Think about how hard that is to do. Name another team that had the attendance the Cubs had while sucking half the time. You can't cuz there ain't any others.

There's teams out there that are way better than the Cubs and draw less - still. The ChiSox have been a better team than the Cubs averaging the last 10 seasons and the Cubs still outdraw them by more than a half million a year average, in similar sized open-air ballparks, with only 30 night games a year...

McD put a lot of money in the pockets of the Tribsters.

Not until recently has the attendance really fallen off.
- blackhawk24

The Bulls, after Jordan: for the 10 years that they were the worst in the league, I think they STILL had the highest attendance in the NBA.

They were also the most profitable in the league during those years, IIRC.

JJ, I'm not sure how much info you have on this, but outside of proximity to Madison, have you heard of Minnesota being a legitimate contender to sign Suter based on any other factors? Also, for whom does the proximity benefit? Is it so Suter's family is within driving distance to see him play or so he is within driving distance of his family?

I'm just curious how legitimate the Wild's chances may be to sign him if he makes it to July 1 as a UFA.
- Chinaski

I'm not sure. I had heard Suter has a close friend on the Wild. I agree, the Wld doesn't have ton of money to spend this summer and I also question some other things. Eklund says the size of the market, smaller over larger, will matter. So that could also point to the Wild.

I'm not sure if its still the same but some places in BC charge extra for cold beer lol

I can't talk though. In New Brunswick, we pay $22 for 12 beer.
- pri$ey

At the UC we pay $8.50 for ONE lousy "beer". I think they call it Miller Genuine Draft or Budweiser.

I have a hard time taking the hawks seriously as a contender for Suter or any marquee FA. SB has been a really poor GM to date and even if it's up to mcD..... What has he ever done for the cubs besides packing the stands for a losing team? I seem to recall the cubs signing a bunch of overpaid players past their primes just about every season. Maybe I'm wrong. I don't follow baseball as much but I do know that cubs stands for Completely Useless By September.

If it was talon calling the shots i would take the hawks more seriously right now. Jmo.
- moylander

Well, yeah, Tallon threw money at guys so I guess you could trust in that. He's never really had to deal with a cap situation. I mean, he had to spend a ton of $$ just to get to the floor in Florida. I loved the guy but I wouldn't have any more faith in him than I do in Stan vis-a-vis getting a solid team in under the cap. Dale (even after he left) hit the jackpot with that team that won the Cup. Keith won the Norris and was making under $2MM (maybe even $1.5MM, can't remember) and a lot of other guys were on ELCs. Tallon couldn't have done anything to keep all of the guys Stan had to trade.

The Bulls, after Jordan: for the 10 years that they were the worst in the league, I think they STILL had the highest attendance in the NBA.

They were also the most profitable in the league during those years, IIRC.
- StLBravesFan

Nothing beats the near perennial "suck" of the Cubs.

The Bulls were coming off of 6 titles in 8 seasons. Should have been 8 straight if the league didn't force Jordan to retire for gambling (my own personal conspiracy theory), which would have tied the legendary Celts teams of the 50's & 60's.

Yeah the Bulls had some sh!tty teams and yeah they were baaaaad, but nothing sucks more than now, 104 years. Actually I'm changing my own AC (Anno Catuli) sign in my man-cave to AC0568105 on Memorial Day. That's how bad it is.

Nothing beats the near perennial "suck" of the Cubs.


- blackhawk24

That's funny.

I'm not sure. I had heard Suter has a close friend on the Wild. I agree, the Wld doesn't have ton of money to spend this summer and I also question some other things. Eklund says the size of the market, smaller over larger, will matter. So that could also point to the Wild.
- John Jaeckel

Yeah, smaller market, close to Madison, close friend on the team. The Wild seem to have all those things going for them that would logically seem to be less influential factors.

Yeah, smaller market, close to Madison, close friend on the team. The Wild seem to have all those things going for them that would logically seem to be less influential factors.
- Chinaski

I think the Wild will be in it if Fletcher wants to be, as someone pointed out earlier, they have a boatload of great prospects. It's a nice city that everyone in Suter's part of the world loves.

I think he could end up a LOT of places.

Yeah, smaller market, close to Madison, close friend on the team. The Wild seem to have all those things going for them that would logically seem to be less influential factors.
- Chinaski

I hope you guys land him. Ive always liked the Wild since they started in Minn. I thought you guys mightve turned the corner at the start of the season but then some injuries hit and those 1 goal games started going the other way.

He's (Olesz) another one of those guys I think they'd love to move. If his knee ever gets 100%, he can still play.
- John Jaeckel

I think Stan Bow thought Rusty would be the 2C they were looking for.

He went out in Feb. 2011 with the knee injury. I would think by now that the knee is healed and next fall is his last hope of making an NHL roster.

