8 between 1959 and 1966.
- Chunk

Thanks. Thats pretty impressive.

Especially playing the outside game at Wrigley.
- rpeters01

Correct. Keep hearing that Bedards first game had 3x the viewership of the winter classic this year which is pretty nuts.

The NHL really sucks. They should hire some of the guys from WWE to come in and embellish some of the storylines and coach the jabronis doing post game and between periods on how to sell the game.

Kind of silly when the most exciting thing in the last few weeks is Greig banging in an open netter and the Leafs being the Leafs.

These hockey people really need to pull the stick out of their ass and embrace some personality and showmanship. Other than the niche audience - it isn't surprising why this is a second class league.

Correct. Keep hearing that Bedards first game had 3x the viewership of the winter classic this year which is pretty nuts.

The NHL really sucks. They should hire some of the guys from WWE to come in and embellish some of the storylines and coach the jabronis doing post game and between periods on how to sell the game.

Kind of silly when the most exciting thing in the last few weeks is Greig banging in an open netter and the Leafs being the Leafs.

These hockey people really need to pull the stick out of their ass and embrace some personality and showmanship. Other than the niche audience - it isn't surprising why this is a second class league.
- fattybeef

What exactly do you propose the NHL do to make hockey like the WWE?

The reason the NHL is a niche league is because a good portion of the US doesn’t watch, play or understand the game. But under Bettman that has changed significantly over the years where non traditional hockey markets are not only watching and understand the game young kids are playing it. There are allot of things the NHL doesn’t do well but growing the game isn’t one of them.

What exactly do you propose the NHL do to make hockey like the WWE?

The reason the NHL is a niche league is because a good portion of the US doesn’t watch, play or understand the game. But under Bettman that has changed significantly over the years where non traditional hockey markets are not only watching and understand the game young kids are playing it. There are allot of things the NHL doesn’t do well but growing the game isn’t one of them.
- paulr

I beg to differ on the point of growing the game.

While some players are coming out of areas like Arizona and southern California, the local ratings for most of the non original six U.S. teams are abysmal.

Most of the games played are carried by local channels, and teams make a lot of their revenues from the advertising those games make. And with viewership so low, they make next to nothing to have their games televised. That's why the most lucrative revenue generating teams are writing checks to these teams annually, and you can pretty much draw a line across the country, and count all of the teams in the south as the culprits.

I beg to differ on the point of growing the game.

While some players are coming out of areas like Arizona and southern California, the local ratings for most of the non original six U.S. teams are abysmal.

Most of the games played are carried by local channels, and teams make a lot of their revenues from the advertising those games make. And with viewership so low, they make next to nothing to have their games televised. That's why the most lucrative revenue generating teams are writing checks to these teams annually, and you can pretty much draw a line across the country, and count all of the teams in the south as the culprits.
- dahawks8819

The important thing, which under Bettman the NHL has done an incredible job, is building the grassroots of the sport. Attendance may never be great, however with kids playing the sport and growing up loving the sport that could very well change. The parents of these kids aren’t going to change the attendance it will be the kids when they are adults. It’s going to take time and unlike the suggestion about applying some WWE type gimmick that may bring in a few curious people, it will be a love of the sport that will make people want to lay down their hard earned money for seasons tickets.

I beg to differ on the point of growing the game.

While some players are coming out of areas like Arizona and southern California, the local ratings for most of the non original six U.S. teams are abysmal.

Most of the games played are carried by local channels, and teams make a lot of their revenues from the advertising those games make. And with viewership so low, they make next to nothing to have their games televised. That's why the most lucrative revenue generating teams are writing checks to these teams annually, and you can pretty much draw a line across the country, and count all of the teams in the south as the culprits.
- dahawks8819

Well i think it has to start somewhere. First you award some city a franchise, next in order to grow the fan base, it's not about gimmicks, marketing as much as winning. We are seeing steady winning franchises in Carolina, Dallas, both Florida's, amongst many others. This is how you grow the sport cause there's nothing like winning hockey. Sure some folk will be able to walk away but for every person that walks away you have a fan that's hooked.

And I've said before, the United center area has gone through a regentrification, so you have young Americans living in the area who have nothing better to do on a cold January, February, March evening especially on the weekend and decide let's go see a game. They are doing, Blackhawks and Bulls, what the Cubs did to Wrigley Ville.

If you look at many of the new stadiums going up, there is a big focus on trying to build a community around the arena.

