NHL – Why neutral site games should be brought back – Weekly Reader



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  • Greg Wyshynski ESPN

Foul Eric Lindros, Dan Quayle and the Toronto Blue Jays

In 1992, the NHL dropped 24 regular season games at neutral. , the result of a rare collective bargaining win for players (before Gary Bettman, of course) that has pushed the season to 84 games and shared the profits with the owners for these contests.

The first games of the experiment were … without success. They drew 8,783 spectators to Saskatchewan for the Flames and North Stars, a match that would compete with Eric Lindros' first game in Quebec City as a Flyer on TV. They drew 7,186 people to Copps Coliseum in Hamilton for the Leafs and Senators because the Blue Jays were in the World Series that same night. The Capitals and Blackhawks played at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis and sold about half of the tickets in the building during the election night, which included of course the outgoing vice president and noted Hoosier Dan Quayle.

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The neutral NHL site experience lasted two seasons from 1992 to 1994. Bettman completed it in May 1995, settling with the AJLNH a lump sum payment for parts that would have been played in 1995-96. (Remember the lockout that cuts the season in two, leaving no room for the season's games.)

There's no talk of bringing them back to the country, even though the NHL is playing at home. foreign. I've heard about it since they killed them, they were a little before my time, but I do not think they were very successful, "said Assistant Commissioner Bill Daly. to ESPN in June

.

The main goal of the NHL, in all that it does, should be to create new hockey fans.Some of these attempts have been promising, such as community outreach to create opportunities for young athletes to play hockey, and their recent foray into adventure sports.Some of these attempts were a little more strained, as some clumsy inclusion attempts It can be said that the most effective way for the NHL to create new fans is to bring the game itself to fans: through international games and expansion.

Neutral international games are now an integral part of the calendar. matches in Europe and Asia as well as some regular season games, including Sweden and Finland next season. In terms of expansion, it's no coincidence that five of the 13 cities that hosted neutral parties in 1992-94 ended up receiving NHL franchises: Miami, Atlanta and Minneapolis thanks to expansion; Dallas and Phoenix thanks to the relocation. The experience in some ways was a test balloon. Other cities included Milwaukee, Cleveland, Sacramento, Oklahoma City, Providence, Peoria (!), Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Their balloons jumped for various reasons

So why would things be different this time around?

Obviously, the NHL has grown exponentially over the past 25 years, not only in popularity, but Daly admitted "a much better place" than in 1992 – but in geographic reach. It's like putting the Winter Clbadic in a place like Notre Dame: it's the pre-season home of the Chicago Blackhawks, so you know these fans will be traveling to observe the state of l & # 39; team. And they can hit a clover on a pile of goods, so you know that Boston fans will appear too.

Use the external game pattern of geographic relevance. The enlarged map means fewer places without two teams nearby. So, you can put games in Ohio and wait for Columbus Blue Jackets fans to make the trip. Or the predators of Nashville against hurricanes from Carolina to Charlotte. Or games in the Southwest with California teams plus Coyotes and Golden Knights nearby. In addition, the traditions of the historic neutral site of the fashion show's expansion potential (Portland, Houston, Quebec) and the former NHL cities to which you can throw a bone (Kansas City, Hartford). Hit ECHL Cities like Jacksonville, Orlando and Tulsa

Speaking of outdoor games, there is something different about the NHL 25 years ago: they played really well at home. this traveling show. These neutral site games would not only be two names on a marquee, but the NHL is coming to town. Bring the trailer with the rewards and the memories. Invite the local hockey community to take part in the festivities, whether it's involving young players taking part in the face-off before the game or a high school match earlier in the day on the same ice surface. Again, that's what the NHL has excelled in its outdoor games, and it can easily be repeated indoors. Make it an event.

Greg Wyshynski and Emily Kaplan are live from Bristol to undo the biggest free-to-play movement, including an in-depth look at John Tavares' move to the Maple Leafs with Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. In addition, the winners and the losers, as well as the last line of the season from fans suffering from the Islanders. Listen »

Obviously, the trick here is to understand how to structure the schedule to accommodate these games. Whether it's one or two games per neutral site per season, the teams will not want to give up those dates. Back to 84 games? Call hard, and made more difficult because of what I want to see for these neutral games:

I want these games to be fundraisers for a special endowment that helps retired players to manage symptoms and trauma post -commotionnels. I think it's something that players and fans could muster

Frame these games as a charity effort, as a way for players and teams to connect with hockey fans around nations, and as a way for hockey fans to contribute, in one way or another, to the well-being of players who sacrifice their bodies and their health for their entertainment. It may be a way to raise awareness of this health crisis, although the NHL probably chooses to present it as "post-retirement benefits" and nothing more.

Bring back neutral site games. The NHL is quite popular and effective enough for these games to succeed

No games for the Election Night this time, agree?


The future of the NHL's Star Games, Awards, Outdoor Games

has found a great home for his show in Las Vegas. Brian Babineau / NHLI via Getty Images

The NHL has, of course, another tour that has turned out to be very popular: The All-Star Weekend.

The next stop is San Jose in January 2019, for the second time in its history. Six NHL teams have not yet hosted the weekend in their current stadiums: the Anaheim Ducks the Arizona Coyotes, the New Jersey Devils, the Capitals of Washington, the Winnipeg Jets and the Vegas Golden Knights

. The league has sent out requests for proposals, but not only for the 2020 edition: The NHL has polled cities about the next three seasons and plans to unveil not one, but three star games in the next announcement.

