2025-2026 NHL Offseason

Nice. We have a best of 3 series to take it all.
I must say, that Nashville crowd(environment) is electric.

Nashville is putting a lot of other towns to shame. Of course the winning does help. Looks like a lot of fun for them.

JK_Livin said:

Nashville is putting a lot of other towns to shame. Of course the winning does help. Looks like a lot of fun for them.

Nashville built hockey the right way unlike some other cities.  they have had the same GM since coming to the NHL, they have drafted well and also embraced the culture that Nashville as a city has.  also ticket prices are still reasonable unlike many other cities

MayDay10 said:

Nashville has done it well... but we will see if/when they miss the playoffs a few seasons, and if that will have a major effect.  I remember Carolina "fans" all tooting their own horns because they stood during the cup finals and make a lot of noise due to the drop ceiling...  the season after they won the cup, they already had half-empty games.

Yep.  While the fans in Nashville have been awesome this postseason, let's not forget that this is the same organization that just a couple years ago had to have a major marketing campaign to keep Blackhawks fans from going to games there because every time the Hawks played down there, it was 50% Hawks fans at least.  They even went so far as to block people with non-Tennessee zip codes from buying tickets.  Everything is great when your team is playing for the Cup...but let's not act like this is Hockeytown part 2.

ponytd said:

Indifference71 said:

MayDay10 said:

Nashville has done it well... but we will see if/when they miss the playoffs a few seasons, and if that will have a major effect.  I remember Carolina "fans" all tooting their own horns because they stood during the cup finals and make a lot of noise due to the drop ceiling...  the season after they won the cup, they already had half-empty games.

Yep.  While the fans in Nashville have been awesome this postseason, let's not forget that this is the same organization that just a couple years ago had to have a major marketing campaign to keep Blackhawks fans from going to games there because every time the Hawks played down there, it was 50% Hawks fans at least.  They even went so far as to block people with non-Tennessee zip codes from buying tickets.  Everything is great when your team is playing for the Cup...but let's not act like this is Hockeytown part 2.

Nashville may never be a Detroit, or Chicago or Buffalo or Pittsburgh when it comes to a hockey town. and the fans here are really finicky, but this city stepped up and saved the team when it was just mediocre 10 years ago. There will be drop off when they miss out on the playoffs, but we'll be just fine.

The ebbs and flows of success and mediocrity are expected.

As a Blackhawks fan myself, our fan base has certainly endured its share of "bandwagon" calling over the past few years.  What many people don't understand is the absolute horrid way the team was ran under it's previous owner.  Dollar Bill Wirtz didn't give a shit about the fans.  I'd argue he didn't give a shit about the team.  I mean, the guy sold one of our championship banners for $600, that's how much of a fucking tightwad he was.  He refused to put the team on television because "if you can't come to the stadium and buy a ticket, you don't deserve to watch them play."  Thankfully, father time had enough of Dollar Bill and his son took over the team.  And whattya know, marketing, tv contracts, a front office that wants to build a successful team, embracing the city, fan fests & fan interaction, charities, etc, etc.  And he were are doubling our Stanley Cups less than 10 years later.  Sure, people jump on the wagon.  But many of us have always been there.  We just weren't given a product to appreciate.

I know Nashville is in our division but I'm seeing the same kind of drive from ownership there that's happened in Chicago over the last decade.  When things are done the right way, there's absolutely no shame in basking in the glory!  Win or lose the series, enjoy this while you can.  It's great for the fans, it's great for the city.  It's good to see one of the newer teams in the league actually embrace the hockey culture and help it grow.

Go Preds!!

HesCalledDyer said:

ponytd said:

Indifference71 said:

MayDay10 said:

Nashville has done it well... but we will see if/when they miss the playoffs a few seasons, and if that will have a major effect.  I remember Carolina "fans" all tooting their own horns because they stood during the cup finals and make a lot of noise due to the drop ceiling...  the season after they won the cup, they already had half-empty games.

Yep.  While the fans in Nashville have been awesome this postseason, let's not forget that this is the same organization that just a couple years ago had to have a major marketing campaign to keep Blackhawks fans from going to games there because every time the Hawks played down there, it was 50% Hawks fans at least.  They even went so far as to block people with non-Tennessee zip codes from buying tickets.  Everything is great when your team is playing for the Cup...but let's not act like this is Hockeytown part 2.

Nashville may never be a Detroit, or Chicago or Buffalo or Pittsburgh when it comes to a hockey town. and the fans here are really finicky, but this city stepped up and saved the team when it was just mediocre 10 years ago. There will be drop off when they miss out on the playoffs, but we'll be just fine.

The ebbs and flows of success and mediocrity are expected.

As a Blackhawks fan myself, our fan base has certainly endured its share of "bandwagon" calling over the past few years.  What many people don't understand is the absolute horrid way the team was ran under it's previous owner.  Dollar Bill Wirtz didn't give a shit about the fans.  I'd argue he didn't give a shit about the team.  I mean, the guy sold one of our championship banners for $600, that's how much of a fucking tightwad he was.  He refused to put the team on television because "if you can't come to the stadium and buy a ticket, you don't deserve to watch them play."  Thankfully, father time had enough of Dollar Bill and his son took over the team.  And whattya know, marketing, tv contracts, a front office that wants to build a successful team, embracing the city, fan fests & fan interaction, charities, etc, etc.  And he were are doubling our Stanley Cups less than 10 years later.  Sure, people jump on the wagon.  But many of us have always been there.  We just weren't given a product to appreciate.

I know Nashville is in our division but I'm seeing the same kind of drive from ownership there that's happened in Chicago over the last decade.  When things are done the right way, there's absolutely no shame in basking in the glory!  Win or lose the series, enjoy this while you can.  It's great for the fans, it's great for the city.  It's good to see one of the newer teams in the league actually embrace the hockey culture and help it grow.

Go Preds!!

Isn't it amazing that 10 years ago Blackhawks home games weren't even on TV???  Crazy.

Indifference71 said:

HesCalledDyer said:

ponytd said:

Indifference71 said:

MayDay10 said:

Nashville has done it well... but we will see if/when they miss the playoffs a few seasons, and if that will have a major effect.  I remember Carolina "fans" all tooting their own horns because they stood during the cup finals and make a lot of noise due to the drop ceiling...  the season after they won the cup, they already had half-empty games.

Yep.  While the fans in Nashville have been awesome this postseason, let's not forget that this is the same organization that just a couple years ago had to have a major marketing campaign to keep Blackhawks fans from going to games there because every time the Hawks played down there, it was 50% Hawks fans at least.  They even went so far as to block people with non-Tennessee zip codes from buying tickets.  Everything is great when your team is playing for the Cup...but let's not act like this is Hockeytown part 2.

Nashville may never be a Detroit, or Chicago or Buffalo or Pittsburgh when it comes to a hockey town. and the fans here are really finicky, but this city stepped up and saved the team when it was just mediocre 10 years ago. There will be drop off when they miss out on the playoffs, but we'll be just fine.

The ebbs and flows of success and mediocrity are expected.

As a Blackhawks fan myself, our fan base has certainly endured its share of "bandwagon" calling over the past few years.  What many people don't understand is the absolute horrid way the team was ran under it's previous owner.  Dollar Bill Wirtz didn't give a shit about the fans.  I'd argue he didn't give a shit about the team.  I mean, the guy sold one of our championship banners for $600, that's how much of a fucking tightwad he was.  He refused to put the team on television because "if you can't come to the stadium and buy a ticket, you don't deserve to watch them play."  Thankfully, father time had enough of Dollar Bill and his son took over the team.  And whattya know, marketing, tv contracts, a front office that wants to build a successful team, embracing the city, fan fests & fan interaction, charities, etc, etc.  And he were are doubling our Stanley Cups less than 10 years later.  Sure, people jump on the wagon.  But many of us have always been there.  We just weren't given a product to appreciate.

I know Nashville is in our division but I'm seeing the same kind of drive from ownership there that's happened in Chicago over the last decade.  When things are done the right way, there's absolutely no shame in basking in the glory!  Win or lose the series, enjoy this while you can.  It's great for the fans, it's great for the city.  It's good to see one of the newer teams in the league actually embrace the hockey culture and help it grow.

Go Preds!!

Isn't it amazing that 10 years ago Blackhawks home games weren't even on TV???  Crazy.

They had really bad ownership.  I remember reports of people like Toews being out on the street giving people free tickets during his rookie season

HesCalledDyer said:

ponytd said:

Indifference71 said:

MayDay10 said:

Nashville has done it well... but we will see if/when they miss the playoffs a few seasons, and if that will have a major effect.  I remember Carolina "fans" all tooting their own horns because they stood during the cup finals and make a lot of noise due to the drop ceiling...  the season after they won the cup, they already had half-empty games.