The important thing, which under Bettman the NHL has done an incredible job, is building the grassroots of the sport. Attendance may never be great, however with kids playing the sport and growing up loving the sport that could very well change. The parents of these kids aren’t going to change the attendance it will be the kids when they are adults. It’s going to take time and unlike the suggestion about applying some WWE type gimmick that may bring in a few curious people, it will be a love of the sport that will make people want to lay down their hard earned money for seasons tickets.
- paulr

I don't think the WWE comment was about using a gimmick to get folks in the door. I think it was more about finding ways to better market the players and the game. The WWE does well because people get invested in the storylines of the actors, and because it is exciting to watch. I think the NHL would do very well to better promote the stars of the game. You can tell they understand this (why else would CHI be getting another Winter Classic?), but they fall short because they don't really do enough to highlight and promote the stars in the league. My wife likes to watch hockey with me, but I have to tell her who the best players are on the opponents most nights. Meanwhile, she knows Gronk, Mahomes, the Kelce brothers, etc and we haven't watched much of any football in the last 12 years.

I don't think the WWE comment was about using a gimmick to get folks in the door. I think it was more about finding ways to better market the players and the game. The WWE does well because people get invested in the storylines of the actors, and because it is exciting to watch. I think the NHL would do very well to better promote the stars of the game. You can tell they understand this (why else would CHI be getting another Winter Classic?), but they fall short because they don't really do enough to highlight and promote the stars in the league. My wife likes to watch hockey with me, but I have to tell her who the best players are on the opponents most nights. Meanwhile, she knows Gronk, Mahomes, the Kelce brothers, etc and we haven't watched much of any football in the last 12 years.
- Chunk

That is true, even when you are watching a game that doesn't have the best players in it, some how some way they end up talking about the stars of the NFL, in some capacity or another, i got so tired of hearing about either Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, among other players

Well i think it has to start somewhere. First you award some city a franchise, next in order to grow the fan base, it's not about gimmicks, marketing as much as winning. We are seeing steady winning franchises in Carolina, Dallas, both Florida's, amongst many others. This is how you grow the sport cause there's nothing like winning hockey. Sure some folk will be able to walk away but for every person that walks away you have a fan that's hooked.

And I've said before, the United center area has gone through a regentrification, so you have young Americans living in the area who have nothing better to do on a cold January, February, March evening especially on the weekend and decide let's go see a game. They are doing, Blackhawks and Bulls, what the Cubs did to Wrigley Ville.

If you look at many of the new stadiums going up, there is a big focus on trying to build a community around the arena.
- BetweenTheDots

Respectfully, you guys are missing the point.

The game can't really ever grow if Bettman continues to force teams in cities where people aren't tuning in locally for 82 games.

Rocky when he was still alive talked about how the team never turned a profit while he was in charge. Because he and the handful of other money generating teams had to keep writing checks to keep the other teams afloat.

That is not a formula for a league trying to grow.

That is true, even when you are watching a game that doesn't have the best players in it, some how some way they end up talking about the stars of the NFL, in some capacity or another, i got so tired of hearing about either Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, among other players
- BetweenTheDots

Do you guys remember in the 2015 playoffs when Tampa was throwing those outdoor viewing parties? The league asked the Tampa owner to stop them for the finals because it destroyed their home viewing audience.

Multiply that by at least a dozen, and that should tell you about local advertising revenue for half the league. Not good.

What exactly do you propose the NHL do to make hockey like the WWE?

The reason the NHL is a niche league is because a good portion of the US doesn’t watch, play or understand the game. But under Bettman that has changed significantly over the years where non traditional hockey markets are not only watching and understand the game young kids are playing it. There are allot of things the NHL doesn’t do well but growing the game isn’t one of them.
- paulr

It takes a lot of money to play hockey as a kid in the US because most schools don't support it.

I don't think the WWE comment was about using a gimmick to get folks in the door. I think it was more about finding ways to better market the players and the game. The WWE does well because people get invested in the storylines of the actors, and because it is exciting to watch. I think the NHL would do very well to better promote the stars of the game. You can tell they understand this (why else would CHI be getting another Winter Classic?), but they fall short because they don't really do enough to highlight and promote the stars in the league. My wife likes to watch hockey with me, but I have to tell her who the best players are on the opponents most nights. Meanwhile, she knows Gronk, Mahomes, the Kelce brothers, etc and we haven't watched much of any football in the last 12 years.
- Chunk

The NFL is huge, players get more endorsement opportunities, players are all over TV, the internet and the news, hockey not so much. How do NHL players get endorsements? They have to have a sport more visible and viable to sports fans for corporations to offer those endorsements. Hockey is relatively new to anywhere but the northern US so it’s never had a Network TV deal. Do you think marketing a handful of great players and a few characters is going to make people watch them? You have to understand and like or love the game and not enough people in the US do at the moment.

As far as your wife knowing the NFL players you mentioned, all of them have one thing hockey players seem to lack, a big personality. Across the board hockey players are pretty boring. Look at Bedard, nice respectful kid, great player, he looks like the kid next door but he has zero on screen personality. There are a few hockey players with big personalities Trevor Zegras being one, but they are few and far between.

It takes a lot of money to play hockey as a kid in the US because most schools don't support it.
- rpeters01

That’s certainly another problem.

It takes a lot of money to play hockey as a kid in the US because most schools don't support it.
- rpeters01

This. My kids' high school don't even have a hockey team or club. It would be great if the IHSA added hockey as an official sport. Then the high schools would cover the equipment and ice time.

Paul is right though. More kids play, more popular the sport becomes. People don't understand the rules. Honestly though, I think most Americans can't even skate.

This. My kids' high school don't even have a hockey team or club. It would be great if the IHSA added hockey as an official sport. Then the high schools would cover the equipment and ice time.

Paul is right though. More kids play, more popular the sport becomes. People don't understand the rules. Honestly though, I think most Americans can't even skate.
- Popsghostly

Take a look at what's coming to our area--this is encouraging...https://calverticesports.com

This. My kids' high school don't even have a hockey team or club. It would be great if the IHSA added hockey as an official sport. Then the high schools would cover the equipment and ice time.

Paul is right though. More kids play, more popular the sport becomes. People don't understand the rules. Honestly though, I think most Americans can't even skate.
- Popsghostly

Anecdotally, an ice rink opened nearby where I was growing up. Brand new rental skates. This is when I learned how much a decent pair of skates meant to learning how to do so.
The old family hand me down skates REALLY sucked!

Anecdotally, an ice rink opened nearby where I was growing up. Brand new rental skates. This is when I learned how much a decent pair of skates meant to learning how to skate.
The old family hand me down skates REALLY sucked!
- 35Tony0

The NFL is huge, players get more endorsement opportunities, players are all over TV, the internet and the news, hockey not so much. How do NHL players get endorsements? They have to have a sport more visible and viable to sports fans for corporations to offer those endorsements. Hockey is relatively new to anywhere but the northern US so it’s never had a Network TV deal. Do you think marketing a handful of great players and a few characters is going to make people watch them? You have to understand and like or love the game and not enough people in the US do at the moment.

As far as your wife knowing the NFL players you mentioned, all of them have one thing hockey players seem to lack, a big personality. Across the board hockey players are pretty boring. Look at Bedard, nice respectful kid, great player, he looks like the kid next door but he has zero on screen personality. There are a few hockey players with big personalities Trevor Zegras being one, but they are few and far between.
- paulr

She has me for that.

Good point. That said, I still think they can do a better job of getting names, accomplishments, etc. in the public eye.

Tinordi to IR, not sure if either Zaitsev or Murphy are ready yet, if not, maybe Kaiser comes back up.

A live look at Toronto fans waiting for the Rielly verdict:

via GIPHY

A live look at Toronto fans waiting for the Rielly verdict:

via GIPHY

- DarthKane

File this under "didn't see that coming:

On defense, the absence of Rielly has the Leafs blueline in flux. Jake McCabe will take over quarterbacking the first power play unit. Mark Giordano will play after being scratched on Saturday, and Maxime Lajoie may be in the lineup as a seventh defenseman based on some questions about availability up front.

Tinordi to IR, not sure if either Zaitsev or Murphy are ready yet, if not, maybe Kaiser comes back up.
- Angotti

The "Crev" is already up with the big club, so I'd guess they just fight through it for the time being.

File this under "didn't see that coming:

On defense, the absence of Rielly has the Leafs blueline in flux. Jake McCabe will take over quarterbacking the first power play unit. Mark Giordano will play after being scratched on Saturday, and Maxime Lajoie may be in the lineup as a seventh defenseman based on some questions about availability up front.
- Chunk

Even with Rielly I would take the Hawks top four of Vlasic/Jones and KK/Murphy over Toronto’s, and their fans think they’re a cup contender, not!

Even with Rielly I would take the Hawks top four of Vlasic/Jones and KK/Murphy over Toronto’s, and their fans think they’re a cup contender, not!
- Angotti

Toronto's defense is in rough shape, besides Rielly and McCabe their defense is filled with Rundblad type of d-men.

Toronto's defense is in rough shape, besides Rielly and McCabe their defense is filled with Rundblad type of d-men.
- DarthKane

They have Giordano. He's.... experienced.