98 replies to this topic

[miller76]

I stumbled across this. I guess there was plans by the league to release the 'details' during the expected Pens vs Caps conference final. But Montreal screwed that up for Bettman and his boys.
here's the link

[Barrie]

Another outdoor game involving Pittsburgh?

No thanks Bettman, I'll do something else that day...

Edited by Barrie, 19 May 2010 - 04:14 PM.

[miller76]

This love fest with these two players and teams is getting really old.

[Hockeytown0001]

Ratings gold.

Other than that,

[Jedi]

Ratings gold.

There's your explanation. NHL needs to market itself, and this is probably their biggest stage all year. It makes business sense to put their two biggest names in the same game.

I'll watch it, if for nothing else than there's only one game like this a year. And Go Caps!

[crotty99]

This isn't too surprising, these two teams are an obvious choice for the NHL when it comes to marketing, no matter how we may feel.

If its anything like recent Pens and Caps match ups then this could be an exciting game. I'm looking forward to it.

...having said that, I wouldn't object to something like a Wings and Leafs WC.

[MulesWillFly93]

WC...is that short for 'Wagon Classic? Or possibly We Choked...

Honestly, I think it's a good match-up, and I'm glad the Caps are getting to do it, but I wish they would have let a few more DIFFERENT teams have a turn before they cycled around to the darn Pens again. I mean, if you're going to go with the Caps, the obvious thing to do would be to have them play the Pens, but the timing sure isn't great. We'll only have had 4 of these things after next year, and the Pens will have been in half of them? That's just not right.

In case anybody from Gary's office is listening, I am not going to quit whining until I get my Habs-Leafs WC, just FYI. Whine whine whine.

[SouthernWingsFan]

Pretty much one of my many not happy emotions regarding this. I'd like to see other teams and players marketed outside of these two. And I think other teams should be able to play an outdoor game first before double dipping for seconds is allowed. So sick and tired of seeing and hearing about thou who will not be named, and to a lesser degree Ovechkin. Enough already with shoving them down our throats.

Yes, I get that it will probably be a ratings boom.

Edited by SouthernWingsFan, 19 May 2010 - 05:46 AM.

[stevkrause]

With all the teams yet to participate, this is ridiculous that Pit gets a second one... with the way things are shaping up in the playoff's this year, they should have done like a Montreal v. _insert opponent here_ game...

Maybe Montreal v. Washington...

either way... I will not watch this year if Pit is involved again.

[b.shanafan14]

Really? All the teams that haven't gotten a Winter Classic showing and Pittsburgh gets 2 of what will be 4 (5 if your count Heritage)? God, I hate the NHL more and more each day.

Ratings boom for sure, but what we're really seeing is another example of the NHL's M.O.: fans of hockey are going to hate this between the overhyped Penguins going in there twice in 4 years and the months of Sidney Crosby vs. Alexander Ovechkin exploitation they are already strangled by, BUT we might get a few NBA fans to watch!

In other words, screw hockey fans, we've done worse, we're going after the NBA crowd! In fact, is it cool if we just trade fanbases, NBA?

[edicius]

Ugh. Guess I won't be watching the 2011 WC. Good job, Bettman. You're not attracting new fans and you're driving current ones away.

[Lidstrom for life]

Well the thing is yes this will get big ratings BUT in the long run the NHL is hurting itself. It should be using this opportunity to showcase other star players. The NHL is gambling that either Pittsburgh or Washington is going to win the east every year. That didn't happen this year so it will be interesting to see what kind of ratings the SCF gets because most casual sports fans won't care about the game if Crosby and Ovechkin are out because those are the only two players they know anything about.

[cusimano_brothers]

Nice venue.

[toby91_ca]

This love fest with these two players and teams is getting really old.

I can understand the issue most people have with the constant promotion of Crosby and Ovechkin, but I think people need to step back and appreciate just how good these players are.

As of right now (I know numbers could decline, but both are still years away from their primes):

Career points per game leaders in NHL history:

Gretzky - 1.921
Lemieux - 1.883
Bossy - 1.497
Orr - 1.393
Crosby - 1.364
Ovechkin - 1.336
Dionne - 1.314

Pretty impressive group to be included within. Again, over the long haul, their stats may begin to lag, but it is also important to point out that all the others on this list played in a much higher scorer era than today's NHL. While they have tried to increase scoring, scoring is still low and goalies are lightyears ahead of where they used to be.

People need to understand that these players are special and if the NHL doesn't market them as such, they are missing out. To NHL fans of other teams, it gets annoying, but I do think these guys draw in new fans.

[cusimano_brothers]

They should mix it up and play the game at night.

[edicius]

People need to understand that these players are special and if the NHL doesn't market them as such, they are missing out. To NHL fans of other teams, it gets annoying, but I do think these guys draw in new fans.

Sure does.

[egroen]

I can understand the issue most people have with the constant promotion of Crosby and Ovechkin, but I think people need to step back and appreciate just how good these players are.

As of right now (I know numbers could decline, but both are still years away from their primes):

Career points per game leaders in NHL history:

Gretzky - 1.921
Lemieux - 1.883
Bossy - 1.497
Orr - 1.393
Crosby - 1.364
Ovechkin - 1.336
Dionne - 1.314

Pretty impressive group to be included within. Again, over the long haul, their stats may begin to lag, but it is also important to point out that all the others on this list played in a much higher scorer era than today's NHL. While they have tried to increase scoring, scoring is still low and goalies are lightyears ahead of where they used to be.

People need to understand that these players are special and if the NHL doesn't market them as such, they are missing out. To NHL fans of other teams, it gets annoying, but I do think these guys draw in new fans.

For first 5 seasons:

2.33 Gretzky
1.94 Lemieux
1.81 Malone
1.69 Lalonde
1.56 Deneny
1.53 Stastny
1.49 Bossy
1.47 Lindros
1.42 Nighbor
1.41 Kurri
1.36 Trottier
1.36 Crosby
1.34 Selanne
1.34 Ovechkin

1.23 Malkin (4 seasons)

Once again reminded me how much of a stud Lindros was -- 1.47 PPG in the deadpuck era is far more impressive than Ovechkin and Crosby right now. So is Forsberg's 1.28 and Kariya's 1.25 PPG.

Interestingly, amongst forwards primes are often over by the age of 25.

Edited by egroen, 19 May 2010 - 08:40 AM.

[Opie]

To repeat the best answer to this post so far:

Ratings Gold!!

The NHL has a smaller fan base than the NBA, they need to draw fans to young superstar players.

As a Wings Fan I am instantly jealous and say fine in 11-12 I want Wings v Toronto at the Big House.

But the realist in me kicks in and realizes old glory (as in teams winning forever) does not bring in new fans, exposing teams that were bad and are now good, especially if that is because they have superstar talent is a smart Marketing move. Then you factor in that AO had issues with Malkin, does not appear to like Sidney Crosby, this has all the makings of a rivalry.

The NHL would be stupid not to put these guys on display every chance they get.

Listen when has national TV coverage ever been even, I can't remember a time in any sport where certain teams (based on winning, star players, whatever) didn't get the most coverage.

Hell the NFL bases their Monday night lineup on how you finish the season ranked.

Super bowl winner I believe gets 4 MNF, runner up gets 3, blah blah blah.

That is based on winning, but then again NFL is one of the top 3 sports in the world (Formula one/racing, soccer/futbol), it can afford to put whomever it wants where and when it wants. The NHL on the other hand needs to spend time growing the sport.

And I know all of the stats that say the league has grown a fan base over the past 6-7 years, sure but shining a dog turd doesn't change the fact that it is your least favorite part of your dog!

And that the NHL is still the least popular Major sport in NA (well maybe not Canada, that may have been an exaggeration), not including MLS and Poker. (Poker was a joke)

[puckloo39]

The NHL would be stupid not to put these guys on display every chance they get.

Sorry, Opie, they're still stupid. I am a fan, and I won't be watching this.

[vladdy16]

Sure does.

Slutty puckbunnies don't count as fans. I don't care about the whole marketing thing - if I were one of the 26 teams that hadn't been in the WC yet, I'd be fuming. This had better draw in some new fans, because a lot of current fans apparently won't be watching. Count me as one of those changing my oil or washing my hair during this one.