I've had some spirited debates lately over Twitter regarding the NHL and a possible return to ESPN.  Like every season - this debate is once again being renewed during the playoffs.

I typed the following up on the old blog during May of last year on why I think a move back to ESPN woudln't solve any of the NHL's TV viewership issues and quite frankly my position hasn't changed a bit.

I thought I'd repost it here and solicite some comments from any of you out there who want to weigh in on the matter:

I've seen a lot negative press lately, such as this piece from Time, about the NHL's television partnership with Versus.

Hey it's that time of year right? Time to dust off the NHL ratings stink stories, change the dates and hit the recycle button.

Of course it's some ole nonsense such as "nobody can find the channel"... "a move back to ESPN would cure all the NHL's exposure problems"... "Versus footprint is too small"... yada yada yada..

Let me make this as clear as I possibly can -- the NHL moving to ESPN to increase it's "exposure" is the biggest myth going in all of sports.

Here's a newsflash folks. The NHL's ratings on ESPN, even in the so called "glory years" of the early 90s, were crap compared to the NFL/MLB/NBA. The NHL's TV ratings have always been crap next to those leagues regardless of who the broadcast partner was/is.

..and despite what some of the talking heads would like you all to think.. the NHL on Versus is not doing nearly as bad as they say.

Want proof? Here is an example via an article published by Variety from this year's playoffs:

With two of the rising stars in the league facing each other, last week's game three of the series earned a record-high 1.49 million viewers for the network, becoming the most-watched second-round hockey game since 2002, when ESPN had rights to the NHL.

Whaaa? How can that be when nobody can find the channel? Again..welcome to the myth.

Here are some more numbers for you courtesy of Andrewstarspage.com:

Currently Versus is out drawing what the NHL previously had on ESPN2 and despite a smaller footprint is only .18, give or take, behind ESPN's ratings.

Again... how can that be? I mean without extensive highlights on Sportscenter how can any league survive?

The myth continues.

As you can see the ratings aren't nearly as bad as some would make you believe when compared to the past NHL ratings. Of course when you compare to other leagues they look bad.. but that has never changed regardless of carrier.

..on a side note, coming out of the lockout ESPN told the league it would only broadcast their games on ESPN2 on a revenue sharing deal. So next to ESPN2 Versus is doing really well. The goal of course is to continue to grow and beat the numbers at ESPN which the gap is certainly closing.

ESPN = been there, done that for the NHL.

The broadcast partner is not the issue here. Versus is doing a fine job in terms of promoting the NHL, treating it well and growing their network and ratings.

Would I like a bigger footprint..? Of course. Would I like a higher profile..? Of course. I'm a realist however who understands where the league came from, where it's at and where they are trying to go.

As they say, Rome was not built in a night and Versus isn't going to become ESPN in 4 years ....and going back to ESPN, a channel that treated the league like dog food and has become too bloated and too cocky for it's own good, is no magic wand to grow the league or it's ratings.

I want hockey to grow it's viewership like the rest of ya. However I view the challenge to grow it much different than footprints and channel surfing. The problem is and has always been that the game just doesn't translate well on TV and that is what really needs addressed here.

We die hards... well, just show us something frozen with nets and we'll watch. The problem is attracting the casual viewers.

The solution? Make the game as fun to watch on TV as it is to attend in person and now we are on to something.

Easy for me to say.

Ask yourself this question? Why is football so great to watch on TV? Hockey has a lot of the same elements in speed, finesse, roles, energy, high impact collisions, passion and drama so what gives?

Is it because everybody has played football? Well not everyone plays golf and it's ratings are good. Not everyone drives a taxi cab at 180+ mile per hour and those ratings are good.

While maybe a part of it, I think it's much more than that.

For one it's event viewing and two it's a very well structured game.

