Jeremy Laura: Timashov to Isles, Niederbach/Raymond linemates, Forbes report eye opening

Thanks Jeremy, if you only made pizzas, you too could save Detroit!

Thanks Jeremy, if you only made pizzas, you too could save Detroit!
- HenryHockey

Frankly, I prefer Buddy's.

Frankly, I prefer Buddy's.
- HenryHockey

No way Lou Malnati’s is Chicago!

No way Lou Malnati’s is Chicago!
- Justbecause

Is that the crazy good deep dish place? I thought it was a cake when I first saw that pizza!

Thanks Jeremy, if you only made pizzas, you too could save Detroit!
- HenryHockey

I wish! I’ve had my share of LC, I do love Buddy’s and Jets too. A bizarre place to get really good pizza is at the “Bavarian Inn” in Frankenmuth. My wife and I were playing putt putt (at a conference over there) and she smelled the Za coming out. They brush garlic butter on the crust, and it’s amazing! We just got pepperoni, but you can get a “Bavarian special” with chicken (of course), Bratwurst and sauerkraut. Sounds awesome to me but not her thing! Still love the family chicken dinners out there, but that pizza is amazing!

I wish! I’ve had my share of LC, I do love Buddy’s and Jets too. A bizarre place to get really good pizza is at the “Bavarian Inn” in Frankenmuth. My wife and I were playing putt putt (at a conference over there) and she smelled the Za coming out. They brush garlic butter on the crust, and it’s amazing! We just got pepperoni, but you can get a “Bavarian special” with chicken (of course), Bratwurst and sauerkraut. Sounds awesome to me but not her thing! Still love the family chicken dinners out there, but that pizza is amazing!
- Jeremy Laura

Damn dude. Hell of a well written piece. Kudos to you sir, clearly did your research. Couple of questions, did your numbers figure in TV marketing, i.e. the existing or potential new us tv deal? In your research, was the valuations based on strictly gate rev or did it include merchandise etc?

Damn dude. Hell of a well written piece. Kudos to you sir, clearly did your research. Couple of questions, did your numbers figure in TV marketing, i.e. the existing or potential new us tv deal? In your research, was the valuations based on strictly gate rev or did it include merchandise etc?
- Rioghan

Those are fantastic points. There wasn’t a differentiator for the revenue source. I think National television revenues go to the NHL and then gets distributed back to the teams. Local affiliates have deals with the franchises themselves, and it’s all over the map. The Rangers belong to MSG sports and MSG has some of its own broadcasting. In Detroit we have Fox affiliates (a lot of teams do). Fox has that clause that requires a refund if 82 games aren’t played. It’s hard to find how many teams were assessed penalties. The NBC deal is up, and needs to get extended so that feels a bit precarious right now.

I’m not sure if Forbes looks at the money the league sends to each team (the make good based on escrow) or just at their internal numbers. I’ll do some more digging. The gate and concessions (including on sight merch) goes straight to the club.

Really good questions, thanks so much for reading and jumping in!

Timashov is George Costanza?

https://youtu.be/V-Tspdoouns

Timashov is George Costanza?

https://youtu.be/V-Tspdoouns
- gergeswillems

Nicely done!

Serenity now!!!

I wish! I’ve had my share of LC, I do love Buddy’s and Jets too. A bizarre place to get really good pizza is at the “Bavarian Inn” in Frankenmuth. My wife and I were playing putt putt (at a conference over there) and she smelled the Za coming out. They brush garlic butter on the crust, and it’s amazing! We just got pepperoni, but you can get a “Bavarian special” with chicken (of course), Bratwurst and sauerkraut. Sounds awesome to me but not her thing! Still love the family chicken dinners out there, but that pizza is amazing!
- Jeremy Laura

As a Canadian I would say of the non-wings games most of the times I’ve been to Michigan were for hockey tournaments growing up. I’ll never forget the first tournament I went to that I tried jets pizza. Maybe it’s because I was stuck on the ambassador bridge for what could have been a couple hours and I was starving but it was the best pizza since my go-to in my hometown burned down when I was around 12 or so.

Also while on the topic of frankenmuth many I’ve talked to that have went around the holidays say that zehnders is one place you absolutely have to go to once

HBO had a show called Ballers where an ex-NFL player, played by the Rock, becomes a player agent then a financial advisor then an owner of a franchise. He fights for players having played five years getting life time medical with players and owners putting into the kitty.
It also goes into the fraud the NCAA is to players.

For most owners, maybe all, purchasing a team is about prestige and showing their wealth. I don't feel bad for them as much. The Blues spend to the cap and if they make it two rounds in the play offs, with fans in the seats, the get in the black. If not for the pandemic, despite not making it to round two they would have been doung great bc of the Cup.

I still think the model franchise in all of sports is Green Bay--owned by the fans.

Top end players make exorbanant amounts. Here's the gig, if you make a million dollars in a few years of playing, you should own your own home and have it paid off. That's a luxury most people do not have.

As a retired Army and a firefighter it would take me 13 years to bring in a little over a million dollars. What is the minimum salary? Talk about addiction issues, chronic injuries and TBIs and in no way receiving world class health care though being an elite athelete for 20 years before doing fire. When not deployed run/march minimum 25 miles per week. Minimum. Most weeks that was accomplished in two days and while carrying weight. No ice baths, personal trainers or any of that high quality.

I'll ask, who is more important to society? Teachers in most places dont make much. The paramedics who saved Jat Boumeester's life most likely made less in the year what he got paid for that game. Who is more important? When it's your moment of need is a player going to skate into into your life?

So tough, you have to work with chronic injuries and maybe you're not qualified for much. Fairly certain most could afford to go back to school if need be.

As a Canadian I would say of the non-wings games most of the times I’ve been to Michigan were for hockey tournaments growing up. I’ll never forget the first tournament I went to that I tried jets pizza. Maybe it’s because I was stuck on the ambassador bridge for what could have been a couple hours and I was starving but it was the best pizza since my go-to in my hometown burned down when I was around 12 or so.

Also while on the topic of frankenmuth many I’ve talked to that have went around the holidays say that zehnders is one place you absolutely have to go to once
- RedC21

My first jets was on a construction site. I’d been doing demo for 8 hours and starving. My brother got one with feta and black olives. So good. Stay at the Bavarian, head to Zehnders one night. They’re actually owned by the same families. The chicken is something special. They keep bringing it until you say Uncle. Beautiful town. They have ice sculptures in the winter and hot air balloons in the summer. Worth the trip

HBO had a show called Ballers where an ex-NFL player, played by the Rock, becomes a player agent then a financial advisor then an owner of a franchise. He fights for players having played five years getting life time medical with players and owners putting into the kitty.
It also goes into the fraud the NCAA is to players.

For most owners, maybe all, purchasing a team is about prestige and showing their wealth. I don't feel bad for them as much. The Blues spend to the cap and if they make it two rounds in the play offs, with fans in the seats, the get in the black. If not for the pandemic, despite not making it to round two they would have been doung great bc of the Cup.

I still think the model franchise in all of sports is Green Bay--owned by the fans.

Top end players make exorbanant amounts. Here's the gig, if you make a million dollars in a few years of playing, you should own your own home and have it paid off. That's a luxury most people do not have.

As a retired Army and a firefighter it would take me 13 years to bring in a little over a million dollars. What is the minimum salary? Talk about addiction issues, chronic injuries and TBIs and in no way receiving world class health care though being an elite athelete for 20 years before doing fire. When not deployed run/march minimum 25 miles per week. Minimum. Most weeks that was accomplished in two days and while carrying weight. No ice baths, personal trainers or any of that high quality.

I'll ask, who is more important to society? Teachers in most places dont make much. The paramedics who saved Jat Boumeester's life most likely made less in the year what he got paid for that game. Who is more important? When it's your moment of need is a player going to skate into into your life?

So tough, you have to work with chronic injuries and maybe you're not qualified for much. Fairly certain most could afford to go back to school if need be.
- BluemanGuruu

You’re making fair points, for sure. Athletes make a ton of money to play a game. I agree that firefighters, police, teachers, military all get the short end. I also know that the player lifestyle ruins a lot of lives. Massive amounts of painkillers that all go away when your career ends. An NHLPA that fought to have cocaine not be listed as a banned substance so it is everywhere. Family and friends ripping you off (Jack Johnson, Sergei Fedorov) and you end up broke. So many guys end up needing assistance later in life and that’s what I want to try and stop. Get some accountants working for the PA to funnel more ore tax $ into retirement and medical accounts. I admire guys who figure out early on that they need to transition. Drew Miller is working in Lansing at a 9 to 5, smart guy.

