I have had the same problems. Some service reps helpful, others meh. I'll call them shortly.
- boilermaker100

Could it be much cheaper because you won't have the same number of game options as previously.

They are famous for not telling you everything. They being cable companies and they wonder why people are going to streaming services.

Playing a system, like playing good defense, requires hard work, smarts and like you said a willingness to play the said system. Contrary to what some have posted, you can’t teach talent. But systems and defense can be taught provided the player is willing to buy in and work at it. That’s why I’m impressed by ADB and Kubalik who added a defensive element to their game when they were already pretty good scorers.
- paulr

You are missing what i believe is the most crucial element to team defense...trust. you have to trust your teammates to perform their responsibilities. If not, you get guys running all over the place. Like we have seen.

Could it be much cheaper because you won't have the same number of game options as previously.

They are famous for not telling you everything. They being cable companies and they wonder why people are going to streaming services.
- Elbows15

Could be. Don't know about the amount of games to be shown on Centerice. Many games on TBS TNT, ABC and ESPN which I can get also on satellite.

75 games "exclusively" on ESPN + plus all the streamed games. I'm assuming those exclusive games will not be on centerice. Think of those games as the old NBCSN Wednesday night rivalry games. If your satellite/cable system didn't carry NBCSN you missed out on those games. 75 games equals about 3 per week.

Crosby out for 6 weeks (or more) with wrist surgery. Malkin on the mend from knee surgery (exact return unknown). They might need a 2C or 3C short term. Stan dial them up (Strome). They have a 2nd round pick. We could retain some salary.

Anisimov signs a PTO with Colorado.

Towes plays 65 to 70 games retires after the season unofficially and put on LTRI next year
Dach has a breakout season
Hagel takes the role of Shaw
Jones surprisingly regains is form from two years due to playing with likes of dcat kane towes dach.
Strome and subban are traded together to buffalo or Ottawa for picks
Nylander finally realizes this is his last chance in the nhl and has a decent season overall.
Kubalik is traded at the tdl due to the are out of playoff pictures and cannot afford his next contract for a pick and high prospect.
Dcat scores 40 or more goals
The defense struggles again to JC unable to teach the defensive system.
Delia is dealt for late round pick
Reichel and borgstrom emerge as top 6 talent but not enough to save the season.
Johnson gets injured
Both Jc and bowman are fired JC for not being a good coach and being 500 by thanksgiving bowman due the finding of the investigation and hawks failing to make the playoffs again.
Kurashev and others are just ok.
Hawks don't get veinza winning fleruy but 37 old fleury lankinen gets better under the mentorship of fleury. Hawks finished 5 in the central but miss the playoffs by 8 pts.

Towes plays 65 to 70 games retires after the season unofficially and put on LTRI next year
Dach has a breakout season
Hagel takes the role of Shaw
Jones surprisingly regains is form from two years due to playing with likes of dcat kane towes dach.
Strome and subban are traded together to buffalo or Ottawa for picks
Nylander finally realizes this is his last chance in the nhl and has a decent season overall.
Kubalik is traded at the tdl due to the are out of playoff pictures and cannot afford his next contract for a pick and high prospect.
Dcat scores 40 or more goals
The defense struggles again to JC unable to teach the defensive system.
Delia is dealt for late round pick
Reichel and borgstrom emerge as top 6 talent but not enough to save the season.
Johnson gets injured
Both Jc and bowman are fired JC for not being a good coach and being 500 by thanksgiving bowman due the finding of the investigation and hawks failing to make the playoffs again.
Kurashev and others are just ok.
Hawks don't get veinza winning fleruy but 37 old fleury lankinen gets better under the mentorship of fleury. Hawks finished 5 in the central but miss the playoffs by 8 pts.
- Scott1977

It wasn't Stan's job to do anything when his boss was made fully aware of the situation. Rocky is also the guy who fired Tallon by saying he was too old and then had to give him a job to keep from getting sued.

Could it be much cheaper because you won't have the same number of game options as previously.

They are famous for not telling you everything. They being cable companies and they wonder why people are going to streaming services.
- Elbows15

Just looked it up and discovered DirecTV will be showing 40 out of market games each week. Probably will not show EVERY Hawks game, but the vast majority of them. Additionally, some of them will be shown on other outlets as was mentioned earlier.

Just looked it up and discovered DirecTV will be showing 40 out of market games each week. Probably will not show EVERY Hawks game, but the vast majority of them. Additionally, some of them will be shown on other outlets as was mentioned earlier.
- gabriel

Center Ice has always talked about that number (40) out of market games each week, which is most of the games played: if each team plays 3 games per week, that would be 48 games. (It's also the average games played per week taking total games played of 1,312 over a 27 week season.)

Could it be much cheaper because you won't have the same number of game options as previously.

They are famous for not telling you everything. They being cable companies and they wonder why people are going to streaming services.
- Elbows15

ESPN+ is the exact same price, if memory serves. I'll rave like a madman for the last time about poor PR, in rolling everything out clearly for their fandom. One of the primary reasons I opted for Center Ice, was their impeccable coverage in the past. Having dual announcers for games has been a real eye-opener, also.