Yep.  While the fans in Nashville have been awesome this postseason, let's not forget that this is the same organization that just a couple years ago had to have a major marketing campaign to keep Blackhawks fans from going to games there because every time the Hawks played down there, it was 50% Hawks fans at least.  They even went so far as to block people with non-Tennessee zip codes from buying tickets.  Everything is great when your team is playing for the Cup...but let's not act like this is Hockeytown part 2.

Nashville may never be a Detroit, or Chicago or Buffalo or Pittsburgh when it comes to a hockey town. and the fans here are really finicky, but this city stepped up and saved the team when it was just mediocre 10 years ago. There will be drop off when they miss out on the playoffs, but we'll be just fine.

The ebbs and flows of success and mediocrity are expected.

As a Blackhawks fan myself, our fan base has certainly endured its share of "bandwagon" calling over the past few years.  What many people don't understand is the absolute horrid way the team was ran under it's previous owner.  Dollar Bill Wirtz didn't give a shit about the fans.  I'd argue he didn't give a shit about the team.  I mean, the guy sold one of our championship banners for $600, that's how much of a fucking tightwad he was.  He refused to put the team on television because "if you can't come to the stadium and buy a ticket, you don't deserve to watch them play."  Thankfully, father time had enough of Dollar Bill and his son took over the team.  And whattya know, marketing, tv contracts, a front office that wants to build a successful team, embracing the city, fan fests & fan interaction, charities, etc, etc.  And he were are doubling our Stanley Cups less than 10 years later.  Sure, people jump on the wagon.  But many of us have always been there.  We just weren't given a product to appreciate.

I know Nashville is in our division but I'm seeing the same kind of drive from ownership there that's happened in Chicago over the last decade.  When things are done the right way, there's absolutely no shame in basking in the glory!  Win or lose the series, enjoy this while you can.  It's great for the fans, it's great for the city.  It's good to see one of the newer teams in the league actually embrace the hockey culture and help it grow.

Go Preds!!

Totally agree. There's nothing wrong with growing the game. This team has always done a great job of trying to get fans more involved. And since the local ownership(with some outsiders in there as well) took over 10 years ago, they've done an even better job. The benefits package for season ticket holders is great and they do lots for the community. The fanbase has grown tremendously over the last 10 years, and with this unbelievable run they have made, they have grown even more. My 69 year old mom has watched every game. She has no clue what is happening, but she's excited by it. I've also met several people who have said "I don't know much about hockey, but they have me excited and I've bought season tickets now". I know winning helps, but the fanbase has been growing every year and we haven't exactly been setting the world on fire. Hell, we were the 16th ranked team entering the playoffs.

Hopefully other owners will try and copy what we're doing down here and try and grow the brand. I was worried about how the hockey world would react to Nashville in the Cup Final, but so far, viewership is up 24% over last year and game 4 was the 2nd most watched game 4 of the Stanley Cup ever.

And glad the Hawks are under better ownership now. I grew up a fan of them since they were really the only team that was shown around here back in the day. And as long as we're not playing ya'll, go hawks lol

fife said:

ponytd said:

Indifference71 said:

MayDay10 said:

Nashville has done it well... but we will see if/when they miss the playoffs a few seasons, and if that will have a major effect.  I remember Carolina "fans" all tooting their own horns because they stood during the cup finals and make a lot of noise due to the drop ceiling...  the season after they won the cup, they already had half-empty games.

Yep.  While the fans in Nashville have been awesome this postseason, let's not forget that this is the same organization that just a couple years ago had to have a major marketing campaign to keep Blackhawks fans from going to games there because every time the Hawks played down there, it was 50% Hawks fans at least.  They even went so far as to block people with non-Tennessee zip codes from buying tickets.  Everything is great when your team is playing for the Cup...but let's not act like this is Hockeytown part 2.

Nashville may never be a Detroit, or Chicago or Buffalo or Pittsburgh when it comes to a hockey town. and the fans here are really finicky, but this city stepped up and saved the team when it was just mediocre 10 years ago. There will be drop off when they miss out on the playoffs, but we'll be just fine.

thats funny cause 2 of the 4 teams you listed I don't consider hockey towns at all.  I don't see Pittsburgh or Buffalo as  hockey town.  Pittsburgh has been very popular since Sid got there but before he got there the team was in deep trouble.  Buffalo is saved alot because of how close they are to Canada. 
there are not alot of cities where if the teams don't make the playoffs fans don't show up.  infact i think there are only about 9 cities where fans show up no matter what. 

So Buffalo is disqualified because Canada is close, but not Detroit?  Do we disqualify Canadian teams as well because they are in Canada?

The Sabres have been a doormat.
Buffalo hasn't won a playoff series in a decade, has the 2nd longest playoff-less drought in the NHL, and has been the worst team in the league for a chunk of that, not sniffing a meaningful game.  Season tickets are still capped at about 90% of capacity with a waiting list that has been in place since 2006.  The franchise is nearly 50 years old, and professional hockey has been in Buffalo for nearly 80 years (going on 100 if you include a team if Fort Erie who called themselves "Buffalo").  There wasn't a ticket to be had in the entire decade of the 70s.   There are a shit-ton of hockey rinks in the area and loads of youth and adult participation.  The combine is stationed here on a semi-long term basis, and arguably the NHL's best goal-scorer is from here.  Buffalo remains at or near the top of the US television ratings for every hockey related event, even when the Sabres aren't involved.  People have NHL Draft watch parties.  



http://sportsbusinessnews.com/content/nhl-all-star-game-ratings-numbers
2017 All Star Game
Market Rating
1. Pittsburgh 6.1
2. Buffalo 5.3
3. Minneapolis-St. Paul 3.7
4. St. Louis 3.4
5. Chicago 3.1
5. Philadelphia 3.1
7. Detroit 2.7
8. Columbus 2.6
9. Washington, D.C. 2.5
10. New York 2.3

fife said:

ponytd said:

fife said:

ponytd said:

Indifference71 said:

MayDay10 said:

Nashville has done it well... but we will see if/when they miss the playoffs a few seasons, and if that will have a major effect.  I remember Carolina "fans" all tooting their own horns because they stood during the cup finals and make a lot of noise due to the drop ceiling...  the season after they won the cup, they already had half-empty games.

Yep.  While the fans in Nashville have been awesome this postseason, let's not forget that this is the same organization that just a couple years ago had to have a major marketing campaign to keep Blackhawks fans from going to games there because every time the Hawks played down there, it was 50% Hawks fans at least.  They even went so far as to block people with non-Tennessee zip codes from buying tickets.  Everything is great when your team is playing for the Cup...but let's not act like this is Hockeytown part 2.

Nashville may never be a Detroit, or Chicago or Buffalo or Pittsburgh when it comes to a hockey town. and the fans here are really finicky, but this city stepped up and saved the team when it was just mediocre 10 years ago. There will be drop off when they miss out on the playoffs, but we'll be just fine.

thats funny cause 2 of the 4 teams you listed I don't consider hockey towns at all.  I don't see Pittsburgh or Buffalo as  hockey town.  Pittsburgh has been very popular since Sid got there but before he got there the team was in deep trouble.  Buffalo is saved alot because of how close they are to Canada. 
there are not alot of cities where if the teams don't make the playoffs fans don't show up.  infact i think there are only about 9 cities where fans show up no matter what. 

Well, I know lots of people from the Pittsburgh area that are big Pens fans. I know the Steelers rule that town, but from everything I've heard, they do love their pens too, but totally get that. And Buffalo, they always seem to have high viewership for hockey on tv, like Pittsburgh, so I guess I was really thinking along those lines.

I hate hearing about Anaheim and Ottawa, who were in the conference finals and had trouble selling out those games. that's just absurd

I cant speak about Anaheim but the reason for Ottawa not selling out is due to a couple of reason.  number 1 that I heard is where the rink is located makes it hard for people to get there in time for the game and number 2 and i can attest to this one myself is that there are many seats at the rink where the views are very bad and are obstructed. 

I think ottawa is in a tough situation because they are right in the middle of both Montreal and Toronto who do have very rabib fan bases.  there are many fans of both of those teams in Ottawa

So many excuses for Ottawa but the fact remains that they had trouble selling out games in the conference finals....if you can't get fans to come out for that, then I don't know when the hell they'll come.  The league definitely needs to take a look at whether they can sustain a franchise especially when there are other cities like Seattle, Quebec City, KC, etc. that badly want a franchise.