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Pandering to U.S. teams

ERIC DUHATSCHEK

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 7:36 PM EST 31/08/08

Eric Duhatschek ponders the growing wait until training camp in his weekly notebook ...Read the full article

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  1. Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada writes: I don't mind this 'pandering to US teams' when it means the hockey season starts when there is a hint of frost in the air for those living in Canada and above the Mason-Dixon line in the US.

    What drives me nuts is when the Stanley Cup finals threaten to last past the summer solstice.
  2. Trent Walters from Edmonton, Canada writes: NHL Opening Night
    2000-01 October 4 (Wed before CDN T-giving)
    2001-02 October 3 (Wed before CDN T-giving)
    2002-03 October 9 (Wed before CDN T-giving)
    2003-04 October 8 (Wed before CDN T-giving)
    2004-05 October 13 (Wed after CDN T-giving) year of lockout
    2005-06 October 5 (Wed before CDN T-giving)
    2006-07 October 4 (Wed before CDN T-giving)
    2007-08 October 3 (Wed before CDN T-giving)
    2008-09 October 9 (Thur before CDN T-giving)

    I am sorry, there is no evidence to say the the NHL is pandering to the US with the starting the schedule Oct 9 this year. It has to do with the calendar and where the dates fall.
  3. Hap Stokes from Canada writes: Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada writes: I don't mind this 'pandering to US teams' when it means the hockey season starts when there is a hint of frost in the air for those living in Canada and above the Mason-Dixon line in the US.

    -----------------------
    Belle what about VanKong Canada? Not much frost at all most years.
    Winters are supposed to moderate n mild.
    Lots of Canadians would be surprised (not you Belle).
    That Victoria has the identical January temp to Nashville Tenn.
    Much warmer than Washington DC too.
    Bet that's what wrong with our Knuckleheads.
    Too much golf practice all year to be anxious & ready for the April exit.
    Wellwood is really going to improve his golf game this winter in Vanc.
    GM Gillis should build a Canucks practice rink on top of Mt Seymour.
    Naw, the Canucks would just all go skiing instead of hockey practice.
  4. dp ludwig from Any City, United States writes:
    It's funny how some Canadians forget what financial condition many Canadian teams were in only a few short years ago.

    Teams like Calgary and Edmonton that were on life support are now in a good position financially, due to the new CBA that Bettman helped orchestrate.

    And if starting training camp season gives the appearance of 'pandering to Americans', I'm all for it. Starting training camp when it is still effectively summer outside is nuts.

    Some Canadians have a chip on their shoulder when it comes to Americans. The writer of this article is one of them.

    Give it a rest. Doesn't this crap ever get old?
  5. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: dp ludwig from Any City, United States writes:
    It's funny how some Canadians forget what financial condition many Canadian teams were in only a few short years ago.

    Teams like Calgary and Edmonton that were on life support are now in a good position financially, due to the new CBA that Bettman helped orchestrate

    ================

    Not really dp.... it has much more to do with a Canadian dollar at par than it does with Bettman and his CBA.

    Cheers
  6. dp ludwig from Any City, United States writes:
    Having small market teams make big name free agent signings would not have been possible under the old CBA. Under the new CBA, the Oilers signed Pronger when the loonie was still well under parity with the USD - around 80c.

    The good financial health of Canadian franchises is attributable to the Canadian dollar? Yeah right.

    Canadians blamed Bettman for the problems small market teams had a few years ago.

    Now, Canadians blame Bettman for Canadian teams accounting for a disproportionate amount of the league's revenues.

    Whatever.

    It's obvious Canadians are only happy when they are unhappy...
  7. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: dp ludwig from Any City, United States writes:

    Some Canadians have a chip on their shoulder when it comes to Americans. The writer of this article is one of them.

    Give it a rest. Doesn't this crap ever get old?

    ================

    And then you post your second post dp..... whatever to you as well.

    You don't know what the hell you are talking about.

    Typical American I'm afraid.... spout your BS without knowing anything.

    Read this and educate yourself... its on the same web page.

    http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080627.wsptloon27/GSStory/GlobeSportsHockey/home

    Come back when you want/if you can have an intelligent conversation.

    Cheers
  8. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: btw dp...

    As Trent Walters from Edmonton posted.... the article is full of shite.

    And as an aside..... which post on this thread was bashing Americans?

    Me thinks you have a bit of an inferiority complex.

    Cheers
  9. dp ludwig from Any City, United States writes:
    Scot Loucks

    The current collective bargaining agreement was drafted at a time when the loonie was well under parity (less than 80c US = 1 CAD).

    If you want to blame someone, blame Canadian owners for not looking after their financial interests properly. Any well run business that conducts foreign exchange in its cash flow will account for potential currency fluctuation.

