Thanks for the response. Hockey is Mn is like football in Texas. Its a damn shame they moved the North Stars out of Minny. Personally, I think Seattle or Portland would be better fits for a franchise in the US. Those are long time hockey markets.
- Elbows15

I would agree. I think it's too iffy at this point for KC to get an NHL team. I think deep down to be successful it would take a good amount of time or immediately win something big. I personally want to see the culture of hockey first be developed and then add pro teams when needed. Maybe an AHL team is less risky but still adds something. Maybe the NHL sponsors some sort of event where they travel to cities and put on clinics or something to try to draw interest in markets where there is little. But there is no push really for hockey here at the moment. We get the blues games on some of the local stations but..... f the blues...

Hey Meister, many years ago I was in Overland Park for about two years, and I do remember that they were really into their sports scenes, coming out in droves to both Arrowhead and what was then called Royals Stadium. I don't think I met ANY hockey fans there though. No cultural narrative for it, at least not then.
- Tugboat

Still pretty much the same. There are a few school age clubs but hockey isn't much of a thought here. That's why I am talking about implementing hockey culture first before the need to bring in an NHL club. There is zero demand for it right in this city.

Two words Tug. Pete Rozell. He made the NFL what it is today. The guy was a branding genius.
- Elbows15

True, Rozelle was a branding genius, but football was at the right place at the right time, too, as life became more media-hyped, faster-paced, urbanized and TV-centric, a climate in which the NFL's quick, hard-hitting action made for better viewing that the meandering, pastoral game of baseball.

The NHL have a commercial in Canada selling NHL merchandise and they use a likeness of Jonathan Toews. Strangely the cartoon character of Toews looks nothing like him and shoots right.
- paulr

Toews and the Hawks are very popular up North.

But the face of the NHL is Crosby and the Pens with him and Malkin get a great deal of Nat'l coverage.

Phaneuf at $7

Keith and Seabs both at less than $6.0, and Hammer at less than $4 looking better and better very day.

Gambling plays a large part in football's popularity Tug. A huge part.
- Elbows15

.....and the tie in with Fantasy leagues and Xbox Madden helped a great deal.

Phaneuf at $7

Keith and Seabs both at less than $6.0, and Hammer at less than $4 looking better and better very day.
- Ogilthorpe2

Like I said yesterday the Leafs and Rangers love to over pay.

.....and the tie in with Fantasy leagues and Xbox Madden helped a great deal.
- Al

It's also the easiest sport to follow. Only 1 game a week per team, at predictable times (though with the advent of more Thursday games and Sunday night games a little less so lately). Plus the fact that it's a relatively short, 16 game season means every play of every game counts big, and plays to America's ever shrinking attention span. IMO the biggest reason for Baseball's decreasing popularity is the length of the season, and the insignificance of any single game. 162 games is just way too long. After last year, I feel hockey could shorten their regular season significantly and be better off for it...never gonna happen, I know.

It's also the easiest sport to follow. Only 1 game a week per team, at predictable times (though with the advent of more Thursday games and Sunday night games a little less so lately). Plus the fact that it's a relatively short, 16 game season means every play of every game counts big, and plays to America's ever shrinking attention span. IMO the biggest reason for Baseball's decreasing popularity is the length of the season, and the insignificance of any single game. 162 games is just way too long. After last year, I feel hockey could shorten their regular season significantly and be better off for it...never gonna happen, I know.
- Ogilthorpe2

One of the things I love about hockey is that if your team does well, like us, you only have three-ish months of no hockey.......

It's also the easiest sport to follow. Only 1 game a week per team, at predictable times (though with the advent of more Thursday games and Sunday night games a little less so lately). Plus the fact that it's a relatively short, 16 game season means every play of every game counts big, and plays to America's ever shrinking attention span. IMO the biggest reason for Baseball's decreasing popularity is the length of the season, and the insignificance of any single game. 162 games is just way too long. After last year, I feel hockey could shorten their regular season significantly and be better off for it...never gonna happen, I know.
- Ogilthorpe2

I was thinking the same thing. Last year was a firestorm of action. And even for the crappy teams it was better because it was over faster haha. But yeah its never gonna happen either way, still would be cool though.

