Some of the Best Deals are the Ones that Never get Done

Another NHL trade deadline is almost upon us.  Like a dark cloud in the distance, we watch and wait for the inevitable storm.  Who’s gonna go, who’s gonna stay?

Some of the best deals are the ones that never get done.

Whoever said that first must be rolling in laughter every time it gets used.  Another great example of a sports cliche that pretends to say something but really means nothing.  We guess that is the beauty of it.  Seriously, we can think of a 100 great deals that will never get done in about 10 minutes.  So the saying is rather pointless.  Yeah, Luke Schenn for Sidney Crosby would be a great deal.  Too bad its not going to get done.  Therefore the saying works.  Ridiculous.

So we wait for the storm.  The eye of the day will be that it’ll be televised like no other in history.  Every player that gets traded will say:

• I hate to go
• Looking forward to a new challenge

In order to avoid the worst of the storm we are going to do things differently this deadline.  We’ll pass on the pretentious tv coverage, the interviews with the guys that really know nothing of any importance and the eversopainful2watch analysis.  For us, it marks the first of many that we’ll be following solely on the web.  We’ve never done that before and we are willing to give it a whirl.  At the end of the day, will we be just as informed?  Most likely and we’ll have avoided the mind numbing coverage of the networks.  A risk well worth the plunge.

Life Altering PeeVeeARGGHHHH!

It changed Woodpeck’s life.  Just this past Fall.  The PvR!

Seriously folks.  Get a PvR.  It’ll change the way u watch all your TV shows including sports.  Woodpeck now watches more tv in less time thanks to the PvR and seldomly misses the programs he actually wants to watch. When it comes to sports, we can fwd to all the good parts & viola!  U’ve watched the event in a fraction of the time it would have taken in real time!  Its so easy even a guy can use it. 

There we said it.  Now do it! You might be surprised to find out it only will cost ya a tad bit more then what you are already paying to watch tv… Do the research & find out for yerselves! Its not very often a gadget comes out that actually is a improvement to this level.  Now that woodpeck has one, he can’t ever imagine life without it & that’s the bottom line.

How Low Can You Go? Could Free Beer Save the NHL in the US?

We were just starting some research on the ‘net about this story we’d read about an EPL club that was having difficulties bringing in fans.  Bolton offer free beer and cheap pies in bid to bring the fans back. A hilarious and also envious notion that once it settles in, becomes a sad comment on the state of affairs of some of our professional clubs. Indeed to offer “free beer” to get fans in the gate is a desperate move. Most likely one of last resort.  So we thought of course of the weak NHL clubs that in a gate driven league might be in need of this idea and if they had tried it.  We discovered 2 occasions in recent times this had been done:

• Lightning offer free beer to season-ticket holders
• Blues cancel ‘Tuesdays on Tap’ before it even starts

We also caught this blog’s report on the issue that brought up the fact that once in the building these fans will more than likely buy team gear and merch.  Therefore nulling any cost the free beer offer has. 

Could this notion work in the NHL?  In the past, MADD has spoken against these offers and squashed both of our examples.  That doesn’t mean the plan couldn’t work.  If its a move of last resort, any team would take the calculated risk of bad press to get their bottom line better.  Wouldn’t any coverage of the league in the US be a good thing?  The US mainstream press barely recognizes the NHL.  So what if a group complains as long as it grabs a few headlines.  We think there’s gotta be an owner out there with this idea in their back pocket.  With a third of the teams in the league not making money, the law of averages applies!  Mark our words, free beer will be offered in Atlanta before the team moves to Toronto!

Your Logo Here!

Seriously, we all know the NHL needs cash. With markets in turmoil and a credit crunch happening, its only a matter of time until advertising shows up on the uniforms just like all the leagues in Europe. The impending cash squeeze combined with the huge player salaries and the drop in the Canadian Loonie will demand it. Just a heads up that this will happen before the 2010 season… lick it, stick it, stamp it. The Goaltenders Club is just the tip of the “ice”berg. Reebok already has their logo on the back. Just check out these pics from the latest Leafs game. Its only a matter of time before the logo takes a backseat to the sponsor on jersey. That game was also the Hockey Fights Cancer night so the advertsing for that was fully dialed up. Luke Schenn’s shoulders will be brought to you by “your logo here”…. get used to it!

