News from Around the AHL/NHL/KHL 2023-24

[MJF]

From the useless fact pages
Mike Gartner scored the first goal of the game in the Easter Epic..

Where were all of you on that day ? I remember like it was yesterday . Hicksville Ground Round from pre game to post game . LGI

I was at Capital Centre.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

Loved Ground Round. Free popcorn right?

I was at in-laws most of day. Listened to the overtimes on radio

Thanks to the corruption of borough presidents, believe it or not, I had no access to cable then

Same. My building didn't get wired for cable until 1992. listened to the Easter Epic on my little yellow transistor radio.

I was at Capital Centre.

mic drop. You win.

 

[JKP]

Re: Lehner

For those getting giddy, please remember that the absolute KEY to Lou's plan to see this team back in the conference finals is having a 1A and 1B in goal. That is something we currently have and roughly 80% of the league does not.

Throw in Varlamov's apparent "Russian role model" role for Sorokin, which only gets bigger now that Romanov is here and will be living Stateside for the first time, and well it should be seen as an absolute pipe dream that Varlamov will be moved.

If we're out of the playoff picture by the trade deadline, then you can bet your bottom dollar that Varlamov - who is an upcoming UFA - will be available. But not beforehand.

Varley also has a 16 team no trade list, so even if you wanted to move him (which I agree Lou has no desire to), it might be hard given half the market would be unavailable.

 

[saintunspecified]

Varley also has a 16 team no trade list, so even if you wanted to move him (which I agree Lou has no desire to), it might be hard given half the market would be unavailable.

He lives in TX during the offseason, knows the southwest, so it seems pretty unlikely to me that LV would be on the NTC list. I believe there were rumblings during the deadline that he wouldn't accept a trade to Edmonton.

I think a much bigger issue is that NYI would need a goalie back, and I don't think Laurent Brossoit is going to do it for NYI, at least not without a significant addition. I mean, obviously I'd do it for Hague or a 1st, but I don't think they do. I don't think it's a fit.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Looks like Komarov is heading to Sweden for the upcoming season:

 

[JKP]

He lives in TX during the offseason, knows the southwest, so it seems pretty unlikely to me that LV would be on the NTC list. I believe there were rumblings during the deadline that he wouldn't accept a trade to Edmonton.

I think a much bigger issue is that NYI would need a goalie back, and I don't think Laurent Brossoit is going to do it for NYI, at least not without a significant addition. I mean, obviously I'd do it for Hague or a 1st, but I don't think they do. I don't think it's a fit.

The way LV treated Flower and then Lehner at the end of last year tells me the exact opposite. Geography matters way less than how an organization treats people (esp goalies, in this case).

Looks like Komarov is heading to Sweden for the upcoming season: View attachment 576529

there goes our chance to get that elite winger for Barzy......

 

[Mike C]

I was at Capital Centre.

Wow!

 

[Mike C]

Buckley's on Nostrand Ave Brooklyn.

One of my college haunts. Pitchers of brewski and AWESOME roast beef sandwiches!

Had some tremendously memorable times there!

 

[BrockLobster]

Same. My building didn't get wired for cable until 1992. listened to the Easter Epic on my little yellow transistor radio.

Me too! I was 13 listening under my covers.

 

[Mike C]

Me too! I was 13 listening under my covers.

I was 27 doing the same!

 

[19 in a row]

I was 27 doing the same!

In one of my more embarrassing admissions.I missed most of the Easter Epic game but did hear the goal on the radio. Sophomore in college home on easter break. Girls we hung out with had arranged for our group of 20 or so to all go bowling (yes bowling, I think it was Pequa lanes), pregamed at a friend's who didnt have cable so heard the first period on.a radio in his basement, game was still on when we got back so heard the goal on the radio. And no I did not get lucky that night. oh well.

 

[Big L]

Why is there almost no one in the seats at the WJCs?

 

[Mike C]

Why is there almost no one in the seats at the WJCs?

Where is it being held?

Maybe Covid restrictions?

 

[Sparksrus3]

Why is there almost no one in the seats at the WJCs?

Will be good for our prospects . Simulates any weeknight home game December-February

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Where is it being held?

Maybe Covid restrictions?

It's in Canada, so there's likely Covid restrictions involved. In fact, I think there's a huge sign over the front doors stating that you have to be double vaccinated to get in.

The tourney is taking place in Edmonton and Red Deer. The Team Canada games SHOULD be sold out, even in the summer. I do not believe they have been although they are clearly the fullest games. Logically.

But the other teams, even Team USA, are drawing next to nobody. I haven't seen the official stats, but I have watched parts of just about every game and all of the Team USA and Germany games. You could clearly see that hardly a soul was in there.

I do not know what the ticket prices are. Naturally, this is one of the biggest summer and vacation months of the year, if not the biggest.

One way or the other, the event is not being particularly well-visited.

The next WJC is scheduled as normal right after Christmas and will take place in.... either Nova Scotia or P.E:I. Somewhere in the maritimes.

I can say that the IIHF traditionally loves having this tournament held in Canada because it simply draws the best crowds there. After that, the best crowds come when it's held in Russia, but the viewing times in North America are fairly awful. And obviously, no tourney will be held there anytime soon.

As such, the IIHF is aware that Canada's Covid policies ultimately exclude a certain amount of possible on-site attendants. At the U18s in Germany in April, there were no Covid-related restrictions. Not even masks were required. It could have just been luck, but not one team was particularly or heavily effected by Covid-related issues. No games were cancelled or postponed. The tourney was widely seen as problem-free. And even though Germany was out early, the playoffs and medal games were still drawing 1.5 to 2 k per game, with the bronze and gold medal games pulling in the best attendance. Which isn't half bad for a country that is neither hockey crazy nor a site that is all that big (the arena can only fit roughly 2.8 k, all standing spots included).

Just food for thought.

 

[Big L]

Where is it being held?

Maybe Covid restrictions?

Edmonton

It's in Canada, so there's likely Covid restrictions involved. In fact, I think there's a huge sign over the front doors stating that you have to be double vaccinated to get in.

The tourney is taking place in Edmonton and Red Deer. The Team Canada games SHOULD be sold out, even in the summer. I do not believe they have been although they are clearly the fullest games. Logically.

But the other teams, even Team USA, are drawing next to nobody. I haven't seen the official stats, but I have watched parts of just about every game and all of the Team USA and Germany games. You could clearly see that hardly a soul was in there.

I do not know what the ticket prices are. Naturally, this is one of the biggest summer and vacation months of the year, if not the biggest.

One way or the other, the event is not being particularly well-visited.

The next WJC is scheduled as normal right after Christmas and will take place in.... either Nova Scotia or P.E:I. Somewhere in the maritimes.

I can say that the IIHF traditionally loves having this tournament held in Canada because it simply draws the best crowds there. After that, the best crowds come when it's held in Russia, but the viewing times in North America are fairly awful. And obviously, no tourney will be held there anytime soon.

As such, the IIHF is aware that Canada's Covid policies ultimately exclude a certain amount of possible on-site attendants. At the U18s in Germany in April, there were no Covid-related restrictions. Not even masks were required. It could have just been luck, but not one team was particularly or heavily effected by Covid-related issues. No games were cancelled or postponed. The tourney was widely seen as problem-free. And even though Germany was out early, the playoffs and medal games were still drawing 1.5 to 2 k per game, with the bronze and gold medal games pulling in the best attendance. Which isn't half bad for a country that is neither hockey crazy nor a site that is all that big (the arena can only fit roughly 2.8 k, all standing spots included).

Just food for thought.

I though Canada had relaxed the Covid restrictions, but I really don’t know if they did or not. Definitely odd though that theres only like 46 people attending the games.

 

[NC 1972]

Why is there almost no one in the seats at the WJCs?

Because soon the snow's will be coming and warm sunny days in Edmonton will soon be a memory.

 

[Bones45]

Because soon the snow's will be coming and warm sunny days in Edmonton will soon be a memory.

I'm still cold from my trip to Edmonton in 2003.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

I though Canada had relaxed the Covid restrictions, but I really don’t know if they did or not. Definitely odd though that theres only like 46 people attending the games.

I'm not sure to what degree Covid restrictions have been relaxed. I also don't know how much authority the provinces have over what's coming out of Ottawa.

My impression is that Canada continues to be one of the "stricter" of the world's representative democracies at this point in the Covid game.

As mentioned, TSN has shown pictures of the stadium from the outside (I think it was the Rogers Center in Edmonton) and there was a huge sign over the doors at the entrance stating that one must be double vaccinated to enter the building.

 

[danteipp]

Because soon the snow's will be coming and warm sunny days in Edmonton will soon be a memory.

I was going to say, isn't this like their two weeks of summer?

 

[JKP]

I'm not sure to what degree Covid restrictions have been relaxed. I also don't know how much authority the provinces have over what's coming out of Ottawa.

My impression is that Canada continues to be one of the "stricter" of the world's representative democracies at this point in the Covid game.

As mentioned, TSN has shown pictures of the stadium from the outside (I think it was the Rogers Center in Edmonton) and there was a huge sign over the doors at the entrance stating that one must be double vaccinated to enter the building.

Provinces have all the authority except over national entry and federal transportation.

There are no vaxx requirements to normal shopping, events, etc currently in most provinces.

The vaxx reqs are only at the border now and to fly/take a train.

Not sure why attendance looks spotty. Can only assume it’s summer and when you have two good NHL teams, folks care less.

I would expect much bigger crowds when it’s hosted here this winter. Smaller building and we only have a Q team and over Christmas time.

 

[The Lighthouse]

Provinces have all the authority except over national entry and federal transportation.

There are no vaxx requirements to normal shopping, events, etc currently in most provinces.

The vaxx reqs are only at the border now and to fly/take a train.

Not sure why attendance looks spotty. Can only assume it’s summer and when you have two good NHL teams, folks care less.

I would expect much bigger crowds when it’s hosted here this winter. Smaller building and we only have a Q team and over Christmas time.

Yup, restrictions don't seem to be a prime factor here.

Restrictions may be gone, but 2022 world juniors feels like ‘bubble’ tournament

Empty arena gives world junior tournament ‘bubble’ feel

www.theglobeandmail.com

 

[Big L]

2022 World Junior Championship: Where is the Crowd? - The Hockey Writers Latest News, Analysis & More

The rescheduled 2022 World Junior Championship has a major issue with low attendance through the first few days, why exactly is that?

thehockeywriters.com

Yeah doesn’t seem like Covid restrictions are the issue. Timing (summer) and people/advertisers really pissed at Hockey Canada.

 

[Hunn]

Poor Josh, his timing is always wrong, even when moving to Siberia.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

Poor Josh, his timing is always wrong, even when moving to Siberia.

This guy is a turd. People make their own decisions.