The Hockey talk Thread Part Deux, 2010/11 edition!!

[pghbuccos]

Logan Couture, Jeff Skinner and Michael Grabner were named Calder Trophy finalists today.

Grabner (NYI) 34 goals 18 assists 52 points

Couture (SJ) 32 goals 24 assists 56 points

Skinner (CAR) 31 goals 32 assists 63 points

 

[matchpenalty]

Skinner is my pick for ROY....

NHL alumni end of season game used stick auctions are up now. Starting with Ottawa and Florida
http://auction.nhl.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc ... 464&type=L

 

[pghbuccos]

No dollar figure announced?

not that I could find.

they just said on NHL Live that the deal is in the neighborhood of $2 BILLION

 

[thefatguy]

Versus is stupid, but would ESPN have paid 2 bills?

NEW YORK -- The NHL is staying on NBC and Versus for the next 10 years with a deal commissioner Gary Bettman calls the most significant in league history.

In a joint announcement Tuesday, the NHL and the NBC Sports Group said the new deal will run through the 2020-21 season. The package is reportedly worth a total of $2 billion.

the Hobbit got his TV deal, now all the teams can return to Canada :lol:

 

[gt2590]

Versus is stupid, but would ESPN have paid 2 bills?
the Hobbit got his TV deal, now all the teams can return to Canada :lol:

No way ESPN would make that number, I would have preferred the four-letter network have the deal but the rumors have their offer being less than half of that. Versus is doubling their broadcasts to 90 Regular season games, MUCH better! Plus, with the deal including all Platforms, there will no doubt many more options to get games on air. Comcast, which owns VS. is already talking about increased oppurtunities. And their changing VS.'s name after the Playoffs.I think the deal makes it easier to keep teams in the U.S. even if that's not the best thing for the league. :?

Otherwise, it's a great deal for the NHL and a way better deal than I would have thought possible. Whether you like him or not, Bettman did get a very good deal for his league.

 

[pghbuccos]

the deal will also bring every team more revenue and will increase the Salary Cap.

NBC/VS will have exclusive rights to the Playoffs starting with the 2nd Round. currently they have the exclusive Playoff rights starting with the 3rd Round.

 

[matchpenalty]

I hope Vs and NBC step up the game and make sure every playoff game and more regular season games are on TV. Sounds like they will. I would rather have had ESPN, but no way they pay even that little for a ratings loser for them.

So about 200 million a year. Each team gets 6 mil a year from it. While peanuts compared to other big sports, better than what they had in past. I think after missed season NHL was losing money on TV deals and paying for TV coverage or just about giving it away to get any exposure in US.

Surprised cap would go up, with all the franchises that are losing money. I thought past couple seasons roll backs were being done on contracts?

 

[gt2590]

Now if they could just fix up the NHL Network up so it doesn't look like a local access mess someone is making up in his cousin's walk-in closet with clips from his laptop.

Maybe since ESPN won't be getting Pro hockey now they can afford to hire away a couple of the Hockey-oriented studio anchors/commentators to improve the core programming. And stop using the in-game announcers for the highlights. It's confusing and really breaks up the smoothness of the whole show.

 

[tradincards]

I also read that NBC will be changing the name of Vs. Did NBC buy Vs? If so, that might be good, cause with Comcast as an owner the channel might be easier to find on the basic cable packages.

 

[pghbuccos]

I also read that NBC will be changing the name of Vs. Did NBC buy Vs? If so, that might be good, cause with Comcast as an owner the channel might be easier to find on the basic cable packages.

Comcast has owned VS since 2001 when it was still the Outdoor Life Network and Comcast now owns NBC.

 

[gt2590]

I also read that NBC will be changing the name of Vs. Did NBC buy Vs? If so, that might be good, cause with Comcast as an owner the channel might be easier to find on the basic cable packages.

Comcast has owned VS since 2001 when it was still the Outdoor Life Network and Comcast now owns NBC.

Exactly. And the big future is the multi-platform networks. Maybe the struggling MSNBC could be all hockey at nite?

Also, here's a admittedly pro-Philly Winter Classic update:

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/fly ... d=15585797

 

[pghbuccos]

I also read that NBC will be changing the name of Vs. Did NBC buy Vs? If so, that might be good, cause with Comcast as an owner the channel might be easier to find on the basic cable packages.

Comcast has owned VS since 2001 when it was still the Outdoor Life Network and Comcast now owns NBC.

Exactly. And the big future is the multi-platform networks. Maybe the struggling MSNBC could be all hockey at nite?

Also, here's a admittedly pro-Philly Winter Classic update:

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/fly ... d=15585797

I definitely think Comcast will need a 2nd or 3rd channel if they plan on broadcasting every Playoff game after the first round next season. I think using MSNBC or any of the other channels NBC uses during the Olympics would be a great idea.

 

[pghbuccos]

Upper Deck just posted this 2010-11 Ultimate preview pic on their Twitter...

 

[Junior Griffey]

They put it o Facebook too. I love the debut threads.

 

[gt2590]

Now if they could just fix up the NHL Network up so it doesn't look like a local access mess someone is making up in his cousin's walk-in closet with clips from his laptop.

Maybe since ESPN won't be getting Pro hockey now they can afford to hire away a couple of the Hockey-oriented studio anchors/commentators to improve the core programming. And stop using the in-game announcers for the highlights. It's confusing and really breaks up the smoothness of the whole show.

I hate to pile on NHL Network, but at 11:30 ET tonite, they were still showing the pre-game report about the Canucks were tentative but confident coming into Game 5 at home. ::facepalm::

Just so you know, it was 5-0 Blackhawks at the time. :lol:

 

[pghbuccos]

Tim Thomas (BOS), Pekka Rinne (NAS) and Roberto Luongo (VAN) were named Vezina Trophy finalists.

Thomas - 35-11-9 / 2.00 gaa / .938 save percentage

Rinne - 33-22-9 / 2.12 gaa / .930 save percentage

Luongo - 38-15-7 / 2.11 gaa / .928 save percentage

I say Thomas wins it.

who do you think wins?

 

[Junior Griffey]

2 boxes of SPA, here's my biggest hit:

 

[pghbuccos]

2 boxes of SPA, here's my biggest hit:

OUCH

 

[pghbuccos]

2010-11 NHL attendance numbers...

 

[Junior Griffey]

One sold for $75 with a similar patch. First one listed though.