    If Canadian owners had done their due diligence they would not have agreed to the CBA in the first place.

    Scot, you are the typical Canadian - content to point the finger at other people for your own shortcomings instead of being accountable for them.

    Lame.
  10. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Too funny dp....

    Who am I blaming for anything??

    Are you a lawyer? You sound like one.... twisting words that were not spoken.

    You suggested Canadians were somehow whining... not on this thread.
    You suggested that Bettman and the CBA saved Canadian franchises.... and I proposed that it was more about the Canadian dollar than the CBA (totally true).

    Nowhere on this thread.... or any other for that matter... am I pointing the finger or critical of Americans..... even though you fks won't let me in your country due to a weed bust (possession) in 1981.

    You call me lame? You are a jerk and a troll and not deserving of conversation.

    feel free to FOAD.

    Cheers :)
  11. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: btw dp ludwig from Any City, United States .... my guess is that you are not even American.

    No American i know is that stupid.

    My guess is that you are a Canadian who hates Americans....

    me thinks you should get out of your mommy's basement and get a job.

    Cheers
  12. dp ludwig from Any City, United States writes:
    Scot

    First you call me a typical American i.e., one that is 'dumb'. Now you call me a Canadian who happens to hate Americans, because I'm too 'smart' to be an American.

    The problem with you is that you let stereotypes of Americans cloud your thinking.

    It cracks me up whenever I hear people proclaim Canada is a society that is free of bigotry and prejudice, unlike what you see in American society. Yeah right. All one needs to do is talk to people like Scot to get the real picture.

    LOL
  13. dp ludwig from Any City, United States writes:
    Um ... you said I didn't know what I was talking about, I was spouting BS, and you called me a 'typical American'..

    Scroll up - have you forgotten already? Duh.

    It never ceases to amaze me how ARROGANT some Canadians like you are when it comes to asserting your 'superiority' to Americans, even if it means using stereotypes (like that of a 'typical American') to prove that this is the case!

    LOL pathetic
  14. Mr. Habs are the best from Canada writes: DP Ludwig,
    Why don't you shut up and go read the NY Times or the Bangor Daily News. Typical American whose brain stops working at their own border.
    Scot, even though I will always hate the Leafs, you are correct in your analysis of the situation.
    Cheers.
  15. Swifty J from Mtl, Canada writes: To put it in other words: imagine the current CBA with the loonie at .75 (or .62, heaven forbid). At least four and maybe five out of six Canadian teams would be in a delicate enough position to have to refrain from spending to the cap, and one or two might be hovering around the league minimum despite selling out every game.

    The cap would have provided some measure of protection and stability, but there's no way all six Canadian franchises would have been as financially sound as they are. They would not all be sending revenue-sharing money south.

    On the other hand, there would be fewer doubts about the viability of the struggling U.S. franchises, as they'd have lower league minimum and maximum payrolls to worry about.

    Now imagine currency parity with no cap: two or three Canadian franchises are members of the Big Spenders club, all six are healthy, and several Sunbelt teams are on life support, moved north or folded.

    Currency parity may account for only about 3-4 million on the cap (the range I recall from one of the more sensible analyses I've seen), but its effects have been pretty far-reaching.
  16. Neil No more last name from Canada writes: even though you fks won't let me in your country due to a weed bust (possession) in 1981.

    Scot - your cool factor just went up 10 degrees in my books
  17. dp ludwig from Any City, United States writes:
    >I know lots about hockey and stilll play the game... you are just a
    >mouthy fool

    scot

    so what if you play the game? nobody cares.

    i played the game too regularly as a kid, but - unlike you - i don't wear it like some badge of honor

    and one other thing, i'm not american

    it's funny how some canadians can call americans ignorant and arrogant, when people like you exhibit the exact same behavior as those ugly americans!

    lol scot you are such a hypocrite
  18. Neil No more last name from Canada writes: dp ludwig - get lost, quit trollin'

    Plenty of Americans come here to talk hockey, not point fingers and so on.

    You said Scot claim you're "too smart" to be American.

    I think the proper quote is "No American i know is that stupid."

    >I know lots about hockey and stilll play the game... you are just a
    >mouthy fool

    I don't even know what post you got that from.

    Oh, and look at that, Scot was right - you're not American

    Beat it.
  19. Sober Second Thought from Toronto, Canada writes: The Pre-Season should be in a tournament format. E.g., the Molson Cup or something..... This could be worth watching and paying money for. I have always liked how the English Football season works with tourney's to warm up players or try out new kids on the team. The NHL has to do something about its boring pre-season non-games.
  20. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: dp ludwig from Any City, United States writes:
    >I know lots about hockey and still play the game... you are just a
    >mouthy fool

    scot

    so what if you play the game? nobody cares.

    i played the game too regularly as a kid, but - unlike you - i don't wear it like some badge of honor

    and one other thing, I'm not American

    ----------------------------------------

    and apparently dip shite.... whatever you are.... you can't read.

    note below:

    Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: btw dp ludwig from Any City, United States .... my guess is that you are not even American.

