NHL Discussion - 2009-2010 Season

[Marc]

Just wondering what sort of media coverage people get for the team? My wife is a Senators fan (she knew Mike Fisher when they were young) and is continually frustrated at the lack of tv coverage.

We've got CBC, TSN + TSN2 and three Rogers Sport Net channels and while you guarentee the Leafs will get coverage (they remind me of a team in the Australian Football League - even then they are performing for a season they still manage to get the prime time games the next year because they've got clout and the supporter base), it seems that horse racing, and just about any other sport is more important than the other Ontario team in the league.

maybe it's the price we pay for being closer to Toronto than we are Ottawa.

 

[Canadave]

Just wondering what sort of media coverage people get for the team? My wife is a Senators fan (she knew Mike Fisher when they were young) and is continually frustrated at the lack of tv coverage.

We've got CBC, TSN + TSN2 and three Rogers Sport Net channels and while you guarentee the Leafs will get coverage (they remind me of a team in the Australian Football League - even then they are performing for a season they still manage to get the prime time games the next year because they've got clout and the supporter base), it seems that horse racing, and just about any other sport is more important than the other Ontario team in the league.

The Senators have a very localized fanbase. It's a smallish market, located right between what you could arguably call the two most popular hockey teams in the world. They get a lot of coverage here, but even within Ottawa, the fans are quite split. In my experience, a good 30-40% of the hockey-watching population in Ottawa still cheer for either the Leafs or the Habs.

EDIT: Just realized from a thread in Misc, you live in Peterborough, right? That's very much Leafs country. You won't find too many Sens fans there (though you will find a number of Habs fans, lots of leftovers from when the Petes used to be their farm team) so Leafs coverage definitely dominates.

 

[tomalak301]

5-0 San Jose. Didn't think the Sharks would look that dominant but what a game. Nabby was brilliant tonight, and it's so nice to see Pavs back. It was great too with the fans chanting "Overrated" to Crosby (I wasn't but it is all in good fun) and just a good time was had. Got to go down to the glass before the game to see them warm up, and man Flurey and Stall are really really tall. You get such a different perspective seeing a Hockey game live that it really does put the whole TV thing to shame.

 

[AdmiralGarak]

5-0 San Jose. Didn't think the Sharks would look that dominant but what a game.

Thanks to injuries, the Pens already had five of the most crucial players on the team injured, and then Kris Letang got injured in the first fucking play of the game. It's going to be a long month. I doubt the Pens will be anywhere close to first place come December.

Oh well. On the plus side, Columbus won, and the Red Wings got pasted by the Maple Leafs.

 

[Gil T.Azell]

Eeek. The Kings are actually in a playoff spot! The rarity of this excites me, despite the fact that the season barely started.

It`s still early

I'll be rooting for Toronto's struggles to be continuing tonight.

Same here,

 

[Winterwind]

I'll be rooting for Toronto's struggles to be continuing tonight.

Same here,

Hehehe!

Too bad you two didn't get your wish.

And nice too see the Leafs finally seem to have a goalie that can do the job.

 

[Canadave]

I'll be rooting for Toronto's struggles to be continuing tonight.

Same here,

Hehehe!

Too bad you two didn't get your wish.

And nice too see the Leafs finally seem to have a goalie that can do the job.

Indeed. I'd almost forgotten what it was like to have a goalie that can actually stop the occasional shot.

 

[Kirk's_Tights]

The man, the legend, the hall of famer, Steve Yzerman FOR LIFE.

OUR 15 YEAR LOVE WILL NEVER DIE.

 

[Winterwind]

Same here,

Hehehe!

Too bad you two didn't get your wish.

And nice too see the Leafs finally seem to have a goalie that can do the job.

Indeed. I'd almost forgotten what it was like to have a goalie that can actually stop the occasional shot.

It is nice. And his stats are looking good.

Am I the only one that feels sorry for Toskala? Poor guy. His stats have gotten worse each season he's been on TO.

 

[Canadave]

^ I do, kind of. I think he'd have been much better off going somewhere less intense to play as a backup... he's just never struck me as the sort of goalie who's well-suited to being a starter in the media circus that is Toronto.

 

[AdmiralGarak]

Pittsburgh's trainer Chris Stewart saved the life of the team's president a few days ago. Stewart recognized the signs that he had suffered a minor heart attack as the team boarded the plane from San Jose to Boston, and sent him to get immediate medical treatment.

During today's game, Bob Errey quoted Stewart's assessment of the ordeal: "He suffered an upper body injury".

 

[Ashu]

Eeek. The Kings are actually in a playoff spot! The rarity of this excites me, despite the fact that the season barely started.

It`s still early

Yes, but I got to be happy while it lasts, I'm not so out of my mind that I think they are Cup condenters because they're off to a good start. Im just happy they had a good start.

 

[AdmiralGarak]

Ouch. Ballard took a hard swing at the goal post after Florida gave up a goal, clobbering Vokoun in the skull instead. He got carried out on a stretcher.


And on a happier note, I'd like to take a moment to direct all Crosby bashers to take a gander at the #4 goal scorer and #3 point scorer as of the end of November.

 

[Canadave]

Well the Leafs are actually starting to look like a decent hockey team, now... they've clawed their way up to within spitting distance of the bottom of the middle of the back.

Seriously, I think Phil Kessel is the difference-maker. 10 G and 5 A in 15 games will do that. Actually, some interesting numbers I found (see here) contrast the team's first twelve games (without Kessel) to their next twelve games (with):

They're now 7-5-3 with him in the lineup. Not an elite team, to be sure, but certainly respectable—especially compared with their absolutely abysmal start.

 

[Canadave]

So does no one care about hockey right now?

Leafs are continuing their hot streak, which is a rather nice change of pace. If they beat the Sens tonight and Montreal loses to Buffalo (both entirely possible) they'll be within two points of a playoff spot. Awesome!

This is partly thanks to the thoroughly mediocre East conference, but hey, I'll take what I can get. Go Leafs!

 

[BigFoot]

^ I'm still paying A LOT of attention to the NHL, especially Canucks and Kings. I just don't post in here.

 

[tomalak301]

It's kinda hard to pay attention to the Sharks when they are sucking a lot right now. I'm sure the ship will get turned around, but it's not looking good so far. It's still early in the season though.

 

[AdmiralGarak]

It's kinda hard to pay attention to the Sharks when they are sucking a lot right now.

There are plenty of Leafs and Flyers fans on this board who will surely hurt you in many unique and painful ways should you try to start a pity party for a team one point out of first place.


Just a warning.

 

[Canadave]

It's kinda hard to pay attention to the Sharks when they are sucking a lot right now.

There are plenty of Leafs and Flyers fans on this board who will surely hurt you in many unique and painful ways should you try to start a pity party for a team one point out of first place.


Just a warning.

I'm afraid it's too late. The Plan is already in motion.

EDIT: Leafs win 3-2 over the Sens, Buffalo defeats Montreal 4-3 in regulation and Toronto is within a victory of grabbing a playoff spot. I can't believe the change in this team of late... hopefully they can keep up the strong play with a tough schedule ahead over the next week (Phoenix, Buffalo, Boston and Buffalo again)

 

[Winterwind]

The Leafs definitely seem to have gotten things together. In the past 10-15 games, they're actually one of the "hottest" team in the league. IIRC, when I was watching their game against Washington on Saturday, it said they were 8-2-3 in their past 13. Then they beat Washington and went on to beat Ottawa.

As long as they finish at least in the middle of the pack, I'll be happy. I'd hate to see Boston get a top five first round pick in next summer's draft due to that trade for Kessel.