For instance the way the game of football is designed lends itself perfectly to the tube. It's very structured and roles very well defined -- this is offense and this is defense -- one tries to score one tries to stop them. The stoppages between plays allow for multiple replays, breakdowns and of course commercials! Also the stars don't leave the field so they are easily followed. The biggest thing to me, however, is that the camera is able to capture just about all the action in it's frame so the viewer sees most, if not everything, that is going on. You see plays develop and/or breakdown. It's all right there in your living room.

Not so in hockey.

Hockey is not nearly as structured nor the roles as easily defined. It's very fast paced and the game is the only one that allows substitutions in-play most of which are not captured on camera so it's difficult to some to track the stars. The game is also unpredictable in its stoppages and replays are random and unstructured. The biggest problem is that the television does not capture enough of the play compared to what you see live. Rarely do you see plays develop or breakdown.

For instance, how often do you hear this at home while viewing a game....

You don't hear it because 9 times out of 10 you can't see it... unless your actually there at the game!

Rarely do you see an on the fly line change and viewers are left saying why did he just dump the puck like that? It all looks like disorganized chaos to a casual viewer. Yet if you bring that same viewer to the game live it all makes a lot more sense as they see the whole pallet and can paint their own picture and it's light bulb time... he dumped the puck because he went to the bench and got a line change.

We all know the problems.. heck problems are easy to point out when it comes to hockey and TV.. The hard part is figuring out a solution or at the very least improvements.

So how to make it better?

In my opinion the NHL, its' fans and critics should be focusing on new technologies to advance the game's broadcast on TV instead of thinkin that a move to ESPN will magically change anything.

Right now they have a very willing partner in Versus with deep pockets who wants to grow their brand and they know that having the NHL as one of it's properties is a way to get there. Both entities need to combine forces and resources to develop new techniques and technologies to broadcast games.

Some steps are being taken.

High definition is a step in the right directing as it's a clean and crisper viewing experience and you can see more of the ice but 1. there aren't enough games televised in HD (right Blue Jackets?) 2. there aren't enough folks who have HD TVs and 3. the technology is not being maximized.

The Winter Classic is a huge leap forward as it finally provides the NHL with a marquee "event" to attract audiences during it's long regular season.

Other innovations like broadcaster's between benches is a nice step and in game interviews with coaches brings you closer to the action.

All good but more is needed.

..but what about the actual viewing angles? We've seen rail cams, net cams, helmet cams and behind the net stationary cams used with mixed results. That's okay... you usually have to fail before you find success but the key is to keep trying to innovate.

I've always wondered why the NHL and it's partners do not explore broadcasting games the way they are displayed in video games? Which is a north-south viewing experience versus an east-west style.

Hockey video games are one of the most popular sports games going. Heck last year's EA Sports NHL08 was rated the year's best video game buy many publications.

Yet no complaints about following the action or seeing the puck in those.

Yes I know video games are a charged up version of the real thing but there are elements that can be utilized.

For one there is a big reason the games are all played north-south. You can see a heck of a lot more of the ice and watch plays develop. It's also a lot easier to follow the line changes for the same reason.

Of course programming a game north/south and broadcasting one are two different animals. This is where innovation and new technologies come into play. Certainly the technology is available to mount some kind of mobile camera over the ice that can move north/south with the action. Yes it would be expensive initially but once the technology is vetted out the price will certainly come down.

It may not work but why not try? Quite frankly I haven't seen anything new tried in this area over the past couple of seasons. Inexcusable if you ask me.

Or what about split screens? Or select a cam views... integrating the TV broadcast with internet streams. So many areas to explore.

The key is to continue to innovate and do everything you can to improve your product both on and off the ice. Think non-traditionally.

The league will probably never reach the heights of football in this country... and you know what, that's okay. As I always tell folks there can only be one #1 but does that mean that #4 stinks? For instance does the #4 grossing movie last week stink? What about the #4 selling album?

This is multi-billion dollar league folks that operates 30 teams in multi-million dollar stadiums across two countries. Some folks pushing their own agendas try to downplay that with the only hammer they have in TV ratings but it's a worn out and recycled story that is more powderpuff than powerplay.

Is there a compromise to be had in that maybe the league can broadcast games on both Versus and ESPN? Perhaps. However I'm one fan who will not be expecting much, if any changes to the NHL's placement in the sports landscape just because ESPN is brought back into the fold. Ratings history has clearly shown us otherwise.

I would also like to add another point -- wouldn't the league be better off to have two cable sports channels to bid for their rights?  Everyone complains about the NHL not generating enough TV revenue well if it is just a one horse show then ESPN is the one negotiating from a position of strength.

As Versus grows so does the NHL's negotiating leverage.

...and let's please not kid ourselves into thinking that if ESPN wants back into the NHL because they have a new found love for the sport and that they'll suddenly find the time/money/motivation to promote them.

Hogwash.

This is all about ESPN trying to remain the king of the sporting world and trying to squash their competition.

Do you honestly think a blowhard like Colin Cowherd is going to suddenly find the energy to talk hockey like he gives a shit if they get that property back?

They didn't talk hockey when they owned the rights to the NHL and I do not share in other's optimism that they will in any significant fashion if they get em back.

I loved NHL2Night as well but they cancelled that years before they decided not to renew their option.  Getting that show back is pie-in-the-sky.

Whereas if you stay with Versus you are the big fish - you get hockey on Mon/Tuesdays, playoff coverage out the ass, more promotion in a week than a year at ESPN, playoff specials, full draft coverage, NHL coverage at intermissions, post game "hockey central" shows, NHL awards ceremony, pre-season specials and most importantly a partner that values you and has the deep pockets to grow the network.!

Now Versus isn't perfect and they have plenty of work to do.  For instance I'd like to see more than just 6 teams featured on a weekly basis.  Adding another high profile sports property is a must.  Why just limit hockey to Mon/Tues during the week?  Need that innovation that I spoke of above and continue to promote and grow their properties and network.

The only way I see the NHL leaving Versus for an exclusive deal with ESPN is if the dollars are significantly higher and I don't see Comcast/Versus letting that happen.  The NHL, like myself, has not forgotten the coverage - or lack thereof - over there.

I'll leave you with this to chew on - the NHL was so successful during it's run on ESPN that they ended up being the first North American professional sports league to miss an entire season.  Yes, the NHL was it's own worst enemy in that mess but if ESPN was such a savior as some make it out to be - then how did it come to that with the messiah of sports in the mix?

My message to the NHL - stay the course with Versus.  I'm one fan who believes this is a good partner to continue sail with.

Fire-away - I would like to hear arguments as to why you think a move back to ESPN would help the NHL -   Preferably something more than "b/c it's ESPN".

p.s. how 'bout them Sharks?!!

p.s.s. I will take back Gary Thorne!

-LTL

Just under a month ago I posted about a boy who was in need of some hockey gear as his family was not able to afford it.  I titled the post "A Call For Hockey Help!".

I'm here to tell you now that some good folks of Columbus have answered that call!!!

Thanks to the tremendous help of Thom Wright of Hockey Beats Down, a bunch of players from the Rusty Pucks (pictured below in pink), NetJets and Fireballs CAHL teams as well as some contributions from your favorite bloggers here we were not only able to donate a bunch of new and used equipment to get the young boy named Dmitri on his skates but we also raised and donated $160 dollars to help Dmitri and his family purchase the missing pieces.

I'm here to tell you it was quite a scene this past Saturday at the Easton Chiller.  It was one of those moments that made us all feel good inside and as Thom so eloquently put it - how cool was it to see Dmitri's mom tear up..... for all the right reasons?!

Again I want to thank everyone who donated some equipment and money to help launch Dmitri's hockey career.  This is the exact kind of thing I envisioned when the Hits For Hockey program was launched and this is a scene I hope to repeat more often than not in the future.

Good luck Dmitri!!