One of the things I love about hockey is that if your team does well, like us, you only have three-ish months of no hockey.......

- PhilMeister89

True, but let's face it. Pretty much everyone here sees the playoffs as the "real season", and we're sort of waiting for that season to start.

Like I said yesterday the Leafs and Rangers love to over pay.
- Al

It's one thing to overpay but that is like throwing money away.

True, but let's face it. Pretty much everyone here sees the playoffs as the "real season", and we're sort of waiting for that season to start.
- Tugboat

I look forward to the playoffs as well because that is when it's put up or shut up time. And its super intense. However, I love the game of hockey in general so I can't get enough of it.

Phaneuf at $7
- Ogilthorpe2

I look forward to the playoffs as well because that is when it's put up or shut up time. And its super intense. However, I love the game of hockey in general so I can't get enough of it.
- PhilMeister89

Yeah I agree. I love watching as much hockey as I can. At the same time, though, it is hard to get up for some regular season games. The playoffs are what it is all about. Maybe going to something between 70-80 games would be better. I feel bad for football fans at only 16 games and once a week for your favorite team

Anybody seen Olli Maatta play? I think hes 19 years old? Defenseman for the the Penguins...he was on PK duty a lot last night if i recall correctly and did a pretty good job too.

I dont know anything about him (draft status, scouting report etc.) but if one of the main arguments for why Leddy isnt better in his own end (or playing on the penalty kill) because of his age then i just was interested to hear more about this Maatta kid from Pitsburgh and why hes so good at such a young age.

Anybody seen Olli Maatta play? I think hes 19 years old? Defenseman for the the Penguins...he was on PK duty a lot last night if i recall correctly and did a pretty good job too.

I dont know anything about him (draft status, scouting report etc.) but if one of the main arguments for why Leddy isnt better in his own end (or playing on the penalty kill) because of his age then i just was interested to hear more about this Maatta kid from Pitsburgh and why hes so good at such a young age.
- BlazinMike

I know he was highly thought of coming out of the London knights. Played with alex Broadhurst last year. What amazes me about the Pens is they keep winning with basically all of their top 4 D-Men out with injuries. Even with 3 out it would be amazing. Imagine playing without Keith, Seabs, and Hammer for an extended amount of time?

Realistically, pushing star power is probably the best way to "grow the game" on the purely commercial level, like it or not. Take the NFL Super Bowl, for instance. Does anyone really think it's become a quasi-national holiday in the US because 150 million people analyze safety depth in a cover2? Nope, it's become an "in" thing to do, and people tune in whether they understand and appreciate the game of football or not.
- Tugboat

Navy divers can't find Conte and Major Wrong most days.

- EKolb13

Where's the joy gone lad ?

When watching cartoons you must be able to suspend your disbelief.

Do you think Wiley Cayote could run off of a cliff after Roadrunner and hang there for several seconds, wondering what the phuck just happened?
- StLBravesFan

- philco28

That's it exactly.

Where's the joy gone lad ?


- philco28

Damn that's bad. Sort of reminds me of pics of Obama or of any Pres. From when they take office to when they leave office. Sad. So very sad.

So, I know we just rid ourselves of Flyerdude (side note: I think we had things under control, don't know if the mods really need to fight our battles for us, do they?...whatever), isn't it about time for the Vancouver boys to start yipping in here? Especially with the way their boys have been winning lately? Where has all the hype gone for this matchup?

That's it exactly.
- StLBravesFan

So, I know we just rid ourselves of Flyerdude (side note: I think we had things under control, don't know if the mods really need to fight our battles for us, do they?...whatever), isn't it about time for the Vancouver boys to start yipping in here? Especially with the way their boys have been winning lately? Where has all the hype gone for this matchup?
- Ogilthorpe2

Holiday season...lot of other shhhhhit to worry about
Playing the East a lot more takes the focus slightly off longtime Western rivals

Sure it will start bubbling tomorrow