http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance/_/year/2013/sort/homePct
Chitown
- BingoLady

Sort that chart by overall. Philly is #3. So I guess that means that people came out to see a non-playoff team in Philly and other arenas around the league. Is that Montreal all the way down there @ #11?

I'd be interested to see the numbers next year for wins/$ spent if you include the compliance buyouts . Unlimited money has every advantage , the compliance buyouts were just another way to screw the teams with less money.
- Bradlee3

The cap in general screws the teams with money. Why not throw them a bone. I don't see a huge advantage. Sure, team may lure-in large ticket UFA. But, if its a bust - the buyout is the only option.

Besides;

The players that were bought out weren't screwed. They get to walk, with a large some of money and sign anywhere they please.

Teams with less money have an option to sign bought out players. These players will probably sign for less (if they want to play there) since they are pulling in money from the other team.

Saying that access to cash with the cap is useless is VERY inaccurate. Spending up to the cap still gives big markets a huge advantage.
- PoileRulezzzYo

Every team could spend up to the cap - but choose not to. The cap is the limit.

The cap in general screws the teams with money. Why not throw them a bone. I don't see a huge advantage. Sure, team may lure-in large ticket UFA. But, if its a bust - the buyout is the only option.

Besides;

The players that were bought out weren't screwed. They get to walk, with a large some of money and sign anywhere they please.

Teams with less money have an option to sign bought out players. These players will probably sign for less (if they want to play there) since they are pulling in money from the other team.
- leon neon

Alright I can see your point.

OK, point by point comments on this poorly researched(outside of figuring out the ticket costs) blog designed to get hits:

- Yes, the Flyers utilized the compliance buyout feature of the new CBA to shed two contracts that would have severely hampered them under the artificially reduced salary cap. So did Montreal, the NY Rangers, Toronto, Buffalo and a host of other teams. Tampa Bay spent more buying out Vincent Lecavalier than the Flyers will be on Bryzgalov. Strangely, no criticism of Steve Yzerman in your blog.

-Pronger was signed to his current deal at age 34, and has been basically forced to retire because of a freak injury. Pronger's prior injury history gave no indication that his career would be over 2 years later. Age had nothing to do with his inability to continue his career.

-In the Carter and Richards trades, two of the players added (Jake Voracek and Wayne Simmonds) have outscored Richards and Carter since the deals were made. The Flyers also landed 2 young forwards with tons of potential in Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier, as well as prospect Nick Cousins, who was among the leading scorers in the OHL last year.

While Carter and Richards played big roles in the Kings winning a Stanley Cup, they were not as vital as Jonathan Quick, Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar or Dustin Brown, among others.

-You also totally ignore the impact/influence of Ed Snider's role. The Flyers went after Bryzgalov because Snider publicly demanded that Holmgren get a big name goalie. There's plenty of circumstantial evidence that the Carter and Richards trades had Snider's finger prints all over them, for off ice issues. There's a litany of news reports about those two, so I won't bother to rehash it.

Congrats on the added hits you'll get for criticizing the Flyers. Should easily dwarf the usual 15-30 comments you regularly get. I don't mind criticism, I mind poorly researched trashing of a team, just to get hits and drive comments
- Jsaquella

The Kings do not win the cup with Simmonds, Schenn.
These guys were a huge part of the Kings cup run and deep run in the playoffs this year. Those points are not even up for debate.

Holmgren did sign both to very good deals AAV. As a Kings fan I appreciate what he did.

The Kings do not win the cup with Simmonds, Schenn.
These guys were a huge part of the Kings cup run and deep run in the playoffs this year. Those points are not even up for debate.

Holmgren did sign both to very good deals AAV. As a Kings fan I appreciate what he did.
- fsanford

The Flyers wouldn't have won a cup with Richards and Carter. They had to do much less for the Kings than they would have with Philly. Here they needed to be THE guys but there they were the perfect support to your stars. The moves won LA a cup, they didn't cost the Flyers one however.

That's not what I was saying , I was talking about the buyouts , so you missed my point
- Bradlee3

How is it an advantage, it was available to everyone and they are still going to have to use more "dead money" to become cap compliant. The teams ability to use nothing but money to cover up their mistakes is now gone. The teams wealth cannot give us a competitive advantage because it can't spend more on players than anyone else.
Having enough money to cover up mistakes is not the same as having a competitive advantage.

The Flyers wouldn't have won a cup with Richards and Carter. They had to do much less for the Kings than they would have with Philly. Here they needed to be THE guys but there they were the perfect support to your stars. The moves won LA a cup, they didn't cost the Flyers one however.
- Hype97

i stopped bothering explaining that to people ages ago.

everyone knows everything. i mean, look at mike.

I have been a Flyers fan since I was born. I love my Flyers for better or worse. This article has me puzzled. Why is a person in Carolina slamming an organization in Philly? Every organization has it's own problems. Every fan in Philly knows what those Philly organization problems are. Yet, you don't see us making comments about the Carolina organization, and it's problems. If we see something bad in our backyard, we will be the first ones to say it stinks. We don't need a non-Flyers fan pointing out the negatives in our organization. We show up for the games or watch them on the T.V. to support our team regardless of how well we are doing. Why? Because we love our team. How many seats are empty in Carolina during game time? How many Carolina fans drive through snow to go to a game? How many Carolina fans watch the games on T.V.? How many Carolina players have been former Flyers? My point is, stop bashing. It really shows your colors when you do so. Most hockey fans would agree that a Philly fan actually knows more about their home team, and hockey in general than a Carolina fan. I used to live in Carolina, and you can not contradict this statement. Carolina is known for football, and basketball. I appreciate a Carolina fan, when he actually is a hockey fan as well. I enjoy the hockey rivalries as well. However, I don't go out of my way to troll in another team's backyard.

i stopped bothering explaining that to people ages ago.

everyone knows everything. i mean, look at mike.
- kicksave856

Yeah, I think people thought the Flyers would have won easily had they been with the team still. Fat chance. LA had some pieces the Flyers didn't and don't have.

as far as the Carter to Columbus (Do that trade every day of the week and twice on Sunday) and Richards to LA, how can that be ripped until the players careers play out? And Carter landing in LA has nothing to do with Holmgren.

Your points are exactly why I am no longer a Flyers fan.

For such a great team not to have won since 1975 - complete and utter embarrassment.


Trade JVR, Carter, Richards, BOBROVSKY...
- BingoLady

HaHAHAHAhAHAHAH

Heres two for you:
Trading for Gomez and throwing in Ryan McDonagh to boot

Making the best goalie in the history of the game say "ill never play another game for this franchise" and trading him for Jocelyn Thibault

i stopped bothering explaining that to people ages ago.

everyone knows everything. i mean, look at mike.
- kicksave856

I liked those trades personally, it's mostly the FA signing that make me question the Flyers sanity. As much as i loved Pronger i hate hate hate trading draft picks. My objection to the trade would have disappeared with a cup win though. However I always hated that god awful contract they signed him to.

i stopped bothering explaining that to people ages ago.

everyone knows everything. i mean, look at mike.
- kicksave856

I still can't comprehend why everyone say we traded them and they won a cup like they single-handedly walked into LA and led the team to victory.

Richards and Carter were the centerpieces of the Flyers, they were compliments to the centerpieces in LA. The return the Flyers received has out-performed them consistently. Why bother thinking though right?

I can't believe we let Dan Carcillo go! Won a cup with the Hawks. Silly Holmgren.

Your points are exactly why I am no longer a Flyers fan.
- nikon2kool

If thats the case, then, as a Flyers fan (and a true one at that), I am glad you are gone.

Your points are exactly why I am no longer a Flyers fan.
- nikon2kool

Lol ok then, bye.

Chicago isn't. Sure, their attendance dictates that, but that's because the United Center is one of the largest rinks in the NHL. Chicago fans are literally the DEFINITION of bandwagon fans. Where were all the fans when their teams was absolute garbage? Why was their arena almost virtually empty when they were crap? They didn't even have a TV deal before the first lockout. Honestly, if you want to see true fans, check this out:

http://www.buzzonbroad.co...-penguins-fans-says-math/


Flyers fans, through thick and thin. Hawks/Pens/new teams who are good = bandwagon!!!!!!
- Flyers_V88

The UC is one of the few arenas that shamelessly sells "standing room" tickets... in other words, you pay $50+ for the privilege of standing behind the very last row of the upper bowl. As the team has become more popular, the row of people standing can run 2-3+ deep, which means you might not have a viewing angle of the ice at all. That explains why they're magically 10% over capacity. Somebody gave me standing room tickets there once... it was a terrible experience... we decided to just go downstairs and watch the game on the flatscreens at the Brew Pub instead.

How is it an advantage, it was available to everyone and they are still going to have to use more "dead money" to become cap compliant. The teams ability to use nothing but money to cover up their mistakes is now gone. The teams wealth cannot give us a competitive advantage because it can't spend more on players than anyone else.
Having enough money to cover up mistakes is not the same as having a competitive advantage.
- Marshalle

Check my last post , I already agreed that I learned something from a flyers fan ie Leon neon

Your points are exactly why I am no longer a Flyers fan.
- nikon2kool

If thats the case, then, as a Flyers fan (and a true one at that), I am glad you are gone.
- jak521

If thats the case, then, as a Flyers fan (and a true one at that), I am glad you are gone.
- jak521

Like the folks who stopped rooting for the Flyers in the 80's because Tocchet, Zezel, etc. were traded away. "Don't let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya!"

Check my last post , I already agreed that I learned something from a flyers fan ie Leon neon
- Bradlee3

ya sorry must have been still composing my post.
I wish the team could use their wealth to its full advantage. I am not a fan of the way the NHL sets up its CBA.

The UC is one of the few arenas that shamelessly sells "standing room" tickets... in other words, you pay $50+ for the privilege of standing behind the very last row of the upper bowl. As the team has become more popular, the row of people standing can run 2-3+ deep, which means you might not have a viewing angle of the ice at all. That explains why they're magically 10% over capacity. Somebody gave me standing room tickets there once... it was a terrible experience... we decided to just go downstairs and watch the game on the flatscreens at the Brew Pub instead.
- Tomahawk

Inaccurate tallying in Chicago?!? That's never been done before!

Like the folks who stopped rooting for the Flyers in the 80's because Tocchet, Zezel, etc. were traded away. "Don't let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya!"
- Flyskippy

Tocchet was my favorite Flyer. That one hurt.