News Article: Colorado Avalanche Media Coverage Part VI

[Foppa2118]

Everyone was wrong about Cale. Even the most optimistic.

I mean I don't even think Sea Eagles expected Cale to hit the level he has I think there was a lot of optimism with his skillset, but he's a hitting incredibly rarified air.

Wasn't going to bring this up at first, but since there's a couple comments to this effect, I feel compelled to point out there were some that were pretty high on Cale, so to speak.

For me personally, when he was taking heat for both his offense and defense from his critics during his first year at UMass, I said I thought he could be a John Carlson type that put up big numbers, and also played solid defense.

Then after I saw him at the WJC when his critics were justifying his benchings, I thought he could be even better than Carlson, a truly special and dominant defenseman, and definitely could match or better Barrie's production early on, when that was still being questioned even after his first playoffs.

I don't usually make player predictions, but I made a pretty lofty prediction after his rookie year, that he could get 30 goals and 90-100 points one day in his career. He had 28 goals 86 points in 77 games a couple years ago and scored at a 90 point pace last year. I think he can get to 100 points one day if he can have a healthy season.

Also made another uncharacteristic comment for me at the end of his rookie year, saying he could put up 80-90 points, have a dominant playoffs, and win the Norris in his sophomore year. The covid shortened season probably prevented the 80-90 points, and Fox robbed him of the Norris, so I was a year off on that and the dominant playoffs.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Everyone was wrong about Cale. Even the most optimistic.

Actually, there a few around here repeating the mantra "Orr's the Floor" before he actually played a game for us.

As much as I loathe when other people use hyperbole, they might not have been that far off. As much as I love Cale, I doubt he's going to have a season like Orr had in 1970-71 (78GP 37G-102A-139PTS to go along with 91 PIMs). Orr actually had 4 100+ point seasons. Cale scores at close to those rates but hasn't been healthy enough to play the required games to actually put them up. I doubt he'll climb over Orr (who most consider the best d-man ever) or even Lidstrom (who I personally think was the best defensemen to ever play the game even though he never boasted those huge offensive totals) but I think Makar has a real chance to go down in the top 5 if not #3.

 

[Ceremony]

Going by the numbers, the Avalanche are better off and have a better cup chance than Las Vegas. The actual descriptions in the tweets say the complete opposite.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Wasn't going to bring this up at first, but since there's a couple comments to this effect, I feel compelled to point out there were some that were pretty high on Cale, so to speak.

For me personally, when he was taking heat for both his offense and defense from his critics during his first year at UMass, I said I thought he could be a John Carlson type that put up big numbers, and also played solid defense.

Then after I saw him at the WJC when his critics were justifying his benchings, I thought he could be even better than Carlson, a truly special and dominant defenseman, and definitely could match or better Barrie's production early on, when that was still being questioned even after his first playoffs.

I don't usually make player predictions, but I made a pretty lofty prediction after his rookie year, that he could get 30 goals and 90-100 points one day in his career. He had 28 goals 86 points in 77 games a couple years ago and scored at a 90 point pace last year. I think he can get to 100 points one day if he can have a healthy season.

Also made another uncharacteristic comment for me at the end of his rookie year, saying he could put up 80-90 points, have a dominant playoffs, and win the Norris in his sophomore year. The covid shortened season probably prevented the 80-90 points, and Fox robbed him of the Norris, so I was a year off on that and the dominant playoffs.

I'll take just being right that he's a legit two way defender, not a Karlsson/Barrie type. That narrative just wouldn't die lol.

I did not think he'd score like he does with how little he actually takes the gloves off and goes for offense.

That's what makes him unique, maybe not quite as good defensively as Lidstrom, but not far off and better offensively. Crazy sauce

He appeases the people who will vote the Norris winner in on points (fkn stupid), and the people who think the award is for a defender not a 4th forward.

 

[John Mandalorian]

I'll take just being right that he's a legit two way defender, not a Karlsson/Barrie type. That narrative just wouldn't die lol.

