BB&T Center has the NHL's worst ice

[Hockeyfan2390]

Pretty small sample size, but still:

(Ed. Note: While attending the NHL Players Media Tour in September, we polled 27 skaters and goalies about a few topics in the League. Their answers are anonymous to encourage candor.)

There’s really nothing more delightfully squirmy than when you ask an NHL player which arena has the worst ice, they pause, and then earnestly ask if they’re allowed to vote for their own team’s rink.

Well, of course you are; and as part of our anonymous NHL Players Poll, we’ll protect those who believe their home ice is the worst.

We asked 27 NHL players – skaters and goalies, veteran and rookies – which NHL arena has the worst ice. And there was an overwhelming favorite as the League’s mushiest, sloppiest rink:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-p...ch-team-has-the-worst-home-ice-174332400.html

 

[FlaPanthers11]

Yeah. Makes sense.

 

[Duke749]

Feel like this could be really flawed as they asked less players than arenas...

I know Boston seems to always have bad ice. Anywhere that has to accommodate basketball and other events struggles with good ice.

 

[Meatball]

St. Louis' ice often gets complained about as well.

 

[PullHard]

I don't think the Wings have bad ice, but the boards are often cited as being livelier than most other arenas.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

Holy crap how is carolina not a part of this????

 

[Android 16]

Florida ends up having a winning season then it's because we have bad ice and we know how to exploit it and the other teams play bad because of it.

 

[10coach*]

Holy crap how is carolina not a part of this????

They are.

 

[Hockeyfan2390]

I was stunned when the main answer wasn't Madison Square Garden, that place is notorious for horrible ice.

 

[Norwegianoiler]

Feel like this could be really flawed as they asked less players than arenas...

I know Boston seems to always have bad ice. Anywhere that has to accommodate basketball and other events struggles with good ice.

I don't think the arenas would provide clear answers even if you did ask them.

 

[Sadekuuro]

Florida ends up having a winning season then it's because we have bad ice and we know how to exploit it and the other teams play bad because of it.

Hey, it worked for Dallas back in the late 90s

 

[bWo*]

Florida ends up having a winning season then it's because we have bad ice and we know how to exploit it and the other teams play bad because of it.

#IceGate

 

[Beville]

I was stunned when the main answer wasn't Madison Square Garden, that place is notorious for horrible ice.

That's what I came to say, and aren't there a few other 1st floor and above pads that are meant to be a bit rubbish?

 

[XX]

Should have asked them to pick the 3 worst. Would have been more informative.

 

[bottomofthefoodchain]

27 players? Inconclusive

 

[Hackett]

I was stunned when the main answer wasn't Madison Square Garden, that place is notorious for horrible ice.

I think it used to be notorious for terrible ice. Perhaps the recent renovations have helped out ice quality over there.

 

[Bleedred]

I think it used to be notorious for terrible ice. Perhaps the recent renovations have helped out ice quality over there.

I remember it seemed to be pretty bad in the playoffs a few years ago, I don't think it's particularly bad from October or November through April though. It makes sense that a lot of the rinks ice around the league deteriorates come Spring time, especially in climate's that don't stay cold throughout the Spring.

Not surprised about Florida, it's absolutely the warmest climate that the game is played in. Same goes for TB and LA, I don't believe LA is really warm but it does stay mild throughout the year there. It's no surprise that the 4 warmest climates in the league made the top 4.

I'm shocked that Arizona isn't on this list, they might have the warmest climate as well. I know it's not that warm in the Winter, just typically mild with highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s. But it is very hot there, even if not humid.

I wanna see a ranking with the best. I always hear people cite Edmonton, not sure if that's the case in recent times. Winnipeg I would think is very good, Ottawa seems to usually be good.

 

[VanillaCoke]

27 players? Inconclusive

This.
Makes it completely meaningless

 

[LowSodium]

Not enough votes really, but it seems usually that arenas that host a lot of events usually have worse ice. Basketball teams, lots of concerts, etc.

 

[AwesomePanthers]

Noticed how all the teams named are hot climate teams.

But 27 players are just a team, or slightly more.

 

[Kaapo Cabana]

Rookies too?

so what your saying is that a significant portion of the players polled have only played in a small handful of NHL arenas?

yea this is not good information

 

[Brian28]

I wanna see a ranking with the best. I always hear people cite Edmonton, not sure if that's the case in recent times. Winnipeg I would think is very good, Ottawa seems to usually be good.

Edmonton used to be the best, but that was a LONG time ago. Between equipment issues and losing the best ice person in North America it never recovered. I'd say Rexall currently is middle of the pack. There's been some games we look like Carolina or Phoenix more than a winter climate city but it's not every game. Very inconsistent.

 

[KingBran]

Ive always heard the Blues have bad ice.


Heck we see interviews with our own players talking about it.

Someone once posted about the reasons how when the building was made they didn't design the air ducts correctly or something so it stays humid in the building.

I have been to many Blues games and it's not humid at all in there but it must be enough to affect the ice.

 

[ck26]

Rookies too?

so what your saying is that a significant portion of the players polled have only played in a small handful of NHL arenas?

yea this is not good information

+1

And "so what?" Sun Belt ice isn't as good? OK. Ticket sales will slump and the schedule will get very crowded if we move all 30 teams to Rexall Place.

 

[ThunderAlleyNomad]

I remember it seemed to be pretty bad in the playoffs a few years ago, I don't think it's particularly bad from October or November through April though. It makes sense that a lot of the rinks ice around the league deteriorates come Spring time, especially in climate's that don't stay cold throughout the Spring.

Not surprised about Florida, it's absolutely the warmest climate that the game is played in. Same goes for TB and LA, I don't believe LA is really warm but it does stay mild throughout the year there. It's no surprise that the 4 warmest climates in the league made the top 4.

I'm shocked that Arizona isn't on this list, they might have the warmest climate as well. I know it's not that warm in the Winter, just typically mild with highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s. But it is very hot there, even if not humid.

I wanna see a ranking with the best. I always hear people cite Edmonton, not sure if that's the case in recent times. Winnipeg I would think is very good, Ottawa seems to usually be good.

I believe that it's not the heat, or not mostly the heat, it's the humidity that makes for bad ice. That would be why AZ isn't on here. LA isn't humid, but the Staples Center hosts a whole lot of events and that makes a difference.

The Tampa ice guys are pretty good, but once you open the doors to the public, there is no HVAC system in the world that will combat Florida humidity. Especially not during playoff season.