It's not so cold in Vancouver.
- hscesq

No, it's a mild climate, and a beautiful city. Very wet though.

I got your point. Teams like Anaheim, Tampa, Dallas and Carolina attract better players because the weather is better.
- Scooby_Doo

That NHL network special showed Mike Richards apartment down by the Beach in LA. He didn't look unhappy there.

No, it's a mild climate, and a beautiful city. Very wet though.
- jsg0173

True. The convertible theory wouldn't work there either.

No, it's a mild climate, and a beautiful city. Very wet though.
- jsg0173

The fans know how to warm it up a bit though...

Most NHL teams are Majority Canadian players so sure Canadian located teams aren't winning but Teams filled with Canadians win every year.
- wolfos412

Don't forget our colleges have a few canadians to. It's just a growing sport. Which is good news for all.

A surprisingly coherent blog. But for Calgary, I'll say it before and I'll say it again: if they don't start rebuilding this summer it's far more complicated than Feaster alone, that much is pretty clear at this point. This is why I'm a bit reserved in my criticism of the guy - I don't know how much freedom he actually has to do what he wants (and what he wants is similarly unclear.)

Blame Canada

1) Tax brackets are worse in Canada. Have to pay more than US teams to get players to play here. Thus, limiting cap space. For example: Michael Ryder - signs in Dallas where taxes are almost non existent - signs 3.5m....Tim Connolly signs in Toronto where you're forfeiting a quarter of your paycheque - signs 4.75m

2) Weather sucks

3) Media is intense

4) We expect alot from our teams

5) Players don't have enough balls, perhaps don't like being on billboards?
- t_leafs21

#1 is kinda true. Taxes in the south in some respects are lower, but other costs can sneak up on you. My parents found out the hard way when they moved to Florida.

#2 True. But how important? Depends on the individual.

#3 Very true.

#4 Very true.

#5 True.

Love point 5. Maybe the reason you are being manhandled in world juniors lately is that your players lack heart. 5 of the 8 teams left have a US captain. Perhaps a
trend?

Yes a bit of trolling but it's also strangely true. The sport is growing and it's harder to win.
- onac22

Yeah for sure, the sport is growing in competition. Its a great game, it should be getting more exposure. US should be gunning for a top 3 ranking in the world sooner rather than later. US has over 250m people, and more are buying into hockey every year. They've been owning the U18 tourneys for the last few years now and we seen what they have in the Olympics. Most of your team was under 27.

Plus alot of lower countries like Germany,Belarus,Denmark,Norway and Latvia are starting to improve thanks to the KHL, and other major leagues around Europe. If you go nhl.com and check out the World rosters, some teams have over half of their players from one club. I think Belarus has 9 forwards, 4 d-men and their goalie all from Dinamo Riga. The KHL club in their capital city.

I believe its 4 US captains by my count. Backes,Brown,Callahan and Parise. Philly's captain is Pronger, who is hurt. Weber,Doan and Ovechkin are the other 3.

That NHL network special showed Mike Richards apartment down by the Beach in LA. He didn't look unhappy there.
- Buffalo--Sabres

Marion Gaborik and Brad Richards looked pretty happy in their SOHO appartments. Kessel in his Yorkville penthouse. Sedins in their West Vancouver mansions.

Mike Richards is a great example though... he'd be happy anywhere with a bar scene.

So who's the former goalie Alanis Morrissette went down on?

A surprisingly coherent blog. But for Calgary, I'll say it before and I'll say it again: if they don't start rebuilding this summer it's far more complicated than Feaster alone, that much is pretty clear at this point. This is why I'm a bit reserved in my criticism of the guy - I don't know how much freedom he actually has to do what he wants (and what he wants is similarly unclear.)
- S Kaspar Rollins

Ken King needs to go.

Seriously? Is the answer not obvious...

Because in Bettman's NHL, Canadian teams do not matter. Growing the game in the US is more important. Given the inconsistency in the officiating, any team can win.

Is this a conspiracy? No. Winnipeg packed them in. Toronto continues to sell out in spite of missing the playoffs for the I don't know how many-eth time.

Once the NHL comes to learn that you do not need to grow the league or expand to the south, that they need to move some teams or contract the league (the product will only get better if they do contract), and then let the strong franchises run the league, the better.

Once that happens, you will see Canadian teams winning the Stanley Cup again. Until then, they will only make the finals.
- pmg2008

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.

I got your point. Teams like Anaheim, Tampa, Dallas and Carolina attract better players because the weather is better.
- Scooby_Doo

You only mentioned the teams that did not make the playoffs. Why? What about Florida, SanJose, Phoenix, LA and Nashville? Yes, two are out, just wanted to know why you did only mention non playoff teams. Also every team you previously mentioned has won a cup.

Blame Canada
- RustyKuntz

Nah, they'll blame Bettman. Its his fault

Marion Gaborik and Brad Richards looked pretty happy in their SOHO appartments. Kessel in his Yorkville penthouse. Sedins in their West Vancouver mansions.

Mike Richards is a great example though... he'd be happy anywhere with a bar scene.
- Scooby_Doo

That is a very individual thing. All you hear is Buffalo being the but end of jokes but then Mario Williams, most sought after defensive free agent in a few years picks Buffalo because the city fit his needs the best. Tons of other hockey folk live here for life as well like Scotty Bowman, Harry Neale, Mike Peca, Marty Biron. Coy Wire is from the south, got released by the Bills 6 years ago, just retired and announced he's moving back to Buffalo because he likes it. Go figure.

I believe its 4 US captains by my count. Backes,Brown,Callahan and Parise. Philly's captain is Pronger, who is hurt. Weber,Doan and Ovechkin are the other 3.


That was my count too, heard the stat yesterday and was trying to count them thanks. That's what I get for not fact checking.

Seriously? Is the answer not obvious...

Because in Bettman's NHL, Canadian teams do not matter. Growing the game in the US is more important. Given the inconsistency in the officiating, any team can win.

Is this a conspiracy? No. Winnipeg packed them in. Toronto continues to sell out in spite of missing the playoffs for the I don't know how many-eth time.

Once the NHL comes to learn that you do not need to grow the league or expand to the south, that they need to move some teams or contract the league (the product will only get better if they do contract), and then let the strong franchises run the league, the better.

Once that happens, you will see Canadian teams winning the Stanley Cup again. Until then, they will only make the finals.
- pmg2008

What'd I tell you!

Don't forget our colleges have a few canadians to. It's just a growing sport. Which is good news for all.

- onac22

Lol. College Hockey is growing and that is a good thing. A few of my family members picked going the college route rather than CHL because they would be given more time and less pressure to develop and if they didn't get drafted atleast they had a free scholarship.

Nah, they'll blame Bettman. Its his fault
- Cptmjl

Almost 20 years now he's been in charge.

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).
- S Kaspar Rollins

Leafs and Sabres will fight over it even though neither team really stands to lose.

Almost 20 years now he's been in charge.
- RustyKuntz

Its crazy but its not his fault a canadian team hasn't won a cup in a while

Wonders how the NHL playoff TV ratings are??? im not watching all the games...here and there....

Its crazy but its not his fault a canadian team hasn't won a cup in a while
- Cptmjl

Yeah, he didn't make Vancouver suck in 2 straight game 7's.

Ken King needs to go.
- robin_steele264

Even that might be assuming too much non-ownership control. Believe me, I'm not a fan of Ken King - I wish we had a team president with an actual hockey background - but I think he more or less does what ownership tells him to do.