I did not think he'd score like he does with how little he actually takes the gloves off and goes for offense.

That's what makes him unique, maybe not quite as good defensively as Lidstrom, but not far off and better offensively. Crazy sauce

He appeases the people who will vote the Norris winner in on points (fkn stupid), and the people who think the award is for a defender not a 4th forward.

The highlight reel plays don’t hurt. The year he won, there might have been several writers who decided early in the season that it was his to lose after that Dach play against Chicago. “Heisman moment” is a thing. It likely is in the NHL too.

 

[The Merchant]

Avs three points from the top despite their model questioning the depth.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Avs three points from the top despite their model questioning the depth.

A dawg, some leafy green vegetable and a moose will do that for a team.

 

[UncleRisto]

If anyone is curious, our old friend Lauren 2.0 has gone national.

Well, at least it's not the NHL.

Also, Carolina is absolutely not a Cup favorite.

 

[Foppa2118]

From Around The League Thread:

All things old, will be new again.

I never really understood a sports team owning a complete channel. Yes, they get a channel centered around and catering solely to their team, but they then have to fill all the other hours up and since the rest of the stuff is an afterthought it all sucks.

Seems like a better business model would be to start by concentrating and building a profitable channel that also has the rights to the sports team. Barring that, it seems like leasing out the games to either a pre-existing cable channel or OTA network is the way of the future/past.

I think the issue is the content choices of these channels outside the games. Especially the original programming.

For instance, I watch the RedBull app sometimes on AppleTV when I'm bored or just want something on in the background, and it's great IMO.

They fill it up with a bunch of content too, but the production value is really high. Not even the bigger sports like F1 but the smaller sports on there too. Skateboarding, snowboarding, rally, etc.

I'm not even really into video games, or motocross, or BMX, but they have some well done documentaries and good coverage of races and stuff. They benefit from the access to RedBull athletes though.

Perhaps you disagree as an ex Texan, but putting things like the rodeo, or other things with some pretty cookie cutter production isn't the way to grow a channel. It's not interesting enough in this day and age.

They should be looking to fill out their coverage with good original content. It can be anything. Doesn't have to be just the main team they cover. Maybe even coverage of local restaurants, bars, or other entertainment. You can bring in sponsorship money this way too. Just has to be well done, with good cameras, and interesting concepts.

They could have bonus coverage of the teams they cover if they put in the time to produce them. Weekly wrap up shows with interviews and commentary. NHL highlight shows. And if they hire the right people, with all the access they have to the team, they can make some good docs. I work in a similar industry, it's not that hard if you have the kind of access NHL teams have, and hire good people.

 

[UncleRisto]

From Around The League Thread:



I think the issue is the content choices of these channels outside the games. Especially the original programming.

For instance, I watch the RedBull app sometimes on AppleTV when I'm bored or just want something on in the background, and it's great IMO.

They fill it up with a bunch of content too, but the production value is really high. Not even the bigger sports like F1 but the smaller sports on there too. Skateboarding, snowboarding, rally, etc.

I'm not even really into video games, or motocross, or BMX, but they have some well done documentaries and good coverage of races and stuff. They benefit from the access to RedBull athletes though.

Perhaps you disagree as an ex Texan, but putting things like the rodeo, or other things with some pretty cookie cutter production isn't the way to grow a channel. It's not interesting enough in this day and age.

They should be looking to fill out their coverage with good original content. It can be anything. Doesn't have to be just the main team they cover. Maybe even coverage of local restaurants, bars, or other entertainment. You can bring in sponsorship money this way too. Just has to be well done, with good cameras, and interesting concepts.

They could have bonus coverage of the teams they cover if they put in the time to produce them. Weekly wrap up shows with interviews and commentary. NHL highlight shows. And if they hire the right people, with all the access they have to the team, they can make some good docs. I work in a similar industry, it's not that hard if you have the kind of access NHL teams have, and hire good people.

