411 NHL Offseason Roundtable: The 2006-2007 Season
Posted by Neil Borenstein on 06.25.2007
The 2006-2007 NHL season might be over, but the offseason fun is just getting started. In the first installment of a three-part roundtable series, the 411mania staff gives their thoughts on the recently completed NHL season!
The 2006-2007 National Hockey League Season might be in the books, but that doesn't mean the league is on vacation. In fact, some might consider the offseason an even busier time for the NHL and it's executives.
To commemorate the 2007 NHL offseason, staffers from 411mania will give their thoughts on the three biggest aspects of this time in the hockey season in a three-part series, starting with today's topic – thoughts on the 2006-2007 season. It's always important to look back at what occurred from the past season and put things in perspective before moving forward with offseason plans.
But before we jump into things, let's meet the 411 staff members who have lent their expert opinions:
Coming all the way over from the MMA Zone, the author of Planet Tapout, Lotfi Sariahmed.
Which team made the greatest improvement from the 2005-2006 season?
Lotfi Sariahmed: Which team made the greatest improvement from the 05-06 season to the 06-07 season? I think the answer is a bit of a no-brainer here. The Penguins had 58 points in 05-06. They finished with 105 points in 06-07. If my math serves me correctly, which it rarely ever does, that's almost a 50-point improvement. That's pretty good. Sure, the team can't stop anybody yet, as its defense is horrid. But that offense is already pretty scary. Its main offensive talent is very young too. But they NEED to bring in a top-flight defenseman (Brian Rafalski perhaps?) to help out the dangerous offense. Ottawa made them look ridiculous in that first round series.
Sat: The team that definitely made the biggest improvement was the Pittsburgh Penguins. They went from a non-playoff team to a hundred-point team.
Ken Schmidt: This one is obvious and I'm pretty sure everyone is going to say the same thing, its the Pittsburgh Penguins. These guys were pitiful in Sid's rookie season, they were happy to win a game or two a week. This year they were serious contenders. Even though they were bounced in the first round of the playoffs, it was a big improvement to make it there regardless.
Jason Chamberlain: Easily the Pens. It would be hard not to improve with a group that includes Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal and Marc-Andre Fleury, to name a few. I was surprised at how quickly they were bounced from the playoffs, although judging by how dominant the Sens were in the playoffs (until they got pecker slapped by the Ducks), I shouldn't have been. Still, the team has a bright future. I pray every day that when he's a UFA, Sidney Crosby will come play for his childhood favorite team, my beloved Habs. But until then, he's gonna help the Pens become a real force in the East.
Neil Borenstein: In no sport will a team go from last place in the entire league to a legitimate playoff contender from one season to the next and not be considered the most improved. The Pittsburgh Penguins finished last in the Eastern Conference in 2005-2006 with only 58 points, and were only one less point and one less win away from being the dead last place team in the entire NHL. In 2006-2007, the baby Pens proved they could mature quickly, and rounded out the season with 105 points and a fifth seed in the playoffs. That is growth that very few people saw coming, myself included, and this is a definite team on the rise. They still have room for growth and need to shore up their defensive game, but the Penguins are now a team to watch thanks to the year they just had.
Which team had the biggest downfall from the 2005-2006 season?
Lotfi Sariahmed: It seems like everyone except me saw this coming from the Flyers. After a 101-point season in 05-06, they came back with a whopping 56 points. They finished dead last in the NHL. What happened? Well they haven't adjusted to the new NHL. They're an older team with young pieces who haven't been able to contribute yet. Simon Gagne can't do it all himself. Mike Richards and Jeff Carter combined for 69 points this past season. They've brought in Timonen and Hartnell so far this offseason but what about improving in net? I'm sorry, Niittymaki, Esche and Biron aren't that good. The Flyers were the only team to allow more than 300 goals this season. I think the point is to stop the pucks from going in right?
Sat: The team that had the biggest downfall was the Philadelphia Flyers. These guys had to have come into the season with high expectations, but we all saw what happened. This team fired their coach and they traded their best player. That right there tells you about their downfall.
Ken Schmidt: I want to say the Flyers because they absolutely killed me this season. However, the real answer to this question is the Edmonton Oilers. First they lost Chris Pronger in the offseason and then everything went to hell. They were contending for a while, but then they decided to throw in the towel and get rid of everyone on the roster with any value – Ryan Smyth, Marc-Andre Bergeron and anyone else anyone would take. They threw in the towel, have no great talent on the team anymore other than underwhelming Ales Hemsky and mediocre Joffrey Lupul.
Jason Chamberlain: Just as easily, the Flyers. Talk about a team that has fallen off; the Flyers were consistently one of the better teams in the league for over a decade, until last year, when they became the worst. I guess they're not built for the new NHL? They had a lot of injuries as well, but a 50-something point finish isn't just injuries ... this team sucks.
Neil Borenstein: It is entirely too easy to pick on the Philadelphia Flyers here. Though points and the fact that the Flyers essentially did the opposite of the Penguins will dictate a massive letdown, I think the Flyers actually did not take as big of a hit as their season story would tell. The Flyers got rid of a general manager that didn't know how to operate in the new NHL. They got a starting goaltender in Martin Biron that can actually be a No. 1 unlike Robert Esche and, to this point, Antero Niittymaki. They got rid of the oft-injured Peter Forsberg, who is amazing when he plays, but when he plays is not all that often. And they managed to land themselves a No. 2 overall draft pick not because they're really that bad of a team, but instead because they just had to deal with a lot of injuries and needed to get out of the stone age philosophy Bobby Clarke had instilled in the team. I think the Flyers did fairly well for themselves in a lost season, considering they should be right back in contention next season, especially with the pickups of Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell.
The two teams that managed to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2006, on the other hand, took some nosedives in 2006-2007. Both the Carolina Hurricanes and the Edmonton Oilers missed out on the playoffs last season after fighting to a Game 7 just the year before, when Carolina managed to take it all. Between those two teams, I think Edmonton faired worse and had the bigger letdown because the Hurricanes were at least in the chase for postseason positioning pretty deep into the season. The Oilers missed out by 25 points and ended up trading their captain and fan favorite, Ryan Smyth, to the New York Islanders at the trade deadline. So to me, putting points aside, the Oilers had the biggest downfall.
Name your top head coach and player for each position during the 2006-2007 season
Head Coach
Lotfi Sariahmed:Michel Therrien – Continuing with my Penguins themed roundtable, I'm picking Therrien as the top head coach. Yes, I know there's this guy named Crosby on the team and Malkin's not bad either. But like I said earlier, the main talent on this team is very young and someone had to keep them together. Eddie Olczyk had almost the same talent but he couldn't get these guys to put together the type of performance they did this season.
Ken Schmidt:Michel Therrien – This guy made a team that was a joke two seasons ago and turned them into a serious contender. Sure he had the talent to work with but it takes a good coach to turn a second year player and a handful of 18-year olds into a squad filled with all-stars.
Jason Chamberlain:Alain Vigneault – Kinda frustrating to see all these former Canadiens coaches doing better with their new clubs, but Vigneault did a great job with the Canucks and was recognized for it with the Jack Adams.
Neil Borenstein:Mike Babcock – Despite the fact that the Detroit Red Wings are perennial contenders because they are the Detroit Red Wings, I think it's still fair to give this to Mike Babcock. On a Red Wings' team that I think many would agree was transitioning after Steve Yzerman retired and Brendan Shanahan left for the New York Rangers via free agency, Babcock still managed to get his team to finish first in the Western Conference and tie for the best point total in the whole NHL at 113 points. Plus, in the playoffs, Babcock led the Red Wings all the way to the Western Conference Finals, where they lost to his old team and eventual Stanley Cup Champions – the Anaheim Ducks. This is after Detroit, a No. 1 seed, was mostly pegged as the underdog to their first round (Calgary) and second round (San Jose) opponents. He got them over the hurdle of first round upsets, and that's definitely commendable.
Center
Lotfi Sariahmed:Joe Thornton – I REALLY wanted to pick Crosby here and continue the Penguins love. It's not like he wouldn't have deserved it. Crosby led the league with 120 points. The other guy I was considering here was Vincent Lecavalier who led the league with 52 goals and had 108 points. But in the end, Thornton was the guy who helped lead his team the furthest in the playoffs. Now sure, it was just the conference semifinals as opposed to the quarterfinals, but it's further nonetheless. Thornton only had 22 goals but when you have the offensive weapons the Sharks have you don't need to score that much. He led the league in assists with 92.
Sat:Sidney Crosby – He was definitely the top center because he won the Hart Trophy.
Ken Schmidt:Jason Spezza – Let's factor in the playoff run into this question and then there is no doubt. Spezza had a great regular season, tallying 87 points, which was eighth among Centers. But then the playoffs started and he was in the middle of the line that single handedly took a team to the STANLEY CUP.
Jason Chamberlain:Sidney Crosby – What needs to be said about Sid the Kid that hasn't been said already? He's the man.
Neil Borenstein:Joe Thornton – Plain and simple, Joe Thornton is a beast. He makes everybody around him better and may have just taken over as the best playmaker in the NHL. Though his goal totals will never equal the 52 Vincent Lecavalier had this past season and he was six points shy of the league lead in points held by Sidney Crosby at 120, Thornton did manage to lead the league in assists with 92 – the second straight season Thornton has gone over 90 in helpers.
Left Wing
Lotfi Sariahmed:Thomas Vanek – Whenever you talk about the Sabres people always say they're a team "made for the "new" NHL." They're a very fast team that had the likes of Chris Drury, Daniel Briere and a bunch of other players. But Thomas Vanek is the man that took Buffalo from a good team to Presidents Trophy winners this season. He finished 2nd on the team in points to Drury with 84 and became a vital third scorer on the Sabres run to the conference finals.
Sat:Marian Hossa – He gets 100 points and leads Atlanta into the playoffs.
Ken Schmidt:Alexander Ovechkin – Talk about a guy who does it all. He scored goals, set up teammates and played physical – all on a team that pretty much had nothing to boast but Alexander the Great. Put him on a real team and he's better than Sid the Kid.
Jason Chamberlain:Alex Ovechkin – Maybe the most dynamic and exciting player in the league. And unlike most of the multi-millionaire aloof players, he actually appears to be having a great time.
Neil Borenstein:Evgeni Malkin – Not only is Evgeni Malkin the NHL Rookie of the Year for 2007, but he stood out at the left wing position more than anyone else. In his first NHL season since becoming a Russian hockey fugitive, Malkin put up 85 points on 52 assists and 33 goals, six of which were game-winners. He also managed to score 40 of his points on the power play. While Sidney Crosby naturally took most of the spotlight in Pittsburgh, Malkin played a large role as well in delivering the Penguins to the playoffs.
Right Wing
Lotfi Sariahmed:Marian Hossa – He's the ONLY reason the Thrashers did as well as they did this season. That's it.
Sat:Dany Heatley – He led all wingers in goals and points with 50 goals and 105 points.
Ken Schmidt:Dany Heatley – Led all Right Wings in points and in goals, not to mention he was a member of that line I talked about with Jason Spezza.
Jason Chamberlain:Teemu Selanne – Good for him to get a Cup. He's had a good career and had a great year this year.
Neil Borenstein:Dany Heatley – The "change of scenery" has worked out well for Dany Heatley, as he's become an even better hockey player in Ottawa as a result of the trade that sent Marian Hossa to Atlanta. Heatley had his second straight season with over 100 points (105 in 2007) and 50 goals. And that's not to mention the 22 points he had on the lethal top line for Ottawa during the postseason. His spark in the Senators' lineup helped them tremendously in becoming Stanley Cup contenders, and his play puts him above the rest of the right wing class in the NHL.
Defenseman
Lotfi Sariahmed:Scott Niedermayer – He won the Conn Smythe, folks. His Ducks won the Stanley Cup. He finished with 69 points this season, the most among defensemen. Who else could you pick?
Sat:Scott Niedermayer – He wins the Conn Symthe, leads his team to the Stanley Cup and I believe he led the NHL in points.
Ken Schmidt:Sheldon Souray – A guy no one ever really heard of, except that he had a heavy shot, really stepped it up this season. He led all defenseman in goals with 26, not to mention third overall in points. Plus he played a solid D as a big man in the back. He excelled in all aspects of the game and was the scariest man when it came to the power play.
Jason Chamberlain:Chris Chelios – I just want to recognize this guy for having a really long and consistently high-performance career. It's near its end, but he continues to show why he'll be a Hall of Famer one day.
Neil Borenstein:Scott Niedermayer – Typically this label belongs to Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom. But this year, it's all about Scott Niedermayer. The former New Jersey Devil, who is now contemplating retirement, put up the best season of his entire NHL career this past year. He had a league-high 69 points among defenseman, a career stat for Niedermayer. He also led the Anaheim Ducks to the Stanley Cup Championship and captured his fourth along with a Conn Smythe Trophy. It's hard to deny this was Niedermayer's year.
Goaltender
Lotfi Sariahmed:Roberto Luongo – Luongo is the only reason the Canucks even got to the second round of the playoffs. He carried this team to the second round then was understandably burned out against Anaheim. But I'm still looking for Vancouver's offense because they didn't show up against Anaheim either. He only finished with one less win than Brodeur while playing in two fewer games.
Sat:Martin Brodeur – The guy continues to dominate the NHL and he is definitely showing why he is one of the best goaltenders of all time.
Ken Schmidt:Martin Brodeur – It pains me to say this being a Flyers fan, not to mention a huge fan of Roberto Luongo, but you just can't deny Marty this year. He broke the record for wins in a season on a team that rarely scored more than three goals! That's insane. Marty won those games by himself, its not like he could afford giving up a softy and having his offense cover up for it.
Jason Chamberlain:Roberto Luongo – How great it is to not see this amazing talent being wasted down in Florida! How much greater it would be seeing him play for his hometown Habs! But at least he dragged a Canadian team into the playoffs this year, and the second round at that.
Neil Borenstein:Roberto Luongo – Roberto Luongo got out of Florida via a trade, and landed in Vancouver just in time to prove he could be a huge asset to a team actually capable of doing something in the playoffs. Now, it was a stupid move on his end that finalized the Canucks' season in the Western Conference Semifinals against the Anaheim Ducks. But one mental error cannot overshadow the rest of his season that included numerous clutch saves. Luongo managed the second highest win total in the league during the regular season with 47, only one behind Martin Brodeur in three less starts. I've said it before – Luongo is the best goalie in the NHL. I think he proved me right this past year when he played on a team able to play meaningful hockey.
Did the Ottawa Senators vs. Anaheim Ducks Stanley Cup Finals live up to the hype on the ice?
Lotfi Sariahmed: This question isn't for the hardcore hockey fan. It can't be. If you're a hardcore fan, which is really the only type of fan that seems to exist anymore, you're watching the Finals no matter what. So I'm interpreting this from a casual fan's perspective. Did these Finals capture my attention from Game One to the deciding Game Five? Outside of Game Three, where Ottawa got angry and won because of the Chris Pronger hit, Anaheim beat up Ottawa. But I think you had the casual fans up until after Game Four. The first two games were close and exciting. Then Ottawa came back in Game Three. You watched Game Four to see if Ottawa could tie up the series. But once Anaheim went up 3-1, I think it was over for the casual fans. It was nice for a while but after Game Four, it was just a matter of when Anaheim was going to wrap it up.
Sat: I am a casual hockey fan and I have to say that it did not live up to the hype. The only time I got interested in this series was Game Three. That was when I saw Ottawa win Game Three. I saw some of Game Four and that was it. This matchup did not live up to the hype because it did not capture the casual hockey fan.
Ken Schmidt: Not at all, I didn't care about the Stanley Cup at all this year. This is coming from a guy who two years ago turned down every event in April so I could watch the playoffs by myself on the couch with a forty and can of peanuts. This year I didn't care at all because honestly, I hate Chris Pronger and could care less about either team.
Jason Chamberlain: I didn't watch much of it, to be completely honest. It was a five-game series, and I was expecting a much harder fought, well played series (with a Sens win.) So it wasn't what I expected. Unless I have a personal stake in a playoff series, I like to see it go back and forth. I'm talking double-OT Game Seven kinda close. And this one didn't deliver in that regard.
Neil Borenstein: This matchup looked tremendous on paper. Two franchises that were great on an overall level throughout the entire playoffs were on a collision course in the Stanley Cup Finals. It was the most exciting matchup in recent memory prior to the actual showdown. Then they started to play the series and Anaheim just crushed Ottawa. You had the drama of the Chris Pronger hit and subsequent suspension, but the Senators just didn't put up enough of a battle against the Ducks. It's as if what the Senators did to all their opponents prior to the Finals was done to them by Anaheim in them. It's a shame, because this series could have been so much better. But much like the television ratings, the action on the ice just wasn't enough to hit the level these two teams were capable of. Instead of being close, one team flat-out dominated. Ottawa had to make this closer for the hype to be met.
Is the Stanley Cup in Anaheim good for the NHL?
Lotfi Sariahmed: Yes and no. Anaheim is better for the NHL than Carolina (05-06 champs) or Tampa Bay (03-04 champs) or 2004-2005. Anaheim is a bigger market, so it's good for the sport in that sense. But Anaheim isn't Los Angeles. It isn't Chicago. It isn't Philadelphia or Pittsburgh or New York. Can that casual fan name more than three players on the team? I doubt it. There's no doubt our Canadian readers know who plays for the Ducks. But 24 out of the 30 NHL teams are American teams. The NHL is relying on an American fan base that thus far just hasn't responded in kind. One of the best things that could happen for the NHL is to have a big market team or any Canadian team win the Cup. Anaheim is neither.
Sat: The Stanley Cup in Anaheim is not good for the NHL because I think that outside of Anaheim and the hardcore NHL fans, nobody really cares.
Ken Schmidt: Also, not at all. We need teams in contention that the casual fan will care about. I'm not saying just big markets like Detroit and New York. But who cares about Anaheim? I loved the Mighty Ducks movies, but the Stanley Cup in Anaheim just doesn't excite me. It wasn't even the underdog story of their successors the Hurricanes – now that was a great story that people cared about.
Jason Chamberlain: Call me a Yankee-hating Canuck, but I'm inclined to say no. It seems to me that teams in markets such as Anaheim, Florida, and Tampa Bay are beyond pointless when there are far more suitable hockey markets. We all know how shitty hockey is doing in the States and how revered it is in Canada, so naturally... American teams make up 4/5 of the league. Huh? Of course Canada doesn't have the number of urban centres the U.S. does, but there's a place for at least two more teams in Canada (Winnipeg and Quebec City), maybe even one in the Maritimes and Hamilton maybe as well. Then we could cut out six teams or so, make it a nice 20-24-team league, get rid of six-ten rosters worth of marginal players, and THAT would be a new NHL.
But I've gone off topic. Cup in Anaheim? I guess it will stimulate interest down there, but what will be telling is if that interest is sustained over the coming years, especially if the team falls off.
Neil Borenstein: I think it could be good for the NHL if the Stanley Cup managed to find its way recently to better markets. It's never a bad thing for those smaller teams to get the championship. But when it happens three straight times, that's when we get problems – especially when those three straight times came against Canadian franchises. So, timing really is everything, and now is not a good time for the Stanley Cup to be in Anaheim. In between a couple of wins from the Red Wings or some other big market is a better time for those smaller and lesser known organizations to get the prize.
How long will it be before Canada can claim a Stanley Cup Championship?
Lotfi Sariahmed: This is a tough question but I'll answer it like this – an Eastern Conference Canadian team will do it before anyone from the West. Ottawa is one of the strongest teams in the NHL and figures to field a similar team next season. You can't expect anything from Toronto or Montreal any time soon, but the Eastern Conference will allow them to rebound quicker. The Western Conference is just too tough. There are too many good teams battling it out with each other constantly. Seven of the eight teams in the Western Conference playoffs finished with more than 100 points. Only four teams in the Eastern Conference could make the same claim. So if you're going to put money on any Canadian team winning the Cup, it's going to be from the East.
Sat: It depends. It could happen very soon because the Ottawa Senators are a good team and they should keep knocking on the door in the near future. The problem that Canada has is that it only has a handful of teams that are competing for the Cup each year, while the U.S. has up to twenty. The odds are against Canada, but I see them getting the Stanley Cup in the next five years.
Ken Schmidt: No time in the near future, most likely another decade or two. Let's look at their squads. Vancouver had the talent but it appears their star players are over the hill now (Naslund) and the Sedins really aren't cup contenders. Ottawa was a flash in the pan this year and Toronto and Edmonton are rebuilding right now. The Canadiens are probably the next ones that make a run but I don't see it actually happening until around 2017 or later.
Jason Chamberlain: Good question. With the exception of the Maple Laffs, I would be happy to see any Canadian team win a Cup. It's strange how three of our six teams have made it to the Finals in the last three years, yet none of them have got the job done. The Sens had their shot this year, and it's rare to see a finalist bounce back and make it again in the next couple years ... but they might. Luongo seems to be the kind of goalie that could get hot and carry a team all the way, so watch the Canucks. The Oilers ... are depressing. I'm not convinced Keenan will be good for the Flames. I'm hoping for 40 more years of drought for the Leafs and as for my Habs ... well I love them, but unless we somehow sign a couple star players, our kids make Crosby like impacts and the existing players double their output, it'll be a while for us too.
Neil Borenstein: Unfortunately for Canada, you can't say they haven't had their chances. Out of the last three Stanley Cup Finals, Canada has had one representative. And each time, they lost to a southern United States team. Right now, I think Canada has three very strong teams going. The Ottawa Senators lead the bunch from Canada, but Vancouver and Calgary are also very strong teams. I think all three can hang with any U.S. organization. Toronto, Montreal and Edmonton have some issues to deal with, but Canada's hope for the immediate future lies on the Senators, Canucks and Flames. How long will it take for one of these teams to bring Lord Stanley to Canada? I'm willing to call within the next three years. Ottawa has all the tools to get back; it just needs to step up once it gets to the Finals. Vancouver is a team that showed major growth and can use its experience going forward for improvement in postseason success. And Calgary can always be that sleeper that comes out of nowhere with strong goaltending and a nice offensive punch led by Jarome Iginla. I think one of these three teams can end the drought and can do it soon.
Has Sidney Crosby reached his hype?
Lotfi Sariahmed: Nope. He led the league in points and his team went from 58 points to 105. But Crosby has not reached his hype yet. It's all a matter of the team developing around him. He'll get even better when the guys around him keep improving. The offense could become that much more potent. The defense can't go anywhere but up. Marc-Andre Fleury has shown he has a lot of talent; he just needs to refine his game some. Once the pieces around Crosby improve, he will too.
Sat: Sidney Crosby has not reached his hype because I think that nobody can reach their hype in two years. If he is able to keep this pace going for four to five more years, then I say yes. As of right now, no.
Ken Schmidt: Yeah, he has. I mean after two years he won a Hart trophy, that's a pretty big accomplishment. I personally hate the guy. He's a stuck up, no respect for anyone punk, but he has been the savior Pittsburgh hoped he would be.
Jason Chamberlain: Reached and exceeded. He's the best player in the game today. Drop the Gretzky comparisons, cause he's not Gretzky. Just let him be Sidney Crosby. And Sidney Crosby rules.
Neil Borenstein: The team needs to get better for him to reach his full potential. Essentially, Sidney Crosby needs to be the poster boy for the NHL before he fulfills his hype. And that can't happen until he's really competing for the Stanley Cup. He has managed to lead the charge in turning the Pittsburgh Penguins from a perennial disappointment to a No. 5 seed in the playoffs with over 100 points on the season. But he has to lead his team toward the Cup before he completely matches the expectations placed on him before entering the NHL. He's really close to getting there and deserves a lot of credit. But he's a couple of years away from completely reaching the hype set upon him.
Should the Nashville Predators be relocated?
Lotfi Sariahmed: I understand the Predators did well last season making the playoffs and they fought with the Red Wings all season for the best record in the Western Conference. But what's hockey doing in Nashville? If this isn't just talk and the Predators are actually going to move, let them move. The Preds had a great season and averaged less than 14,000 fans. The Canadian fans would love another good hockey team. Let them go to Hamilton or Winnipeg or somewhere in Canada.
Sat: I am surprised that Nashville actually has a hockey team because Nashville does not seem to be a hockey town. Yes, they had a very good year this year, but the best thing for the NHL is to move the team. I am sure that Canada would love to have another team, so move them to a city in Canada.
Ken Schmidt: Now that they have been ravaged by other teams through trades (thank you for Hartnell and Timmonen), I think they should move when they start to rebuild. I mean, even if they get back to being as good as they were this year down the line again in Nashville, it will never last because they will have to sell all their players again. If they move to a bigger market then at least they can keep some players and eventually become a contender again.
Jason Chamberlain: Again, I'm not trying to hate on the States, but does Nashville really strike anyone as a city that needs to have a hockey team? Or even wants one? I do, however, disagree with this sudden hope from seemingly all Canadians to put them in the GTA. Even if Balsille buys the team, there's no guarantee he'll move them (this season ticket buying in Hamilton is pure nonsense). Does anyone really think that Gary Bettman is going to willingly put another team in Canada? Let me tell you, Waterloo ain't exactly the kind of market that gets the commish's blood pumping. KC, sure, Vegas too (cause god knows that's a hockey hotbed.) But Hamilton? Waterloo? Over Bettman's dead body.
And the GTA has enough teams, thank you very much. Anyone who is familiar with 'Leaf Nation' knows that no team, no matter how close, is gonna damage the love and adoration the Leaf fans have for their team (though MLSE will probably still cry foul and demand restitution). Move them to Winnipeg!
Neil Borenstein: I've actually become very mixed on this. It's not so much that I want the Predators to remain in Nashville, but I think in light of the poorly played moves by prospective owner Jim Balsillie – taking season ticket deposits in Hamilton, Ontario without actually owning the team yet, proving he doesn't even want to give the team a chance in Nashville even though he originally had intentions of doing so – I wouldn't mind the NHL giving the Predators a shot at surviving in Nashville. I'm okay with the market being given one more opportunity to prove itself worthy of a hockey team before the team completely bails. Balsillie's backhanded moves would never give Nashville that shot. The only problem with giving Nashville a chance to prove itself and perhaps get those corporate purchases it so desperately needs is the fact that it only needs to hit 14,000 in attendance to basically be guaranteed a stay in Nashville. Even if Nashville can hit 14,000, that is still not very good and is going to be below the NHL average. It still won't be a supportive market for the Predators and will prove that hockey really never belonged in Nashville in the first place. So, I do think the Predators should be relocated since even if given the opportunity, the Nashville market will still likely prove to be less than worthy for a hockey franchise. But if it moves under Balsillie, it goes under a man with a very shady character that I personally don't trust to run a hockey team.
In light of his $2-million raise, is Commissioner Gary Bettman doing his job properly?
Lotfi Sariahmed: Lets be serious about this folks. It's the NFL, NBA, MLB, NASCAR, college football, maybe college basketball and then the NHL. Of course that's not in any particular order but the NHL is not one of the top four sports or maybe even top five. Bettman was the man in charge during the yearlong strike. The NHL is broadcast on the Outdoor Life Network/Versus – choose whatever poor name for a network you want. I'm trying to figure out why he got any sort of raise, let alone a two million dollar raise. Absurd doesn't even begin to explain it. So no, he's not doing his job properly.
Sat: No. Bettman is not deserving of a two million dollar raise. First, the NHL is on a no name network, which is impossible to find. I never bothered looking for the network; I only watch the NHL on NBC. Second, the NHL really hasn't done anything to improve its image since the strike.
Ken Schmidt: HELL NO. The commissioner and the owners need to do a better job making people care about hockey. I mean, they are in danger of losing me, a season ticket holder in the past. I went to one game this year. As far as nationally, who the hell watches the VS. network? They have to talk to ESPN about getting some games on there. They might not offer as much money, but I think in the long run having people actually watching the NHL will make money again. This league is in trouble.
Jason Chamberlain: Is NBC still not paying a cent for NHL rights? Is women's basketball still outranking hockey in the States? Next question.
Neil Borenstein: Gary Bettman, in no way, shape or form, is doing his job properly. Getting a two million dollar raise is only the result of pleasing the owners, but that doesn't mean he is making the right decisions for the game and the fans. While I think Versus has vastly improved itself since starting up on hockey coverage when it was still the Outdoor Life Network, it's still not ESPN. Nobody wants to search for VS., but mostly everybody knows where ESPN is. Bettman should have made it financially interesting for ESPN to pick hockey back up, since it was the money that drove ESPN away in the first place from a league that was just coming back from a cancelled season. He also needs to get this concept of southern markets needing hockey out of his head and realize the die-hards are in the northern United States and Canada. Then, maybe he'll realize his dumb expansion ideas, including the rumored Las Vegas and Kansas City ones, simply don't work. Once he can get this through his thick head and backs off the rules framed at creating offense just to impress fans otherwise uninterested if 10 goals aren't scored in a game (the fans hockey really doesn't need since 10-goal games is not real hockey), then maybe Bettman would be doing his job properly. But so far, he's just driving the NHL into the ground, and joins Bud Selig as the worst commissioner in all of sports.
Thank you for joining us in this first part of 411mania's 2007 NHL Offseason Roundtable. Check back here within the next few days for Part Two: The 2007 NHL Entry Draft, right here at 411 Sports!
