Monday Morning Fly By: When 80% of Your Top-10 Relocation Cities Lack Pro Sports, There's a Problem

by Geoff Detweiler on Aug 22, 2011 6:00 AM EDT in Morning Fly By

Today's open discussion thread, complete with your daily dose of Philadelphia Flyers news and notes...

30-in-30 looks at the Flyers: [NHL.com]
Another list from the NHL's site, this one naming ten players "who will be counted upon heavily": [NHL.com]
Listing the worst trades in Flyers history: [HockeyBuzz.com]
Niko Hovinen was one second away from a shutout, but eventually won 2-1. Highlights included: [euroflyers]
Jakub Kovar stopped 26 of 27 shots in a 2-1 win: [euroflyers]
Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry says Danny Syvret could coach: [London Free Press]
A rundown of the new jerseys entering the NHL next year: [icethetics]
A study came out on the viability of non-NHL markets, with some questionable - but entertaining - results: [Puck Daddy]
Remember when the Thrashers were in playoff position last year? Yeah, well they bombed out of the playoff race over the second half. What's surprising, though, is that the team actually improved in the second half: [Driving Play]
Looking at the positives and negatives of giving NHL refs wireless communication on the ice: [Puck Daddy]
Lastly, another dense but excellent look at shooting percentage luck in small sample sizes, explaining why the better team doesn't always - let alone often - score more: [Driving Play]

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Those Islanders jerseys look like they were designed by Ray Charles.

Ed Snider is a crotchety old fuck.

That is all.

by EREX21 on Aug 22, 2011 7:07 AM EDT reply actions

He’s about the only one who would enjoy it.

I do like the Nashville and Panthers jerseys though.

"I repeat we have normality." She turned her microphone off — then turned it back on, with a slight smile and continued: "Anything you still can’t cope with is therefore your own problem."

by Mike B on D on Aug 22, 2011 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions

As do I.

Ed Snider is a crotchety old fuck.

That is all.

by EREX21 on Aug 22, 2011 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions

They look like the baseball jerseys I designed for my NES Baseball Stars team when I was 8 years old. Tampa stole way too much from Toronto the jerseys look almost identical if you disregard the logo.

by chrislanci on Aug 22, 2011 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions

I love Clarke but I’d still like to kick him in the nuts for moving McCrimmon.

by 92-74-99-96 on Aug 22, 2011 7:28 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Honolulu would be a cool place to have a ice hockey team. It would suck logistically, but man would it be cool

I eat sentimentality for breakfast, but stats stop me dead in my tracks

by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Aug 22, 2011 7:37 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed.

Lightning strikes once, Hextall strikes twice!
"I think there is virtue in pissing off idiots." - Fehr and Balanced

by hintzy64 on Aug 22, 2011 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Who ended up winning the roster contest?

Following Dan Carcillo where ever he may go
Giving up isn't an option

by Cillo stache on Aug 22, 2011 8:31 AM EDT reply actions

No one. I don’t think anyone saw the Flyers trading Richie and/or picking up Jagr. I think Geoff, or whoever ran it, can confirm that.

OMB!
Flyers writer at hockeytracker.net

by FlyerFan139 on Aug 22, 2011 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions

The contest is based on the opening day rosters. We don’t yet know who won. But I posted a best guess at the standings after the late-June trades.

by Eric T. on Aug 22, 2011 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Ah…I see

OMB!
Flyers writer at hockeytracker.net

by FlyerFan139 on Aug 22, 2011 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Wysh had to caveats right on the market-viability thing; it could be a fine gauge of potential, but that’s essentially meaningless.

And yes, those Islanders jerseys are awful. Punishment for Nassau residents.

Keeping alive the old Vaudeville joke, "I'd rather be dead than play Philadelphia."

by Snevik on Aug 22, 2011 9:02 AM EDT reply actions

As if being an Islander’s fan isn’t bad enough these days?

