Also have to think about how easy it is to access those sports. Baseball, football, and basketball require minimal amount of money and effort to find a place to play. If you want to play hockey (even casual street hockey), you still need to spend way more money, which not a lot will do. It's also a hell of a lot tougher to learn. It's not a simple running, catching and throwing. Kids are exposed to the other 3 sports way more than hockey so it's natural that people will follow them more.

I also think football gets so much hype because it's only 2-3 days (1 day per team) out of the week. There's so much time to build up the drama between matchups. I watch the pens twice a week and if it falls on the same time as a steelers game, I'll watch the steelers for the fact that it's only once a week
- drummer829

I agree Baseball and basketball are cheap. But def not football, though perhaps not as much as hockey and finding a rink.

Think about it, your with your kids at a park, etc. How do you bond with them? Play some catch? Yes. Play hockey? (even field) Hell no

The NFL without a doubt "owns" a day of the week.

I think a major factor that plays into the much larger success of leagues such as NBA, and even NFL, compared to the NHL is the large interest in collegiate sports and finding those to-be-Allstars early in NCAA events. Basketball has March Madness, Football has the Bowls, both of which are much, much more marketed compared to the frozen four. ESPN is much more likely to cover a rising college basketball star compared to a McDavid or Matthews; despite both players having arguably a larger impact on their franchise compared to any NBA or NFL drafted player. And maybe this is also due to the fact that a lot of NHL draft eligible players don't hail from the NCAA like other sports. But, i think the early exposure of a basketball or football player in his, or hers, NCAA days allows us fans to follow their story and really get behind them before even their professional success starts. I have plenty of friends who hate sports and who hate the NBA, but they all tuned in for this series and last nights game because we all grew up with the potential superstar (now proven) Lebron James' story entering the NBA.
- arichardson22

Lebron James didn't play in the NCAA and until recently neither did most of the superstars. Now they have to do at least one year because you have to be 19 to be drafted. I guess in the 80's there was a lot that came from the NCAA but it didn't have to be so.

What is "real basketball?" When you shoot the ball from between your knees? Do you still use a peach basket? Do you still not allow dribbling the ball? And it's so embarrassing when Canadians pump the fact Naismith was born in Canada, that was the only thing born in Canada considering he invented it for Springfield university and an American citizen.
- Dcoms

By today's standards Naismith would be considered soft. Dennis Rodman would be sh!tting all over his peach baskets.

You can tell this season is not Martins work and more of HBO's. This season has been a disappointment IMO. The Arya episodes were a drag and things are just moving so slow. You know the Vale would ride into the rescue, anyone saw that coming.
- sammy87

Wow you hate everything huh? I can't wait till some of your genius gets out and changes popular culture because the way you act so superior to everything means you must have something big to offer humamity.

The dumb thing is why did he waste that arrow on the giant that was already peppered when Jon was standing right beside him? He could have just as easily put that arrow into Jons head as the giants.
- Iggysbff

I was kind of wondering that too. He's a cocky little poop, so maybe he didn't want to take him by "surprise"

I know that if you buy a ticket to an NHL game it is a coin flip on if you will see a great player do a great thing on that given night. If you buy a ticket to see Lebron James or Steph Curry you are pretty much guaranteed to see great things no matter what night of the year it is.

If only the NHL had each team scoring 80-100 points, it would be more exciting and they would see the stars doing great things every night.

Let's remove goalies.

Brilliant!

If only the NHL had each team scoring 80-100 points, it would be more exciting and they would see the stars doing great things every night.

Let's remove goalies.

Brilliant!
- wolfhounds

that made no sense

See this is incorrect.

He had the game being played and developed it when he was at McGill university. He didn't publish the rules until Springfield which is where Americans claim he invented it. He was actually playing and developing it before that in Canada.
- Iggysbff

Where is the evidence of that? I'm Canadian and I don't believe that. He may have had ideas earlier while in Canada but he was paid by Springfield university to come up with a game to be played indoors when it was cold out and it took almost 2 years of working on it there in Springfield before he ironed out all the rules. It's not like they asked him one day and he had the game the next. And there is no evidence of baskeball being played at Mcgill

Where is the evidence of that? I'm Canadian and I don't believe that. He may have had ideas earlier while in Canada but he was paid by Springfield university to come up with a game to be played indoors when it was cold out and it took almost 2 years of working on it there in Springfield before he ironed out all the rules. It's not like they asked him one day and he had the game the next. And there is no evidence of baskeball being played at Mcgill
- Dcoms

It was a Springfield YMCA that asked him and gave him 2 weeks.

There are so many versions out there but many at McGill say they were playing with peach baskets there before Springfield.

Josh Yohe Retweeted
SinceFlyersLastCup ‏@SinceFlyersCup 5h

‏15,000 days since the Philadelphia Flyers last won a Stanley Cup.

Josh Yohe Retweeted
SinceFlyersLastCup ‏@SinceFlyersCup 5h

‏15,000 days since the Philadelphia Flyers last won a Stanley Cup.



- stevens87

The tide will turn for theses two teams soon enough. No need to be a sore winner.

who's the dude with the TIOPS subscription? who is the rumored UFAs were targeting from the latest article?

the good thing about having a guy like JR is that he always wants to make blockbuster trades. Entertainment galore

Kevin Porter resigned! This all but guarantees the Pens make it back to the final next season...