Excellent work Jeremy.

We need more people like you bringing both sides (Owners and Players) of the issues to the fore front, instead of just targeting and labeling one of them as the "bad guy".

Unfortunately so many writers just pick a side and never have compassion or any understanding for the other side. People just love pushing their personal views in this age of social media.

You didn't pick a side and reported the facts.

That was quite refreshing and we really could use more of that in our media today.

Thank you Sir for a job well done.

Good post, you should get into journalism Jeremy, the world needs more balanced writing which you do quite well.

Excellent work Jeremy.

We need more people like you bringing both sides (Owners and Players) of the issues to the fore front, instead of just targeting and labeling one of them as the "bad guy".

Unfortunately so many writers just pick a side and never have compassion or any understanding for the other side. People just love pushing their personal views in this age of social media.

You didn't pick a side and reported the facts.

That was quite refreshing and we really could use more of that in our media today.

Thank you Sir for a job well done.
- VinnyP

Wow, I’m not sure how to thank you for that. Please know what a blessing it was to read this. When Mike Illitch passed, I started to hear stories about things he would do behind the scenes. He paid for Rosa Parks apartment for a long time, out of respect for her. When he first bought the Wings, he would personally meet with people who wanted season tickets and walk them around the arena. He’d sit with them, explain what they would see and how they would experience the game. That’s way beyond someone who just wanted to own a team.

I’ve also seen how players can fall apart after the league. Somewhere around 70% who are married get a divorce after the career is over. Depression, drug abuse, suicide just plague some of these players. I care about the sport. We need owners, and we certainly need players. They in turn, need each other. The ridiculous spin on who is good and who is evil just makes things worse.

Again, thank you so much. You picked this column to spend your personal time reading and even more to leave a comment. That is something very special to a hockey fan who gets to write a blog.

Good post, you should get into journalism Jeremy, the world needs more balanced writing which you do quite well.
- JetFuel

Thank you so much for that. Like anyone, I have my own preferences and thoughts on how things should be. But, I honestly try to listen to you when you comment. Many of the comments on this blog have made me have to really dig down and reconsider my stances. I have a long way to go, but I hope that through studying, observing and listening to the fans that make this sport so incredible I can become someone you enjoy reading. Even if we disagree, I want to try and do it respectfully and make sure I’m listening. There’s a famous guitarist who wears a shirt that says “ego kills talent”. I’m not sure how much “talent” i have, but I’ve certainly had way too much ego in my time. I just want to set up a virtual “Cheers”. I set up the ginger ales and the topic, we agree or disagree, but the next time you show up there’s a room full of people glad to see you.

Once again this is a great read. God Bless Mr. I

Once again this is a great read. God Bless Mr. I
- Tee56

Thanks, and Amen

Whilst pizza is good, Coney Dogs ROCK. Great place in Port Huron, across from McMorran Place Arena (Wings used to run camp there, the Flags played there, Silver Sticks, etc...) called the Brass Rail had really good dogs....

Hockey is a very unique sport because the fans dedicate So much to fostering an atmosphere of enjoyment & respect, their kids who play are taught that and their player "idols" show that. What other sport do you see where players talk about fighting and the respect they have for the opponent whom they faught (Tiger Williams talking about Gordie...). I used to watch all major sports, but my interest waned because of dramatic drop off in CHARACTER (Alomar telling the media that the son of the umpire he spat upon deserved to die when he was drunk-driving, etc...). Hockey (and rugby) don't have that. Unique sports, unique players, unique owners. BUT...society, and our sports, are changing. The thing that remains are the fans. They deserve better, not just from the NHL, but all sports. That being said, salaries squandered are sad stories (read about Joe Murphy...you'll cry). I agree that the stress of being a professional is high...but how many military, 1st Responders, etc.... act the way some sports "heroes" do? It's a different mind-set, I think.

Now, our sport can save itself by both sides giving for the greater good. They just have to let go of...EGO, and do it for the sport, and the history, and legacies (bless Mr. I & Marion...). Time to put on the big-girl panties and make this sport the icon it so richly deserves to be....really, ALL sports need to do that whether for honour or true respect. Society NEEDS it....