"I repeat we have normality." She turned her microphone off — then turned it back on, with a slight smile and continued: "Anything you still can’t cope with is therefore your own problem."

by Mike B on D on Aug 22, 2011 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Seriously

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTPVgRX-unw

OMB!
Flyers writer at hockeytracker.net

by FlyerFan139 on Aug 22, 2011 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Or This

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgUXFQ-uQQg&NR=1

OMB!
Flyers writer at hockeytracker.net

by FlyerFan139 on Aug 22, 2011 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Damn… that’s harsh.

"I repeat we have normality." She turned her microphone off — then turned it back on, with a slight smile and continued: "Anything you still can’t cope with is therefore your own problem."

by Mike B on D on Aug 22, 2011 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Tough times in N.Y.

by 92-74-99-96 on Aug 22, 2011 11:04 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

.

Oh shit, I want this Aeros jersey. I’ve never heard of the Houston Aeros. But I’m am aerospace engineer. So this is fucking awesome.

Lightning strikes once, Hextall strikes twice!
"I think there is virtue in pissing off idiots." - Fehr and Balanced

by hintzy64 on Aug 22, 2011 10:50 AM EDT reply actions

It's even better in blue

Lightning strikes once, Hextall strikes twice!
"I think there is virtue in pissing off idiots." - Fehr and Balanced

by hintzy64 on Aug 22, 2011 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Yes it is.

by 92-74-99-96 on Aug 22, 2011 11:03 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

One of the better teams of the World Hockey Association, they were. Their top line was Gordie Howe along with his sons Mark and Marty. Yes, Mark used to be a forward (Left Wing) before converting to defense.

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Aug 22, 2011 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I still think Portland (OR) should be in the conversation for relocation/expansion talk. Good-sized arena, some potential for regional rivalries, and it’s not obscenely far from other West teams.

Bob.

by The Dark on Aug 22, 2011 12:14 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Quebec first, then Portland

Following Dan Carcillo where ever he may go
Giving up isn't an option

by Cillo stache on Aug 22, 2011 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree Quebec should probably have one again, but I’m also thinking about the most likely team to move next, which is Phoenix. Moving them to Quebec is more of a pain for realigning the conferences than Portland.

Bob.

by The Dark on Aug 22, 2011 12:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Makes sense to me.

Lightning strikes once, Hextall strikes twice!
"I think there is virtue in pissing off idiots." - Fehr and Balanced

by hintzy64 on Aug 22, 2011 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Hopefully new ownership in Quebec will be more financially stable than the last one.

"I repeat we have normality." She turned her microphone off — then turned it back on, with a slight smile and continued: "Anything you still can’t cope with is therefore your own problem."

by Mike B on D on Aug 22, 2011 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Like

the idea for these two cities but no more expansion, if they get a team it should be one of the teams already in the league. The NHL is too watered down as is.

by Mattx on Aug 22, 2011 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ll have to post a screenshot tonight, but this was too good not to mention. Down Goes Spezza made a #hartnelldown joke on Twitter – which was promptly retweeted by Matt Carle.

Bob.

by The Dark on Aug 22, 2011 12:46 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Even better than that: Lappy followed me. :P

And said he’d talk to Rinaldo about yelling “It’s Clobberin’ Time” when he steps on the ice, haha.

Assistant Masthead Power Person on Down Goes Spezza as ItsAFez66

I'm the Pronger. DUH, WINNING.

Chem and Gus to the restaurant.

Ian Laperriere (EE-an luh-PAIR-ee-YAIR), proper noun
Definition: Bad-assery on skates

by Chemistry66 on Aug 22, 2011 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

You already boasted about the Lappy thing, bratling :P

I’m still working on Sestito – he was in my area a couple weeks ago (on a work day, curse the luck).

Bob.

by The Dark on Aug 22, 2011 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I can’t help it. I’m still fangirling. :P

Next goal: Get Hartnell on Twitter as @HartnellDown.

