2014-2015 NHL Offseason/Regular Season Thread

[CaliforniaChief]

Free Agency starts today. I'm probably the worst candidate to keep up an OP with player movement and the like, but figured it would be cool to have a repository for all things NHL leading up to next season.

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Anaheim acquires Kesler from Canucks for Bonino, Sbisa, and picks.

-Dallas acquires Spezza from Montreal for Chiasson, others, and a 2nd round pick.
-Avs acquire Briere for Parenteau and a late pick.
-Predators acquire James Neal for Spaling and Hornqvist.
-Marian Gaborik re-signs with Kings.
-Ryan Miller to Canucks via UFA.
-Paul Stastny to the Blues via UFA.
-Jarome Iginla to the Avs via UFA.
-Dan Boyle to the NYR.
-Brad Richards to the Blackhawks.
-Vanek to the Minnesota Wild.
-Robidas to the Maple Leafs.
-Niskanen to the Caps via UFA.

Feel free to add other moves and I'll do my best to update.

[Bearcat]

If not this year, they should be back as long as they can keep the team together... surprised at how hard the Blackhawks have had to work to score goals, compared to Crawford looking like he's in slow motion on some of the goals he's given up.

[Predarat]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

.

That would be damn cool to have the NHL in KC. They would probably put KC in the Central and Colorado to the Pacific.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by GloucesterChief

Moving to Quebec City probably. That or KC.

Seattle doesn't have an arena and I haven't heard any interest from Houston.

Probably not KC- I saw a feasibility study for NHL cities and economic viability and KC scored like -87. Yes, that's a negative. I certainly don't agree about the ability for the city to support a team so long as they aren't terrible. However, a large reason KC is rated so low is because of the other Professional teams already in town.

It basically said that KC's economic activity over the course of a year is around $109 billion. Given the market and competing entertainment options for the same dollars, KC needs a population or economic activity each year around $178 billion.

You have to take into account the number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered - which if it is greater than 17 (I can't remember the exact number ) provides a built-in amount of padding support through corporate sponsorships and spending.

I don't know what the average NHL ticket is, but they aren't cheap here in Chicago. However, I've also never gone to a game and not thought I got every pennies worth if not more for my money.

Live action hockey is awesome. I can enjoy football at the stadium or watching at home. Hockey is always better from a seat in the arena.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Coochie liquor

Sorry Blackcocks fans, TB winning the cup. But I hope that Bishop is able to play Sat night! Also I heard when the road team wins game 3 they have won 31 of 32 series. Go Bolts!!

... and since Quinnville has been Chicago's coach they've only lost a game 5 or game 6 once. Ever.

My point being is that these games have been razor thin close so you can throw away the pointless stats.

Just like the team that has won game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals has won it 76% of the time.

[Chiefnj2]

Pretty funny, yesterday on the radio the hosts were talking about one of the heads of NBC not being happy with the tv ratings. Supposedly one of the reasons NBC identified as a cause of low ratings was a lack of player recognition by the viewing public. The exec at NBC was going to ask the NHL to request the players shave during the playoffs so the players are more identifiable and marketable.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

Probably not KC- I saw a feasibility study for NHL cities and economic viability and KC scored like -87. Yes, that's a negative. I certainly don't agree about the ability for the city to support a team so long as they aren't terrible. However, a large reason KC is rated so low is because of the other Professional teams already in town.

It basically said that KC's economic activity over the course of a year is around $109 billion. Given the market and competing entertainment options for the same dollars, KC needs a population or economic activity each year around $178 billion.

You have to take into account the number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered - which if it is greater than 17 (I can't remember the exact number ) provides a built-in amount of padding support through corporate sponsorships and spending.

I don't know what the average NHL ticket is, but they aren't cheap here in Chicago. However, I've also never gone to a game and not thought I got every pennies worth if not more for my money.

Live action hockey is awesome. I can enjoy football at the stadium or watching at home. Hockey is always better from a seat in the arena.

IIRC, KC with a 3rd pro team would be as oversaturated as Denver is now, and Denver was at the bottom of the list.

I assume Chicago is near the top in terms of price... I think I paid $80 face value for ~10th row on the blue line in Anaheim last year, but around $60 for similar seats in St. Louis. I guess it's not terrible though when lower level seats for 1/81 games at Kauffman Stadium run $60-80.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Pretty funny, yesterday on the radio the hosts were talking about one of the heads of NBC not being happy with the tv ratings. Supposedly one of the reasons NBC identified as a cause of low ratings was a lack of player recognition by the viewing public. The exec at NBC was going to ask the NHL to request the players shave during the playoffs so the players are more identifiable and marketable.

Is that same NBC exec next going to suggest they make the puck easier to see. Maybe make it bigger, oblong, and out of brown leather. Goals are also worth 7 points now, too.

Playoff beards are common in football and baseball. Hell, you can't even see football players faces 99% of the time.

Maybe if NBC aired more than 2 games on NBC instead of NBCSN of the Stanley Cup Finals they might do a better job of gaining viewership... ?

[Anyong Bluth]

Black-Hawks!

[Chiefs4TheWin]

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

Probably not KC- I saw a feasibility study for NHL cities and economic viability and KC scored like -87. Yes, that's a negative. I certainly don't agree about the ability for the city to support a team so long as they aren't terrible. However, a large reason KC is rated so low is because of the other Professional teams already in town.

It basically said that KC's economic activity over the course of a year is around $109 billion. Given the market and competing entertainment options for the same dollars, KC needs a population or economic activity each year around $178 billion.

You have to take into account the number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered - which if it is greater than 17 (I can't remember the exact number ) provides a built-in amount of padding support through corporate sponsorships and spending.

I don't know what the average NHL ticket is, but they aren't cheap here in Chicago. However, I've also never gone to a game and not thought I got every pennies worth if not more for my money.

Live action hockey is awesome. I can enjoy football at the stadium or watching at home. Hockey is always better from a seat in the arena.

Would be nice to see KC get a team. You guys almost got away with my Penguins! None the less knowing you all as fans of the same football team, I think KC would be an excellent place to have a hockey team.

Also don't put too much stock into fortune 500 companies as equating to having a hockey team. Pittsburgh is almost all fortune 500 and we almost lost them. We had to build casinos just to keep them here.

[Why Not?]

As much as I would hate the Coyotes leaving, KC would be the one place I would love to see them end up. I doubt it happens though. Once the Yotes head north of the border, my hockey interest will probably fade off. Shitty but it's hard to follow a sport with no stake in a team.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Chiefs4TheWin

Would be nice to see KC get a team. You guys almost got away with my Penguins! None the less knowing you all as fans of the same football team, I think KC would be an excellent place to have a hockey team.

Also don't put too much stock into fortune 500 companies as equating to having a hockey team. Pittsburgh is almost all fortune 500 and we almost lost them. We had to build casinos just to keep them here.

I've always thought KC was just a bargaining chip... didn't think there was ever a chance they'd actually leave Pittsburgh, but I could be wrong.

[DaFace]

Why, Bishop? Why?

[Bearcat]

As far as the series, TB has been quite impressive... game 6s are the best an hopefully TB is up for it like they've been to this point, but I could see Chicago winning easily or at least making it drama free in the 3rd.

Pretty crazy they haven't won a Cup on home ice since the 30s... Bill Wirtz was just learning how to be a giant douche back then, probably had a lemonade stand and charged extra for ice.

[KCUnited]

That was nearly a 10-8 round for TB in the 2nd period, Chicago was fortunate to only give up the one goal. Chicago looked much better defensively during the last 5 minutes than they were in game 4.

[Demonpenz]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Yeah, 1/4 of potential new fans wouldn't even have to change out the back window sticker in their trucks if the Coyotes moved to KC.