OT: Around Hockey and the NHL

Felonious Python

Minor League Degenerate
Aug 20, 2004
32,168
9,648
Hallelujah
The best reasoning I can come up with for why they'd lower the age to 19 is to allow for a gap year, so a guy could try pro hockey before deciding if they want to go to the NCAA or not.

That kind of year basically exists for aged out CHLers to play minor league hockey before deciding to take their USports package or not.
 
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Felonious Python

Minor League Degenerate
Aug 20, 2004
32,168
9,648
The ratings for the Frozen Frenzy were reportedly pretty low. Doing it on a Tuesday night, opening night for the NBA probably mattered.

Avoiding NBA opening night was probably avoidable, but we see that the Frenzy isn't durable enough to happen on a night like that.

I didn't watch this edition, but I have in the past, and it seems that the criticisms of the broadcast haven't been addressed. Way too much studio time, hyping that everyone is indeed playing, and not actually showing it. Overly focused on showing every single goal, as if that's the only part of the game that has any value or interest., etc.


Go watch Golazo on Pluto.tv, or Goal Rush on Peacock next Saturday morning. It doesn't have to be this way.
 
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Felonious Python

Minor League Degenerate
Aug 20, 2004
32,168
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“The USHL will probably be hit pretty hard, but I also don’t really understand why the CHL wants this? Do they understand the colleges are coming for their best 18-year-olds, not their age-out guys?” warned one NHL executive.

 

Felonious Python

Minor League Degenerate
Aug 20, 2004
32,168
9,648

The inertia of college hockey seems to have changed a little bit over the last few years. Coaches get fired, etc.

There aren't as many guys with 10+ years at the same school as it felt there used to be, and the ones who have lasted generally go a pretty good job (Quinnipiac, Minn-Duluth, Notre Dame, Providence, etc.).


This newer crop especially is going to have to deal with a potentially more cutthroat environment. They may have inherited the team from a guy who was there 25 years, but they won't be afforded that type of job security. More NHL prospects also means more influence from the NHL.

The anonymous CHL coach notes that most guys are barely on (athletic?) scholarships, but that's the way the current system works. The coaches have a budget, so if a player can primarily or partially attend on need based or academic scholarships (the scholar part of scholarships), then that athletic money is freed up for someone else.
 
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Felonious Python

Minor League Degenerate
Aug 20, 2004
32,168
9,648
12 pm ET 11/16

FloHockey also has free AHL and ECHL games, so consider following them on Twitter or YouTube.
 

Felonious Python

Minor League Degenerate
Aug 20, 2004
32,168
9,648

Elliotte Friedman reported on HNIC that the OHL has a mandate for aggressive US expansion. 2 teams, possibly more.

I think they need to let this whole NCAA stuff shake out a bit before expanding.

Buffalo and Detroit do make sense for expansion. Huge hockey markets, sure, but the US/Canadian border has geographic limitations, and the major choke points are through Detroit and Buffalo.

Otherwise, we're talking about a Marquette, MI or Watertown, NY.
 

Felonious Python

Minor League Degenerate
Aug 20, 2004
32,168
9,648
Bannister didn’t even make it a full year. He was named interim last December and permanent head coach in May
Montgomery being available created this. If he was still in Boston, Bannister would still be in STL.

STL gave Montgomery a five-year deal. He's the guy they wanted.
 

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