Center Ice has always talked about that number (40) out of market games each week, which is most of the games played: if each team plays 3 games per week, that would be 48 games. (It's also the average games played per week taking total games played of 1,312 over a 27 week season.)
- StLBravesFan

With this breakdown, I think it safe to say NHL fans will have achieved their fix. Thanks for that, Sage.

ESPN+ is the exact same price, if memory serves. I'll rave like a madman for the last time about poor PR, in rolling everything out clearly for their fandom. One of the primary reasons I opted for Center Ice, was their impeccable coverage in the past. Having dual announcers for games has been a real eye-opener, also.
- gabriel

ESPN+ is 7 bucks a month.

You are missing what i believe is the most crucial element to team defense...trust. you have to trust your teammates to perform their responsibilities. If not, you get guys running all over the place. Like we have seen.
- Elbows15

Absolutely but trust in your teammates would be a given in any aspect of any team sport. I was more talking to Gabe’s point in a player learning a system or learning to play defense.

Crosby out for 6 weeks (or more) with wrist surgery. Malkin on the mend from knee surgery (exact return unknown). They might need a 2C or 3C short term. Stan dial them up (Strome). They have a 2nd round pick. We could retain some salary.
- -Doh-

Why is it guys with known injuries from the previous season, Crosby, Eichel etc. Wait until a few weeks before training camp to get surgery? It seems to happen all the time. Why not get the surgery when the season has ended?

Why is it guys with known injuries from the previous season, Crosby, Eichel etc. Wait until a few weeks before training camp to get surgery? It seems to happen all the time. Why not get the surgery when the season has ended?
- paulr

Ah, yes - the Scottie Pippen syndrome.

Perhaps some are waiting to see if extended rest will cure the problem.

Wasn't Eichel's issue his battle with management about whether or not he should have the surgery?

ESPN+ is 7 bucks a month.
- Elbows15

Thanks for the correction on price, Elbows. Still, at the time of making a choice, ESPN+ had not fully fleshed out their network game plans including specifics of exact coverage. Having both packages wouldn't be necessary, of course, as they would both seem to replicate each other to a large extent. Never before have I witnessed such an asinine, and backwards approach to business. I simply leaned on the service which had been great in the past. That's not to say I made the superior choice now, as things rapidly change in our technological era. Just willing to hedge my bets, is all.

Why is it guys with known injuries from the previous season, Crosby, Eichel etc. Wait until a few weeks before training camp to get surgery? It seems to happen all the time. Why not get the surgery when the season has ended?
- paulr

You would think, right? Players probably try rehab/therapy first hoping it corrects their injury situation, then two/three months later they realize that their injury hasn’t healed, so then they opt for surgery.
Edit- I see that Sage mentioned rest as well, also makes sense.

https://twitter.com/JFres...JJs03JCc-N74OioGgjtA&s=01

It wasn't Stan's job to do anything when his boss was made fully aware of the situation. Rocky is also the guy who fired Tallon by saying he was too old and then had to give him a job to keep from getting sued.
- rpeters01

He was in meeting that decided not to do nothing about the sexual misconduct/assault so he was part of the cover-up. Imo whoever else was in the meeting with mcdonagh and made the decision should be let go. And if wirtz knew about the whole thing shame on him for letting it happen. Just my personal view on that matter. Also if hawks don't make the playoffs even after all the moves bowman should be let go.

He was in meeting that decided not to do nothing about the sexual misconduct/assault so he was part of the cover-up. Imo whoever else was in the meeting with mcdonagh and made the decision should be let go. And if wirtz knew about the whole thing shame on him for letting it happen. Just my personal view on that matter. Also if hawks don't make the playoffs even after all the moves bowman should be let go.
- Scott1977

You're right, they did do something...they fired Aldridge. Now, you can debate about how much more they should have done, but they definitely did not do nothing!

You're right, they did do something...they fired Aldridge. Now, you can debate about how much more they should have done, but they definitely did not do nothing!
- tvetter

They got the wrong guy

ESPN+ is 7 bucks a month.
- Elbows15

I can't find where they will say what games will be on what station though so its 7 bucks for what - one game a week? 3 games per week? The only predictable and cost effective service is some shady internet stream right now.

I can't find where they will say what games will be on what station though so its 7 bucks for what - one game a week? 3 games per week? The only predictable and cost effective service is some shady internet stream right now.
- fattybeef

They say (in their promotional stuff) over 1,000 out of market games. Back to the “over 40 per week”.

You're right, they did do something...they fired Aldridge. Now, you can debate about how much more they should have done, but they definitely did not do nothing!
- tvetter

You're right, they also supposedly wrote a positive reference letter.

Random prediction - Hawks meet the Oilers in the playoffs again, lose over 5 games and Keith racks up 12 points skating 19 minutes \ night.
- fattybeef

If Toews plays only 35 games and retires highly doubt Blackhawks make the playoffs