Stanley Cup Picks

chaz wrote:
Can anyone shed any light on this stuff?

You rang? 

Post lockout, the NHL now has a Collective Bargaining Agreement where the most profitable franchises pitch in a portion of their profits and that money is then shared with smaller, less well performing (marketwise, not on the ice) teams.  This allows them to meet payroll and compete with the new salary cap, which is usually much more than their total salary was before the cap was in place.

A few years ago, the Versus TV deal only paid each team $2 Million each, which is small potatoes compared to larger sports.  If you add NBC and their local affiliate, most American hockey team pull in $6 million per franchise($8 million for most Canadian franchises).  That's less than 10% of the salary cap, so teams have to rely on ticket sales, which in small markets have been down.  Thus the popular teams (NY Rangers, Montreal, Toronto, Philly) subsidize the less popular teams.

And yes, generally, the remaining Canadian teams are outperforming their US counterparts, save for the Rangers and Philly. 

Here's a good article in Forbes to back me up.

And a list of the most valuable franchises.  But don't confuse value with revenue as it's not always 1-1, however it's a pretty good indicator.  For example, the Bruins and Flyers are listed as fairly valuable (5 & 7), but this year they are both operating at a loss (debts on facilities are included), while the Oilers are listed near the bottom but are operating at a profit.

I read Forbes for the hockey coverage.

vansmack wrote: Thus the popular teams (NY Rangers, Montreal, Toronto, Philly) subsidize the less popular teams…

…the remaining Canadian teams are outperforming their US counterparts, save for the Rangers and Philly… 

Is it just gearing up for tonite that's allowing you to leave Detroit out of this discussion? Even in the worst economy in North America they're still top 5 in revenues, I believe. And while there's no definitive way of measuring it, I'd say the number of Wings fans at road games helps small market economys alot more than most franchises.

83% of the population of Detroit is black. What percentage of Red Wings crowds are black?

Julian, wrote:

vansmack wrote: Thus the popular teams (NY Rangers, Montreal, Toronto, Philly) subsidize the less popular teams…

…the remaining Canadian teams are outperforming their US counterparts, save for the Rangers and Philly… 

Is it just gearing up for tonite that's allowing you to leave Detroit out of this discussion? Even in the worst economy in North America they're still top 5 in revenues, I believe. And while there's no definitive way of measuring it, I'd say the number of Wings fans at road games helps small market economys alot more than most franchises.

Julian, wrote:Is it just gearing up for tonite that's allowing you to leave Detroit out of this discussion?

I didn't even realize they had a hockey team.

(thanks for not missing that, and it was absolutely gamesmanship)

thanks for the subsidies, jules!

vansmack wrote:
(thanks for not missing that, and it was absolutely gamesmanship)

I figured. Well played. Rafalski is out for tonite which makes me pretty nervous.

Tickets available right now for Saturday's game.  The ticket page says they're not on sale, but if you click the "more info" link it takes you to the ticket buying page.    Same for Monday's game, but that one wasn't coming up with anything available.

Wings came out looking rusty in game 1, but it was an intense game all the same. Datsyuk and Hossa gotta step it up!

Julian, wrote:
Wings came out looking rusty in game 1, but it was an intense game all the same. Datsyuk and Hossa gotta step it up!

As always, discipline (or lack thereof) did the Ducks in.  Bummer too as they were probably the better team through most of the even strength play.

Great game though.

I'm shocked Brown didn't get suspended.  I thought two games for sure.  Not sure I'd want to be in his skates today, especially if either team gets a comfortable lead in the 3rd.

vansmack wrote:
I'm shocked Brown didn't get suspended.  I thought two games for sure.  Not sure I'd want to be in his skates today, especially if either team gets a comfortable lead in the 3rd.

I knew he wouldn't get more than one if any. It looked worse than it was. I was all for the game misconduct because he did raise his shoulder and change directions and absolutely could've pulled up, but I didn't think it was worthy of multiple games after the one he got tossed from.

There's a weird trend in the NHL right now where if you get tossed from the game, you don't get a suspension, but if the refs miss it and don't toss you, you get multiple games. Ridiculously inconsistent this playoffs.

When this game is finally over, you folks are going to need to put either Smackie or myself on suicide watch. I need an oxygen tank over here!

I need a drink.

I'm hanging myself. Every fucking year we lose a multi-OT playoff game where we took ~300 shots on the other teams goalie in OT and they took fucking one. Goddamnit.

i can has an offsidz?!?!?

EVERY FUCKING YEAR!!

i hereby declare the wings ROBBED. a missed offside leads to a lucky deflection.  for the neutral observer, this was a less-than-stellar end to what was an otherwise exciting game,
although i suspect duck fans feel otherwise.

delayed at the airport, this is sweetcell reporting live from cincinnati.

p.s. i'd LOVE to watch a game from this series with either one of you. guaranteed hoot.

I spent my afternoon watching this game…afternoon turned into evening.  Eventually I just started to pity both teams.  They just looked so tired……Can we go home yet????  It started to seem like no matter what the wings did they'd never punch one in.  A shame the game winner came the way it did.

My heart goes out to you detroit fans.

GO CAPS!

PS - Strong Belgian beer helps

usually, i get disgruntled at the fact that the Bruins have been the most invisible team in the playoffs this season (next to San Jose, of course!) but tonight….its ok…move along….nothing to see here…