Of the 700 players only 300 or so are really any good, the other 400 are there because nothing better is available. If there were more kids playing, there would be closer to 700 good players, the AHL would have better talent and both leagues would make more money.
- Retinalz

I'm looking forward to 120 mil cap and 50% escrow.

Of the 700 players only 300 or so are really any good, the other 400 are there because nothing better is available. If there were more kids playing, there would be closer to 700 good players, the AHL would have better talent and both leagues would make more money.
- Retinalz

And thats why there are so many good soccer players in the world and very little drop off between teams and leagues?

I get what you're saying, given the chance a few more unlikely players might emerge, but there will always be tiers of players, no matter how many play. Currently the sport is in a transition away from the 4th line thug and will have more skilled specialists taking spots, but then instead of complaining about Sestito's, we will be complaining about Linus Omark's who can't be trusted 5 on 5

NHL narrows it focus on CHL so they get a better return on investment. If there are 540,000-570,000 kids registered to play in Canada and only 700ish play in the NHL each season they would be spending a lot on kids they will never see (last season Canadians made up less than 50% of league). So instead they pay the CHL which cuts its risk by 500,000 players to generate its product with more predictability

I dont agree with how expensive hockey has become, but I dont blame the NHL for not dumping millions into kids that will unlikely provide a return on investment
- WhiteLie

The return on investment is also future fans who pay to see nhl games and buy merchandise.

I am guessing enrollment in minor hockey, per capita, isn't as great as it once was...

Of the 700 players only 300 or so are really any good, the other 400 are there because nothing better is available. If there were more kids playing, there would be closer to 700 good players, the AHL would have better talent and both leagues would make more money.
- Retinalz

The other 400 are not really good

Those other 400 are still ELITE compared to the thousands of other players in the world playing pro.

These things are not linear, you can't assume that every 456789th player will be as good as crosby so let's get more kids playing and thus more elite talent.

NHL narrows it focus on CHL so they get a better return on investment. If there are 540,000-570,000 kids registered to play in Canada and only 700ish play in the NHL each season they would be spending a lot on kids they will never see (last season Canadians made up less than 50% of league). So instead they pay the CHL which cuts its risk by 500,000 players to generate its product with more predictability

I dont agree with how expensive hockey has become, but I dont blame the NHL for not dumping millions into kids that will unlikely provide a return on investment
- WhiteLie

The issue would be, who would they give the money too to help develop a better product? The world of minor hockey has changed in Canada. If a player has any potential, they are in private programs by the time they are 11/12 yrs old.

The return on investment is also future fans who pay to see nhl games and buy merchandise.

I am guessing enrollment in minor hockey, per capita, isn't as great as it once was...
- hillbillydeluxe

It's not you're right. Cost is one thing but parents are concerned about concussions as well.

The return on investment is also future fans who pay to see nhl games and buy merchandise.

I am guessing enrollment in minor hockey, per capita, isn't as great as it once was...
- hillbillydeluxe

**I am assuming this discussion is in the context of Canada

I agree that there is probably a few fans that will be turned away from the sport because they couldn't get into it. It is definitely a problem that the NHL will definitely have to look into, the equipment suppliers are already starting to themselves.

That being said, TV ratings in Canada rose 9% last year at the 4PM slot and 6% at the 7PM slot. For the time being, I think that will continue to rise/grow because of interest in McDavid and Matthews (and to a lesser extent Laine and Gaunce). There will be a plateau somewhere but I think its a long way off for the league to worry about heavy grassroots investments

it's not what he did, it's what he didn't do.
- CanuckDon

What was your expectations, I know no goals on a team that couldn't score heck bo went 17 games without a goal.

What was your expectations, I know no goals on a team that couldn't score heck bo went 17 games without a goal.
- Bettmanhatesus

What were my expectations? 7 or 8 goals. Not zero in 77 games. Perhaps he should throw a hit once in awhile if he refuses to provide offense.

What were my expectations? 7 or 8 goals. Not zero in 77 games. Perhaps he should throw a hit once in awhile if he refuses to provide offense.
- CanuckDon

Gaunce looks like he could be a bull in a china shop but I think he'd rather just read Harry Potter books.

Gaunce looks like he could be a bull in a china shop but I think he'd rather just read Harry Potter books.

- hillbillydeluxe

If he showed intensity EVER I'd cut the kid a bit of slack. Our best player fought Nurse after a big hit and Gaunce can't even throw his weight around a couple times per season? Pathetic

Gaunce looks like he could be a bull in a china shop but I think he'd rather just read Harry Potter books.

- hillbillydeluxe

Who are your top 3 Canucks you hope get traded this offseason/TDL?

me:
1) Eriksson. The term, the hit, the age. This is just bad.
2) Dorsett. Guy is a trainwreck on the ice, overpaid.
3) Edler. Great player, great Canuck but time to let him go.

I don't expect any moves until the TDL, but maybe JB pulls off something with LV where trading Edler becomes something that could happen sooner rather than later.
- neem55

Hutton
Sutter
Gudbranson

Well the gang mentality is childish & non stop.
Mak made his plea but it gets ignored.
- Nighthawk

asking children to act like adults doesnt work.

Gadjovic and lind on line 2 together for Canada today
- Codes1087

First time seeing him, he seems pretty solid

What were my expectations? 7 or 8 goals. Not zero in 77 games. Perhaps he should throw a hit once in awhile if he refuses to provide offense.
- CanuckDon

3 players scored 7 or 8 goals last year who played under 10 min a game in the NHL, I didn't bother to see how many scored more than 8 goals because I didn't have an easy way to do it but I would be willing to bet it is under 10.

Also take a guess who led the forwards with total hits last season.

3 players scored 7 or 8 goals last year who played under 10 min a game in the NHL, I didn't bother to see how many scored more than 8 goals because I didn't have an easy way to do it but I would be willing to bet it is under 10.

Also take a guess who led the forwards with total hits last season.
- belcherbd

Ever heard of earning your ice time? Why would Willie give him more than 10 minutes ice time when he didn't score in 77 games and he is a p$ssy?

Edit: Gaunce is the future

This fan base needs 2 different threads, same blog 2 threads. In one thread they can complain about the people in the other thread and vice a versa.


Naaaaaaa never mind, that's a stupid idea.
- A_SteamingLombardi

I don't understand what the big issue is??? Before Makita became a ref there was a pack mentality in here and no one seemed to have an issue with it, this is not something new. Where was this protectionism mentality when the group ran Nucker out of town because he wasn't onboard with Benning from the early stages of his moves?

We used to talk about anything and everything in here and had a good time at it, for the most part. Booner and I used to talk fishing all the time, it was a fun place to come and unwind, have a chat. He used to go back to the first page and dissect every word and then comment until he got to the end....some good debates there for sure haha.

This thread is becoming like society in general, the minority get to rule while we cater to their needs. If someone's a disruptive Richard head then why not call them out on it? Should we just ignore the problems of the world and hope they'll go away?

Sign BO to a bridge deal 2yrs/4m per

Sign BO to a bridge deal 2yrs/4m per
- Nighthawk

lol…good luck with that.

Sign BO to a bridge deal 2yrs/4m per
- Nighthawk

With a gun to his head? Even if Bo and JB meet in the middle on term, it would be 4 years min.

Couldnt help but notice the high end skill of Mittelstadt... more so than Petersson... looks stronger on his feet than Petersson as well.

I don't understand what the big issue is??? Before Makita became a ref there was a pack mentality in here and no one seemed to have an issue with it, this is not something new. Where was this protectionism mentality when the group ran Nucker out of town because he wasn't onboard with Benning from the early stages of his moves?

We used to talk about anything and everything in here and had a good time at it, for the most part. Booner and I used to talk fishing all the time, it was a fun place to come and unwind, have a chat. He used to go back to the first page and dissect every word and then comment until he got to the end....some good debates there for sure haha.

This thread is becoming like society in general, the minority get to rule while we cater to their needs. If someone's a disruptive Richard head then why not call them out on it? Should we just ignore the problems of the world and hope they'll go away?
- LeftCoaster

Respectfully Nucker left of his own accord and it had just as much to do with his obsessive whining about Benning as it was about some of the posters badgering him. It takes two to tango.

The pack mentality always exists in these kind of blogs can't get around it. The Vets always think they run the show and the newbies are sometimes never really welcomed in. It is what it is. But for the most part this is still a fantastic group of passionate posters here and if we all take a little bit of a collective step back, look in the mirror for 10 seconds sometimes before we post all should be good.

I have total faith that the majority of posters in here will be just fine in the future. There are always going to be heated arguments...we just need to be big enough to get past it all.

Respectfully Nucker left of his own accord and it had just as much to do with his obsessive whining about Benning as it was about some of the posters badgering him. It takes two to tango.

The pack mentality always exists in these kind of blogs can't get around it. The Vets always think they run the show and the newbies are sometimes never really welcomed in. It is what it is. But for the most part this is still a fantastic group of passionate posters here and if we all take a little bit of a collective step back, look in the mirror for 10 seconds sometimes before we post all should be good.

I have total faith that the majority of posters in here will be just fine in the future. There are always going to be heated arguments...we just need to be big enough to get past it all.
- LordHumungous

I think the lack of activity predicted for Canucks gives this group little to talk about. It really is the dog days , plow through them guys , plow through them.