evilmrt

I'm not sure you know what you're talking about when you say "Its not a good time to be a Coyote fan" in regards to Wayne stepping down. GOOD RIDDANCE, he was totally and completely inept on the bench, and this is a GREAT thing for this team. Guess what? I was happy enough that I just bought tickets to opening night. GOODBYE GRETZKY AND DONT EVER SHOW YOUR FACE BEHIND THE BENCH AGAIN!

HAHAHAHAHA GRETZKY CONFERENCE!!!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

This is a good thread since I dumped Directv recently. I was looking at Gamecenter, but it looks like Hockeystreams has a couple of advantages. One, from what I can tell, the playoff coverage was horrible last season on Gamecenter. Second, it looks like Hockeystreams has better quality HD-like streams. What sort of bandwidth do you need for these high quality streams? I've got a 6mb connection. How reliable are they? Also for Gamecenter...are the games in 16:9 widescreen or what? I've got the computer hooked up to an hdtv, yes. Thanks.

Almost anyone would be an upgrade over Gabby's fragility. Havlat is soft, but still an improvement

HAHAHA I'm sure that Minnesota is glad they dumped this joker...Havlat is an upgrade over this fragile player. Even though the Wild didn't do much in the offseason, that was a nice move....along with throwing out the entire coaching and front office staff

Well, I cancelled Directv and am going to attempt to go online-only. Hooked up the Mac Mini to the HDTV and its working great. Now what about NHL Gamecenter? Is it worth the money?

Wow, this is retarded. The Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, is a moron when it comes to border issues with our cousin, ally, and largest trading partner to the north. Earlier this year she mistakenly said the 9/11 hijackers came into the US through the Canadian border (obviously untrue). She also announced that the US was going to start treating the northern border with Canada just like the southern one with Mexico, because it wouldn't be fair to play favorites. Later she admitted that she had never been to the Canadian border at all. CBC article I really feel for the Canadian sports teams! This is rediculous and completely unreasonable...but you know, the Vancouver Canucks might be wacko terrorists

No, its poor decision-making by Bettman and other NHL executives. When you're managing a top tier pro sports league, you do NOT want to have the majority of your national programming on a network that is owned by a cable tv provider. Anyone that has any kind of business sense would know that conflicts would pop up between TV providers concerning said channel (Versus). Now the league looks even more pathetic, because Comcast is controlling its national programming through a dispute with a COMPETITOR. This would be like the NFL being exclusive to FOX, and lets assume FOX was owned by Dish Network. Would you REALLY want to enter into an agreement like that, knowing that there is a possibility that the channel owner competes with other tv providers? No, because that is an unreasonable risk to lose major chunks of homes, literally millions in this case, from your potential viewing audience. Instead, Bettman should have sought out a more neutral channel, as this would be safer in the long run. TBS or FX would be good, safe choices, as they are owned by broadcasting companies, not TV providers.

Wow, check this out on directv's site...also I like the message on channel 603 currently...anyone with DTV should check it out, its hilarious. Directv's statement on Versus Now was it intelligent for the NHL to go with a channel that was owned by a cable provider? Are you telling me they never imagined this happening?

Wow, the NHL looks lamer and lamer all the time. First they were dropped by ESPN and went to the "Outdoor Life Network" aka the redneck channel, now said (renamed) channel gets dropped from 18 million homes. I'm not sure how you cant blame Bettman for something like this, but go ahead and try. Also, DirecTV can suck it, I'm cancelling soon when the contract is up. Streaming it is then?

HAHAHA I LOVE IT! Now post it in a chicago forum and watch them go nuts!

Well, I have a couple of issues with this survey and the conclusions drawn from it. Concerning a high percentage of immigrants in Toronto = low hockey interest, how do you explain Vancouver then? Hongcouver has a large number of immigrants as well, and still they seem to be retaining alot of hockey interest. And then secondly, from my own experience with Toronto's immigrant population, the second generation kids really do get into hockey. I think the problem is that the NHL doesn't reach out to the 1st gen immigrants, who seem much more interested in watching basketball. But then the NHL seems totally inept at reaching out to Americans, so why should I even bother?

Well, it looks like Balsillie is back in the game, folks: Arizona Republic I wish I could have been there to see Bettman's face after the judge ruled this!!!!

Agreed. Balsillie did not take a tactful and smart approach to this at all. Ice Edge Holdings seems to be picking up on this, as they will probably be in great position to move the Coyotes to Canada (Western Canada, though?) through making an ATTEMPT to succeed in Phoenix, which we all know is virtually doomed to failure with all that has happened. I'm not sure what the deal with Saskatoon is...maybe just to make it look harmless enough, and then put them back in Winnipeg (or even Ontario). My issue with Bettman and the BOG is how they justify throwing profits from other teams at a sinking ship? Like you said, under the typical business model, the Coyotes would be cut loose. How does propping up the Phoenix Coyotes benefit Ilitch?

Hmm, this DOES seems like a Sammy-esqe signing. I like it, plus this means we have no room for Williams. YEAH!

I think this is something worth looking into, but I think Zherdev will probably just go to the KHL as well, since he can get even more money there.

So are we going to see some of the younger guys like Sebastien Piche and Max Nicastro playing for Toledo? These are younger guys who are in the QMJHL and USHL respectively. The ECHL is a step up over those leagues...or are they not even ready for that yet? I, for one, would especially like to see Piche take a step closer to Detroit in the prospect system.

Interesting take on the whole KHL league head saying this and that and nobody expecting it to be true. One thing that I think WILL be true is that since the IIHF will not approve of this defection/poaching, he will not be cleared for international play, correct? So then its no Olympic/Worlds for Jiri?

Unsurprising news, everyone knew the NHL heavily favored the Reinsdorf bid. On the other hand, they left the door wide open for the LeBlanc bid (is this the one that would have them playing some games in Saskatoon or Halifax???). If it has to be one of these two, I'm going to hope its Reinsdorf, for three reasons. First, and most importantly, Wayne Gretzky will NOT be back. Second, he has a reputation for having good business sense. And thirdly, NONE OF THE RIDICULOUS SASKATOON B.S. !!!!! Not likely that a turn-around will happen in the desert for the Coyotes, but the odds improve when Wayne stops pretending to be a coach.

Uh, if this is true, then I really think Holland should retire and let Stevie run the show in 1 or 2 seasons. After sitting around in the Wings front office all this time, learning from some experienced guys (including Bowman before he left), and finally being chosen to run Team Canada, I really think its going to be his time soon. For Holland's sake, I hope this 2.5 million story isn't true. Wow does it look bad.

Based on his recent production (28 points in 07-08 and 20 points in 08-09), I am not sure hes in a position to command the "salary he would want". Plus, hes still on the market this late in the FA game. A player like this will be taken for a bargain, that is, if you think he has any potential. I think he'd be worth taking a chance on IF Hudler goes to Russia, and Holland cannot sign a gritty forward that can score as well. Max would improve greatly in the Wings' system.

Jiri Hudler is an idiot, and has a moron for an agent. Now there is virtually no way he will be going to the KHL....its either sign and play for the Wings or be traded in the NHL for picks/prospects/whatever. The only way I see him going to Dynamo is if he and Kenny work out some kind of agreement for a future contract? This would likely be verbal-only and seems completely unlikely. Also people complaining about this stopping us from making moves on UFAs....we don't have to worry about it in this situation. He will likely be traded (seriously, who wants him around after this?), and then we get assets that are not on the FA market anyhow. Like I asked before, who is in a position to take Hudler (and has something worthwhile to give)?

Thank you for actually having some sense, unlike all these people that are over-emotional and just want him gone. It would be a damned shame to not get something out of this. So if he signs for 4 mil, what sort of takers do you guys see? Toronto? Phoenix?

With all due respect, why are you posting anything Eklund says here? LGWers know better than to believe the crap he posts.

Maybe in Canada? The recession started here in Dec 2007. (So says the National Bureau of Economic Research) I would have to say that this scumball shouldn't get a raise even if it was the 1950s and everything was booming like crazy. Hes worthless.