Time for Stanley is now, not June

We were reminded recently that cold temperatures persist in many of hockey’s hottest markets in April and early May.  Cold temperatures in the low 40s and even 30s with snow reappearing in some places across the Great Lakes region serves as a reminder that Stanley's time is now.

Decades before Gary Bettman became the fans' whipping post, the National Hockey League has chosen a regular season which runs too far into spring, resulting in the big prize presentation being held a bit late.  One wonders whether television ratings might improve a bit if the League could offer its biggest games before fans in hockey-rabid areas head for outdoor activities after a long winter.

From a sporting world standpoint, presenting the Cup right now, in mid-May, would be perfect.  The NBA is in its second or third round, baseball is just getting going, and March madness was weeks ago. 

From an oft-forgotten weather standpoint, the Cup should be awarded a week or two before Memorial Day rather than in June.

Many of the markets that can serve to improve the NHL’s television ratings are close to the Great Lakes.  The region, including NHL cities Detroit, Chicago, Buffalo and Toronto are all still experiencing cold and gray weather into May.  Those on the northern plains of Minnesota continue to experience the same.  While Spring arrives on-time in late March/early April in Boston and New York—markets close to oceans, not lakes, it’s still conceivable that their late April/early May weather can run cold. 

Now is the time to strike.

People in these regions endure what feels like more than the scheduled three months of winter, often living under the threat of temperatures in the 30s and low 40s well into April and May. 

When a day in the 60s or 70s comes along—indeed, if the sun shines at all in the homes of Sabre, Blackhawk, Red Wing, Wild and Maple Leaf fans—even the most hardcore hockey fan will be tempted to go outside. 

Unless one of those clubs are still alive, it’s a good bet that basically any activity outside after months of mostly gray skies will beat watching the NHL playoffs unless the home team is involved. 

This goes for Bruin and Ranger fans, too, but again, spring is a bit more reliable there (but not always). 

I wonder how many more people in these key Great Lakes markets would tune in to watch the playoffs if the big rounds were completed by now.  Imagine how many more people the League could get to watch the games if the Cup Final started Monday morning, for example? 

It would put a pinch on the regular season, but no less notable a figure than former union boss Paul Kelly indicated that a pre-Memorial Day Cup presentation would benefit the League during a television interview a couple of years back.  

With no Olympics on the horizon for the next three years, it’s worth considering whether the League could, within the parameters laid out by the collective bargaining agreement, tighten the schedule a bit in October and November, adding a few more games earlier for the purpose of a late March finish to the regular season.

The idea of an NHL finish three to four weeks earlier than currently scheduled is one whose time has come.

A cursory look at Great Lakes temperatures for three American markets shows why it’s important to get Stanley silver decided upon by May, before the weather breaks and the relieved northerner heads outside on a regular basis for the first time in months.

TEMPERATURES (HI/LOW)

With temps in snowy regions a full 20+ degrees hotter by June, why not get this whole thing done by May?

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