ESPN will be kicking itself
 

When Sidney Crosby is amazing and immediately brings back interest in hockey. I honestly don't think the average fan gives a shit that hockey left for a season, I think there is more excitement coming into this year because of it. ESPN made a mistake not picking it up again, now if I could only get OLN here :mad:

The only problem with that theory is that in order for a sport to be popular, eventually it'll have to be on ESPN at some point.

If this Crosby guy is the real deal, people will want to see him. I will be surprised if the NHL is less popular now then when it left. With so many transactions, a year of college basketball overdoese, and the apparent next Gretzky making his debut it at least stis up excitement. People didn't care about hockey while it was gone because you don't really notice if it never starts up, but with it back it will come back to people, like "Oh yeah, I did used to like this."

I dunno, I just think ESPN made a mistake by not picking it up at all. They got lucky with last year in college basketball, so many amazing players and teams, but this year will be different too. The Big 10 is still going to be shit, the Big 12 is basically shit, Wake Forest and North Carolina are basically starting over, it just simply won't be as good this year. Another reason why they will be kicking themselves soon.

On another note, does anybody know if a big three network picked up the NHL at all? I would have to assume ABC wouldn't if Disney didn't, but is Fox going to have like a Saturday game or anything?

Meat

lol nobody will care BCWWF. I'm canadian so I could care less where the U.S gets there games, but seriously, Americans don't care about our sports.

btw Leafs in 06

I could be off, but I think OLN has the "rights", I think the issue wasn't that espn didn't want it, but not at the old price or near the old price.

OLN probably over payed for it and it will either make them or break them. If people flock to watch the NHL, they get some major ad money and advertise some of their own shows that will target that audience it will be great.

The flip side, if people get tired of trying to find the channel, or don't get it and the big ad money doesn't come, wouldn't be shocked if they go under or if intrests builds but they cant meet the demand, possible sell off the rights mid-season to a major network.

I'm not saying the NHL is going to be extremely popular on OLN, because quite frankly based on the nature of the channel it will be hard for it to. What I am saying is that when interest in the NHL rises up again and NCAA basketball starts getting dull, I think they will wish they had Sidney Crosby on their side.

I wouldn't be shocked if ESPN, bitter off last season, doesn't give hockey the time of day this year though, and if they do that it will surely shrink back to lower then it was before the strike.

People seem to forget how shitty hockey was before it went on strike. If they had a season nobody would have watched. Now with everything that has happened in the offseason and some excitement that its coming back, this season will be more anticipated then last season would have been. That doesn't mean its going to compete with the NFL, it just means that it should be an improvement from where it left off, very very low.

the new rules, if they have the impact I believe they will, is what will save hockey.

They did that? How does it work, like play-in games?

20 teams? Are you joking?

The only problem I really have is if its still 7 game series'. Both NHL and NBA should go back to best of 5 in the first round (or in NHL's, just go there). But really, having 10 teams in the playoffs should make it better, because your team has a better chance of getting in, and when you are in you pay attention to it. Just a thought.

no way. that's when the NHL's best games take place. in the first round

They arent doing the 20 team playoff thing. I'm prety sure of it.

THEY ARE NOT DOING 20 TEAMS IN THE PLAYOFFS

:-\

don't see an NHL thread, putting this here cause I'm Lazy.

Tkachuk failed his physical and got suspended, word is he was overweight and out of shape. Remember when the NBA had the long strike and Kemp came back like 50-100lbs over weight.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2164024

I guess I was wrong, there is no interest in the NHL now

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twinci...s/12675861.htm

I'm not siging up as a member of your shitty newspaper, BCWWF.

Your loss. Star Trib is better anyway

just post the article, FFS

how about I slaughter you pets