Some kid just came to the door as Si from duck dynasty. Awesome costume
- LeftCoaster

no Mountain Man?

It doesn't bother me in the slightest because the game is at the perfect time.

Again, this isn't about the Canucks OR the Leafs for that matter, it's about what's best for the league and catering to a larger audience is the objective.

You guys are the one's whining about it.
- As_I_See_It

Because we miss our team play because they are catering to another team. Understand that out west we have many industry and seasonal work. We don't get to work that hom****ual 9-5 S*** out here. I think later on the T.O vs van game should be played at 10pm eastern, do that both fanbases can enjoy it. I don't give a F*** if the T.O.-Van game in T-O is at 7pm eastern because you respect the home teams rights as a guest. But T-O being the shi*tiest team overall in the last 15 years gets to walk all over the rest of the league, it's horse-sh*t. Maybe Chicago or Detroit or Pittsburgh, you know....a team that's good enough to deserve that respect and those rights. Plus if T-O gets that treatment how come the habs(best nhl franchise in history) don't get that same respect.

If I knew how to post pictures Id post my pumpkin from tonight. My best ever.

Because we miss our team play because they are catering to another team. Understand that out west we have many industry and seasonal work. We don't get to work that hom****ual 9-5 S*** out here. I think later on the T.O vs van game should be played at 10pm eastern, do that both fanbases can enjoy it. I don't give a F*** if the T.O.-Van game in T-O is at 7pm eastern because you respect the home teams rights as a guest. But T-O being the shi*tiest team overall in the last 15 years gets to walk all over the rest of the league, it's horse-sh*t. Maybe Chicago or Detroit or Pittsburgh, you know....a team that's good enough to deserve that respect and those rights. Plus if T-O gets that treatment how come the habs(best nhl franchise in history) don't get that same respect.
- I-own_da-Northwest

Because it's not about "respect," it's about money and the Leafs are made of it.

No other team comes EVEN CLOSE to doing what Toronto does for the league financially every year, and have been from day one! THAT'S WHY the Leafs receive the coverage, the privileges AND RESPECT they do (regardless of how well or how poor they do).

I'm also pretty sure that that's the reason why VANCOUVER CHOSE this game to raise Bure's jersey because THEY KNOW that the audience tuning into this game WILL BE the largest tuning into ANY Canucks home game during the regular season this year. Even YOUR OWN organization recognizes this!

Sorry, but like it or not, these are facts.

Enjoy the game... If you're home on time.

Because it's not about "respect," it's about money and the Leafs are made of it.

No other team comes EVEN CLOSE to doing what Toronto does for the league financially every year, and have been from day one! THAT'S WHY the Leafs receive the coverage, the privileges AND RESPECT they do (regardless of how well or how poor they do).

I'm also pretty sure that that's the reason why VANCOUVER CHOSE this game to raise Bure's jersey because THEY KNOW that the audience tuning into this game WILL BE the largest tuning into ANY Canucks home game during the regular season this year. Even YOUR OWN organization recognizes this!

Sorry, but like it or not, these are facts.

Enjoy the game... If you're home on time.
- As_I_See_It

Well, isn't it nice to have a leafs fan in here to tell us how it is...a few wins and this is the norm.

If your theory had any validity then the SJ and anahiem games you play would follow the same rules, but they do not. This is CBC pushing this.

Man, bragging about Respect because there are a ton of fans there to watch them if they win or lose is kind of pathetic. Using capitals over and over in your post makes it look juvenile.

Because it's not about "respect," it's about money and the Leafs are made of it.

No other team comes EVEN CLOSE to doing what Toronto does for the league financially every year, and have been from day one! THAT'S WHY the Leafs receive the coverage, the privileges AND RESPECT they do (regardless of how well or how poor they do).

I'm also pretty sure that that's the reason why VANCOUVER CHOSE this game to raise Bure's jersey because THEY KNOW that the audience tuning into this game WILL BE the largest tuning into ANY Canucks home game during the regular season this year. Even YOUR OWN organization recognizes this!

Sorry, but like it or not, these are facts.

Enjoy the game... If you're home on time.
- As_I_See_It

You're obviously very upset about the Jonas Brothers breaking up, it must be devastating for you.

I'm fine with the game starting early, but that's probably because I live in Ontario...

Gonna get good and day drunk and watch the Bure ceremony!

Of course its strictly CBC telling the league what to do. Its a pure TV play as it should be. Look at how the TV contracts run the NFL. I read an article one time in how they choose to flex the night game after a week 6 or something and its crazy how much control CBS, NBC and fox have in determining who plays at night. Guess what the NFL has a pretty good TV contract.

As fans we should want the biggest audience because it results in a stronger league.

