I was listening on WGR and they cut out. What did he say this time?
- buffalofan19

So after the first 2 times he asked about the Winter Classic he asked 2 more times after

The NHL is about TV ratings. They absolutely could say no to that. As awesome as this is for us, nobody outside the area cares unless they're from here originally. That being said, they're leaving the door open. It's going to take some time to repaint the ice (different sponsorships, trademarks, logos, etc) and set up, so the 27th would be ideal. Only problem is that it's a Wednesday. The 29th is a Friday.
- buffalofan19

Buffalo generally has high ratings either way, so even if we aren't in it they know we'll watch (although I haven't since Pittsburgh Washington). If we're a good team and a fun one to watch I think it'll happen. The team we play will hopefully be one with some real significance like Toronto if they're decent by that time or Boston. Only reason I can't see Edmonton is for how small both cities would be.

I can see it now "LAK v NYR in Buffalo NY because they already had the rink and we want the ratings"

Disagree. This year is fun and it's nice to want to win. Next year is the year that things get serious. You miss the playoffs this year it's "Oh they're building and young". Miss it next year and people start to question if the tanking was worth it.
- Zschalberg

Not making the playoffs is not our problem. People are just enjoying a team being competitibe. I feel that our real problems are that We need to find a winger to grow and play with jack, that We have 2 too many players on our roster and that we have tons of redundancies, in a bad way. We have 4 solid dmen locked up already. Maybe pysyk gets a look with risto next year. Maybe we resign gorges. Maybe we trade in offseason. Maybe we sign another free agent. I havent liked ennis's play much this season but the guy is worth keeping. Do we really need 5 good dmen?

The NHL is about TV ratings. They absolutely could say no to that. As awesome as this is for us, nobody outside the area cares unless they're from here originally. That being said, they're leaving the door open. It's going to take some time to repaint the ice (different sponsorships, trademarks, logos, etc) and set up, so the 27th would be ideal. Only problem is that it's a Wednesday. The 29th is a Friday.
- buffalofan19

With the buffalo ratings for hockey albeit on a smaller scale, they know this market will tune in. Set it up with sabres vs leafs and in two years with the sabres potentially competeing and the leafs maybe being better it could defenitely work ratings wise.

Hell, if the leafs win the lottery and draft auston mathews it would be another premier american player from a market the NHL so desperately wants to succeed on the premier canadian team playing on borderline canadian soil. Sounds good to me.

Russ Brandon has done a marvelous job at marketing a piss poor football franchise for 15 years. I wonder if he can market the World Juniors for a better American turnout than last time.

Russ Brandon has done a marvelous job at marketing a piss poor football franchise for 15 years. I wonder if he can market the World Juniors for a better American turnout than last time.
- buffalofan19

I am betting he can

I am betting he can
- Stripes77

I have to say: I questioned his commitment to the hockey side when Pegula gave him the reins to both teams, but he's delivered in spades in just a few short months.

I am betting he can
- Stripes77

I can only imagine his sales pitch in front of St. Louis and Pittsburgh:

"I see your whatever and raise you a football stadium. Here, I brought my own pen."

I have to say: I questioned his commitment to the hockey side when Pegula gave him the reins to both teams, but he's delivered in spades in just a few short months.
- buffalofan19

Why do you say this?

(I'm not saying he hasn't, just can't point to anything he's actually done on my own, so I'm asking)

Didn't I see about maybe a month ago that the First Niagara Center's naming rights have been sold again? Does anyone know what the new name will be?

Still no mention of which game will be outdoors. Sounds like it might be the Gold Medal game.
- buffalofan19

I hope not. Way too big a game to be at the vagaries of weather.

Why do you say this?

(I'm not saying he hasn't, just can't point to anything he's actually done on my own, so I'm asking)
- HonkFortheGoose

Well, it sounds from the Press Conference that he took the lead on this thing. I also have a friend that works in the office over there and said he's done a lot of stuff behind the scenes that they love. He's supposedly miles ahead of Ted Black.

Didn't I see about maybe a month ago that the First Niagara Center's naming rights have been sold again? Does anyone know what the new name will be?
- Wetbandit1

You saw that First Niagara was sold, which means that the name is probably going to change in the near future.

Didn't I see about maybe a month ago that the First Niagara Center's naming rights have been sold again? Does anyone know what the new name will be?
- Wetbandit1

Eichel Arena

Well, it sounds from the Press Conference that he took the lead on this thing. I also have a friend that works in the office over there and said he's done a lot of stuff behind the scenes that they love. He's supposedly miles ahead of Ted Black.
- buffalofan19

Makes sense I guess. Just seems to me that saying he's delivered "in spades" is a bit of an exaggeration. I think when it came out we were one of the 3 finalists for it, Ted Black was still around. I could be wrong though.

EDIT: I think he's good at his job overall though. I'm not saying he isn't. Just don't know that we've "seen" anything from the Sabres standpoint that's any different to us yet.

Eichel Arena
- BuffaloHardHat

The house that Eichel built

EDIT: RE-built

You saw that First Niagara was sold, which means that the name is probably going to change in the near future.
- buffalofan19

Ahh, I knew I saw something, but there was nothing substantial about it and I kinda forgot about it and for some reason it just popped into my head.

I just realized there's a game tonight


I want 6-0 trouncing for how nerve wracking they made the tank last year.

Ahh, I knew I saw something, but there was nothing substantial about it and I kinda forgot about it and for some reason it just popped into my head.
- Wetbandit1

Key bought them.

The house that Hat worked near

EDIT: RE-built
- feetontheair22

Fixed.

Swords 3 Yotes 1

Kane
ROR
Risto


I wonder if Lindback will be in net.

I remember the long dull ache all through the game last March, and the just plain awful sense that I really wanted my team to lose. Every other time, I was rooting for them, but OK when they lost. In the game against the Yotes, I could actually feel myself hoping they would lose, and that SUCKED.

Hallelujiah, for the turn around.

Fixed.
- Der Kaiser

HA...awesome

I remember the long dull ache all through the game last March, and the just plain awful sense that I really wanted my team to lose. Every other time, I was rooting for them, but OK when they lost. In the game against the Yotes, I could actually feel myself hoping they would lose, and that SUCKED.

Hallelujiah, for the turn around.
- Der Kaiser

It was an awful feeling I hope I never need to experience ever again.

Eric Cornel is having a real nice season in Peterborough. Last year he scored 14 goals in 66 games and this season he has 14 in 28 games thus far. Nice to see the improvement.