He held a sick party when the Kings re-signed him a while back called it a "contract party" or something. Had the party in Stirling at a Cottage... I swear he must have flown the women in from L.A. cause they definitly don't look as hot as that in my small town!

He's cool, I was hoping to play Ball hockey with him this year but seems like he's a bit busy right now haha.
- wolfos412

Sounds like a good one. We had a "contract" party when my buddy signed rented a yacht and cruised around San Diego, good times.

Really love watching him play though was pissed when they were looking for offense and scratched him that didn't make sense to me unless they were hiding him.

I don't care when a Canadian team wins the Cup. I care when my team wins a Cup.
- Canada Cup

so you really don't care

If it wasn't for Bettman there would be no team in PHX...
- Chest Rockwell

and there likely won't be soon. winnipeg and quebec were not going to survive the arena issues they had and bettman had nothing to do with it.

One last thing on the NCAA is the players come out lacking grit IMO. However that is teachable it just takes time. Not a lack of heart, it just takes time getting used to that tougher stick work let them know your there hockey.

I don't care when a Canadian team wins the Cup. I care when my team wins a Cup.
- Canada Cup

Yeah, I think you see a lot of Canadian fans bandwagon when there is one Canadian team left, particularly in the finals. We all do it. Jump on a bandwagon for fun, then the second that team wins it all it reminds you that its someone else's moment and not yours.

and there likely won't be soon. winnipeg and quebec were not going to survive the arena issues they had and bettman had nothing to do with it.
- Fountain-San

and the Canadian dollar was at 62 cents for a US dollar back then. It's now 1.02. Since most expenses (salaries) are in US dollars, it had a big impact on Canadian teams.

who care about the habs???


- Maddox2107

Good one.

I don't care when a Canadian team wins the Cup. I care when my team wins a Cup.
- Canada Cup

Well said.

and the Canadian dollar was at 62 cents for a US dollar back then. It's now 1.02. Since most expenses (salaries) are in US dollars, it had a big impact on Canadian teams.
- Symba007

it did for sure. but even if the exchange rate were favorable today, the nordiques and jets still would have left if they were in the kinds of buildings that they were.

edmonton and calgary made it through some pretty tough times.

it did for sure. but even if the exchange rate were favorable today, the nordiques and jets still would have left if they were in the kinds of buildings that they were.

edmonton and calgary made it through some pretty tough times.
- Fountain-San

Oh I agree, I think it was a mix of small markets with small buildings (not enough corporate boxes) and the canadian dollar being low.

Quebec city will have a new building, so will Markam, Winnipeg is still small but with a strong Canadian dollar, they will be OK. Attendance was never an issue in Winnipeg and Qc city

so basically if we move the Coyotes or whoever to Quebec City the Cup drought will end? Because that's the only Canadian city right now that actually looks economically viable for a team (excluding Hamilton, which the Leafs and Sabres will fight forever).

Obviously, having only 7 teams in a 30 team league makes it harder but ultimately it's not the singular excuse. Bad management and bad luck for all but one of the teams (Vancouver, which is still indisputably the closest Canadian team to a Cup), it's that simple.

I should qualify this by saying I've never really cared about this whole obsession over Canadian teams not winning Cups; I happily cheered against Vancouver the last two years and Edmonton in 2006. Yes, I know lots of rival fans cheered for the Flames in 04, I don't really care.
- S Kaspar Rollins

No, don't move the Yotes to QC; move them to Seattle. There are plenty of hockey markets in the US that are untapped: Seattle, Portland, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Hartford. But rather than expand, contract, and then let the remaining teams claim those players like waivers.

Yes, I see the odds. 7 of 30 is tough. I do not expect all Canadian teams to make the playoffs. And I don't necessarily cheer for Canadian teams.

I expect offensive minded teams to make the payoffs. I want to watch 6-5 games, not 1-0 games. I want to watch offensive skill. I think we can get that with contraction. Too many plumbers in the league.

In Gary's NHL, the Canadian teams are there to generate revenue for his welfare teams!!

2022 Moose Jaw Warriors
- icedog97

Oh I agree, I think it was a mix of small markets with small buildings (not enough corporate boxes) and the canadian dollar being low.

Quebec city will have a new building, so will Markam, Winnipeg is still small but with a strong Canadian dollar, they will be OK.
- Symba007

agreed.

Sounds like a good one. We had a "contract" party when my buddy signed rented a yacht and cruised around San Diego, good times.

Really love watching him play though was pissed when they were looking for offense and scratched him that didn't make sense to me unless they were hiding him.
- onac22

Hiding him? What do you mean? From media or scouts or something?

The Leafs are a supporting cast without a movie.

it did for sure. but even if the exchange rate were favorable today, the nordiques and jets still would have left if they were in the kinds of buildings that they were.

edmonton and calgary made it through some pretty tough times.
- Fountain-San

Looking back its quite amazing they survived. Of course if they or all Canadians teams collapsed the NHL would have collapsed with it. But could you imagine in the modern day if say, for example in California the sports teams there, the currency was suddenly worth 38% less than everywhere else? The Raiders, Chargers and 49'ers , all playing in old buildings would be gone elsewhere overnight.

No, don't move the Yotes to QC; move them to Seattle. There are plenty of hockey markets in the US that are untapped: Seattle, Portland, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Hartford. But rather than expand, contract, and then let the remaining teams claim those players like waivers.

Yes, I see the odds. 7 of 30 is tough. I do not expect all Canadian teams to make the playoffs. And I don't necessarily cheer for Canadian teams.

I expect offensive minded teams to make the payoffs. I want to watch 6-5 games, not 1-0 games. I want to watch offensive skill. I think we can get that with contraction. Too many plumbers in the league.
- pmg2008

cleveland is a dump and ohio has a team in columbus. hartford, no way. milwaukee, maybe. portland no because of seattle. and seattle is a good bet.

houston and kansas city would be way more likely US cities.

Looking back its quite amazing they survived. Of course if they or all Canadians teams collapsed the NHL would have collapsed with it. But could you imagine in the modern day if say, for example in California the sports teams there, the currency was suddenly worth 38% less than everywhere else? The Raiders, Chargers and 49'ers , all playing in old buildings would be gone elsewhere overnight.
- Buffalo--Sabres

you got it. If Calgary or Edmonton folded back in the 90s, the League would have needed a huge reinventing of itself to remain.

Looking back its quite amazing they survived. Of course if they or all Canadians teams collapsed the NHL would have collapsed with it. But could you imagine in the modern day if say, for example in California the sports teams there, the currency was suddenly worth 38% less than everywhere else? The Raiders, Chargers and 49'ers , all playing in old buildings would be gone elsewhere overnight.
- Buffalo--Sabres

look at LA. 2rd largest TV market in country and no NFL team.

This is exactly why I stop listening whenever someone unironically goes on about conspiracy theories. Like the delusional Flames fans who, to this day, go on about the so-called "phantom goal" in Game 6 of the 04 Finals. They choked, get over it.
- S Kaspar Rollins

To clarify, everyone not named Martin Gelinas choked. Just not enough consistent offense from anyone to win that series.

Hiding him? What do you mean? From media or scouts or something?
- wolfos412

Scouts definitely. Richardson is a Canuck killer. They wanted to hide the X factor and save goals for the Canuck series. In all reality it was the team system before Sutter. It was smothering all the offensive players and they struggled.

cleveland is a dump and ohio has a team in columbus. hartford, no way. milwaukee, maybe. portland no because of seattle. and seattle is a good bet.

houston and kansas city would be way more likely US cities.
- Fountain-San

Cleveland wouldn't work because its a basketball culture. I went to a Lake Erie monsters game and it was weird. But surprisingly well attened. About 13,000 +. Seattle would be ideal. Colder wearther, big city, lots of caucasian folks, still angry about the NBA walking out on them. Instant rivalry with Vancouver.

cleveland is a dump and ohio has a team in columbus. hartford, no way. milwaukee, maybe. portland no because of seattle. and seattle is a good bet.

houston and kansas city would be way more likely US cities.
- Fountain-San

Seattle has no NHL arena. The Key Arena holds 15ish and has obstructed seats... and that is one of it's best qualities.

The NHL would not survive there for the time it would take to build a building that could hosue both NHL and NBA.

But I hold on the dream that one Day Portland Winter Hawks and Seattle Thunderbird are NHL teams.

Looking back its quite amazing they survived. Of course if they or all Canadians teams collapsed the NHL would have collapsed with it. But could you imagine in the modern day if say, for example in California the sports teams there, the currency was suddenly worth 38% less than everywhere else? The Raiders, Chargers and 49'ers , all playing in old buildings would be gone elsewhere overnight.
- Buffalo--Sabres

And you can thank Gary Bergman for those teams in Calgary and Edmonton surviving. He couldn't save them all, but he did his damnedest.