Any other NHL fans on the site?

[amat]

I'd bet that SJ will take it, but Iginla and Kipper have the ability to win a series all by themselves. Then again, so does Joe Thornton and Nabakov. The Sharks have always seemed to be reasonably well supported, they're not one of the U.S. teams that need any help drawing fans I don't think. The Panters and Preds on the other hand...

Well they are just stupid for putting a team in Nashville, I went to the very first game in Nashville and it's obvious it's not a town that needs a hockey team. They already have a niche, they are a country music town where the Nascar Cafe pulls in more money then any restaraunt in town. They just don't care or appreciate one.

I have heard the argument made many times though that any team not in a major market or not in cold weather should be contracted and the Sharks come up a lot. It's ridiculous.

In my experience there seem to be a fair number of hockey elitists who seem to think that hockey only belongs in Canada and the origional 6 cities. While I would like to see one or two more teams in Canada, especially now that the dollar is doing relatively well, the southern U.S. markets are great at supporting their teams. I think Tampa Bay had the 3rd highest attendance this year. However, hockey is in a few places it has no buisness being, like Nashville. Gary Bettman is just too stubborn to admit it.

Exactly, it's like the NFL scheduling games in London. Football has no place in Englad, they don't ccare about it, never have never will.

[CFH]

Well they are just stupid for putting a team in Nashville, I went to the very first game in Nashville and it's obvious it's not a town that needs a hockey team. They already have a niche, they are a country music town where the Nascar Cafe pulls in more money then any restaraunt in town. They just don't care or appreciate one.

I have heard the argument made many times though that any team not in a major market or not in cold weather should be contracted and the Sharks come up a lot. It's ridiculous.

In my experience there seem to be a fair number of hockey elitists who seem to think that hockey only belongs in Canada and the origional 6 cities. While I would like to see one or two more teams in Canada, especially now that the dollar is doing relatively well, the southern U.S. markets are great at supporting their teams. I think Tampa Bay had the 3rd highest attendance this year. However, hockey is in a few places it has no buisness being, like Nashville. Gary Bettman is just too stubborn to admit it.

Exactly, it's like the NFL scheduling games in London. Football has no place in Englad, they don't ccare about it, never have never will.

At least the NHL is an event though. I would go to a European football game just for the atmosphere and the experience even though I don't watch or follow the game. Hockey doesn't have that same buzz and excitement about it. It did briefly following the Rangers '94 cup win, but the NHL squandered it by developing into a boring, defensive league with watered down talent because of expansion. The lockout didn't help, and Bettman made a terrible decision when he took the NHL to Versus instead of staying on ESPN as well. Hockey needs to work its way back to being a major sport in the U.S. and it has a long ways to go.

[amat]

It's sad because to be big in the sports market now, you need to be big with ESPN. Kind of sad a bit of a stranglehold ESPN ha sand it's not fair. But this is a rant for another day.

I think hockey is moving in the right direction, the rule changes after the lockout have greatly improved the appeal of the sport but I still don't like the shootout.

Hockey isn't doing so bad at the grassroots I don't think. And by that I mean actually at the arenas. It's by far the best sporting experience live and not to many people who have actually been to a hockey game disagree with that. It's not a sport that translates 100% to TV no matter what station it's on. The key is to get more people to games and that is the reason so many people are fans in San Jose. None of these people in the South Bay ever grew up with hockey but once they went to the games, they became fans. That's how I became a fan. I went to a game in 3rd grade (the Nashville opening night versus the Panthers) and became a fan instantly. That's what it takes because if you don't grow up with it, you can't fathom what the complete hockey experience is like until you've gone.

But I agree on Versus, very bad call. Incredibly bad call and I can't believe it was made to e honest. The worst part of it is they don't even show it locally. You should never rob local markets of their sport especially hockey. I wouldn't think a major sporting league to be so dumb. Honestly, that KILLED the Cup series last year I believe it was the lowest rated in Cup history?

[CFH]

It's sad because to be big in the sports market now, you need to be big with ESPN. Kind of sad a bit of a stranglehold ESPN ha sand it's not fair. But this is a rant for another day.

I think hockey is moving in the right direction, the rule changes after the lockout have greatly improved the appeal of the sport but I still don't like the shootout.

Hockey isn't doing so bad at the grassroots I don't think. And by that I mean actually at the arenas. It's by far the best sporting experience live and not to many people who have actually been to a hockey game disagree with that. It's not a sport that translates 100% to TV no matter what station it's on. The key is to get more people to games and that is the reason so many people are fans in San Jose. None of these people in the South Bay ever grew up with hockey but once they went to the games, they became fans. That's how I became a fan. I went to a game in 3rd grade (the Nashville opening night versus the Panthers) and became a fan instantly. That's what it takes because if you don't grow up with it, you can't fathom what the complete hockey experience is like until you've gone.

But I agree on Versus, very bad call. Incredibly bad call and I can't believe it was made to e honest. The worst part of it is they don't even show it locally. You should never rob local markets of their sport especially hockey. I wouldn't think a major sporting league to be so dumb. Honestly, that KILLED the Cup series last year I believe it was the lowest rated in Cup history?

Yeah, nobody in the States watched the final series last year. I really don't understand why the owners haven't replaced Bettman, I dispise that hobbit-looking fucker (no offense to Bilbo if he reads this). They NEED to get back on ESPN asap, in addition to the availibility they will get better coverage on shows like Sportscenter.
As a Canadian, I've been a fan of the sport since I was kid because I played hockey for many years, but I only just went to my first game this year. Canucks beat the Wings 4-1, one of their best games of the season, and it was great.
Unfortunately, the Canadian owners are making it impossible for the hardcore fans to attend the game. I was only able to go because my uncle had access to corporate tickets. We were 8 rows back from the ice, it was great.
The tickets would have cost over $150 origionally, and vendors (which is the only way to get tickets because they're sold out literally months/years in advance) would have increased that by at least 50%. So its prohibitive for the average fan.
Vancouver has the 2nd most expensive ticket prices in the league (Toronto is 1st), so the arena is pretty much dead because it is full of suits and not fans. The only atmosphere comes from the upper bowl, where the more hardcore fans are able to afford tickets.
I agree with what you say about grass roots hockey being to key to success. California is a perfect example of that. When the Kings came to LA, the NHL started growing grass roots hockey in Cali, and now they support several teams quite well. LA's attendance is suffering, but that has more to do with a sustained inability to ice a competetive team which has lead to fan apathy.

[amat]

5-2!!!!

Finally, this is their best hockey of the playoffs in this second period, these are the Sharks I'm used to seeing. Roenick is making his impact, 4 points with a goal to his credit. Really provided the energy tonight hopefully it carries over. Setoguchi has been playing great all series.