DECEMBER 12, 2010 --
OH CAPTAIN? GOOD DOGGY
Amazing
situation in Buffalo as Craig Rivet (left), currently in the final season
of a 4-year, $14M deal he signed with the Sabres in 2007-08, has become a
regular scratch and has fallen down the club's depth chart. Falling down the
depth chart happens (Rivet is the team's eighth defenseman).
But it's not supposed to happen to your captain.
Saying all the right things, Rivet obviously hopes, will keep his ship
sailing smoothly through this storm.
"I think the coaches have done a real nice job pushing me and working me, and
that's what I'm here to do," Rivet told the Buffalo News. "We'll just continue
to do that."
Good doggy.
FRANCHISE VALUES
Forbes'
The Business of Hockey 2010 reports in its franchise valuation analyses
this season that a whopping 16 of 30 franchises are losing money, and that an
overwhelming 15 of those are U.S. teams, with Ottawa the only money loser from
the Great White North.
Makes you wonder why all the supposed optimism coming from the NHL's Board of
Governors meetings. Indeed, the League has improved dramatically since the
lockout, and there are many solid indicators of improved health (not to mention
that the NHL product is better than all other major sports combined, in HT's
view).
With a salary cap reportedly growing to roughly $60M in 2011-12, the League
must amend its CBA to spread revenues more generously amongst weaker sisters.
Also, it must contemplate whether it's time to throw out the stipulation that
sites such as Anaheim and Long Island are forbidden from participating in
revenue sharing because of the large populations surrounding those areas.
It will be harder than ever for the Panthers, Predators, Thrashers and other
struggling clubs to participate in the NHL if the cap rises further, and it's
time to spread the League's wealth much thinner, around more participants.
Whether Gary Bettman agrees or, if he does, could convince the League's
owners to amend the current CBA is anyone's guess.
THEATRICALLY-MINDED QUEBECKER PROPAGANDISTS INVADE LONG ISLAND
The island of Long, which juts Eastward from Queens, NY, is facing invasion
from the Canadian province of Quebec this Saturday night when the resident Islanders hockey club faces the visiting
Thrashers of Atlanta.
Both clubs are suffering attendance woes, and as a result, revolutionary
troops--as many as 1,100--took their cause to the ancient Nassau Coliseum, which
served as the theatre of battle for the propagandists from "Nordiques Nation," a
70,000-member hockey-loving sect. According to the Canadian Press, 22 bus loads
of Quebeckers descended upon the arena, occupied 500 or so seats at each end of
the rink (behind the goals) and cheered loudly at the 15 minute mark of each
period to mark the 15-year anniversary of the relocation of the Nordiques
franchise to Denver, Colorado.
In Denver the proud Quebec franchise reemerged as the Avalanche, and won the
Stanley Cup for the first time in club history the season after relocating to
the USA.
With shockingly low attendance figures on Long Island and in Atlanta, the
theatrically-minded caravan is hoping for maximum shock value for its
over-the-top production. They should be a major media success, making
their statement just one county removed from the League's Manhattan
headquarters.
ATTENDANCE HALL OF SHAME
Here we are, 30-or-so games into the season, and it's time to share some
attendance figures that are sure to shock and amaze. Remember, the League
announces attendance based on tickets distributed, not on turnstile clicks:
The under 10,000 club: For a few unfortunate clubs, attendance under 10,000
is a regular occurrence.
TEAM NO. OF DATES < 10,000
CBJ 4
ATL 3
PHX 6
NYI 4
SJS 1
Some truly woeful evenings are included in this shameful list, including
announced attendance of 8,461 in Atlanta (Nov. 4); 6,706 (Oct. 21), 6,761 (Nov.
3), 7,749 (Dec. 9) in Phoenix; 8,652 on Long Island (Nov. 24), and 9,892 in
Columbus (Dec. 1).
TEAM NO. OF DATES BETWEEN 10,000 AND 11,000
NYI 2
CBJ 5
ATL 5
PHX 1
TEAM NO. OF DATES BETWEEN 11,000 AND 12,000
CBJ 2
NJD 1
ATL 1
PHX 1
CAR 1
DAL 1
FLA 2
NYI 2
FAST FACTS:
TAMPA: 10th overall in team goals-for; 30th in goals-against. Ouch! Beware
Dan Ellis and Mike Smith, HT does not believe that GM Steve Yzerman will stand
pat with that situation at hand. Worse, the 'Bolts have allowed the
second-fewest shots against per game (27.2), so Ellis and Smith can't argue that
they've been getting shelled.
