2025-2026 NHL Offseason

SatansFuton wrote:

fife wrote:

The reason why many blame him was due to the fact that many of teams that he has brought into the NHL have been in non-traditional markets and they are the ones who are losing the money. Now you can't oput all the blame on him for that cause the owners have a say in this.

I can understand why people from markets that lost teams going to these non-traditional markets (like the good folks of Winnipeg and Hartford for example) were upset. But they were trying to expand the NHL brand. When I was a kid, nobody here in the south knew shit or gave a damn about hockey, and it's still probably the 5th or 6th most popular sport (even further down if you break it down by NFL, College, and High School) but it is much more popular. I guess it's just not translating into the dollars they had hoped. Back in the day there were no such thing as school hockey teams, or widespread rec leagues. I knew one kid who played hockey, and it wasn't a coincidence that his parents were loaded because there were hardly any rinks (I only knew of one, and it's purpose wasn't hockey), making ice time very expensive, on top of equipment and everything. Now I see quite a few rinks, and hockey shops around. And quite a few schools, including my old high school, have hockey teams. Things might be a little better here in Texas though, because the Stars won a Cup not long after coming to town. It's been a while though, and Dallas fans are fickle, hence their recent money troubles and bankruptcy.

In hindsight it doesn't appear to be panning out the way they had hoped, but Bettman is hardly the first to take that gamble, I don't think you'll find any organizations that are happy with their revenue and decide to apply the brakes and just enjoy their current level of success. NFL Europe was costing the NFL $30 million a season at the time they folded it. But apparently the NFL can afford to make a gamble like that more than the NHL. I don't think it really hurt their pockets much to fold NFL Europe.

I can see why people ride his ass about that decision, but I think hockey's popularity in the U.S. is probably much higher than it was prior to all of the expansion and relocation. When I was a kid you could only see one hockey game a week via ESPN National Hockey Night, now I can find one (not RIGHT now of course ) fairly easily on any given day in a season. It might not be the team I want, but it is a hockey game. And of course the availability of the Center Ice package for those that gotta have it.

I can't really blame the guy for wanting to take it from a 10th Tier sport in the U.S. to the top. It was never going to topple the NFL, NBA or MLB though, now soccer is on the rise too, and I just don't think the NHL is ever going to get what it wants from America as a whole. There are some good hockey markets here, just most of these non-traditional ones are turning out to be a bust.

SatansFuton wrote:

lukin2006 wrote:

You make some valid points.

Even in the States in original 6 markets where does hockey rank. I live just across from Detroit and they've had a super successful team the last 21 years, 21 straight playoff appearance, 4 championships but I would still say as far Detroit sports fans go, the lions and tiger are more popular and garner more attention...so hockey is no higher than 3rd...even in January people calling the local sports station seem more interested in talking lions and tigers.

Merchandising seems to be a big deal these days...so with exception of the Canadian teams...how many American teams merchandising is number 1 in their market? Probably none.

Me as a Canadian Hockey is number 3 behind baseball and football...this is the 3rd lockout in the Bettman era.

How do the Pistons rank? I figured they might be above the Red Wings as well. I know they aren't as successful as the Red Wings (but what the hell, the Lions sure aren't) but they won 3 NBA titles (on top of a bunch of Division and Conference titles) and I thought Detroit was a pretty crazy basketball town. To be honest I've always wondered where all the other teams ranked, until you told me that is, since it somehow earned the nickname "Hockeytown USA". From that you'd think all the other sports took a back seat to the Red Wings. I guess it's just about as accurate as "America's Team" sorry

Edit - OK, I just read the nickname wasn't "earned", it was just part of some Red Wings marketing campaign back in the 90's and it stuck.

polaris_x wrote:

a lot of nhl teams make money in the playoffs because players don't get paid for playoff games ...

polaris_x wrote:

lukin2006 wrote:

I don't think the players are going to win this dispute...the owners aren't losing money right now, and even come playoff time most owners won't make much money...basically no incentive for the owners to hurry up and get a deal done.

the players were always going to lose ... that's a given ... the issue is really how much? ... i mean - at the end of the day - there's a deal right there in front of us ...

50/50 ... pay out in full existing contracts and keep HRR the same ...

but the owners are looking to take the players to the cleaners ... :twisted:

polaris_x wrote:

lukin2006 wrote:

I have no dog in the fight here...I only watch hockey come playoff time anyway...still pretty disturbing how this sport treats its fans, especially in the States where in most markets it behind the other major leagues.

no kidding ... the nhl won't even meet with the PA ...

polaris_x wrote:

Indifference71 wrote:

This whole thing is turning into a complete embarrassment. I'm really starting to doubt if we are going to see any hockey at all this year.

if i wasn't so lazy and was actually a proponent of social media - i would start a facebook/twitter page about boycotting nhl revenue sources ... ie games, merch, concessions ... watch only at home or at pubs ... don't buy any jerseys ...

polaris_x wrote:

lukin2006 wrote:

I'm been actively boycotting since '94...with exception of a playoff game I attended and the watching playoffs...sad part is when the CBA gets done...in 6 years it'll start all over again.

ya ... this is another reason why i stand by the players because it's constantly give give by the players and the owners take take ... so, with every CBA - the owners are just gonna pull the same stunt ...

Bronx Bombers wrote:

Islanders move to Brooklyn presser this afternoon

MayDay10 wrote:

they will never pass a shot at rebranding and the money.



This is a fucking shame.