http://www.thescore.com/h...-plans-more-outdoor-games

Typical NHL. Take something that is unique and special, and dilute it to the point where it just becomes another game.

Y'all may disagree, but the NHL needs to fire their marketing people and start from scratch.

And seriously? Ducks and Kings at Dodger stadium? I guess one can expect multiple knee injuries from skating on the horrible ice this event will provide. If they can produce ice at all.
- MBFlyerfan

My guess is that it's a one-year money grab to try to make up some of what they lost this year.

http://www.thescore.com/h...-plans-more-outdoor-games

Typical NHL. Take something that is unique and special, and dilute it to the point where it just becomes another game.

Y'all may disagree, but the NHL needs to fire their marketing people and start from scratch.

And seriously? Ducks and Kings at Dodger stadium? I guess one can expect multiple knee injuries from skating on the horrible ice this event will provide. If they can produce ice at all.
- MBFlyerfan

I'm with you. I was at the three games in Philly and the alumni game had to be pushed back due to the warm weather. can't imagine how they will do a game in LA.

If you take something "special" and make it commonplace, it loses some luster. I'm not a huge fan of the outdoor games anyhow. They're a nice novelty, but I'd prefer playing on better indoor ice with no worries about the elements.
- Jsaquella

I'm really interested in how they expect to pull off an outdoor game in Dodger stadium.

Roller blades? Fake ice? Godzilla sized air conditioners?

http://www.thescore.com/h...-plans-more-outdoor-games

Typical NHL. Take something that is unique and special, and dilute it to the point where it just becomes another game.

Y'all may disagree, but the NHL needs to fire their marketing people and start from scratch.

And seriously? Ducks and Kings at Dodger stadium? I guess one can expect multiple knee injuries from skating on the horrible ice this event will provide. If they can produce ice at all.
- MBFlyerfan

Assuming this truly comes to fruition -- and it sounds like it will -- I suspect the NHL will have the gall to say something like "we're giving back to the fans" when what the league is really doing is killing the golden goose in a flat out money grab after the lost revenues of the lockout year.

That said, if they can actually fill up six stadiums in one year and collect all the associated merchandising revenues, I guess it'll be a smart short-term move even if it harms the event in the long term.

With six games, they also obviously don't care about television ratings beyond the Jan 1 game, nor do they care about waning interest outside the participating cities. It's all about the huge gates and the marked-up merchandise.

I'm with you. I was at the three games in Philly and the alumni game had to be pushed back due to the warm weather. can't imagine how they will do a game in LA.
- nastyflyergirl

In 1991, the Kings and Rangers played an outdoor game in a casino parking lot in Las Vegas. Temps ranged from 85-95 degrees.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...oor_NHL_game_in_Las_Vegas

I'm really interested in how they expect to pull off an outdoor game in Dodger stadium.

Roller blades? Fake ice? Godzilla sized air conditioners?
- MBFlyerfan

Assuming this truly comes to fruition -- and it sounds like it will -- I suspect the NHL will have the gall to say something like "we're giving back to the fans" when what the league is really doing is killing the golden goose in a flat out money grab after the lost revenues of the lockout year.

That said, if they can actually fill up six stadiums in one year and collect all the associated merchandising revenues, I guess it'll be a smart short-term move even if it harms the event in the long term.

With six games, they also obviously don't care about television ratings beyond the Jan 1 game, nor do they care about waning interest outside the participating cities. It's all about the huge gates and the marked-up merchandise.
- bmeltzer

They care about the cash grab. The ratings are immaterial, they have a ten year TV deal, so they can't push for a higher price any time soon. and now we'll have 6 teams with new "Third" jerseys, and a big gate at a stadium that can hold 50K or more people.

In 1991, the Kings and Rangers played an outdoor game in a casino parking lot in Las Vegas. Temps ranged from 85-95 degrees.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...oor_NHL_game_in_Las_Vegas
- Jsaquella

Yup. Sean Couturier's father, Sylvain, played in that game.

They care about the cash grab. The ratings are immaterial, they have a ten year TV deal, so they can't push for a higher price any time soon. and now we'll have 6 teams with new "Third" jerseys, and a big gate at a stadium that can hold 50K or more people.
- Jsaquella

Don't forget Winter Classic exclusive hats, jackets, plastic doo-hickeys, beer steins, t-shirts, more hats, gold club covers, action figurines, bi-planes, and toasters.

