NHL Hockey

[KayDeeCareBear]

Erk. Tired. Must. Sleep...

Just wanted to let you know that I'm a Wings fan, too

[newbie]

Did San Jose get anyone good?

Not really a hockey fan, but minus well ask just b/c I like Bay ARea teams .

[Lil_G]

The federal government was going to allocate lottery revenues to the 6 teams but reneged because public outcry was really bad. The city of Ottawa gave Bryden some municipal tax cuts, but nothing substantial. The province of Alberta is working on something with the wo NHL teams, not sure where that's been heading.
I don't know who will win the Olympics, we'll definitely have a better team this time around. It all comes down to goal tending, just like hasek in nagano, or richter in 1998 - hot goalie makes all the difference.

[LeslieAGD]

Well, we got Luke Robatie (sp?) from LA. I think Boston is giving LaPointe $20 mil but I don't know how many years his contract is for.

[Lil_G]

First of all, I'm not bitter about my team Not winning, it's how they lost. They were swept by a bitter rival, when everyone thought it would be a cake walk. When Ron Maclean asked Pat Burns if Toronto could sweep Ottawa he said there was no chance in hell. What i'm frustrated (and in case of you haven't realized this yet) is that Canadian teams are at a considerable disadvantage vs their american counterparts. Low Can. dollar, property taxes, municipal taxes, etc., all make it very difficult for every canadian team to remain competitive. Canadians don't believe in taxpayer-supported stadiums, most fans do not understand the full business of professional sport franchises. Every year Ottawa has to "trade down" players to cut costs, whether it's a super-star center like Alexei Yashin, or a solid 3rd Defenceman in Jason York (who is a fan favorite, native to the city of Ottawa and wants to play here).

So what happens when the young players are become too expensive to be kept? Are they traded for picks too?

It's because of some of these reasons noted above that Canadian teams haven't been dominating the stanley cups like in the past. Montreal had 7 in the 70s alone.

But at least we can take solace in knowing we'll make it count at the upcoming Olympics.

And no this isn't a case of the mondays (yesterday was a holiday), this is how every die-hard fan up here feels.

[Thrillhouse]

I know how you guys feel, I mean after all, our team plays north of Canada. Has the government proposals went thorugh to help these teams out yet? There is no discounting your countrys success over the years, but until the money issues are worked out, it will stay like it is now.

As for the oylmpics, they haven't got it done lately. Everyone knows you will medal, but will you all get gold? At least they didn't trash their hotel rooms like some other country.

[Lots-a-Heart]

First of all, win or lose (as they have every year since 1993) my team is Les Canadiens, so anyone can take potshots at me right away! But I am also Canadian so I have to add my two cents (that would be like four American) to the comment on the US "stealing the cup since 1993" from Canadians. I don't feel this way, totally. For the past two years, Lord Stanley's Cup has made it to Nova Scotia. First with John Sim of the Dallas Stars and then Colin White with the NJ Devils. Both times the city of New Glasgow and the province of Nova Scotia have beemed with pride that two local boys have made it. No one says "yeah well, too bad the Sens couldn't pull it off". Because those boys bringing back the cup to a town that small, only makes ALL the peewee, bantam, midget players in that town want to succeed and play. When there were only 8 teams, not all of them were in Canada! The expansion of the NHL has given many men the chance to play. In return (nowadays) they in turn make a lot of money. Most, give back to their communties, making life easier on a family who can't afford to spend $600 a year on ice time alone, thus fullfilling a childrens dream.
Think about people from the Eastern Block in Europe. They are just happy to play, no matter what team!
As a country we love our culture and feel that the NHL is a part of that. But we can still pride ourselves in the fact that we are the birthplace of hockey, that there are more Canadian players in the NHL then the Americans and Europeans combined, that we are excelling in Womens Hockey, at the Worlds, the World Juniors, the Olympics and that we have Hockey Night in Canada None of that would have been possible without the NHL growing beyond 8 teams, or the financial resources of some big American businessmen, who saw an opportunity and capitalized on it. They are not stealing the cup, they are giving us all a chance to enjoy the game in its full potential.
(Remember Greek love people! )


------------------
Sarah
Sister Lots-a-Heart, #9
President, Iota Beta Chi Sorority
http://welcome.to/iotabetachi

[Lil_G]

This thread has been slowing down lately so it's time stir up the controversy...

Lots of Heart while I respect and agree with all of what you've said, I think it ignores the fact that Canada is not dominating hockey like it once was - and that's what's scaring most canadian hockey fans. It isn't our game anymore, for the longest time it was only us vs the russians. Now the NHL makeup is only 53% Canadian, 10 years ago it was 75%.
The expectation level has dropped, plain and simple. When the juniors dominated gold 5 years in a row anything less than first place was unsatisfactory, now just getting a medal is considered an accomplishment.
Hockey is one of the only notable characteristics associated with Canadiana and when our teams go south with just a wimper, it makes me mad that so little ppl in this country care about it.

Ex Greek you said something about Ottawa not winning more than their division? If you're ever at the hockey hall of fame, check the engravings on the cup and you'll see ottawa is on it 5 times


[This message has been edited by Lil_G (edited July 06, 2001).]

[Lil_G]

Hey does anyone know the details on lapointe's contract? I heard it was 22 mil, but not sure over how many years. I also heard it was a 380% raise over his last contract....I can't understand Harry Sinden, he's such a cheap bastard, lets players go for nothing and then throws money around at mediocre players.

[newbie]

Originally posted by newbie:
Did San Jose get anyone good?

Not really a hockey fan, but minus well ask just b/c I like Bay ARea teams .

Can someone puh-leeze answer my question?? thanks all you hockey buffs .

[Thrillhouse]

Uh oh lil g, you sure passed that over on me. Gee I did not know that. Got any other facts I should know? Lol. That is like saying did you know the islanders won from 80-83? Yeah, find something a bit more obscure

[Thrillhouse]

Newbie, they haven't signed anyone big as of yet.

[Emilitab]

The trades have been interesting this year, and the AVS signed Roy, Sakic (with a no trade contract), and Blake! STANLEY CUP CHAMPS 2001!

[Lil_G]

Hey even if their last cup was in 1910's it still counts.
Sorry carolyn, san jose hasn't made any moves at all, there's rumors they're interested in brett hull though. Nobody seems to want him, i'm sure they can get him cheap.

[Thrillhouse]

LIL G, I heard it was a five year contract.

Not as sure about the eastern confrerence as of yet but here is my pre-pre season western confrerence picks:

1. Colorado
2. Detroit
3. St. Louis
4. Dallas
5. San Jose
6. Vancouver
7. Edmonton
8. Los Angeles

Not factoring in the real seedings where each division winner gets one of the top 3 spots. Bring on the response