So what all do they have on Altitude besides the live sports? Rodeos and cornhole? Some local kids' sports?

 

[RockLobster]

So what all do they have on Altitude besides the live sports? Rodeos and cornhole? Some local kids' sports?

Altitude has yet to meet an infomercial they haven't loved.

 

[Balthazar]

Avs three points from the top despite their model questioning the depth.

I was expecting being behind the Stars but not the Rags

 

[expatriatedtexan]

From Around The League Thread:



I think the issue is the content choices of these channels outside the games. Especially the original programming.

For instance, I watch the RedBull app sometimes on AppleTV when I'm bored or just want something on in the background, and it's great IMO.

They fill it up with a bunch of content too, but the production value is really high. Not even the bigger sports like F1 but the smaller sports on there too. Skateboarding, snowboarding, rally, etc.

I'm not even really into video games, or motocross, or BMX, but they have some well done documentaries and good coverage of races and stuff. They benefit from the access to RedBull athletes though.

Perhaps you disagree as an ex Texan, but putting things like the rodeo, or other things with some pretty cookie cutter production isn't the way to grow a channel. It's not interesting enough in this day and age.

They should be looking to fill out their coverage with good original content. It can be anything. Doesn't have to be just the main team they cover. Maybe even coverage of local restaurants, bars, or other entertainment. You can bring in sponsorship money this way too. Just has to be well done, with good cameras, and interesting concepts.

They could have bonus coverage of the teams they cover if they put in the time to produce them. Weekly wrap up shows with interviews and commentary. NHL highlight shows. And if they hire the right people, with all the access they have to the team, they can make some good docs. I work in a similar industry, it's not that hard if you have the kind of access NHL teams have, and hire good people.

Oh man, I actually think for a small outfit like Altitude, they should just lease the games to somebody else to air and be done with the headache because it sounds like they are bleeding cash. But if they insist on keeping their own channel, I think they should look for syndicated TV shows that people always watch and they can sell easy advertising for.

Since it sounds like we are going back in time, I'd do some research into TBS. I mean that was the original superstation and they had a solid channel even before they brought the Braves nationwide. They did it with a lot of syndicated TV shows, but it was shows that people would watch and they could easily sell advertising for. Back in the 70s it was stuff like The Rifleman, The Flintstones, Leave it to Beaver, Star Trek, etc. In the 80s they had japanese animated cartoons in the afternoons and cartoons in general on weekend mornings. Obviously, you'd want more contemporary shows and would want to research the broadcast area to determine what demographic you have the best chance at capturing and choose appropriate content. I just haven't ever heard of anyone say anything good about Altitude outside of their Avalanche and Nuggets broadcasts, and we even bicker about the quality of these at times.

At the end of the day, I just don't believe Altitude is long for this world and its folding might not be the worst thing to ever happen.

 

[Foppa2118]

Oh man, I actually think for a small outfit like Altitude, they should just lease the games to somebody else to air and be done with the headache because it sounds like they are bleeding cash. But if they insist on keeping their own channel, I think they should look for syndicated TV shows that people always watch and they can sell easy advertising for.

Since it sounds like we are going back in time, I'd do some research into TBS. I mean that was the original superstation and they had a solid channel even before they brought the Braves nationwide. They did it with a lot of syndicated TV shows, but it was shows that people would watch and they could easily sell advertising for. Back in the 70s it was stuff like The Rifleman, The Flintstones, Leave it to Beaver, Star Trek, etc. In the 80s they had japanese animated cartoons in the afternoons and cartoons in general on weekend mornings. Obviously, you'd want more contemporary shows and would want to research the broadcast area to determine what demographic you have the best chance at capturing and choose appropriate content. I just haven't ever heard of anyone say anything good about Altitude outside of their Avalanche and Nuggets broadcasts, and we even bicker about the quality of these at times.

At the end of the day, I just don't believe Altitude is long for this world and its folding might not be the worst thing to ever happen.