I agree. Will also add that he has improved in the course of each of his two seasons since turning pro. At start of 2011-12, I was concerned he'd be ECHL-bound and never heard from again. Now he's a player who has shown he is a worthy callup. With another year of improvement, he'd be a viable third-pairing option in a full NHL season.
- bmeltzer

I'm really interested in how they expect to pull off an outdoor game in Dodger stadium.

Roller blades? Fake ice? Godzilla sized air conditioners?
- MBFlyerfan

More than 20 years ago they played outside in Vegas. Ice making technology has probably advanced since then.

Yup. Sean Couturier's father, Sylvain, played in that game.
- bmeltzer

The one thing I really recall from that was the grasshoppers that kept getting on the ice and dying from the cold.

More than 20 years ago they played outside in Vegas. Ice making technology has probably advanced since then.
- Scoob

I see that, but it was also a preseason game. This is a real game that counts.

http://www.thescore.com/h...-plans-more-outdoor-games
- MBFlyerfan

Darryl Sittler looks like Alex Trebek.

Because Meszaros is headed into the last year of his contract. You don't waste a CBO on a guy with one year left. If he's hurt, LTIR him.
- Jsaquella

Sounds reasonable.

I just don't trust Mez to come back, period, at this point.

1.) His shoulder issues have gone from nagging to career threatening.

2.) He still hasn't proven he can still play after last season's achilles surgery.
- johndewar

i'm a known mez apologist, but i think he proved he could play after the achilles surgery. he was their best defenseman in several games before the shoulder stuff imo

More then one of you mentioned it last night, it was apparent that Mason's puck handling ability really helps the younger defenseman (really it helps everyone) clear the puck.

I am also very encouraged by the late season progress shown by Couts. In a normal year he would be only halfway through his 2nd season.
I think he is poised to continue to build on this and break out in a big way next year.
- Marc D

nbc announcers really went on about it ( the stickhandling) too

couturier is an untouchable

Very true.

Devil's advocate question: Why isn't Andrej Meszaros in the buyout discussion? We've all assumed that they are just going to buy out either Briere or Bryz (or both) in the next couple of years, but if Mez can't come back or if the team thinks he won't ever be able to stand up to the rigors of being an NHL defensemen, why not buy him out.

I'm not saying that's what the Flyers SHOULD do. I'm just throwing it out there.
- johndewar

why waste a buyout option on someone with only one year left? if he's healthy he plays and is a boon to the defense, if he's injured he sits on LTIR.


/ so laught

The one thing I really recall from that was the grasshoppers that kept getting on the ice and dying from the cold.
- Jsaquella

i still think there are some good options for D out there in the offseason...


mcbain, diaz, ballard (im assuming he gets bought out), might be some good pieces...

the year after when timonen retires though....that's when it's gonna get tricky.

Don't forget Winter Classic exclusive hats, jackets, plastic doo-hickeys, beer steins, t-shirts, more hats, gold club covers, action figurines, bi-planes, and toasters.
- BulliesPhan87

And hats!

They care about the cash grab. The ratings are immaterial, they have a ten year TV deal, so they can't push for a higher price any time soon. and now we'll have 6 teams with new "Third" jerseys, and a big gate at a stadium that can hold 50K or more people.
- Jsaquella

Eh, I'm ok with all of that. They don't hold us at gun point to buy that stuff, although they did hold the season ticket holders at gun point to buy tickets to all 3 events (Flyers, Alums, and Phantoms).

I still say they could do that outdoor event in Philly every year and Flyers fans would sell it out, every year. It was a great opportunity for people who don't follow the team obsessively or go to the Wells Fargo Center weekly to see the team play in a really cool setting. The whole thing was a blast.

why waste a buyout option on someone with only one year left? if he's healthy he plays and is a boon to the defense, if he's injured he sits on LTIR.


/ so laught
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Yup, agree.

Was just throwing it out there since folks were hand wringing about his contract.

More than 20 years ago they played outside in Vegas. Ice making technology has probably advanced since then.
- Scoob

That's crazy talk. Now excuse me while I use my mobile phone...

Because Meszaros is headed into the last year of his contract. You don't waste a CBO on a guy with one year left. If he's hurt, LTIR him.
- Jsaquella

Thank you. It's not even a discussion. If he can't play, LTIR him.

That's crazy talk. Now excuse me while I use my mobile phone...


- wolfhounds