Your 2012 National Hockey Lockout Thread

[Island_Style]

Maybe we'd have had more rabble if the league had doubled down on the northeast and cemented its status there instead of overextending itself into goddamn Nashville and Raleigh.

You would think that New York, Toronto, Chicago, Montreal, Boston, Washington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Detroit and DC would be enough. If only we had Hartford and Saskatoon. The real players in the national media.

[The_Admiral]

That wasn't what I said.

[Island_Style]

That wasn't what I said.

Well, elaborate. Also, a question just for me. Not really related. If Chicago had to vote on which pro team to keep. What place would the Blackhawks Finish?

[The_Admiral]

I'd get rid of all of them and unchain myself from the burden of having to like sports.

I just meant that the NHL should have focused on making hockey equivalent with basketball and baseball wherever possible, rather than being complacent with just sort of existing, which is sort of the feeling I get with a lot of teams. It's not so much about the footprint as it is doing something constructive with it. Their marketing efforts have lagged behind everyone else's for years. New England and New York should be just as irate over the loss of hockey as they'd be over the loss of basketball, but here we are.

Or take the Islanders. They should've been working to really supersaturate the Long Island market. Three million people, make sure as many of them are hockey fans as you can.

[NEW.ERA]

2 down, 5 to go!

Make it happen, children.

[Island_Style]

I'd get rid of all of them and unchain myself from the burden of having to like sports.

That is the truth.

As for the rest. That is a fair point. I had a hunch that was what you were getting at. That is why the Chicago question.

[Gothamite]

You may be right.

By over-extending the league's footprint where it wasn't particularly wanted, they've made the NHL a lot less relevant.

[ElwoodCuse]

You may be right.

By over-extending the league's footprint where it wasn't particularly wanted, they've made the NHL a lot less relevant.

Less relevant than what? The NHL always has and always will be fourth place out of the big four in the United States

[Island_Style]

You may be right.

By over-extending the league's footprint where it wasn't particularly wanted, they've made the NHL a lot less relevant.

Less relevant than what? The NHL always has and always will be fourth place out of the big four in the United States

That is true. There being a team in Nashville has nothing to do with the fact that people in American hockey markets still care about football, basketball and baseball more than hockey.

[Kevin W.]

They could easily end up fifth place out of five.

[_RH_]

They could easily end up fifth place out of four.

[Cujo]

Bettman and Fehr to hockey fans:

You're right about one thing, Rex being on Gary's side.

[Island_Style]

Rex Ryan's head is humongous.

[Eye]

Anyone been watching KHL games? I think it's much more entertaining than the NHL games. The rink atmosphere is great.

[Funky Bunky]

Rex Ryan's head is humongous.

eets humangus beeg

Anyone been watching KHL games? I think it's much more entertaining than the NHL games. The rink atmosphere is great.

I've been watching the AHL. Go Admirals.

[Kevin W.]

Rex Ryan's head is humongous.

Literally and figuratively.

[BrySmalls]

Well, this is pretty much the nail in the coffin:

A source familiar with the league's plan told ESPNNewYork.com that the league is expected to cancel the Winter Classic on Thursday, the source said.

Source

[NEW.ERA]

Then the ASG! Keep on going!

[Sport]

The conspiracy theorist in me can't help but think that Gary Bettman only gave the All-Star game to Columbus this year so that in the event he had to cancel it, he wouldn't distemper a bigger, more-important NHL city.

[rvrdgsfn]

If this is true, then my hope for a season is done.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=408407