NHL 2005-06

[Morgbug]

This might look familiar for you Ian:

1967[/color]

 

Anyone of you Canucks heard about this???

http://www.thevancouverite.com/vancouver_news/awful_dan_cloutier_rumors/

This sounds pretty awful if it turns out to be true.

There's nothing in the mainstream media Jason and Canada doesn't have the same reverance for athletes, even hockey players, that the US does.  I talked to my dad who lives in Vancouver and there's been nothing reported out there.  I'm sure it could possibly be true, but it should be all over the media if it were. 

[Rob]

I'd think something like that would have been picked up by somebody - even if they reported it as a rumor - if there was anything to it.

[Rob]

I have an exciting announcement to make.  After 2 years with no satellite capabilities at my building, I was finally able to get Direct T.V. this weekend.  Which means I finally get OLN.

Which means that in 20 miuntes, I'll be watching my first Lightning game of the year.

I'll also be going to see them on Friday when they come to town to play the Stars.

I'm very excited.

[Holographic Elvis]

No need to provide a link cause I saw 3 of 4 on Spawn.com but Ziggy Palffy has retired effective immediately. 

[Jesse James]

It's weird here right now...  There's big headlines in the paper saying the Pens are for sale, Lemieux's denying that but making it strongly known that they're ONLY going to stay if the Pens get the (increasingly important) Slots Gambling License...  That or they head off to Sin City.

Which makes sense in every way, I can't argue with that really and the Mellon (Civic) Arena is old and ******.  Hell it leaked on an NCAA game the other day (it has I believe the largest retractable roof in the world, and I've been there on the really REALLY odd occassion it was opened for a Roller HOckeyc game eons ago, and it is cool but rarely ever used).  Pittsburgh has to **** or get off the pot (and the state of PA more to the pint, and Rendel and the state control who gets that gambling license in Pitt), and the Pens need that license...  The Steelers and Pirates got individual stadiums they really didn't need individually, but because neither would cooperate they got their own digs.  PNC's pretty but the Pirates suck worse than the Pens if you ask me, and deserved it less.

I'm hoping they get their arena so I have hockey here to go to for a while.  Watched ag ame tonight and really it's sad because things just don't go their way.  they play well, but a bad call or bounce goes against hte Pens and all hell breaks loose with less than 5 minutes to go.  It's sad, and that's been their season.  If they can weather this year, get their new arena, then I think they can come out as a better team next year.

The new head coach has said there's tons of internal problems with the team.  Guys who blatantly don't care...  He's working to eliminate that, however I think some older guys may be to blame there and they're just not naming names...  I'm wagering it's ugly with some guys who think they don't have to work hard, and then we have this AMAZING young team waiting to just be let loose...  I think some of the old guys are anchors though holding them back.  Hockey fans in this city are just sitting back and waiting to see what happens.

Right now, it's all Pittsburgh Steelers in town though.  You can't imagine how it's taken over unless you were here.  Our news teams are almost all doing Denver stories...  Last week almost the entire News world from Pitt had gone to Indy to report...  Even the regular anchors were just doing their show out there.  It was weird.

Anyway, watched the Pens drop a game where they played GREAT but a goal got claled back they should've gotten that, I believe, would've turned the game's tide toward the Pens right at the end.  Stuff like that is the Pens season this year.  It's depressing as a fan, but you stick by and hope for the best and move on.

[Morgbug]

Pens are expected to officially announce the firing of their head coach Ed Olczyk and his staff.  Not surprising given they've lost 8 of their last 9.

A big issue right now with the team though is that Le Clair and Recchi are supposedly trying to do the coaching instead of listening to what they're told.  Dunno how long that **** can go with ANY coach and a team actually wins, but whatever.  I like to think this'll fix things but I doubt it...

Also talk of the Pens getting their arena is up one week, down the next...  One dickhole writer in Pittsburgh is saying that the lock issue of the Slots license going to Lemieux's group isn't going to happen because the used condom that owns the "Station Square" complex in Pittsburgh contributed tot he governor's campaign...  However I like to hope somehow that the deal's going to still work out in favor of Lemieux, especially since uptown NEEDS the slots license more than Station Square does which is already a hotspot for nightlife...  Uptown's too close to the Hill District and as such it's not got much to attract people to it...  A Casino though would do that.

I wish we had gambling ont he water here, Pittsburgh would benefit so much from gambling revenue that way and it'd be a major draw for our city, but alas that seems unlikely to happen ever.  The Slots thing had people getting all up in arms.   

Can you say Winnipeg Penguins?  I knew ya could.