-LTL

Now, I know that many of you have probably already read the story in the Dispatch, seen it on the news of one of the local stations or read the official press release on the CBJ Foundation site, so I won’t recount all the details here. But if you have missed out on all of those you can find the whole story and information on the website here:

Team Tyler

In addition to being able to donate directly, you can follow Tyler’s training blog and photo album, check out the gear he’ll be using, read up on the Ironman event (you know, in case YOU want to try it…) and send Tyler messages.

You might be thinking, “That’s a great cause, I’ll donate if I get a chance.” But admit it – how many of you thought the same thing about the “Hockey Beats Down Breast Cancer” tournament last weekend? Or about some other event or cause you have seen or heard about and then just never got around to doing it? I’ll admit it…I do it all the time, I forget about it 2 minutes later and never actually do it.

I bet even more of you are thinking, “What do I care? The season sucked, we need a coach and a laundry list of players, the Arena issue is still a mess and the economy is in the basement. I buy raffle tickets to support the Foundation at the games. I’m not made of money, why should I do anything more?” Well, let me tell you, that is a valid question and I really don’t have a good answer for you….. But I do have a few names…. Noah, Olivia, Matthew, Chase, Hannah, Seth, Ryan and my daughter Coryn. And if you are so inclined and have a few dozen hours to kill, I can tell you their stories, because they are just a few of the kids whose lives have been touched and in some cases irrevocably changed by the Hats For Heroes program.

Team Tyler is counting on all the “little people” doing what they can to make this something special. Sure, there will be checks with lots of zeros written by businesses and individuals who can afford to do so. But in talking with Tyler about this, I know it is the cans of pennies saved up and sent in by kids, and the dollars and quarters collected at yard and bake sales that he is really excited about.

So, I challenge you, this summer, to find a way to do something special for Team Tyler; no matter how big, no matter how small. Make it a family project, get your kids involved… My family and I are going to bus tables at a local pizza place for tips. Don’t have kids? That’s ok, you’ve got drinking buddies don’t you?? I’m sure you can come up with some ingenious ways to pool your spare change. Every little bit counts, $1, $5, etc.

NAILED IT!

I noted this commentary in the Dispatch, and I have to give credit to Mike Arace for 'nailing it' as it relates to identifying the Wings as a bunch of guys who push (break is a better word, actually) the rules, for as long as I can recall.

http://www.bluejacketsxtra.com/live/content/sports/stories/2010/05/07/detroit-is-old-and-one-win-wont-change-that.html?sid=101

I still recall, during the 8-2 shellacking of the Wangs (yes, I meant to spell it, that way) by the CBJ, how many times, either at the beginning of each period, or right after the Jackets scored a goal - almost to the second - how LTL called a penalty about to be called on our boys.  Uncanny...and yet, the clutching, grabbing, hooking, goaltender-interfering geriatrics were allowed to do whatever they pleased, without a single call against them.  Not that there's ever any O-6 bias...nope, no way, nada (heavy sarcasm, added).

I did find it interesting that, before last night, that the refs were finally flagging cheats like Datsyuk, The Horseface (I think they call him the Fool...err, Mule), and the Beaver (that one has a last name of Holmstrom) for games 1-3 - mysteriously (again, sarcasm), the whistles dissapeared, last night.

I sure hope that changes for game 5, back in the Shark Tank - otherwise, once again, this will be the workings of Bartman...err, Bettmann's appealing to the O-6ers, and trying to push for a 6th or 7th game.  Paranoia?  Maybe, but, recall who correctly predicted the penalty disparity, to the exact number, when the CBJ played down in Trashville, for all 3 games, in the gamebox feature of LTL.  I'll remind you - it was me.  I rest my case...

Arace also correctly identified the impending end of their aura of invincibility.  Now, whether the Sharks don't channel the ghosts of choking dog past, or not, is another story, but, sooner or later, the end is coming, and pronto.

The hope is that last night's result didn't allow the Sharks legacy of playoff fragility to creep back in.  They should have known that was coming (the Detroit surge), and that the refs were going to keep their whistles permanently imprinted in their backsides, and not in their mouths.  I mean, you wouldn't want to upset those hundreds of 'friends and family' who occupy the lower bowl...after all, it is Hockey-town, USA (real heavy sarcasm, there).

No matter whether sooner or later, the end is coming, and, as our own LTL expressed, when it happens, hopefully, it's accompanied by the retirement annoucement of Lidstrom.

Sure, with the freed up money, they'll land someone who'll want to come there - it's still a destination, but, not like it used to be.  Their player development mystique is also starting to draw back into the pack - sorry, Holland and Nil - the rest of the NHL now scouts European talent.

Now, if this does happen (the Wangs lose at the Shark tank, or lose the series - LTL-Nation:  grab a rabbit's foot! Say the rosary!), that aura of invincibility will begin to creep into the rest of the league.

Now, will the myopians - those bandwagon-jumping simpletons who don't attend playoff games, yet tell us they're lifelong fans, yet cannot tell you who Henrik Zetterberg is - also recognize that their time is over?  In a word, 'no'...but, personally, I don't care.  Let 'em keep thinking that - let 'em keep clinging to that delusion.  After all, it's all those low-life's have to cling to, right?

While that may have been a bit 'harsh' - please note:  I used to respect their myopians - that was, until I experienced those scum, during Game 1 of the SC Playoffs.  As Ari Gold so often says on Entourage,  "Never Again!"

Now, will the CBJ realize that, or change the course of seasons past?  As much as I'd like to believe it, until they actually win (no, not OT or SO victories) 4 or 5 of the 6 scheduled games against the Detroit - this is all mental, here - then it won't happen, just yet.  That, of course, would require a team with some serious moxy - again, I rest my case.  But, it will happen, in time.

So, LTL-Nation, let's get the Karma going towards the Sharks ending this reign of rule-bending.

If the CBJ couldn't "make 'em bleed" - darn it, then have some other team do it.

Go Sharks!

- MASE1

According to this article:

"Wesslau get a standard contract of the Blue Jackets and he is playing in the NHL, without passing farms league, it becomes a comfortable wage for success the goalie.

Overall, he can get $ 900 000, 6.5 million, during the contract year.

The breakdown is 700 000 dollars in salary, 90 000 dollars in signing bonuses and 110 000 dollars in bonuses, including for played matches."

If Wesslau plays in the AHL, his salary will decrease significantly.

Here is the nugget:

"In Ohio Wesslau must wrestle with young Steve Mason and veteran Mathieu Garons. Blue Jackets have a plan to switch off Garons - Wesslau about as good as the club hope he is."

It's poor Google translating.. BUT it basically says... that the CBJ has a plan to trade Garon if Wesslau plays as good as the CBJ think he can play..

A final message from the Hockey Beats Down organizers before the tourney this weekend:

We still have a few spots open to play if anyone out there would be interested in filling some available roster spots; entry fee is $75.00 and there is a four game guarantee.

If anyone has a couple hours of their time to spare we are still looking for volunteers to run the score board, make announcements, "baby sit" players children while their parents are on the ice, help with the silent auction tables or even join us at the conclusion of the day's events at Fadó.

There will be a large variety of silent auction items available for bidding through out the weekend with such items as a CBJ team autographed jersey, player signed collector stick, OSU memorabilia as well as a raffle with a one of a kind commemorative "Hockey Beats Down Breast Cancer" jersey up for grabs and some other nice items if you aren't the one who wins the jersey. Raffle tickets prices are 3 for $5, 10 for $10, 30 for $20 and for $50 you can get a string of tickets as tall as one of the volunteers...buyer gets to choose the volunteer too.

Please join us for an exciting weekend of hockey and hope!

Also Thom (organizer of Hockey Beats Down) and the players from the NetJets CAHL team have answered the call to help out the young man I posted about here get some hockey equipment.  I'll have an updated post with pics about Dmitri (the boy's name) after we meet him for the equipment exchange this weekend!

Finally - how bout dem Sharks!!  Up 3-0 in their series agiainst those octopusses from up North.

-LTL

Check out this pic of inside Bridgestone Arena (home of the Nashville Predators) after the floods:

Thanks to BHG for sending this in and as he states in his email to me - imagine if the Preds had made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs!

Volunteers are needed for the Hockey Beats Down Breat Cancer hockey tournament this weekend.  If you are interested please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Also from BHG - here is a must read from Puck-daddy about a Sharks fan tossing a Shark out onto the ice during game 2 of their series against the wings.

The best part - the Shark had a octopus sewed into it's mouth.

Sharks get another chance to take a bite out of Detroit tonight and put a 3-0 strangle hold on those scumbags.

Let's go Sharks!!

-LTL

...the San Jose Sharks! I don't think I've ever seen Joe Thornton skate so hard in his career. Heck Malhotra didn't even look too bad (although the dude is still incapable of making a clean pass up the ice).

The Sharks eliminating the Wings from Cup contention will complete me.  I could care less who wins as long as they don't.  Make it happen boys!

...the Arena Lease issue! With the news via the Dispatch today that an agreement should be in place within two weeks that will allow Ohio State to manage both the Schott and Nationwide Arena the Arena Lease issue took a small step towards resolution.  This arrangement will apparently save the Jackets 1 mil a season.

This tells us that something is going on behind the scenes.  Granted it's a small piece of the puzzle but hopefully this provides a catalyst to get the bigger pieces solved.

...for 2nd round picks! The Jackets inked 2008 2nd rd pick Cody Goloubef to an entry level deal.

This will end Goloubef's career at Wisconsin in which the defensemen played 3 seasons and racked up 12g, 25a for 36p in 188 games.  Those numbers aren't particularly impressive for what many said was a d-man who had offensive upside when he was drafted.

We'll get our first look at Goloubef at camp this season.  Remember if you're a collegiate athlete you have to pay your own way to summer camp and are ineligible for training camp so unless you live in Wisconsin the viewings of Goloubef have been limited at Nationwide.

More importantly is Goloubef provides at least a glimmer of hope that the Jackets can actually hit on a 2nd round pick!!

...the underdog! I haven't looked up the stats but I do know 8th seeds beating the #1 seeds in the NHL playoffs is a very rare thing.  It also goes to show you what goaltending really can mean in this sport.  Halak of the Canadiens was really special and the D in front of him made the necessary sacrifices.

Gives me hope that if Mason can find his game that maybe the Jackets can actually win a round or two in the playoffs.

..for fans of Nikita Filatov. It's been confirmed by the Dispatch that the.. what as the word we always used for Zherdev?  --- I got it -- enigmatic -- (is is too early to use that for Filatov?) 2008 6th overall pick Russian winger will be back for Blue Jackets camp next season.

He may be back at an NHL camp but don't bank on it being the Blue Jackets one.  If Howson can find the right deal for this kid he's a goner.  The question is does he hold enough value to move?  If he's at CBJ camp in September then that answer will be a resounding no and the Jackets will have had no choice but to give him another shot in union blue -- this asset can not go wasted.l

To be honest there is a part of me that is very curious to see how this kid could do under a new coach.  It's not like the Jackets can't use more goal scoring right?

...the draft. The draft?  What on earth are you getting at LTL?  Well let's just say today we are one step closer to June 25th and seeing what we do with that 4th overall pick.  My $$ is on the Jackets drafting Gudbranson.  I'm coming around on him but would be happy with either he or Fowler.

Less than 56 days away!

...in the coaching search. We now know both Scott Arniel and Kevin Dineen will have official interviews so Howson and co. are finally off and running.

Personally let's stop with the dog and pony show and just hire Dineen already.  Everyone knows he will be the guy so just sign the paperwork and let's move to the next phase.

I'm one fan who is very excited to see what he can do with this group.

