Potential Disaster for the NHL in this Playoff Round?

[Chairman Maouth 97]

It's a real shame what Bettman has done to the marketability of Canadian markets.

I agree that Vancouver would generate 0 interest in the States.

I disagree.

It could be played up as Canada versus America.

When I was a kid the Vancouver Whitecaps played the New York Cosmos for the North American Soccer championship and it was billed that way. It was a very successful series, in Canada (CBC I think) and in the States (ABC).

Besides, this discussion is premature for all teams involved.

Edited May 7, 2009 by One of the Few

[Frozen-Man 144]

When this playoff round began, I thought the best bet for the NHL was to have the Wings, Blackhawks and Bruins advance to the semis. Original 6 teams, big markets and possibly good TV ratings especially with a heated rivalry in there with the Wings and Hawks. I was actually excited at the prospect of such a scenario.

Right now, all 3 of these teams are behind in their series. So I have to wonder, how bad would it be for the league if Carolina, Anaheim and Vancouver advance to the next round?

Can you imagine the TV ratings in the U.S. for a Vancouver vs. Carolina Final? That would be a disaster in my book after the success last year for the NHL having the Wings going against the Penguins.

I know it's still early to tell who's going to advance, but I was wondering if anyone else shares my outlook on this?

Excellent post and great points. I guess all they can hope for if there is a Vancouver / Carolina finals is that it draws in some new fans and expands fan bases but it would definitely be a big blow.

[Taylorov 37]

If Detroit and Boston get eliminated, I'm done.

Edited May 7, 2009 by Taylorov

[pirateasaurus 0]

While i agree that it would be tough on national ratings if a team like carolina made it, i don't think they would make it boring. Carolina has played some thrilling games in these playoffs and their crowd has been pretty good. I think Anaheim has the weakest home crowd of all the playoff games i have seen so far this year and their style doesn't allow for a very fast paced game. Also, given the complete apathy that was shown when they won the cup, i think they would be worthless.

[mjlegend 155]

I disagree.

It could be played up as Canada versus America.

When I was a kid the Vancouver Whitecaps played the New York Cosmos for the North American Soccer championship and it was billed that way. It was a very successful series, in Canada (CBC I think) and in the States (ABC).

Besides, this discussion is premature for all teams involved.

Fine, but you have to realize no one in the US cares about "Canada versus US". If you have to back to an NASL series from almost 30 years ago to find a point in time where Americans gave two s***s about anything not wrapped in the red, white and blue, you're probably reaching too far. For the NHL, marketing hockey to Canadians is a huge waste of resources.

If the NHL wants low ratings, I suggest they continue with the Anaheim-Carolina path. 2-1 games aplenty, just like five of the last six finals.

[TheUkrainian 49]

I've had Wings/Caps on one of my playoff brackets and Wings/Bruins on the other. I think playing the Caps would be more exciting, IMO

[Guest Shoreline]

Theoretically it would be good for marketing, I don't doubt that, but the playoffs aren't about putting the most marketable teams/players into the cup finals. It's about the team that plays the best in the postseason. A Wings fan, of all things, should know this.

[hail2ducks 0]

what a crock, honestly if you want your boys to take the cup again, you better send out the memo to them because obviously they havent gotten it yet!! Do you honestly think the ratings would be any worse then it has been anyways??

[pirateasaurus 0]

what a crock, honestly if you want your boys to take the cup again, you better send out the memo to them because obviously they havent gotten it yet!! Do you honestly think the ratings would be any worse then it has been anyways??

I don't know what you're referring to in this conversation with your first remark but yeah, the ratings could be a HELL of a lot worse.

But like somebody said, it's not about ratings, it's about which team deserves to be there. I would hate to have it be any other way.

[hail2ducks 0]

I don't know what you're referring to in this conversation with your first remark but yeah, the ratings could be a HELL of a lot worse.

But like somebody said, it's not about ratings, it's about which team deserves to be there. I would hate to have it be any other way.

i totally agree with you sir... its all about who deserves to win, not about who is going to get more ratings.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

I disagree.

It could be played up as Canada versus America.

That didn't really work for the "Small market team vs Canadian rep" format that the NHL had going for a few years there. The Wings-Pens series performed much better than any of Ducks-Sens, Oil-Canes, or Flames-Bolts.

With that said, minus the Wings' first round flameout, 2006 was an incredible year to be a fan of good, exciting hockey. Both teams' run to the Finals and the series they had was an epic. Seeing as I'm a hockey fan and not a corporate executive, ratings don't matter much to me at all.

[Chairman Maouth 97]

If the NHL wants low ratings, I suggest they continue with the Anaheim-Carolina path. 2-1 games aplenty, just like five of the last six finals.

What path would you suggest? That they rig the games and become the WWF or WWE or whatever ******* acronym professional wrestling goes by nowadays?

You guys are complaining about potential SCF match-ups at the expense of the credibility of the NHL. Let it all play out as it will. Despite all the crying that goes on in all the NHL forums, I don't honestly think that the referees have orders to favour any NHL team, but if they do, and according to you guys, my team would be on the s***ty end of the stick. If Vancouver meets Detroit in the conference finals I will tolerate NO criticism of the referees from you guys, and I will quote this thread at every opportunity should you do so.

Edited May 7, 2009 by One of the Few

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Ahhh okay. I zoned on that so maybe I am a dumbass.

So sorry GMRwings1983.

No problem. I wasn't insulting you, I was insulting the everyday American who doesn't watch hockey because he can't follow the puck.

Vancouver did give the league good ratings in 1994, but that was an epic final and hockey was more popular then, more so than it is now in the U.S.

The league is still rebounding from the lockout and last year was a good Finals for the NHL. They need to keep up that momentum.

However, as I said in my original post, this is still premature thus we may see the original 6 teams advance. I was just theorizing with this thread as to the possibilities that may occur.

[mjlegend 155]

What path would you suggest? That they rig the games and become the WWF or WWE or whatever ******* acronym professional wrestling goes by nowadays?

I would suggest the league takes the path that doesn't favour a trapping team like Vancouver at the expense of a skilled team. It starts when the officials change what they call from October to May, which as you can see is happening from Colin Campbell on down to lowly lowlifes like Brad Watson.

[Chairman Maouth 97]

No problem. I wasn't insulting you, I was insulting the everyday American who doesn't watch hockey because he can't follow the puck.

Vancouver did give the league good ratings in 1994, but that was an epic final and hockey was more popular then, more so than it is now in the U.S.

The league is still rebounding from the lockout and last year was a good Finals for the NHL. They need to keep up that momentum.

However, as I said in my original post, this is still premature thus we may see the original 6 teams advance. I was just theorizing with this thread as to the possibilities that may occur.

First off, if we combine our member descriptions we are both Total Jerks from Jerkwater USA.

I still think the USA versus America angle could be a good one. But as I suggested in my above post, we need to accept the way everything plays out, because if we don't, the credibility of the NHL is at stake.

[Chairman Maouth 97]

I would suggest the league takes the path that doesn't favour a trapping team like Vancouver at the expense of a skilled team. It starts when the officials change what they call from October to May, which as you can see is happening from Colin Campbell on down to lowly lowlifes like Brad Watson.

Learn what the trap is. Then try again.

Lately, any team that plays a solid defensive game while protecting a lead gets accused of playing the trap by people who have no clue what the trap is.

Edited May 7, 2009 by One of the Few

[NEpats1028 1]

Its lookin' more and more like it could be Vancouver's year. Luongo is playing sick and the Hawks don't have the depth that tha 'Nucks do. A Vancouver - Detroit WCF would do a hell of a lot better than Vancouver - Anaheim. Boston will take care of Carolina, no problem. And a Boston - Washington ECF would do pretty good numbers. The worst possible scenario would be an Anaheim - Carolina SCF... But either DET, VAN or BOS will get there...

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Has anyone watched any Carolina games this playoff? They have been far from boring... f*** the ratings. The NHL still has Pitt/Wash moving to the conference final and those are the two most marketable teams in the league.

It doesn't matter if Carolina is a boring team or not. What matters is that the majority of America doesnt know who the Carolina Hurricanes are, and they could care less about finding out.

[RusDRW 155]

Learn what the trap is. Then try again.

Lately, any team that plays a solid defensive game while protecting a lead gets accused of playing the trap by people who have no clue what the trap is.

You better watch those games. Vancouver is trapping from the game 1. And the franchise they are modeling is not Pittsburgh unfortunately. It is Anaheim.

[thedisappearer 291]

Bottom line is that Bettman needs to make sure the Wings, Blackhawks and Bruins advance.

Yeah, fixing games is the answer. Good call. Viva la NHL!

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Theoretically it would be good for marketing, I don't doubt that, but the playoffs aren't about putting the most marketable teams/players into the cup finals. It's about the team that plays the best in the postseason. A Wings fan, of all things, should know this.

Did you not read the thread title? This is about the NHL. Who gives a s*** what us hardcore hockey fans think. Hardcore hockey fans barely make the NHL break even - and in some years, not even then. The NHL makes their money from grabbing the attention of the casual hockey fan. And no casual hockey fan gives two s***s about who "the best teams in the postseason" are if they're small market teams with players nobody knows.

Of the teams left, the best the NHL can hope for is a Wings/Pens or a Wings/Caps series. The Wings are the biggest draw in the West, and they're also the team that the majority of NHL fans love to see lose, and Crosby/Ovechkin are the two biggest names in hockey right now. Not to mention, the Pens and Caps are getting MAD coverage right now, and that could easily carry over as the winner of that series moves on to the next round (especially if its the Pens).

Anything involving Anaheim or Vancouver facing Carolina is a disaster for the NHL. Boston and Chicago would hold their own.

Edited May 8, 2009 by YoungGuns1340

[Firehawk 305]

Apparently, because Bettman wants there to be parity in the league, that's the kind of finals he's after...a team nobody cares about against another team nobody cares about. That's parity. Any team making it at any point. I hate it. But whatever. I'm probably just spoiled from watching the Red Wings play such top notch hockey...

I swear it's almost like the NHL is trying to vanish.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Yeah, fixing games is the answer. Good call. Viva la NHL!

NBA fans didn't seem to mind seeing the Lakers in the Finals, even if it was fixed in 2002.

[Guest Shoreline]

I dunno why parity is a bad thing. Some people act like Bettman is purposely making s***ty teams play in the finals. Um, the Penguins WERE the best team in the East last year. The Wings WERE the best team in the West last year. Is it because Carolina or Tampa or Anaheim won? People are simply way too jealous about other teams getting recognition for being good. Right now the Ducks are the better team. Entertaining or not, I'd rather the best team win, and whoever pointed out the WWE analogy was right on the money. In just about every occurrence, small market teams helps their market develop. Parity is just a euphemism for being able to win under the cap, and spreading talent around. As we've learned from the Rangers, no amount of talent will compensate for a fundamentally sound team game (i.e. strategy) and effort. But anyways, let's throw out logic here and play the Bettman conspiracy game.

[Guest ToMaToToWnWinGsFaN_24]

i agree with whoever said that its not about the ratings that its about whoever deserves to be there...

its simple , whoever wins the east and west..thats who deserves to be there..

they made it through their rounds ..

its not about how dirty a team is or how long the teams been around that matters..

its whoever gets those 12 wins...