frankgrimes

Great points I think a real rivalry needs hardnosed players and sure guys willing to fight. If both are ready any willing to go and the refs try to get in...well than it's their own fault if they catch some bombs. This league is in the hands I'd the wrong people, a new York based lawyer who has no athletic skills and some owners who feed of of the money from teams like the Wings, Leafs... Less teams would mean playing other teams more often and hopefully developing hatred. Ducks Wings had potential but the real alignment and the decline of the wings killed that. Pens Wings also had potential but that final also saw the beginning of an incredible soft wings roster and two teams trending in different directions. Another sad example is Leafs Senators wtf happened to them ? No fights not even hard hits Right now I'm really having a hard time thinking about the second best rivalry because Pittsburgh versus Philly is head and shoulders above all others. Maybe Bruins versus Habs if Lucic finally decides to play like he did when he broke into the league but other than that a lot of died down rivalries. Which kills a lot of entertainment and makes the sport boring to watch. A rivalry should mean 60 minutes of battle tested war and the highest possible amount of animosity and hatred plus willingness to destroy the other team and sadly only 1 game annually delivers

Yeah their intros are better but Toronto is and always will be Canada's number one that's also why their owners are getting away with a lot of stuff like a crappy product while charging the highest Prices in the league

I really doubt they care much as long as the ratings are through the roof. The average fan might not even know about the outdoor games unless they see those gigantic flyers. How do you turn the average fan into a more interested one by showing them exciting games . As far as the Blues yeah Tarasenko has a great year but Backes is the face of this team. Pietrangelo may not have the best season but this guy will be one if not the best defender in the nhl soon. As for Predsfan well Wild Preds could turn into a nice rivalry because of the owner saga but do both teams have a large enough following ? Also nobody cares about the stadium series so if isn't the overused WC why bother ? Don't get me wrong I'd say the exactly same thing if the Wings would be playing in a SS.

I've t thought the league learned their lesson with the stadium series ? If this would have been a match up 10 years ago wow bur now meh

The Blues biggest star is for sure Alex Pietrangelo and the problem I could see is like you've mentioned whom are you going to play? Hawks have been overused other than them I don't know who's your most hated rival and where would you play it ? I guess the Rams stadium ? I really don't know but I think new teams would be nice but it needs to be a rivalry and at least one team has to have a huge fanbase Oshie is a shootout superstar but I doubt he is a house hold name like mentioned Alex P. Or Backes

Was ist Bob McKenzie ? Rinaldo is in the same ballpark as Carcillo, Cooke and Torres... back to topic if they think their job is to entertain well they've done a marvelous job yesterday that game was entertaining as hell if more games were like that, the NHL would have a great "product". The only better game in recent years has been that famous Pens - Isles on 11 - 2 - 11 game. Well the Flyers were playing like a team that has nothing to lose against their hatred enemy I mean whats the worst outcome ? They lose the game and get closer to McEichel did they go overboard ? Rinaldo of course did but the Flyers didn't even call up Rosehill so it was hardly thuggery in my mind. According to their fans the Flayers aren't playing like that most of the time so their must be something that really gets them going against the Pens and as a fan it's entertaining as hell to watch god I hope they'll meet in the playoffs.

and sadly that's also when excitement comes down more than a few inches I've used to re-watch a lot of games but especially this year most a boring as hell save for the game yesterday obviously.

Even if I don't care about the WC but man Pittsburgh - Philly would for sure be a game to watch.

I*'m on board with that the new NHL has brought so many bad things but the destruction of rivalries is for sure very high on the list of crap. Wednesday "rivalry night" is such a big joke it's like the league doesn't even know and or care what a rivalry really means. Well at least they can just rewatch the game and get a healthy dose of reality. I don't think that forced parity has something to do with it it's just that teams - who used to be huge rivals - aren't playing each other enough in meaningful games so it's hard to develop anger and hatred. The Detroit - Toronto rivalry is as good as done, same goes for Detroit - Colorado Chicago - Detroit was al so pretty meh in terms of excitment. Agreed about the Ducks the games were fun, hard fought but I would have loved seeing us lay down the hammer more on them. I used to think Detroit - Pittsburgh could develop into one but after the last meeting in the finals the games are very mehish

Yeah he is incredible overrated and I'm not sure if his overly aggressive style will work well in the playoffs or after other teams start figuring hin out. Kid got a few games played well for the most part but that's about it.

This would easily rival Washington Chicago for lowest ratings..Wings have been in too many and the Jackets don't have a big enough fan Base

Not really a podcast but Leafs lunch on TSN always has great guests and you can dl it automatically PP is the topdog followed by Marek vs Wysch.

Doesn't look like it. Kadri is just full of it exact opposite of Kessel..and Phaneuf rather blames the fans instead of looking km the mirror. Whoever is in charge there should go full Buffalo and just blow this thing up.

Their Pres is on the way out and for good reason other than disrespect for their history and talking bad about the players he hasn't done anything. Nor has Shanahan oh yeah he hired a math freak and fired Carlyle but that's about it. They need to bring in an experienced hockey guy who is pationed and willing to rebuild this organisation from top to bottom. Burke had experience but made this the Brian Burke show instead of taking a low key approach .. Nonis is taking the low key approach but can't handle Bell and Rogers ..just a mess Ownership should pay the fans for watching that crap

more like the Blackhawks aren't in it they have been in like 3 WCs so far. But man after Wings Leafs, now Bruins Habs the league is running out of original 6 rivalries. Maybe next WC will be Pens Flyers or even better take a year off and restart it with a fresh concept.

Because I and I'm sure GMR too have more important things to do than posting unfunny one liners and act like know it all guys. .just a ******* hint I know some people like soft as butter hockey and then want to punch a rookie for no reason but whatever I already hate the attitude and how overhyped this kid is...there were many reports at the combine alluding to him being cocky and over confident. Can't wait till we draft Lids son to show William that sons can also be classy

At least they've gotten the match up right now add the drop kick Murphies

Tsn talked about the leafs not being tough enough and not standing up for themselves well two guys that can add energy and toughness are sadly in the AHL. Also what's the ******* problem of the media there ? Players must be tired of answering the same questions over and over again. Send us Orr and Kessel both players are heavily underappreciated in Toronto.

The problem with a quote like that it's coming from someone who isn't a hockey guy doesn't respect the tradition of the club and wasn't invested in the leafs before. If he wants to talk about character Leiwekie should look in the mirror..I mean the Guy is on his way out. If Babcock is going to this mess it won't be easy who is the leader? What if players aren't buying in ? Yeah, it might be the best paid job but the scrutiny and mess there really is something else As far as the media goes they are a huge part of why Toronto is getting stunned by so many players it's like 24/7 the whole season. Heck players have to pay others to buy groceries for them because they fear fan reaction after bad games. This is is a town on the verge of running a perennial 30 plus goal scorer out of town. Hard to believe Babcock would prefer that over coaching the best player in hockey or a hardnosed juggernaut like the Blues.

Should be a win and both teams will be happy. With the Oilers playing better the Sabers can cement that 30 spot

Their owners hate each other, still haven't replaced that big mouth VP Leiweke once they do their management structure will become even more confusing. I'm wondering 2 why they haven't thought about Shero the guy knows how to build a winner and isn't afraid of hard decisions. I've read somewhere that Nonis was very happy with the guy in the background and that Tannenbaum plus the Rogers and bell board are meddling with the team operations. If that is true the rebuild should start at the top and not just with the players. Leafs are a classic example of having too many cooks in the kitchen.

They are streaky another much better schedule will come and the leafs play themselves our of a top 5 pick. Whoever is calling the shots should embrace a tank and maybe draft a few more hard working players to give Kessel some help..

Yeah it's tough to predict but especially in the upcoming draft teams will hold on like crazy to their first. don't forget Kessel wasn't even in his prime by then and Burke thought he had a better team than they really were. Personally I'd trade everyone for a top 2 pick this year because it would accelerate the retool period.

Or every other post 2009 game turn to the side hard slapsshot

Fisher doesn't worry me heck not even Weber does because sometimes a reality check can help gms changing their philosophy and I believe another weber snap will do that Lol just tuned in and already 3 zip