And, Jeremy, you're a truly gifted individual. Your readers will, and always do, attest to that. If only our owners & players had your mind-set....

Whilst pizza is good, Coney Dogs ROCK. Great place in Port Huron, across from McMorran Place Arena (Wings used to run camp there, the Flags played there, Silver Sticks, etc...) called the Brass Rail had really good dogs....

Hockey is a very unique sport because the fans dedicate So much to fostering an atmosphere of enjoyment & respect, their kids who play are taught that and their player "idols" show that. What other sport do you see where players talk about fighting and the respect they have for the opponent whom they faught (Tiger Williams talking about Gordie...). I used to watch all major sports, but my interest waned because of dramatic drop off in CHARACTER (Alomar telling the media that the son of the umpire he spat upon deserved to die when he was drunk-driving, etc...). Hockey (and rugby) don't have that. Unique sports, unique players, unique owners. BUT...society, and our sports, are changing. The thing that remains are the fans. They deserve better, not just from the NHL, but all sports. That being said, salaries squandered are sad stories (read about Joe Murphy...you'll cry). I agree that the stress of being a professional is high...but how many military, 1st Responders, etc.... act the way some sports "heroes" do? It's a different mind-set, I think.

Now, our sport can save itself by both sides giving for the greater good. They just have to let go of...EGO, and do it for the sport, and the history, and legacies (bless Mr. I & Marion...). Time to put on the big-girl panties and make this sport the icon it so richly deserves to be....really, ALL sports need to do that whether for honour or true respect. Society NEEDS it....

And, Jeremy, you're a truly gifted individual. Your readers will, and always do, attest to that. If only our owners & players had your mind-set....
- mcmastermike1968

Only one company (that i know of) tried to combine those power house foods. Hungry Howies had a coney dog pizza for a very limited (thank God) tine. The coney dog is such a polarizing cuisine! I’ve had great dogs (National Coney and Nathans) and some that could have prepped me for a colonoscopy (greasy spoons in Ypsilanti and Flint). There was a burger joint in Milan that used to make me chili cheese burgers when i was in high school. So good.

I’ll say this - there are players and owners who desperately want to do the right thing for everyone. Those voices get drowned out by the squeaky wheels of discontent. A very good friend of mine used to coach the honeybaked teams in Detroit. If you aren’t familiar with the little Caesars, Belle Tire, Honey Baked teams, it is a high $ and highly touted set of leagues that get players from all over the world. This coach had a parent driving 3 hours each way from Ohio so his kid could play with the team. Not a rich man, someone who sacrificed everything so his kid could have a chance (Tim Thomas’s parents pawned their wedding rings for his goalie pads, that type of parent). He was proud that his son had earned a full ride scholarship to a college program and wanted to do something special. The coach told him, “this is his way of paying you back. You’ve done everything for him and now you don’t have to worry about this expense”.. These parents are the ones who teach sacrifice and gratitude. Yes, there are entitled parents/kids who make life horrible (this guy refused a chance to coach in the CHL because of how awful parents and kids can be demanding ice time). It’s not limited to wealth. It’s just attitude. The players and parents who perpetuate the worst in sport are a nightmare for everyone. There are a lot of good, humble players that make it all the way into the NHL. There are also good owners who truly love the sport. I just wish their voices could rise above the garbage

As a Canadian I would say of the non-wings games most of the times I’ve been to Michigan were for hockey tournaments growing up. I’ll never forget the first tournament I went to that I tried jets pizza. Maybe it’s because I was stuck on the ambassador bridge for what could have been a couple hours and I was starving but it was the best pizza since my go-to in my hometown burned down when I was around 12 or so.

Also while on the topic of frankenmuth many I’ve talked to that have went around the holidays say that zehnders is one place you absolutely have to go to once
- RedC21

As a Frankenmuth local, we don't hit the touristy restaurants, but when we have people in town who want to go to them, Zehnder's is the place. It's a little more expensive than Bavarian Inn, but better. As far as pizza, we have 2 chains (Little Caesars & Hungry Howies) which I don't like. Downstairs in Bavarian Inn Lodge is actually pretty darn good, but we have a fairly new place called Lazy Dog's Pizza which is about double the cost of the chains, but much, much better.