 

[Jesse James]

 

[Morgbug]

Aw, don't worry Jesse, they'll never come here.  As much as I'd like them to (I'd buy season tickets tomorrow if they made the announcement) it's just not likely.  I think they might end up leaving Pittsburgh (though Lemieux on the news last night was steadfast the team wasn't going to Quebec City, Winnipeg or anywhere else) but I just don't see us getting the team.  The most likely group of owners here owns the Moose already (AHL, Canucks farm team) and it's actually a profitable business.  They usually leave the upper deck of the new arena closed and almost always sell out the lower bowl (just under 9000).  When they do open the upper bowl (on a game by game decision basis) they tend to sell it out well, so they have a really good handle on the market.  One of the prospective owners said they're looking at it, but the economics of the league haven't changed that much.  They also indicated that Edmonton, a similar sized market, might not being doing as well as everyone thinks

That said Bettman hates Winnipeg.  It doesn't fit really well with a lot of the divisions, though I can't see how you can really say that about Winnipeg and not say it about Minnesota as well, it's only one hour of extra flying time.  It is a small market, like Edmonton.  And there are lots of other cities clamouring for a franchise, or so the NHL would lead us to believe.  I think we deserve it, I think we'd support it and I think with the collective bargaining agreement/salary cap and an improved Canadian dollar we can handle it.  I just don't think they'll come here.  I think Ohio needs another team

[JesseVader08]

That said Bettman hates Winnipeg. 

First time I've ever agreed with Bettman.

[Morgbug]

This from Buttfuck, Saskatchewan  

Lemme guess, you prefer Calgary   Good luck buying a house. 

Either way, rest assured Saskatchewan will never see anything of consequence

[Jeff]

It doesn't fit really well with a lot of the divisions, though I can't see how you can really say that about Winnipeg and not say it about Minnesota as well, it's only one hour of extra flying time. 

I feel for ya.  Here's how I'd handle it.  I'd move the Penguins to Winnipeg (sorry Jesse).

First thing I'd do is re-name them.  I wouldn't go back to Jets, but I'd pick something else... how about the Winnipeg Wendigos?  Maybe the Winnipeg "Suck it Bettman"s?


Anyway, I'd stick them in the Northwest Division with us.  Then, I'd move around some other teams to make it all work.  It'd look a little something like this:


ATLANTIC
Philadelphia
NY Rangers
New Jersey
NY Islanders
Columbus* (takes Pittsburgh's place out east)

CENTRAL
Detroit
Dallas* (takes Columbus' place)
Nashville
Chicago
St. Louis

PACIFIC
Los Angeles
Anaheim
Phoenix
San Jose
Vancouver* (takes Dallas' place)

NORTHWEST
Calgary
Colorado
Edmonton
Minnesota
Winnipeg*(take's Vancouver's place)



If they did move the Pens west to Vegas, they'd have to do some re-arranging too (probably very similar to what I have listed only minus the Vancouver move since Vegas would just take the place of the displaced Stars) so why not just go all the way and right a long gone wrong for Winnipeg? 

Then, in a few years, after Pittsburg has learned from it's mistake and put in gambling and a new arena, they can have the Oilers because they'll be ready to go and all the changes/moves can be reversed...   

[JesseVader08]

Either way, rest assured Saskatchewan will never see anything of consequence

Exactly why I'm leaving this hole. 

Jeff, I like how you've rearranged the divisions for a move to Winnipeg (ok, fine, it's a smart move Brent  ).  I realize a lot of southern cities have been successful with hockey teams, but Vegas just doesn't seem right to me. 

[Mikey D]

Jeff, you missed almost a whole division: 

Boston (suprised Jesse didn't catch this)
Tampa Bay
Ottawa
Toronto
Montreal

[Jeff]

Jeff, you missed almost a whole division: 

Oh, sorry.  I left out the other two because I didn't make any changes to them...

NORTHEAST
Ottawa
Buffalo
Toronto
Montreal
Boston

SOUTHEAST
Carolina
Atlanta
Tampa Bay
Florida
Washington

[Jesse James]

The Pens aren't playing well but I DON'T agree with your moving them Jeff because they had a sell-out streak just end not too long ago.

Wrost team in the NHL selling out (even a ****** arena), so I think moving them is a huge negative to the city and to the NHL where they'd go to either a market the NHL doesn't seemt o favor (Canada, for whatever reason), or one where it's completely unproven...

THe Slots license and new arena thing isn't a few years away either, it's like now...  They want to put the arena up as they tear the current one down, and do so quickly I guess, so they can really start bringing this gambling revenue in, but it's all to be decided very soon...

Lemieux himself won't be moving the team either, he'd sell it to someone who would if anything...  Not sure if anyone knew that or not.  He's said he's staying in Pittsburgh.  Said he's unhappy when he goes home and can't even go out to eat without being harassed so he says he's considering himself now a Pittsburgher and won't be moving wherever the team ends up.

They've sold a LOT of tickets this year, it's surprising considering their play, so I have hopes they'll stay because politics won't get in the way and everyone seems to know they're good for the city.  Pittsburgh is as good a hockey town as anywhere, we just haven't had **** to cheer for here for a long time, plus football will ALWAYS be king here irregardless of either of our sports and their successes.  The Pens have their support though, they have a plan...  It all will 100% hinge now on if the Pens group get the Slots license.  There's no other factors involved at this point.  If we don't, they're gone, if we do there's funding for a new arena lined up, there's an uptown revitilization project that hinges on it, and the Pens will be the key...  

If we don't, Vegas they say is the top (and most likely the only) place to get them I guess, as the same people willing to take the license and open the Casino are the same people that would move the team to Vegas if the license wasn't granted to them.  

ANd you guys all suck for wanting my team moved!  Eat penis.