I mean you don't see all the Shark fans in a panic. Your teams are NOT going to make it beacuse of Aki Berg and whoever is playing goal in Vancouver. Also if your team makes the amount of cash those two teams do, and can't even buy enough good players to make the top 8 in their conference? Tells you what management thinks of its fans, laughing all the way to the bank. They don't need that extra playoff revenue, keep buying the tickets and jerseys!
213115
they can ask all they want but that dosen,t meen there going to make it so who cares what they do
475341
In today's sports environment, it's not so much how the sport is received but a matter of simple business demographics. There are a handful of locations that are supportive of hockey and without a team to support but they won't get a team in the near future due to the population size, financial backing, and stadium situations. But there are other, more "attractive" cities that represent an opportunity for return of investment that would not have a hockey team even if summer turned to winter.\n\nIt seems to me that the likeliest destination for a franchise move are Kansas City, Hartford, and Salt Lake City. The teams most likely to move are the Coyotes, Panthers, Islanders, and Penguins. \n\nThe disparity Between the Canadian and American dollars is the biggest influence in deciding where to put a team. If something isn't resolved, the unthinkable could occur. The Canadiens, Maple Leafs, and Canucks can stick around, even operate at a loss, but smaller cities could lose their squads as Quebec and Winnipeg did. The odd situation in my mind is the Ottawa team. How can the capital city not have a team for decades, get a new one, and still struggle? Simple, it's all about profit and it is hard to do that and remain competitive in Canada vs. the United States.\n\nPersonally, I'd like to see less southern U.S. teams and more northern cities in the league. And, I am a proponent of contraction.
324714
They have won in the past, but they are getting quite old now and the legs don't work as well anymore.  They also had a very easy schedule in the regular season.  Most of the teams in their division were the weakest in the league and they got most of the points possible against them.  Having a series against a young team that played over .500 hockey was just too much for them.
670164
Oh, you really shocked me I think any one would like to be there and score a few goals, aren´t they giving out any money for the fans?\n\nIf it is like that let me know coz I am going to be Fan #1
364787
the teams with real talent are winning and the so-so teams are losing badly, not even having a chance.\n\nit's feast or famine now, so many teams, not enough talent to go around.\nthe nhl, after canning bettman, needs to drop about six teams.
511225
It IS starting to look like they REALLY don't want to bother shelling out the cash for the plane tickets to Miami next February, doesn't it? I'm a lifelong fan and frankly I'm starting to get just a little disgusted......\n\nMaybe if they totally choke this year, I'll go with the Big Ugly Purple Crows, THEY sure know how to tackle........\n\n(Well, at last they did actually decide to play some football, at least Alexander did!)
91074
They're pretty good, and might make the playoffs yet, watch out for Florida though won 7 in a row. They need a big Defenceman like that Chara guy Ottawa has, to keep the front of the net clear for the goalies. They also have to keep guys like Savard and Hossa happy (ie. more money), and they have both played great this season. Thats about all I can think of. Go Lightning!
273312
don't get too upset with san jose.  at least they made to the second round.  they did not do too bad.  at least they did not choke like the red wings did in the first round.  i like san jose.  they will be a great opponent to play in the next few years.  the top teams in the west like detroit, dallas and colorado are getting too old to remain on top.  the sharks, oilers, flames, and ducks are the future top teams in the west.  these teams are young and speedy.  keep the faith and remain a fan.  someday san jose will win the cup.
265346
The headline should read: OILERS EAT SHARK FIN SOUP!\n\nI can't tell you how lousy the sharks are but I can tell you how good the Oilers are.\n\nWhen you've got Jason, one of the toughest defencemen in the league, dipsy doodling around the goalie.  When you've got Ryan picking up his chicklets off the ice just in time to make some great passes and tough goals.  When you've got the whole team fired up like that, the Sharks are in big time trouble.\n\nGo Oilers Go!\n\nP.S. - Wasn't it the Oilers who got most of the penalty calls against them?  Wasn't it McTavish who was more worried about the impartiality of the refs?  Anyway the refs didn't score 6 goals twice in a row!
134683
It's a sports and cultural thing north of the Mason Dixon line and an entertainment thing south of it. In the original six NHL cities and across the Northern tier, they are all cold weather climates where you actually get a pair of skates handed down from your sib's and get a hockey stick as a gift for Christmas. Your shin pads were often a catologue from a department store. \n\nFor markets like LA, Dallas and Miami .. it's all entertainment. This is a choice for those dollars, verses clubs, movies and other sports options. Not that they are our are not viable markets for the entertainment ... but you'll never run out to your back yard, strap on skates and play shinny across a frozen lake or pond.\n\nIt is actually a regional sport and will remain so until an athlete or a team is so powerful that they capture the imagination of the marginal fan. Some say Gretsky could have ... because he was in that class with Michael Jordan and Bo Jackson.
316620
If you have 100's of "fat cat" fans, you have 100's of "fat cat" fans to satisfy.\n\n...not to mention what profitability the lease fees bring for the arena owners.
113157
The NHL is thriving and has never been better! Attendance is up! TV ratings are up! Everything is up!\n\nYou sound like a dinosaur fan lamenting the "glory days" when no-talent thugs ruled the game and bench-clearing brawls were a nightly occurrence. I found that to be abject and embarrassing! All it did was made the NHL look like some bush league where professional wrestling fans and other such losers could go to swill bear, scream obscenities and pick fights in the stands. No thanks!\n\n*Update: I'm glad we had our little offsite IM exchange, bugman, as I think we understand each other better now. We might not be on the same page, but we both love the game. And I promise you it is only going to get better! Go Sabres!
589641
Ever try reading a FULL responce. They aren't going to put in new rules, espically ones that dumb, because they don't want to lose FANS. My comment was that with the scoring being up this season it wasn't new rules this season but rather rules being enforced. All I was saying was they still didn't put new rules in. They never will. You think they would get new fans by doing things that stupid. May I remind you of the failed experment of the glow puck on Fox. Those of us who like hockey didn't like it, and no one started watching it even though they could tell where the puck was. The NHL doesn't change or add rules because they want to keep their loyal fans.
395524
It's annoying, but they're just doing the same thing any fans do when their teams get off to a hot start.  The football boards were all lit up with Bears Super Bowl plans until yesterday's loss, and the Sabres fans will cool off if and when their team comes back down to earth.\n\nI do agree that the shootout formula messes up the standings, and I wish they'd included shootout wins in the standings as they do with losses.  Still, I think Buffalo has a good team this year that has a shot to do well in the playoffs.
359555
The ticket prices matter to me. I can get a ticket for $10.00 (sure they're nosebleed seats but hey, you have a hell of a view) People will probably buy tickets if you have a winning team...you see it all the time...a losing team won't generate the sales that a winning team would, no matter how much T&A the losing team's cheerleaders have....etc.
133356
the talent pool is currently so diluted, and there is already too many teams... expansion wont happen unless teams start folding which isnt likely. what is most likely is that teams will move into some of the cities you mentioned. \n\nCleveland: that is possible\nOklahoma City: that is possible\nLas Vegas: there has been rumours of that, but i dont think it will happen\nSeattle: they need a new arena to be able to have a team; Portland Oregon is more likely\n\nToronto: Not likely because the leafs like being the only team in town and would have to approve another team entering their market which they likely wont do!\nQuebec City: Always possible\nWinnipeg: the next team that moves will likely go to the 'peg\nHalifax: probably need a bigger arena and a bigger population, but possible years from now\nst john's: probably need a bigger arena and a bigger population, but possible years from now
399018
They are doing real well, even better than the high expectations before the season. Pronger is having a fantastic year, and they can pretty much have either Neidermeyer or Pronger on the ice at all times on Defense. Giguere is playing like he did in the 03 playoffs. I don't think they have anyone along the lead's leading scorers, but because they have a well-balanced team and the kids are doing a lot, they are among the leaders in goals scored anyway. Despite all this, attendance seems to be down so there should be plenty of good seats to most games. Go see em'!