I hope you guys land him. Ive always liked the Wild since they started in Minn. I thought you guys mightve turned the corner at the start of the season but then some injuries hit and those 1 goal games started going the other way.
- Rally_Shots

No team will ever win with Dany Heatly. The guy runs and hides in pressure situations.

The Bulls, after Jordan: for the 10 years that they were the worst in the league, I think they STILL had the highest attendance in the NBA.

They were also the most profitable in the league during those years, IIRC.
- StLBravesFan

That was similar but not the same as to what happened with Hawks in some ways...Reinsdorf put every game on TV after he bought the team....Plus six Championship does have a way of building a fan base to the extreme.

No team will ever win with Dany Heatly. The guy runs and hides in pressure situations.
- furso27

Especially now that hes older and not the force he used to be on Ottawa. Never liked the guy but you have to admit that him Spezza and Alfie made one hell of a line.

I'm not sure. I had heard Suter has a close friend on the Wild. I agree, the Wld doesn't have ton of money to spend this summer and I also question some other things. Eklund says the size of the market, smaller over larger, will matter. So that could also point to the Wild.
- John Jaeckel

Yep that's what I have heard...Newly acquired Tom Gilbert.

Random hypothetical...if you could get Parise for a similar cap hit and longer term, would you do it, provided you HAD to move Kane? Comes down to Kane vs Parise...who ya got?

EDIT: Ogi, i know you want Sharp moved but that's not an option
- eburgio

Depends what you get for Kane. I'm not opposed to trading Kane in theory, just think that the probability of regretting it later is very high, especially with tweedle dee (Stan) and tweedle dumb (Q) running the show. If he gets traded, it better be worth it.

Think about how hard that is to do. Name another team that had the attendance the Cubs had while sucking half the time. You can't cuz there ain't any others.

There's teams out there that are way better than the Cubs and draw less - still. The ChiSox have been a better team than the Cubs averaging the last 10 seasons and the Cubs still outdraw them by more than a half million a year average, in similar sized open-air ballparks, with only 30 night games a year...

McD put a lot of money in the pockets of the Tribsters.

Not until recently has the
- blackhawk24[EDIT: Cubs] attendance really fallen off.

I agree..... But apparently it didn't correlate to getting the best FA. That's my point. I don't trust SB to suddenly land a great FA based on his track record and mcD is an expert at putting cheeks in the seats..... not at putting to FA's on the team. I think it was JJ making it sound like this offseason is more of mcD's call than SB's. That's all. I do admire his marketing ability though. A+.

I think Stan Bow thought Rusty would be the 2C they were looking for.

He went out in Feb. 2011 with the knee injury. I would think by now that the knee is healed and next fall is his last hope of making an NHL roster.
- Lido_Shuffle

I don't know about that, Olesz is a winger nto a centre. I think the motivation for taking Olesz was exactly what happened, ditch Campbell's contract. If Olesz can contribute great, if not hopefully he enjoys Rockford. I would love to see Rusty get another chance in training camp, but who knows. I seriously doubt he'll be part of any trade, no GM will be willing to take his contract unless they give up another high ticket player.

Still doesnt explain how me being a Sabres fan has anything to do with my opinion of how the Hawks/Red Wings will be in 5-10 years.
- Rally_Shots

I do really enjoy a Troll.

At the UC we pay $8.50 for ONE lousy "beer". I think they call it Miller Genuine Draft or Budweiser.
- Return of the Roar

The pain! the suffering! yuck!

I do really enjoy a Troll.
- Beaver-Warrior

Just here to talk some hockey

I think the Wild will be in it if Fletcher wants to be, as someone pointed out earlier, they have a boatload of great prospects. It's a nice city that everyone in Suter's part of the world loves.

I think he could end up a LOT of places.
- John Jaeckel

I think they will definitely pitch him. They almost have to. He significantly improves the team. They will have to sell him on everything but the fact that the team is not positioned to win right now and it could be a few years.

Yep that's what I have heard...Newly acquired Tom Gilbert.
- Al

I have to ask - do you guys think or have you heard if this really matters all that much? I mean, if Tom Gilbert is the key to signing Ryan Suter (and I've also heard the same thing mentioned when talk is about Parise), why on Earth would the Oilers trade him?

I have to ask - do you guys think or have you heard if this really matters all that much? I mean, if Tom Gilbert is the key to signing Ryan Suter (and I've also heard the same thing mentioned when talk is about Parise), why on Earth would the Oilers trade him?
- Chinaski

I don't know how much it will matter but Gilbert and Parise are both from Minn.

Gilbert and Schultz are different players and the Oilers wanted the better defender. Also Gilbert earns close to $2 mill more per season.

At the end of the day Suter is going to go where he can make the most money and to a place he wants to live for the next 7-10 years.