    No American i know is that stupid.

    My guess is that you are a Canadian who hates Americans....

    me thinks you should get out of your mommy's basement and get a job.

    Cheers
    Posted 31/08/08 at 6:25 PM EDT

    ------------------

    Probably the stupidest set of posts ever on a hockey thread.

    Congrats
  21. slapdash dapoint from trawna, Canada writes: Sober Second Thought from Toronto, Canada writes: The Pre-Season should be in a tournament format. E.g., the Molson Cup or something.....

    ---

    that's not a bad idea... it'd be even nicer if the tickets were half-price too - doubt that'd ever happen though :P

    this article was pretty weak on the 'pandering to americans' debate. seemed more a pandering to canadians resentment towards the states for adopting so much of the game.

    as for puching the season into the warmer months - i'm torn. i still remember the first time my brother and i popped a little tv on my parents back porch on a warm mid-may evening to watch a game. but then the childhood purist in me feels the game should still be tied to the NATURAL season somewhat and be wrapped up mid/late march

    :|
  22. Duncan McCockenue from Canada writes: Wow... how did this ever devolve so badly?! Interesting stuff... especially for an article that required being written so that Eric could meet his quota. But might as well keep this train-a-rollin'.

    dp you're ugly and i dont like you... and your mother's a hamster.
  23. Neil No more last name from Canada writes: dp you're ugly and i dont like you... and your mother's a hamster.

    hahaha - a hamster
  24. Scotcho Libre from Canada writes: Trent, based on your season start dates, and the fact that the shortened training camp was something the players association wanted to see, then I don't see the problem. My only problem is that the season is just too long, and there are too many games per week. I love hockey, but one can get too much of a good thing.
  25. Gordon Howe from HockeyTown, United States writes: Wow interesting conversations here. Sounds as if somebody's been hangin around my buddy the Proud Canadian? Man we start out talkin about hockey then all of a sudden.........
  26. jp6635 trojan from TORONTO, Canada writes: commenting on gary bettman and the AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE with 6 canadian teams gives him too much credit...The NHL has stolen the game from its canadian roots, and through its actions prevented the league from developing even stronger ties with europe where they are real sports and hockey markets. ALL of this under the guise of the canadian teams who are the backbone of the league to allowing themselves to be second fiddle to te americans....isn't nice to have NHL owners like Samueli and del biaggio, both jail bound than Mr. Balsillie...how wonderful to have teams in Carolina, Anaheim and phoenix versus stockhold, prague and moscow where there are real growth opportunities. Shame on the NHL and shame on the canadian teams that are acting like the patsies allowing this to happen.
  27. S H from Windsor, Canada writes: You can argue about money issues but the fact is this....the NHL has been pandering to US teams. That is fine but it has been going on for way too long. This pandering is hurting the league overall, mostly frustrating Canadians because we want more teams here. The league is, what it is in the US. Stop trying to sell this game in markets it won't sell in. Everyone knows the game of hockey and if it is not selling in certain markets, give it up and move on. ie....basketball is not a big seller up here, are we going to keep trying to sell a sport we know will fail? I already know that I do not like watching basketball or soccer for that matter. Bringing a team to Windsor is not going to get me to a game I do not like to watch! Same in the States!!! In Canada we have lost 2 teams mostly because of currency issues and we may never get them back if this useless pandering continues. We know up here, that these markets are good hockey markets, so stop trying to sell hockey in Phoenix and Miami and bring it to cities like Winnipeg,Quebec, (2nd team in Toronto?) etc...and even other American cities like Seattle,Clevelend. This is a winter sport, logic dictates winter cities will fly and most southern cities won't. Throwing millions at non-hockey markets is detrimental to the league. DP ludwig...... this current cba has not helped in my opinion and as far as I'm concerned having salary caps is socialism! Having rich teams pay the poor teams, how is this fair? If the team cannot make a profit and survive, I say good riddance! Why should Toronto and Detroit pay another team money, to build what could be a better hockey team than what they have??? This goes for all leagues, not just hockey!!!
  28. Verona Raven from United States writes: bring it to cities like Winnipeg,Quebec, (2nd team in Toronto?) etc...and even other American cities like Seattle,Clevelend.

    Cleveland..NO.
    Seattle....NO
    Milwaukee...SI
    Hartford....SI
    Quebec...SI
    Winnipeg..SI
    Hamilton...SI

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