frankgrimes

What's wrong with hockey being a white sport? Every sport has a main audience, hockey survived just fine by being a niche sport for a small target group and places with special weather conditions. The problems of the past were trying to put hockey into markets which don't support it. Another problem is the NHL is so focused on supporting non fans and questionable destinations by sacrificing people who are already fans and keeping great owners from icing the best possible roster. The Wings even with a great team might not be as popular as the lions but I think they would at least be a bigger draw then they are right now. As a fan I really hope the move to the east will help in terms of sellouts and regain some of the lost magic,

Wings can be 10% over the cap till the season starts. So plenty of money to sign their own Rfa players. Not buying out Bertuzzi and waiting too long with Samuelson was for sure a mistake but it happened and their is nothing the Wings can do about it now. Let's just hope the Alfredsson signing doesn't bite them in the ... Philly is really impressive they from caphell to caphell, Holmer better is hoping for a huge cap increase otherwise their offseason accompt nothing

I think it's better for espn to just cover the only thing they know and just leave. Hockey alone. I mean even if I were into the other sports their coverage is simply overkill and espn is going the way of MTV. As hockey fans we can be really thankful for TSN and their superb job of covering hockey.

Currently a nice little indiegame called Cube World.

I am not disrespecting other sports, I am just sick of always reading how the media is disrepecting the sport I love, because it isn't mainstream. Why not write about the benefits? There are pros and cons with every sport although the pros aren't mentioned enough when it comes to hockey. Personally I know a lot of the cons when it comes to mainstream sport and some of the stories further proved the point. ESPN can cover whatever they want, but that doesn't mean people have to like their choices. to be honest i have yet to see a reason why being a non mainstream sport justifies such ridiculous media outcry. The funny thing about soccer is attempting the games is more expensive than playing...

Seriously I have never written that, 55fan has already given the correct answer. In hockey one has to pay a certain amount for gear, icetime and club-fees plus workout time in the gym plus fees...after makeing such a commitment dropouts are usually fewer, people get to know their teammates better so it is easier to build a chemistry maybe even friendships. Personally speaking it was much easier for me to build friendships with my hockey or even riding teammates than doing so in soccer. Hockey in my mind is just more of a lowkey let actions instead of words speak type of thing, while soccer and some other bigger sports are more about egos, promoting and starplayers instead of teamwork. It is fine for me if people like that, I certainly do not and after reading some horrible stories about other leagues I am very happy with my choice. So the media and other hocke haters can downplay the sport as much as they want, real fans don't care. What happens when non hockey people are writting about the sport can be seen on sites like the star...Espn used to be a go to source nowadays they aren't worth it if people aren't into the other major leagues.

Well Backstrom is coming off the books some of their younger players might be able to replace the veterans, plus an increasing cap should give them plenty of money. Although I think he is a great player I hope the Wings aen't going after him, because they npeed defense more than everything.

Well it just shows what a great GM Stevie really is, he is building another great roster and selected an unbelievable coaching stuff. Whenever Holland moves up I really hope he will be the next GM of the Wings. Usually I would agree with the pressure situation but keep in mind Russia is playing at home, so they are the ones under enormous pressure and their roster is not as impressive. I think only two teams are having a real chance of beating Canada: Sweden and the USA because their goaltending is better

I think by looking at their impressive top 6 team Canada can easily care some role players such as Lucic. Keep in mind no other tram is going to have an answer for him, this guy will give Canada a lot of options so opponents can't simply focus on the top two lines. Lucic - Getzlaf - Nash would also be an interesting experiment.

As long as the nhl is punishing the result and not the intention plus having double standards, nothing is going to change. If you are playing for one of Bettmans teams you can do everything (even cut the achillies of a great defenseman) , if not the nhl will lay down the banhammer immediately.

I have played a lot of sports too and I must say that Golf is far more expensive than hockey. Also I don't like the fact how the price is always seen as negative, there are also benefits: such as knowing who will be there and more importantly who won't. In sports like soccer and so on you can never be sure and personally I would rather pay more and participate in a good enviroment than having to deal with the questionmarks in terms of teammates. Sadly, these benefits are never mentioned by the hockey haters :-(

sure but I really believe he wants to compete for the cup, so the Wild would have to pull of another Parise like move

Very good point I think people who lovehockey aren‘t watching espn . Personally I couldn't care less about their ratings. As long as tsn is covering Hockey the sport is in good hands.

You can do that with a questionable attitude, like you mentioned if work ethic and skill are still there and you are playing on a good team it is very possible. I mean I do not like the Penguins but Lemieux is the reason why Jagr has become what he is today, so a bit of loyality should have been expected. It may be a personal thing, but I am just having a hard time, taking guys seriously that jump from team to team and do not care about the the icon on the jersey.

Not interested in any of the so called major sports, so TSN all the way Espn can stick to the stupid mainstream crap.

I do not think he is going to sign with Minnesota. There will be alot of teams bidding for his services, Thomas could easily become the biggest free agent 2014. Would not be surprised if the Rangers would be interested in him also.

Me too, I have never been a big fan of him great player but questionable attitude and not a very loyal guy.

Considering how Jags looked in the Playoffs I'd rather have Alfie even at his higher deal. Jagr is just chasing the money which is obviously his right, but rhe Devils are going to be a bottom team this season, so no Playoffs for him.

I really hope that the renewed rivalry with some of the original 6 especially Toronto will help increasing the appeal of this team again. Management needs to build this team with more of a top 6 bottom 6 thinking. Fans love hardworking hardnosed guys and are excited when a team has to offer other things than just skill. I am still confident that the east will help the Wings when it comes to popularity. The Joe is going to be sold out more often, fans from Toronto, Montreal and whatnot like to travel

Well if a guy like Getzlaf is only for fourth line, that's a huge statement in terms of roster quality

Tavares - Crosby - Stamkos Nash - Toews - Giroux Staal - Bergeron - Richards Lucic - Getzlaf - Perry Doughty - Weber Keith - Seabrook Pietrangelo - Letang Luongo Price Crawford Despite goaltending this größter is extremely impressive. The first line means pure magic and the fourth has skill and grit

According to TSN he didn't, but this Larson and Karlson pairing will be hard to contain over 60 minutes thats for sure.

I may be in the minority but I also like watching Golf. For sure it is not as physical demanding as hockey, but you have to be SO focused for a long period of time and knowing the inns and outs of beautiful golf-courses. Although I agree nothing comes to close to hockey and like mentioned, I love the fact that hockey is not mainstream or as popular as soccer, baseball, basketball or football.

Well that could mean, the Isles or Wings are next on his list *lol*

Agreed they are that good in hockey but also a lot of credit has to go to Sweden they are barely 1/3 the size of Canada and are doing an amazing job with developing talent.