EDIT: Full previous page was regarding this.

I refuse to compare a non contact sport, in which you know the two teams that will be in the finals before the season starts and doesnt have penalties\man advantages as such, with hockey.

One of the reasons basketball is so popular is because of all the scoring. Both teams get around 100 points a night. Same goes for Football, usually high scoring. I really feel if touch downs were worth 1 point there wouldnt be near as much a following. Baseball generally has high scoring too. Americans like scoring. That`s one of the main reason hockey and soccer are so far behind there.

the good thing about having a guy like JR is that he always wants to make blockbuster trades. Entertainment galore
- DeflatedPucks

He's 117 years old...he is a YOLO style GM at this point.

I think the problem with the NHL is a denial of reality. As many have already said, there is simply no way that it will ever surpass the popularity of the NFL, MLB, and NBA in the US. Also, I could be wrong but I think professional soccer is more popular in many parts of the country. The reasons have already been stated: hockey is expensive and difficult to play at the youth level, especially in the south. Moreover, it is also the fastest major sport which makes viewing it difficult for the casual fan, who didn't grow up in a hockey culture or at least play it in their youth. For me it is my favorite sport to watch. MLB and NBA are too boring and the NFL has too much of a criminal element for me to like anymore (yes, I rarely ever watch the Steelers anymore). However, I think most of America doesn't feel this way.

In spite of fact that everything indicates the US market being saturated and that hockey is not taking off in the south the NHL is continuing to push it. Arizona, Florida, and Carolina are all struggling to get decent attendance and Tampa and Nashville are only ok right now due to their relatively good teams over the past few years (Nashville going back further). LA/Anaheim and Dallas are big enough cities that being in the south doesn't impact them as much. In spite of the fact that the NHL had to literally take ownership of Arizona to keep the team from collapsing it is still allowing a new team several hundred miles from Arizona. I thought the reason for not having a team between Buffalo and Toronto was that it would take away Buffalo's fans? Moreover, Las Vegas is the gambling capital of the US - not a place to have a pro sports team. It would be kind of fitting to see Jagr be their first captain (he really belongs there ) but it is still a stupid idea.

I think at some point the league will actually have to contract - not expand.

who's the dude with the TIOPS subscription? who is the rumored UFAs were targeting from the latest article?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Boedker when he was with the Yotes. Will never get him. Too much $$$. The only players pens sign will be cheap depth players. Think Cullen or Fehr type players.

Boedker when he was with the Yotes. Will never get him. Too much $$$. The only players pens sign will be cheap depth players. Think Cullen or Fehr type players.
- joescullz

I'd consider trading Fehr for picks over the next month or so.

I'm getting eager for this fleury trade. I've heard everything from wideman and a mid/late pick all the way to the 6th pick (I know it won't happen) if we can get a second pick + I'll be happy. Love fleury, always enjoyed his interviews, always made practice as fun as it could be. Great dude, and I can't wait to see the video when Calgary makes their way to Pitt. If you can't tell, I really think it's going to be Calgary that nets him.

I'm getting eager for this fleury trade. I've heard everything from wideman and a mid/late pick all the way to the 6th pick (I know it won't happen) if we can get a second pick + I'll be happy. Love fleury, always enjoyed his interviews, always made practice as fun as it could be. Great dude, and I can't wait to see the video when Calgary makes their way to Pitt. If you can't tell, I really think it's going to be Calgary that nets him.
- Brownsoldier

I'd consider a Fleury trade good if we get a 2nd, ok prospect, and 2-3 mil in cap space. Anything more would be a coup.

The dumb thing is why did he waste that arrow on the giant that was already peppered when Jon was standing right beside him? He could have just as easily put that arrow into Jons head as the giants.
- Iggysbff

The even dumber thing is why Sansa would hold out on telling Jon about the Knights of the Vale....I still can't figure it out....

The Penguins will raise the Stanley Cup banner before a game against the Caps!

http://espn.go.com/nhl/st...hl-season-opening-weekend


ICE BUUUUUUUUUUUUUURN!!!

I'm getting eager for this fleury trade. I've heard everything from wideman and a mid/late pick all the way to the 6th pick (I know it won't happen) if we can get a second pick + I'll be happy. Love fleury, always enjoyed his interviews, always made practice as fun as it could be. Great dude, and I can't wait to see the video when Calgary makes their way to Pitt. If you can't tell, I really think it's going to be Calgary that nets him.
- Brownsoldier

I really hope they don't get Wideman. One reason to trade MAF is for cap relief help and Wideman makes 5.252 mil for next year. Trade him for the top two 2nd round picks the Flame have, then the Pens will have four second round picks and then try and resign Schultz and Lovejoy.

I'd consider a Fleury trade good if we get a 2nd, ok prospect, and 2-3 mil in cap space. Anything more would be a coup.
- Victoro311

First rd pick or keep. We have 2 2ndrs no need for more. Really want one of those top 10 LW'ers. Some could drop to mid 1st rd

First rd pick or keep. We have 2 2ndrs no need for more. Really want one of those top 10 LW'ers. Some could drop to mid 1st rd
- nh4442

Keep it out of your head. The Pens aren't getting a 1st round pick, let alone a top 10 pick.