Assistant Masthead Power Person on Down Goes Spezza as ItsAFez66

I'm the Pronger. DUH, WINNING.

Chem and Gus to the restaurant.

Ian Laperriere (EE-an luh-PAIR-ee-YAIR), proper noun
Definition: Bad-assery on skates

by Chemistry66 on Aug 22, 2011 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions

The Next Adam Oates

this is a real winner comment off of that 30 for 30 piece

come on losing leino,was foolish,he’s the next adam oates,him and jagr could of been good pair together.schenn could score but only if he’s top 6 forward……good luck flyers

Next Adam Oates…

I eat sentimentality for breakfast, but stats stop me dead in my tracks

by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Aug 22, 2011 3:17 PM EDT reply actions

Seattle & Portland

I always wondered why Seattle and Portland never got teams when the NHL was expanding. I’d much rather see them there than in the sun belt states. In my opinion, it would be easier to grow the league when you don’t have to teach the entire fanbase what the game is. People in Seattle and Portland have Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton close by. The game isn’t completely foreign to them. From there, they could have moved into Northern California and Nevada much easier.

Much like setting up any other type of franchise, it’s just easier when you move into a near by market that wants the product, which in turn, makes the next town over the new market that is eager & waiting. It builds a solid foundation. When you spread it out all over the place, you have to spend a decade letting your new market know what the hell you are.

I lived near San Jose in 1998 and 1999. I used to go to Sharks games, and they had no clue what was going on. I would spend half the game explaining things that were happening to the people sitting around me. (and the other half flipping off the people who gave me shit for cheering while they were trying to talk on their cell phones)

Bottom line, I don’t think they can afford any new teams. The talent pool is already too watered down. That said, I would love to see some of the southern teams that struggle moved to Seattle & Portland.

by EC.Comedy on Aug 22, 2011 9:41 PM EDT reply actions

From what I’ve read, there were some crazy local situations each time a Seattle ownership group tried to get a team, and then when the Sonics renovated KeyArena, they intentionally made it too small for the NHL, so they wouldn’t have to face competition in their own building.

I can’t find the article now, but there was something like one member of an early-90s ownership group intentionally torpedoed the deal for one of the relocated teams.

Flyers, Phillies, Union, Eagles, Phantoms, Wings.

by Pelti on Aug 23, 2011 7:25 AM EDT reply actions

Now I have another reason to hate basketball.

by EC.Comedy on Aug 23, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

If that story is actually true, that’s really shameful behavior.

Warning: Arguing the NHL CBA with me could be hazardous to your mental health. Proceed at your own risk.

by DragonGirl0583 on Aug 23, 2011 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions

If the Sonics owned the building, then why not do that? Is that much different than what is happening with the Brooklyn arena?

Keeping alive the old Vaudeville joke, "I'd rather be dead than play Philadelphia."

by Snevik on Aug 23, 2011 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Because it doesn’t make financial sense. They’re intentionally making the building smaller. Not just smaller for hockey, but smaller for concerts, trade shows, monster trucks, and anything else that needs the additional floorspace a full-size arena provides. So to spite hockey, they spite everything else that’s not basketball too.

Flyers, Phillies, Union, Eagles, Phantoms, Wings.

by Pelti on Aug 23, 2011 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Financial sense and shame are two different things.

Also:

It has a seating capacity for basketball games of 17,072,1 ice hockey games and ice shows 11,000, end-stage concerts is 16,641, and center-stage concerts and boxing 17,459.

So, no, you’re not correct.

Lastly, this all happened because when they remodeled it in the 90s, to increase sight-lines for Sonics fans. While this harmed the configuration for their junior hockey team, the Thunderbirds, it had nothing to do with spite for hockey.

Keeping alive the old Vaudeville joke, "I'd rather be dead than play Philadelphia."

by Snevik on Aug 23, 2011 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions