that attendance at Avs games had really dropped. Just a few years ago they were among the league leaders and had a very long sellout streak. Since they went to Sucktown, the fans have decided that the product isn't worth the high prices in the Pepsi Center. Denver really is a good hockey town, but the combination of high prices and a poor product on the ice is a killer.

I am really surprised to see the Bruins in 16th place behind such hockey hotbeds as St. Louis, Washington and Los Angeles, and barely ahead of another hockey hotbed, San Jose.

It's sad too about the Islanders. That's a team with some really great history, but recent years have been very unkind.

[Gabber]

That link is really an eye-opener. I knew that attendance at Avs games had really dropped. Just a few years ago they were among the league leaders and had a very long sellout streak. Since they went to Sucktown, the fans have decided that the product isn't worth the high prices in the Pepsi Center. Denver really is a good hockey town, but the combination of high prices and a poor product on the ice is a killer.

I am really surprised to see the Bruins in 16th place behind such hockey hotbeds as St. Louis, Washington and Los Angeles, and barely ahead of another hockey hotbed, San Jose.

It's sad too about the Islanders. That's a team with some really great history, but recent years have been very unkind.

Islanders had a bad year and a couple of "snow" games where hardly anyone showed up. Remember when you look at these stats that the higher teams have larger arenas.

What I found interesting was the road game stats. Number One Attraction: Alex Ovechkin

[Gabber]

wait...I stand corrected. The number one attraction for away games is...I can hardly believe I'm saying this...THE DEAD WINGS

[Sveta's Hero]

wait...I stand corrected. The number one attraction for away games is...I can hardly believe I'm saying this...THE DEAD WINGS

Watching the series against the Coyotes, I could only tell we were playing away games by the logos on the ice:biggrin:

[Gabber]

I noticed that last night too, lot's of Red Wing fans.

It is good to know that the NHL is doing well and they also just signed a 2 Billion dollar deal with ESPN, which could have been a better idea if they had done this AFTER the players union negotiations. Nonetheless, no matter how much people dislike Bettman, he is moving in the right direction. These stats are approaching NFL levels.

[Sveta's Hero]

I noticed that last night too, lot's of Red Wing fans.

It is good to know that the NHL is doing well and they also just signed a 2 Billion dollar deal with ESPN, which could have been a better idea if they had done this AFTER the players union negotiations. Nonetheless, no matter how much people dislike Bettman, he is moving in the right direction. These stats are approaching NFL levels.

Great news about the NHL and ESPN.
Would be great if ESPN would get rid of Barry Melrose and his mullet, and hire Don Cherry as an analyst:biggrin:

[Gabber]

at least Barry has a sense of humour. Don Cherry (good Canadian boy) is too patriotic at times and it becomes nauseating.

[Gabber]

Bruins tied the series with Montreal. Good to see the Hab faithful going home depressed. I wonder when the riots will begin.

[Sveta's Hero]

How about those Blackhawks forcing a game 7 against the Canucks? Could be the upset of the playoffs, as a lot of people have already handed the Cup to Vancouver.

[Voobrazheniye]

How about those Blackhawks forcing a game 7 against the Canucks? Could be the upset of the playoffs, as a lot of people have already handed the Cup to Vancouver.

I was one of them.

I was pretty certain that Vancouver had what it takes to win it all this year - or at least reach the finals against the Caps. Of course, game seven is still in Vancouver, so all is not lost yet for the Canucks. But the very fact that they went up 3-0 and couldn't close the 'Hawks out before game seven has to be troubling for them.

If they do beat Chicago in the final game, their confidence will not be what they need it to be when they face the likes of Detroit or San Jose (assuming the Sharks pull out their series against the Kings). If Chicago comes back, who knows what they might do the rest of the way.

What the hell has happened to Luongo? He was supposed to be the second coming of Patrick Roy.

Over in the east, I am pulling for the Bruins (they were my team growing up, and have been my "second team" since Denver got the Avs). If they finish the comeback and oust the Habs, it will be the sweetest thing in Boston since the Red Sox came back from 0-3 to beat the Yankees.

Disappointing to see Philadelphia stay alive. I thought Buffalo would finish them off last night. The Flyers are one of the teams I dislike the most... just above New Jersey.

[Gabber]

yep, very disappointing to see the Flyers come back but I have faith in Buffalo

2) Luongo is not the best goalie in the league and that is for certain. Thomas, Price and many others would do wonders in Vancouver

3) Montreal getting ousted on home ice tomorrow night...oh sooooo sweet

4) Nashville advances. I wonder if Keenan was there.

[Sveta's Hero]

Another game 7 to look forward to. Stevie Y's Lightning beat the Penguins to force a game 7 in that series. First round is looking great this year.

[Gabber]

typical Habs game, 2-1 and of course two 5 on 3 power plays for the Habs in Montreal...gee, what a surprise (he said sarcastically). Stupid Bruins...they better win in Boston

and stupid Sabres choked.

[Gabber]

ahh I will say this with a smilw on my face:

Na na na na...goodbye Habs:fan_1:

[Sveta's Hero]

Goodbye, Habs!

Man, this year's first round of the playoffs have been some of the most exciting hockey I have seen in a very long time. Hopefully the next rounds will be equally as exciting. Congrats, NHL!

[Sveta's Hero]

Oh goodbye Penguins and Crybaby Crosby!:Laie_16: