Quick Hits: .500 Edition

by JeffHancock41 on Feb 1, 2012 6:05 AM CST in Quick Hits

Hockeytown, No Limits

A special tribute for a special friend - Detroit Red Wings - News
The Flames organization did a wonderful job honoring the life of Brad McCrimmon. It was cool to see all the Calgary players wearing McCrimmon sweaters and the standing obvation was a very nice touch. Well done, Calgary.

Red Wings trip starts well on third-period rally | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com
The road trip has started well. It's nice to be at .500 on the road now. Time to get that number above .500 though.

Red Wings shake off rust, grind out victory against Flames to begin four-game road trip | MLive.com
It was good to see Hudler continue to score goals. Happy won't be going anywhere at the trade deadline and the Wings need him to continue to play well the rest of the way.

Red Wings' Mike Commodore has chance to earn sixth defenseman spot | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
Count me on the list of pro-Commdore. It's not that I am against Kindl or anything, but Ericsson just plays much better with Commie by his side and, as we saw last night, Commodore can bring that edge to the game that the Wings don't have. He's there to step in during the scrums.

KuklasKorner : The Malik Report : Red Wings-Flames wrap-up and overnight report: Wings earn a Mccrimmon-style win
Malik with the wrap-up and everything and anything you needed to know about last night's game.

Around the NHL

Hockey prodigy Oliver Wahlstrom strikes again with incredible lacrosse goal in Boston (Video) | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports
True story: I helped put together this video (and the entire mini 1-on-1 series) at work.

Is Seattle the new favorite to get the Coyotes? | ProHockeyTalk
Bring back the Mets!

Craig Anderson allows center ice game-winner | ProHockeyTalk
Holy Dan Cloutier sighting!

Islanders To Play Preseason Game in Brooklyn; Ironic Glasses Optional - Lighthouse Hockey
The Brooklyn Islanders, eh? I think they might need a new name if they're going to move.

Journalism and the ethics of hockey blogging | Backhand Shelf | Blogs | theScore.com
An interesting take on blogging and the ethics behind it.

Stat-Mining: 10 fun stats from the 2011-2012 season | Backhand Shelf | Blogs | theScore.com
Which Red Wings stat made the list? (Hint: It's not the home win streak).

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Comments

For those who don't know

Brooklyn is, in fact, located on Long Island!

by stevenyc on Feb 1, 2012 8:57 AM CST reply actions

I was just about to say that.

Pierre McGuire is a blithering dimwit.

by Brion on Feb 1, 2012 9:05 AM CST up reply actions

haha

I failed geography

Brendan Smith fan

by JeffHancock41 on Feb 1, 2012 11:29 AM CST up reply actions

The move to Brooklyn seems like it would be a win-win for most everyone. Nassau County doesn’t seem particularly motivated to keep the team anyway, and the move is short enough that the fans would still be able to attend games. In terms of distance it’s roughly comparable to the Pistons moving from Cobo to the Silverdome. A lot of people who grew up on Long Island rooting for the Islanders in their heyday probably live or work in Manhattan now anyway.

And of course, the team would get to play in a state-of-the-art arena where they’d probably make more money and become a more competitive franchise. Until the team is decent they’re basically going to be a forgotten franchise, even though this is the biggest media market around.

by stevenyc on Feb 1, 2012 2:37 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah

I think it would be really sad if the name changed

by mikerlz on Feb 1, 2012 1:25 PM CST up reply actions

Seattle Coyotes?

http://www.nwcn.com/sports/SoDo-land-deal-a-prelude-to-a-new-arena-135507863.html

I remember the Production Line and the Darkness

by beemerron on Feb 1, 2012 10:32 AM CST reply actions

and this

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017083844_arena24m.html

I remember the Production Line and the Darkness

by beemerron on Feb 1, 2012 10:36 AM CST up reply actions

The biggest issue there is that the Coyotes are not going to survive long enough for that arena to be built. They could temporarily play in the Tacoma Dome, but every report I have read say it would have a sub 14,000 capacity for hockey. Key Arena (where the Supersonics played) is also an option, but that is lucky to break 11,000 for hockey.

No, the league will want to duplicate the success it had with the Jets, I think. The Jets play in an arena of just 15,000, so I doubt the NHL would want the “grand opening” of a new team to be in anything less than that.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Feb 1, 2012 11:40 AM CST up reply actions

I believe it was Lyle Richardson who brought it up (although it could have been just about anybody, and my memory isn't very good on this)

but somebody mentioned that perhaps moving them temporarily to Kansas City while they build a new arena in Seattle would be a good idea. I’m starting to lean that way.

They probably won’t get more fans going to their home games in KC than they get in Glendale, but it’s a step towards something. KC fans will know that the team is only playing there for a year or two, but they’ll have an opportunity to prove to the league that they could be a good hockey market if given a chance (which would make things more interesting for ownership of the Isles and Devils). It could also work at getting Quebec City off their asses for building a new arena if KC gives a good showing and they see they have some competition.

Of course, I’m not even sure AEG would let them do a two-year lease on the Sprint Center that the team (err… league) could afford, but I’m sure the fact that AEG, who owns the Sprint Center AND the Los Angeles Kings could be talked to rationally about it.

Worst case there is that the yotes lose as much money in KC for two years as they would have lost in Glendale.

by J.J. from Kansas on Feb 1, 2012 11:54 AM CST up reply actions

With how well the Hornets worked out in OKC (which, ironically, led to Seattle losing the Sonics), I think the NHL would definitely consider the Sprint Center. It’s often cited among the best arenas in the nation despite not having a big name team, it supports 17,000, the state is a huge sports state, and there isn’t a hockey team there. AEG might be persuaded by the possibility of the Islanders or Devils (or Panthers, even, if they can’t get a long term financial fix) possibly moving there in a few years if the Yotes work out well. Or even the Yotes staying and one of those other teams moving to Seattle’s new arena

I’m sure the league would prefer a much more direct approach to whatever city lands the Coyotes, but beggars cannot be choosers. Quebec lost its team because it didn’t have a good enough arena (and the value of the Canadian dollar was extremely weak) and hasn’t made any real strides toward building a new arena, despite thinking they are next in line for a team. Hamilton is also a possibility. They have Copps which could be used as an interim arena while a new one is built (Hamilton has previously stated they would approve and help finance a state-of-the-art arena if the NHL was willing to use Copps for a few years. They don’t want to build such an arena without a tenant, though).

What other cities could even support a team at this point? I suppose Hartford is always at the back of peoples’ minds, but I doubt the NHL ever returns there. Could Milwaukee or Green Bay support a team? I suppose OKC should be considered, given the support the city has given the Thunder (and Hornets before them). Really, Kansas City looks as good a location as anywhere at this point, and JJ would be able to see the Wings once or twice a season.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Feb 1, 2012 12:15 PM CST up reply actions

and JJ would be able to see the Wings once or twice a season.

Hell. yes.

by J.J. from Kansas on Feb 1, 2012 12:59 PM CST up reply actions

It has always baffled me that a hockey-loving state like Wisconsin never caught a whiff of an NHL team. Milwaukee certainly should be able to support a team, and they could draw fans from as far as Green Bay, Madison, or even the northern suburbs of Chicago.

by stevenyc on Feb 1, 2012 2:40 PM CST up reply actions

We tried

The Bradley Center (current home of the Bucks and AHL Admirals*) was built to try to get Milwaukee a franchise, first in an attempt to buy the Blues and then later an expansion that I believe ended up going to Tampa Bay. I’m not sure for the exact reasons but I’ve heard the $50M expansion fee plus the guaranteed mediocrity of an expansion draft were big factors**, and the Blackhawks ownership may have been an obstacle too.

We still occasionally get brought up because we have a ready-to-go arena that seats 17,000+ and Wisconsin should ostensibly be hockey friendly, but Milwaukee is primarily a baseball town on top of being a small market with the typical rust-belt baggage.

Can you tell I’ve put some thought into this?

(For reference, Admirals attendance by season: http://www.milwaukeehockey.com/attendance.htm )
(*LA Times article from 2/2/1994 would appear to confirm: http://articles.latimes.com/1994-02-02/sports/sp-18102_1_expansion-team )

by EthrDemon on Feb 1, 2012 4:11 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs