well you know me....this is all heading that way I assure you!
- Eklund

honest question: over the last year (and especially the last few months), you've manoevered this site from a hockey rumour site into a hockey editorial site. my question is: did you do this to increase your credibility or increase the pocketbook?

edit: i ask b/c i would have thought crazy rumours would generate more hits and therefore more revenue.

Off topic. While in MTL.. where did you watch the game from on the plateau ?
- WaterBoy

The Windsor Hyper Bar and Grill. Outstanding

http://www.yellowpages.ca...eal&cli=2,7&le=636b3062d9

So who is getting traded where ?
- blizzzard

and with that question Ek is gone...

Call me around game 50 when the pretenders are not doing so hot anymore

The Windsor Hyper Bar and Grill. Outstanding

http://www.yellowpages.ca...eal&cli=2,7&le=636b3062d9
- Eklund

Good choice sir.

well you know me....this is all heading that way I assure you!
- Eklund

Awesome

"It is a system, combined with league wide parity that keeps all the teams VERY close in the standings and does allow for some great playoff races come March.

October 27th 2010.
http://www.hockeybuzz.com...ost_id=30823#.UmWFffmTi_1

There is actually a lot more parity in the NHL now than there was then.

March 28th, 2012
http://www.hockeybuzz.com...ost_id=43409#.UmWEU_mTi_1

Having been watching hockey in the heyday of dynasties in the 70s and 80s to the mind-numbing parity of the 90s through 2009 I can more feel this shift than prove it on a small sample size.

So, you've been sensing this shift in parity since...today? Cause it's certainly not since 2009...based on your writings.

lil confused here Ek

what i think is happening is the good teams/franchises you have players taking pay cuts to stay on this powerhouse of a team.

500k this guy, 1 mil off this guy = 5 mil in the end for another all star.

pitsburgh is a prime example, detroit was like this for years as well.
- big_dion

Pittsburgh is an awful example with letang malkin crosby and others getting paid bank

this would be a way more accurate study if you looked at the numbers once every team has played 60 games, not 8 a piece. I am 99% sure the better teams regress, and the worst teams improve.

honest question: over the last year (and especially the last few months), you've manoevered this site from a hockey rumour site into a hockey editorial site. my question is: did you do this to increase your credibility or increase the pocketbook?
- RealityChecker

ok...well to be totally honest... neither...

what happens around here is the sport is what dictates what we do around here. during the lockout we were a news site and really, I felt, got some good info out there. during the last season until the deadline I was reporting rumors all the time and was lucky enough to break a few trades...then came draft, july 1st more rumors and some more luck breaking a few. and then...the rumors continued through most of the summer, but since mid August until now, due to a lower amount of cap space, there hasnt been much happening in the rumor world and I have been quite enjoying the MUCH easier job of talking about the games, etc. That will all change soon enough, usually around American Thanksgiving and this deadline has HUGE potential for some big trades...then this draft and July 1 will be off the hook with the anticipated UFAs and Giant jump in Cap Space......The last few July 1's have been letdowns when it comes to big names, etc....so I look forward to this one.

honest question: over the last year (and especially the last few months), you've manoevered this site from a hockey rumour site into a hockey editorial site. my question is: did you do this to increase your credibility or increase the pocketbook?

edit: i ask b/c i would have thought crazy rumours would generate more hits and therefore more revenue.
- RealityChecker

crazy rumors do NOT generate revenue. credibility over the long haul does. this is not a sprint. Say I were to throw out some crazy rumor. yes, today and tomorrow we would see a bump, but more people would just say, "that eklund is a loon" and likely not return for many many more pageviews over the months and years to come.

Eklund: Are the Better Teams Getting Better AND The Lesser Teams Getting Worse?
- Eklund

I blame it all on Kaleta

October 27th 2010.
http://www.hockeybuzz.com...ost_id=30823#.UmWFffmTi_1


March 28th, 2012
http://www.hockeybuzz.com...ost_id=43409#.UmWEU_mTi_1





So, you've been sensing this shift in parity since...today? Cause it's certainly not since 2009...based on your writings.
- Talkshowhost

wow impressive. I would say I started to feel this last season (March?) through the playoffs, and then this year..but it is also the kind of thing that looks more obvious when you look backwards...of course

The Windsor Hyper Bar and Grill. Outstanding

http://www.yellowpages.ca...eal&cli=2,7&le=636b3062d9
- Eklund

please stay on topic
if I can get a ban for talking about food in your section, so can you

I think it has to do with free agency and salary cap. IMHO the salary cap is high enough most teams can fit most players in, so players are choosing to go to the better teams whenever possible. The bad teams can't offer a ton more money to sway them, so why not play for a winner?

Eklund: Are the Better Teams Getting Better AND The Lesser Teams Getting Worse?
- Eklund

to answer this question on a serious level

the stars for the better teams are earning their contracts
those gm's are doing a great job with the cap

the teams at the bottom, have had average play at best from their guns and average at best moves by their gm's

it's a cap era and you have to have kids thrive on cheap contracts, vets on the cheap over achieving and your high paid players play like consistent all stars

I think it has to do with free agency and salary cap. IMHO the salary cap is high enough most teams can fit most players in, so players are choosing to go to the better teams whenever possible. The bad teams can't offer a ton more money to sway them, so why not play for a winner?
- dansmail26

definitely a factor...but we are seeing some new teams enter the world of "winners"

please stay on topic
if I can get a ban for talking about food in your section, so can you






- homiedclown

just for you:

just for you:

- RealityChecker

that was the picture that got me prison chili

Eklund: Are the Better Teams Getting Better AND The Lesser Teams Getting Worse?
- Eklund

seriously ek, wtf

seriously ek, wtf
- Flyfreaky

Yes, your team sucks so far this year.

seriously ek, wtf
- Flyfreaky

he is gone like the band in dusk til dawn

Would you say this is a reflection on nhl gms doing a poorer job at building teams and signing worse contracts. That along with the cap dropping .

Yes, your team sucks so far this year.
- Symba007

ty

he is gone like the band in dusk til dawn
- homiedclown

wasn't he in that band?