The NHL Beer Cost Index 2008

Listed from most expensive to least.  Though its universally agreed that the beer is expensive at a game, depending on where you are at it could be worse!

Legend = Team Name, the beer price, the size of the beer, the cost per ounce.

Nashville Predators $6.75 (12) $0.56 per ounce

Philadelphia Flyers $5.75 (12) $0.48

Boston Bruins $7.00 (16) $0.44

New Jersey Devils $7.00 (16) $0.44

Anaheim Ducks $6.75 (16) $0.42

Edmonton Oilers $6.75 (16) $0.42

Calgary Flames $4.97 (12) $0.41

Chicago Blackhawks $6.25 (16) $0.39

Colorado Avalanche $6.25 (16) $0.39

San Jose Sharks $6.25 (16) $0.39

Los Angeles Kings $7.75 (20) $0.39

Dallas Stars $6.00 (16) $0.38

Detroit Red Wings $6.00 (16) $0.38

Montreal Canadiens $6.10 (16) $0.38

Vancouver Canucks $6.10 (16) $0.38

Phoenix Coyotes $6.00 (16) $0.38

St. Louis Blues $5.25 (14) $0.38

Tampa Bay Lightning $4.50 (12) $0.38

Toronto Maple Leafs $5.88 (16) $0.37

New York Islanders $7.25 (20) $0.36

Florida Panthers $7.00 (20) $0.35

Ottawa Senators $4.69 (14) $0.34

Minnesota Wild $6.50 (20) $0.33

Buffalo Sabres $5.00 (16) $0.31

Carolina Hurricanes $5.00 (16) $0.31

New York Rangers $7.50 (24) $0.31

Columbus Blue Jackets $6.00 (20) $0.30

Atlanta Thrashers $5.75 (20) $0.29

Washington Capitals $4.50 (16) $0.28

Pittsburgh Penguins $5.25 (21) $0.25

 

Just some suds for thought taken from this article.

Rays in Seven

The World Series begins today. I pick the Tampa Bay Rays in seven games. I like the home court advantage they have and all season long they’ve bent but never broke. This series will be another fine example of this. Sure, it won’t be easy and they will be their own worst enemy at times but my gut tells me they will pull it off. Plus, I don’t get the feeling the Phillies want it bad enough. Matt Stairs included. The Rays in seven.

Back Up in Net?

Last night the woeful Leafs tried putting their back up goalie in for the shootout.  I love this idea!  Why? I compare it to the closer role in baseball.  Why not bring in a different take/style/performer when a point is on the line.  It confuses the opposition that has been taking notes on the starter all game long. Also, the risk of injury is huge for someone who’s been sitting on a cold bench for a few hours.  Twice as risky when you bring in an aging vet like CUJO.  Talk about adding to the drama!  I hope many teams start doing this.  It gets the back ups into the game which is the icing on the cake for me. Too often they don’t see the light of day.

NHL Final Standings Predictions 08

Made on Oct. 1st and I still stick with ‘em.

Eastern Conference

1. Philadelphia*
2. Boston*
3. Tampa Bay*
4. Washington
5. Pittsburgh
6. Buffalo
7. New York Rangers
8. New Jersey

9. Carolina
10. Ottawa
11. Montreal
12. Toronto
13. NY Islanders
14. Florida
15. Atlanta

Western Conference

1. Detroit*
2. Dallas*
3. Edmonton*
4. San Jose
5. Phoenix
6. Chicago
7. Colorado
8. Vancouver

9. St. Louis
10. Calgary
11. Minnesota
12. Columbus
13. Anaheim
14. Nashville
15. Los Angeles

* denotes Division Winner

Also, I predict the Penguins will fire their coach Michel Therrien by the end of the season.  I’m still at a loss as to why this guy got an extension after failing miserably in the cup finals last season.