Around the League | And then there were four.
- Thread starter Mr. Canucklehead
- Start date
Isn't that the double edge sword? Without those markets being fanatical about their team, they wouldn't make the kind of money, not only for themselves but for the league.
That and 102 points isn't really anything to brag about anymore. About a third of the teams are with 5 points of 100 (either side). The Leafs this year had 108 points which is a good total. But how do you think the the Knights, Jets and Caps feel about their 110+ points this year? Not good I'm expecting (well maybe the Caps feel OK as no one was expecting much from them at all).
He didn’t want to go to Carolina regardless and he’s surely not signing there in UFA.
I would bet on one of the California teams or Vegas ending up with him.
LuckyDay
Registered User
goaltending. Their good AHL backup is injured. Oil had to change their game now that Skinner is back in net and Dallas surgically amputated the best goalie in the league.
Also Defense. Oilers are the Leafs, West.
The difference being with Kane finally back from a bad injury season, they actually have some depth again.
LuckyDay
Registered User
Hmm, maybe Leafs owner Brad Marchand should let Shanaplan go and sell now on Matthews.
- Aug 28, 2011
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There is really no way you can convince talent to sign in a crazed hockey market unless you overpay.
- Oct 5, 2005
- 1,739
- 727
I dunno. All sports have insane fanbases. Too much gets made of it in hockey, I think.
Josepho
i want the bartkowski thread back
The Eagles have been the 2nd most successful NFL franchise in the past decade and somehow the "it's the fans" discourse is still happening.
You normally have a very difficult time trying to convince someone from a non hockey mad market to sign up with a hockey mad one. Once, you get used to that anonymity outside the rink and in the media, you don't want to deal with it later in your career when you have young kids and a spouse.
But, again, without those markets, you simply don't make the kind of revenue that you need. I mean, if NBA players were the same way, and players didn't go to Lakers, Celtics, Knicks, etc. it wouldn't be good for their league either.
DiggerDan
Registered User
This is a generalization that just isn't true. Many players in almost every sport thrive in and want the pressure and attention. There are two sides to a fan crazed market and the ones who succeed in these markets see huge amounts of praise and success.
Someone should ask him if it is fun when the lean years come and you are playing to a 1/2 empty building?
Attack Vector
Registered User
- Mar 26, 2025
- 257
- 293
For a while, Ken Holland started trend where he would invest little into goaltending because there is an abundance of them around the world and only 30 (back then) starter jobs available. In theory, this strategy makes a ton of sense when building a roster because the pool of goaltenders was rich and you can train them to cover zones of the net and make the high percentage play.
Now, the game has evolved where you actually need high athletic, high IQ goalies to counter offensive plays that are formulated by players like McDavid and Draisaitl.
Goaltending is once again an important position that you need to invest heavily into and top tier goalies are expensive. I’m surprised Oilers haven’t made it a high priority yet but they might be able to outscore their way for now.
me2
Go ahead foot
Canucks LB
My Favourite, Gone too soon, RIP Luc, We miss you
- Oct 12, 2008
- 76,849
- 38,048
It’s not a coincidence that Canada hasn’t won a cup in ages, there’s definitely something towards the pressure, that being said, it’s not the main reason
You don't hear that much talk about players in other sports not wanting to play in the big markets.
You'll have the Zach Greinke who didn't want to go to NYY, but overall, most of the big name players in MLB, NBA, NFL have no issues playing in those markets. Derek Carr had the choice to go to NYJ, but opted for NO.
Is Tkachuk taking a shot at TO, or Calgary where he used to play? But let's face it, some players just aren't 'wired' to withstand the relentless scrutiny and pressure of a Canadian market.
In a lot of U.S. Sunbelt markets, you can really ask a logical question. Do they really care all that much about hockey? Do they really care if their superstar, $11.7m forward, goes from 100 points to 45 points? Some of these teams have just one or two beat reporters who even follow them. And they rate a 90 second report at the bottom of the evening TV sports, if they're lucky.
So a lot of players just want to play the games; collect their bloated pay-checks with lower taxes, and then go home to a gated community somewhere in millionaires row. They can forget about bad games in a hurry--because nobody really cares, except maybe the coaches and the GM.
So UFA's will continue to flock to places like Florida, Vegas, Carolina, Utah, Anaheim etc. etc. where you rake in your millions in relative anonymity. It's often said that once a player gets beyond the parking lot at the rink in those places--nobody has a clue who they even are.
In a way it's kind of sad. Hockey is a passionate sport when it's played right. And you'd like to think that pro hockey players would relish that passion in the marketplace, and want to perform even better.
But lamentably that's not the case. And the problem in Canada--is that fans care too much.
I think that some things like home grown, drafted by, developed by an org helps a bit but yeah there is an advantage to having a market that cheers for you but doesn't lose it's shit over the losses like the burning of jersey's and such. I know for Winnipeg trading for signed players with term left is one way they like to do it. Fans in Wpg are critical but not crazed. Also Europeans too.
The country's lack of Cups is a combination of bad luck (lots of SCF Game 6/7 losses) and owners prioritizing short-term revenue over long-term success. The "fan factor" only really contributes to the latter problem, but should not be affecting players directly.
We have a lot of European players who can attest to soccer culture in their home countries bearing x100 more pressure. Not just in the form of being scrutinized in the media, but having to deal with thousands of Ultras who feel they're entitled to be bigoted or outright violent if their club aren't doing things their way.
That's why I have a lot of respect for stars like McDavid, Draiasaitl, Scheifele and even Austen Matthews and Quinn Hughes.
They embrace the challenge of playing in a Canadian market. Last night, Matthews as the team captain was the first to come out and face the music, after his team's 6-1 beatdown at the hands of the Panthers.
And Hughes, McDavid and Draisaitl have never shied away from the media either. Even Tkachuk's brother Brady in Ottawa--is determined to stay and try and make it work with the Sens.
These are players who embrace both the passion and the craziness at times--and relish the peaks and valleys.
That's why the Canucks should think about bringing back Horvat and retaining Boeser. They started their careers here, and crave both the market and the fans.
J.T. Miller, on the other hand, I'm just not so sure about. I think he's back where he probably belongs in a market he feels more comfortable in.
They embrace the challenge of playing in a Canadian market. Last night, Matthews as the team captain was the first to come out and face the music, after his team's 6-1 beatdown at the hands of the Panthers.
And Hughes, McDavid and Draisaitl have never shied away from the media either. Even Tkachuk's brother Brady in Ottawa--is determined to stay and try and make it work with the Sens.
These are players who embrace both the passion and the craziness at times--and relish the peaks and valleys.
That's why the Canucks should think about bringing back Horvat and retaining Boeser. They started their careers here, and crave both the market and the fans.
J.T. Miller, on the other hand, I'm just not so sure about. I think he's back where he probably belongs in a market he feels more comfortable in.
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