...for former CBJackets Jason Williams & Manny Mahotra. They remain the only former Jackets from the past two season still alive in the Stanley Cup playoffs (that I can recall off hand anyways).

...towards free agency for Freddy Modin, Raffi Torres and Milan Jurcina.  Modin will likely hang em up.  Jurcina should land somewhere for under a mil a season.  Torres will be the interesting one to watch.

Torres had a very disappointing run with Buffalo registering just 5 assists in 14 regular season games.  He had just 2 assist in 4 games in the playoffs and was scratched after 4 games.  I've read various comments from Sabres fans that Torres came over injured.. that he partied during the Olympic break instead of working so and so forth.. -- Not sure how much truth there is to any of that but needless to say they are not happy.  With that production who could blame them.... I mean not 1 goal?

At this point it's very hard to read what he'll fetch on the open market but my guess is it won't be what he thinks he'll get.

Out of those 3 trades the Jackets will have only a 2nd round pick to show for it.  The Modin move was on the condition that if the Kings won the cup the Jackets would get a 7th rd pick.  Jurcina's was also conditional but he never played so you can scratch whatever that would have been.

On the flip side -- salary was saved - roster spots used by young players - the dive for five was a success  and now Howson has an addtional 2nd rounder in his stockpile.

...towards the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup. The first round concluded a few days ago and it always interests me to see which teams had the most disappointing first round exits.

Why?

Well those are probably the squads who will want to shake things up the most in the offseason.

Take the New Jersey Devils for instance.  They made the big trade to get Kovalchuk but found themselves eliminated in the 1st round for the 3rd season in a row.  Who takes the fall for that loss this offseason?  Believe it or not I've seen a New Jersey fan ask what a guy like Zach Parise could fetch on the open market.  The Devils aren't that stupid but I'll tell you right now - I'd trash Rick Nash straight up for Zach Parise in a New Jersey minute.  LOVE the way that guy competes game in and game out.

Washington will certainly want to shake things up.  Mike Green on the block perhaps?

Nashville does what they always do and that's lose in the 1st round.  Hey, at least they get their consistently right? Won't do much to change their roster.

Colorado was us last season and wasn't expected to be there.  They saved a horse and rode hot goaltending to a surprising season.  Don't expect much here and it will be interesting to see if they regress next season like we did this one.  Here's a question - will they resign Captain Coward?

LA finally got over that playoff hump.  They'll shuffle some vets around but they aren't touching their core.

Phoenix was another surprise.  Again some vets will be moved around but nothing major outside of figuring out their ownership situation.

Buffalo had a nice season but had a dissapointing exit at the hands of the Bruins.  They've never been one to make big blockbuster moves.. In fact they've made more news in terms of guys they've lost (Drury, Campbell, Briere) versus who they gain.

Ottawa is another squad that wasn't sure if they'd be there.  They have some guys like Volchenkov that they need to sign.  I could see a couple of deals with this team but nothing major.

Out of the teams eliminated in the 1st round keep your eyes on New Jersey and Washington as I believe both will want to shake things up in a big way.  Not sure how well the Jackets' needs align with theirs (although I wouldn't mind that Ovechkin guy!) but it's worth keeping an eye on.

...Breast Cancer fight! Remember the Hockey Beats Down Breast Cancer tournament is scheduled for the weekend of May 7th through the 9th at the Easton Chiller.

Yours truly will be playing in this tournament which is for a cause that is very dear to me personally.

If you can't play I would encourage all that have the means to donate whatever they can -- for instance if everyone who reads this donated $5 or even $1 it would help cover the cost of ice time for the event.

The Chiller has really stepped up to the plate to work with Hockey Beats Down to get the ice as cheap as possible.  They are also donating the CAHL fines and matching that gift with their own donation as well as donating some CBJ items for a silent auction.

There are some players spots still available for the cost of $75 per player and as I stated, if you can't play but would like to contribute that would welcomed and very much appreciated.

Please visit the Hockey Beats Down official web site for all the details on how to play, volunteer and/or donate!

-LTL

Martin Thornberg is a player for HV71 in the Swedish elite league.

Swedish link

OK with the help of google translate, and the ability to speak a similar language, I drew up this picture:

OK, JPMac issued a video to the season ticket holders - so, why was it sent 2 weeks after the season ended, or should I say, 2 weeks after the team started playing golf?  But I digress...

Unlike some others, I'm not buying this BS - there was more emphasis on solving their lease issue - don't get me wrong, this is a critical issue (and then some) - but, this was another in a long line of missteps/missed opportunities/screwups.

Like LTL said, it a bit of frustration, if status quo - cheap ownership, inept off-ice management, a total disregard for the fans - again, not a solitary 'thank you' for us getting the team over the attendance threshold, the VERY reason they received their revenue share in the first place - while making us enture that abomination on the ice, being basically out of playoff contention by the usual December date - if that is what we have to continue seeing, maybe the best thing is to sell to an owner who gives a crap, who will fix the arena lease situation (be more forceful - put up or threaten to bolt - AKA 'grow a pair').

With all that, here is the email response I provided to the CBJ for that attempt - I think Tiger Woods' presser showed more contrition and reverance, personally - which, as expected, resulted in no response - once again, proving my belief they don't care, at all, about the fans.  Ah, but it made me feel better, so, keep my email in your circular file, guess I'll do the same when I get pestered by their Ricart-esque sales gerbils about renewing my season tix.

To Whom It May Concern,

OK, here’s my feedback – as a result of the fan’s still supporting that cataclysmic disappointment of a season, you were able to receive a $10 million revenue share, from the NHL.

So tell me, as this revenue share was known to be received prior to the end of the season, why wasn’t there one solitary acknowledgement from either Mr. McConnell or Mr. Priest, either in the media, or prior to a game (i.e. the last regular season game)? 

Because, had the fans not supported the team, late into the season, after that debacle, you wouldn’t have met one of the key criterion for the revenue share.  This was another, in a long line, of opportunities lost. 

More disturbing was the insulting response from your customer service representatives, regarding an even bigger debacle, commonly called ‘Game Ops Gate’, when, while playing the Chicago Blackhawks (January 10^th), the game ops crew played the ‘Hawks goal-scoring music after Chicago scored a goal, resulting in the Chicago fans being whipped into a frenzy.

What following was, after fan’s expressed their disdain for what occurred, an insulting, condescending response (from Customer Service) about how that could have happened, without any indication of adverse action towards the game ops person who allowed this to occur.  This would be similar to playing ‘Hail to the Victor’ at Ohio Stadium after Michigan scored a touchdown. 

Then we were insulted (in the explanation), further, by hearing about how this inept crew prides itself on providing the ultimate in the NHL game experience.  Meanwhile, it was just another in the many 2^nd or 3^rd (perhaps far worse) class ‘production’ that this group performs, game in, game out.

In a word, inexcusable – this is a prime example of my favorite adage, “That’s not ignorance, that’s arrogance”.

Also, back to the revenue share, we are told that the money will be used towards scouting and player development.  After 10 years of the team’s existence, no true no. 1 center and no true first pairing defensemen, not to mention countless failed no. 1 and especially no. 2 draft choices.  Again, no consequences have or will occur, or even the indication of doing so, as a result of this failure.

Along with these failures is the lack of commitment to building a championship team on the ice.  Rather, it’s solitary commitment to ‘the bottom line’ – as some would say, “Spend it, and it will come”.

For these and other season’s failings, it gives so many of the fans that interact with – and I do interact with so many of the faithful – that this organization doesn’t, nor ever has, given any consideration or true reverence towards its fans, who, year after year, are provided with so much less than they’ve ever received, in return.

So, rather than provide a scripted, insincere message to the season ticket holders, please enact upon some of the egregious miscarriages that continue to occur. 

Thanks for your willingness to listen to my concerns, if you indeed do heed what I’m trying to convey. 

Respectfully,

- Mase1