The issue with that IMO would be those syndicated shows don't really fit the vein that Altitude's in. People wouldn't really think to tune in for old TV shows. I think some type of sports content or local/regional content with good production value and good editing would be the way to go.

The 360 shows are good but they can be better and they can have more of that kind of stuff. With lots of different subjects too not just the Avs.

Also the more popular syndicated TV shows aren't that cheap to get the rights to and the budget ones probably wouldn't draw that well. Obviously it's one of the GOAT shows so they wouldn't pay nearly this much, but for reference, Netflix paid $500M for the rights to Seinfeld. A lot of the rights to these shows are also already taken, especially in package deals.

TV's not really what it was either. TBS probably brought in a ton of money back in the day to pay for their content. Altitude needs to keep their costs low on content.

 

[S E P H]

Avs three points from the top despite their model questioning the depth.

- Hurricanes slightly overrated
- Stars slightly overrated
- G. Knights slightly underrated
- Bruins mega overrated
- Wild overrated
- Penguins overrated
- Flames overrated
- Lightning underrated
- Senators overrated
- Canucks overrated
- Kraken underrated
- Predators overrated
- Sabres underrated
- B. Jackets underrated
- Habs underrated

 

[Foppa2118]

Is that Dom's rankings again? What exactly did the Oilers do this off season to make up for last year where they finished with the same 109 points the Avs did and then lost in the second round to be named Cup favorites?

Add a 30 year old Janmark and 29 year old Connor Brown who missed nearly all of last year with ACL surgery?

They have the same exact defnse from last year too. That's their weak point and they didn't address it.

Greg Wyshynski has the Oilers winning the Cup too.

 

[S E P H]

Is that Dom's rankings again? What exactly did the Oilers do this off season to make up for last year where they finished with the same 109 points the Avs did and then lost in the second round to be named Cup favorites?

Add a 30 year old Janmark and 29 year old Connor Brown who missed nearly all of last year with ACL surgery?

They have the same exact defnse from last year too. That's their weak point and they didn't address it.

Greg Wyshynski has the Oilers winning the Cup too.

Did you not hear? Campbell has been the best goaler out of anyone so far this preseason to the point that the Oilers should just automatically bypass the regular season and get the Pacific Division title.

Oh and Connor Brown is becoming a 40 goal scorer because they finally found McDavid a linemate lol.

 

[Richard88]

I was expecting being behind the Stars but not the Rags

Boston is a cup contender this year?

 

[dahrougem2]

Is that Dom's rankings again? What exactly did the Oilers do this off season to make up for last year where they finished with the same 109 points the Avs did and then lost in the second round to be named Cup favorites?

Add a 30 year old Janmark and 29 year old Connor Brown who missed nearly all of last year with ACL surgery?

They have the same exact defnse from last year too. That's their weak point and they didn't address it.

Greg Wyshynski has the Oilers winning the Cup too.

While I agree, they do have Ekholm full time now instead of just post-TDL.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

Changes to NHLN programming. This makes no sense to me. Why flip all their roles?

 

[Balthazar]

Stars slightly overrated

It's pretty much universal outside of this board that they are legit top tier contenders.

 

[sethro109]

It's pretty much universal outside of this board that they are legit top tier contenders.

I still think they have too many old guys playing important roles.

 

[Ararana]

It's pretty much universal outside of this board that they are legit top tier contenders.

We've never seen that before

 

[Pokecheque]

Changes to NHLN programming. This makes no sense to me. Why flip all their roles?

Because Jackie Redmond recently expanded her role with WWE, so she chose to step down from hosting NHL Now.

Should be just fine but that means less LG and Hersch on On the Fly, which is a bummer. I don't really have a chance to watch NHL Now since it's on in the afternoons.

 

[Foppa2118]

It's pretty much universal outside of this board that they are legit top tier contenders.

I think most agree here that Dallas are contenders. It's whether they should be ranked higher than the Avs that's in dispute.