Cant wait till the jersey gets retired. I just wish it wasn't the same day as the leafs game because the scalper tickets are just crazy right now and no chance I will be watching live

Of course its strictly CBC telling the league what to do. Its a pure TV play as it should be. Look at how the TV contracts run the NFL. I read an article one time in how they choose to flex the night game after a week 6 or something and its crazy how much control CBS, NBC and fox have in determining who plays at night. Guess what the NFL has a pretty good TV contract.

As fans we should want the biggest audience because it results in a stronger league.

Cant wait till the jersey gets retired. I just wish it wasn't the same day as the leafs game because the scalper tickets are just crazy right now and no chance I will be watching live
- Bluechip23

So, then why have a team in Vancouver when, apparently the 'real' market is Toronto & central Canada?

So, then why have a team in Vancouver when, apparently the 'real' market is Toronto & central Canada?
- Marwood

Its not about what the real market is. Its about what will generate the biggest TV audience. There is a reason why this game is scheduled also for a saturday night and not a wednesday night. The wednesday game would get a solid TV rating but check the tv rating on this game it could be one of the biggest tv games of the season. That just doesn't happen if its at 7pm. The east coast will be out and about and the TV product for the advertisers will be worth less.

So we in the west coast just need to get over it. If we had a bigger TV audience than the east coast guess what they would cater to us more. But in terms of TV audience its not even close when you compare East coast vs West.

"There are currently 13 teams in the NHL with fewer points than games played. Seven of those are in the Metro, an eight-team division."

If any of you guys was the head exec of CBC and your job and your 10mil bonus depended on TV ratings and ad revenue. what time will you have the game?

"There are currently 13 teams in the NHL with fewer points than games played. Seven of those are in the Metro, an eight-team division."


- LeftCoaster

That is just pathetic. WOW.

If any of you guys was the head exec of CBC and your job and your 10mil bonus depended on TV ratings and ad revenue. what time will you have the game?
- Bluechip23

7 pacific, if it's on the west coast.

Fans in the east will watch this game regardless of what time it is, if their as die-hard a market as they claim to be.

So, then why have a team in Vancouver when, apparently the 'real' market is Toronto & central Canada?
- Marwood

Come on dude, seriously. We both know Vancouver has an excellent market and a rabid fan base, it's just not on the same level has Toronto or Montreal. I'd say there are three tiers of Canadian markets:

Tier 1: Toronto & Montreal
Tier 2: Vancouver, Edmonton & Calgary
Tier 3: Winnipeg & Ottawa

All of the Canadian markets are strong in comparison to the majority of the American markets, though they too have some serious fan bases in New York, Boston, Philly, Chicago and Detroit. After that it drops off significantly.

Its not about what the real market is. Its about what will generate the biggest TV audience. There is a reason why this game is scheduled also for a saturday night and not a wednesday night. The wednesday game would get a solid TV rating but check the tv rating on this game it could be one of the biggest tv games of the season. That just doesn't happen if its at 7pm. The east coast will be out and about and the TV product for the advertisers will be worth less.

So we in the west coast just need to get over it. If we had a bigger TV audience than the east coast guess what they would cater to us more. But in terms of TV audience its not even close when you compare East coast vs West.
- Bluechip23

It's mainly Ontario, gotta think Quebec and the Maritimes could care less about a Leaf vs Canuck game. CBC is trying to maximize the Ontario and British Columbia viewership, 10 million in Ontario, 4.5 million in BC. That's almost half the population of the country.

"There are currently 13 teams in the NHL with fewer points than games played. Seven of those are in the Metro, an eight-team division."


- LeftCoaster

Only PIT is above .500 in that division. I get that over time these things generally balance out but this is a serious distortion at the moment.

Its not about what the real market is. Its about what will generate the biggest TV audience. There is a reason why this game is scheduled also for a saturday night and not a wednesday night. The wednesday game would get a solid TV rating but check the tv rating on this game it could be one of the biggest tv games of the season. That just doesn't happen if its at 7pm. The east coast will be out and about and the TV product for the advertisers will be worth less.

So we in the west coast just need to get over it. If we had a bigger TV audience than the east coast guess what they would cater to us more. But in terms of TV audience its not even close when you compare East coast vs West.
- Bluechip23

Bingo.

Come on dude, seriously. We both know Vancouver has an excellent market and a rabid fan base, it's just not on the same level has Toronto or Montreal. I'd say there are three tiers of Canadian markets:

Tier 1: Toronto & Montreal
Tier 2: Vancouver, Edmonton & Calgary
Tier 3: Winnipeg & Ottawa

All of the Canadian markets are strong in comparison to the majority of the American markets, though they too have some serious fan bases in New York, Boston, Philly, Chicago and Detroit. After that it drops off significantly.
- As_I_See_It

I've actually found Montreal's fan base (at least in person) to be rather underwhelming. As in to the point where on a home game day I couldn't find anyone wearing a Habs jersey. Still, they've got the population so I guess it balances out. Maybe they're just all at home watching.

There should be a 2nd team in the GTA area. Europe has several soccer teams in all of the major cities and it seems to work well. Having a 6m pop city drooling over 1 team that never wins and hikes up ticket prices to the stratosphere is bad economics IMO.

7 pacific, if it's on the west coast.

Fans in the east will watch this game regardless of what time it is, if their as die-hard a market as they claim to be.
- Fosco

Come on Fosco. I know you wouldn't when your salary is based on it. So when CBC says Señor Fosco we can give you 10mil or 7 mil. But you need to get the highest TV ratings. Your time slot changes for sure.

But also remember its not about the RABID fan base. The RABID fan base watches this game if its at 1am. They are trying to the casual fan to tune in thats where the ratings take a huge spike or not. The casual fan in TO is just larger than the casual fan in Van. The casual fan in Ontario at 11pm is at the bar on a saturday night but at 7pm he is watching the game at the local restaurant or at home with his buddies before they go out.

It's mainly Ontario, gotta think Quebec and the Maritimes could care less about a Leaf vs Canuck game. CBC is trying to maximize the Ontario and British Columbia viewership, 10 million in Ontario, 4.5 million in BC. That's almost half the population of the country.
- LeftCoaster

But we're also not just talking about Ontario and BC, just look at how many fans both the Canucks and Leafs have outside of their respective provinces. As far as, the Maritimes go, (for the most part) they probably couldn't care less about a Canucks game as that is primarily Leafs and Habs territory. However, there are some diehard fans out there that will watch anything and anytime.

Ever watch a Buffalo or Sens game when the Leafs are in town? It's practically a "home game" for the Leafs. Did you see how many Leafs jerseys were at the games in Calgary and Edmonton earlier this week? There were times when the Leafs fans were drowning out the home fans in their own building. There will be a huge Leafs presence at the Rogers Arena and it will be noticeable.

The bottom line is that there is money to be made here. Much like some of you suggesting that Eastern fans would watch the game anyway if it was at 10:00pm, and you're probably right, but the CBC/Leagues also believes that West Coast fans will also watch the game if it's on earlier. The difference is that at larger nationwide will tune in at 7:00pm Eastern and at the end of the day that's what's ultimately better for OUR league and the CBC.

But we're also not just talking about Ontario and BC, just look at how many fans both the Canucks and Leafs have outside of their respective provinces. As far as, the Maritimes go, (for the most part) they probably couldn't care less about a Canucks game as that is primarily Leafs and Habs territory. However, there are some diehard fans out there that will watch anything and anytime.

Ever watch a Buffalo or Sens game when the Leafs are in town? It's practically a "home game" for the Leafs. Did you see how many Leafs jerseys were at the games in Calgary and Edmonton earlier this week? There were times when the Leafs fans were drowning out the home fans in their own building. There will be a huge Leafs presence at the Rogers Arena and it will be noticeable.

The bottom line is that there is money to be made here. Much like some of you suggesting that Eastern fans would watch the game anyway if it was at 10:00pm, and you're probably right, but the CBC/Leagues also believes that West Coast fans will also watch the game if it's on earlier. The difference is that at larger nationwide will tune in at 7:00pm Eastern and at the end of the day that's what's ultimately better for OUR league and the CBC.
- As_I_See_It

I don't need convincing, I understand the thought process behind it. Doesn't mean I have to like it. As you said, CBC is hedging their bets most in BC will watch it regardless of the early start time. For the most part I think they're right, but they will lose some viewership because some people can't get off work in time and they'll just say (frank) it.

I don't need convincing, I understand the thought process behind it. Doesn't mean I have to like it. As you said, CBC is hedging their bets most in BC will watch it regardless of the early start time. For the most part I think they're right, but they will lose some viewership because some people can't get off work in time and they'll just say (frank) it.
- LeftCoaster

Exactly. What CBC wants is a tie game going into the 3rd period because the TV ratings will just sky rocket.

Cameron Wake with the safety last night, guy is a fantastic player!

Exactly. What CBC wants is a tie game going into the 3rd period because the TV ratings will just sky rocket.
- Bluechip23

Not to mention it's Bure night...so a lot of people from BC will want to watch it because of that. It's pretty much a win win for CBC no matter how you look at it.

My wife has to cut out of work early so we can get a ferry to get over to the game, it's an inconvenience to us. But, we're still going because of the Bure night. One of my all-time favorites on the the ice!!!