We try to do, and it's easier said than done, to take advance.Outdoor Games, All-Stars, drafts, so we can announce them a few years in advance. There are many factors in programming. Steve Mayer, NHL Content Manager

This is especially true for NHL outdoor games, as the Winter Clbadic faces obstacles in NFL games and the NCAA. . "There are places we want to go, but they can do it in 2021 but not in 2022 for a variety of reasons, there are so many factors, NFL, bowling," says Mayer

Take Nashville, for example , which would be at the top of the list of NHL outdoor play sites. The Music City Bowl will be held at the Nissan Stadium in December, so it could be from a game in the Stadium series played in February instead of the Predators.

As for the NHL trophies, they are stuck at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. the next three years. But after that, Mayer believes that they will stay in Las Vegas, despite the fact that they are now being held in a city that an NHL team calls home.

"Will NHL prizes be circulating? way: A player who has been nominated for a prize has not come this year.A player, because of a prior obligation and a family thing, "said Mayer of the Los Kings defender Angeles, Drew Doughty. "I challenge any awards, where you have one person [not show up] out of 16 awards, with three nominations for each award, it's amazing, let's admit it: everyone loves coming here to Vegas, they bring their wives or their families or girlfriends "


The best cake of all time

For the winner, the loot

In this case, the winner is the Stanley Cup champion Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals of Washington. The booty, meanwhile, is the grand cake moved to him during his celebration in Russia:

… possibly # gr8est cake ever pic.twitter.com/dHgzLoF3rv [19659038] – Capitals of Washington (@Capitals) July 8, 2018

I mean, of course, they were wrong with the color of the jersey (the Capitals took it on the road), and he holds the Cup with his gloves for some reason, and apparently he's no longer captain

But other than that, a confectionery masterpiece.


Why, John, why?

Hey, did you hear that John Tavares is now a member of Toronto? Maple Leafs?

Blue and white. #MadeOfHockey pic.twitter.com/U01ntB5AeJ

– CCM Hockey (@CCMHockey) July 12, 2018

He mentions this once or twice in his essay for The Players & # 39; Tribune, which is destined to become one of the most well-intentioned but punishingly misguided applications of this model. Namely:

1. His eulogy of former general manager Garth Snow and former coach Doug Weight, while summarily ignoring the names of Lou Lamoriello, Barry Trotz or one of the team's owners , sparked speculation that he would have returned to the Islanders or not. his boys have not been turfed. What would it mean, a 10-year reign of Doug Weight as head coach, no matter the results? Is this what we theorize?

2. His essay was entitled "For the faithful islanders". He included a pretty valentine at the fan base that he was pushing back, discussing their support for the team and the family aspect of the community. "You have grandparents with their grandchildren … parents there with their children … young couples there at the first date … old couples for, for example, the 40th birthdays of marriage … just that sense of tradition. And besides, everyone is there, one way or the other, as part of an even bigger tradition – as part of that … I do not know not even … a great, crazy, perfect, Long Island thing, "he wrote. (OK," written. ")

Still, it was divine.And that should have been the end of but Tavares wrote, "To be honest, I did not know if I should include this next part," and he should not have much because it was not a joke, about 1000 words on how

This is the coda of his farewell to Islanders fans.

It's like buying the most poetic and most poetic Mother's Day card beautiful, by signing your name, adding, "To be honest, I did not know if I should include this next part," and then write another card and half a text value on how much better your new mother-in-law East.

I do not think John Tavares has done a lot here to change the hearts The NHL's CEO in Seattle, Tod Leiweke, talks about potential delays on the renovated Key Arena and how a nobody puts a sticky note on his door every day, which reads "Free the Kraken". [King 5]

Interesting piece about Andrej Sustr, depression and the discovery of pbadion for the art. [NHLPA]

Rankings of the Minnesota Wild jerseys in the history of the franchise. [Hockey By Design]

Did Mark Scheifele spoil himself by signing too early with the Winnipeg Jets? "Count your fingers the next time you shake hands with GM Jets Kevin Cheveldayoff." [Winnipeg Free Press]

Ranking of the best and worst cities in the NHL. In which Pittsburgh gets an "A" and Chicago gets a "B." [The Sports Daily]

Tyler Dellow explains why Tampa should be wary of an exchange with Erik Karlsson. [The Athletic (paywall)]

Forbes on BizNasty. [Forbes]

Why is there a debate about Dallas being a hockey town? [Fansided]

Finally, the sincere homage of the Chicago Blackhawks to Marian Hossa who is sure to mention "that he did what the team had to do to succeed." Like, oh, I do not know, adhering to the agreed structure of his contract that dropped his base salary to $ 1 million in the season, he decided by chance to get away from the game, and then gracefully allowed his salary limit to be moved to the Arizona Coyotes.

"Today is another example of leadership that Marian has shown as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks organization."

Hockey tl; dr (too long, did not read)

Why does the NHL not know how to pay goalkeepers? "The league probably manages to eliminate the goalkeepers who are not part of the game. We rarely see players with really terrible and persistent stopping percentages staying long, which makes sense, but discern the fifth best goalkeeper goal of the league. the league's 19th best goaltender? This seems an impossible task with what we have available. [TSN]

In case you missed your friends at ESPN

My "Buyer's Guide to the NHL Free Agent of 2019 ", which is an insider article.

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