Detroit Red Wings & the NHL

[Hannibal]

I think he's just trolling at this point.

Best case scenario for Detroit is probably 4th. Next best is 6th (if it's mathematically possible). Worst would be 5th against Nashville.

[WingsFan]

Another nice milestone (even in the OT/SO days). The Wings reached 101 points for a 12th consecutive season, extending their NHL record (1999-00 to 2011-12). OPs favorite team - Montreal is next with eight (1974-75 to 1981-82).

[WingsFan]

If you follow 'Rasslin' or even The Hulk, as seen in the stands in Pittsburgh this is hilarious

[madootra]

Love it!!

[Mike]

Maple Leafs alone are worth over 1/2 billion according to Forbes.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2011/11/30/the-business-of-hockey/

http://www.forbes.com/nhl-valuations/

Wow. That means they're worth 1/2 billion dollars for every playoff appearance over the past decade.

Hey, are your Canadiens still holding down last place in the East?

[Optimus Prime]

Now that's the spirit, nothing like 10 minutes of desperation hockey on the road to temporarily stall that late-season tailspin.

Tony, NHL League Revenues, found the figure of $3 billion annually.

http://www.plunkettresearch.com/sports-recreation-leisure-market-research/industry-statistics

Packy, as you have stated, post - 2005/6 lockout teams have been able to "pad" their season point totals with OT/SO "extra points" and the Wings have benefited tremendously as a result. However, NOTHING will ever touch the 1976/77 Montreal Canadiens (Stanley Cup Winners too) regular season BRILLIANCE.

Habs Regular Season Record 1976-77 (80 games)

Point total: 132

Wins: 60
Losses: 8
Ties: 12


Mike, sad the Buds have sucked well forever, but they do make the in the most money in the League and after all it is a business and if you ever have a chance to attend a game in TO, do it! Average ticket price $118 dollars, over 41 home games that's 93 million in gate revenue, Habs 2nd with 63.5 M, Wings made 37.3 M.

That compares pretty favourably to $38.9 million in Pittsburgh, where Sidney Crosby plays, or $33.5 million in Alex Ovechkin's Washington, and even the $33.5 million in the huge Los Angeles market. Bottomfeeders, Tamap Bay 22.7 M, Pheonex 18.4 M.

[Mike]

I can't believe the people in Toronto put up with that shit. The Leafs are the Millen-era Detroit Lions of the NHL - just a complete joke - and those people keep filling up the ACC every night.

My first choice of venue would be Montreal but seeing a game in Toronto would be fun, too, as long as they were playing somebody I kinda liked given the fact they'd get their ass kicked.

[Optimus Prime]

Montreal is a very special city, although inhabited by an inordinate number of frogs. Without a doubt some of the hottest women in the nation live there. I've been to the old Montreal Forum and the new Bell Centre which is soldout for EVERY game as the Habs lead the NHL in attendance, always. If you are a hockey fan it's a must see venue, the fans are rabid, the pageantry is entertaining and the game becomes a raucous riot by the third period and 1/2 dozen Molsons!

[Optimus Prime]

Good news.....Wings sign first-round draft pick Riley Sheahan to 3 year entry-level contract and is practicing with the team. 6" 2" / 212lb powerforward, fancies his game after Rick Nash & Peter Forsberg.

Made the final cut for Team Canada , World Jr. Squad last fall in Calgary and should have been on the team. St. Catharines, Ontario native understands what the Red Wings' brand means.

Coach Babcock:
"I'd love to put him in the lineup. I always like to put big people in the lineup," said coach Mike Babcock. "And he's a big body. It looks like he's going to be able to play."

http://video.redwings.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=0&id=73676

Buyer's remorse....returning that crap furniture to Ikea, one piece at a time. 8)

[Hannibal]

Wings lose last night. We need Nashville to lose their last game to have a chance at home ice in the 1st round. If the Wings end up in 5th they might as well start scheduling tee times right now.

[Optimus Prime]

Local paper:

More Details: Down to one game

The Red Wings, Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks all play Saturday in the final game of the season with their playoff seeding yet to be determined. Here are the scenarios for the Wings:

• If the Wings beat the Blackhawks and the Predators lose on the road to the Avalanche in regulation, Detroit would be the fourth seed and have home ice in the first round vs. Nashville. The Wings went 1-2 in Nashville this year.

• If the Predators make it to overtime against the Avs -- win or lose -- they would lock up the fourth seed and have home ice in the first round vs. Detroit or Chicago, depending on Saturday's game at Joe Louis Arena at 1 p.m.

• If the Blackhawks beat the Wings in regulation, Nashville would have home ice vs. the fifth-seeded Blackhawks and the Wings would face the Pacific winner -- San Jose, Phoenix or Los Angeles -- as the sixth seed.

[Hannibal]

Wings should throw the game on Saturday to get sixth.

[Optimus Prime]

There are few teams that will be "throwing" game 82 as well.

Little surprised, expected NJ to take their foot off the gas, they want to open against Florida (#3 seed in EAST) although NJ may finish 10 points ahead of the Panthers in the Eastern Conference!

SI:

The most troubling aspect of this was raised in a Monday column on The Hockey News website by Ken Campbell. He looks at a possible scenario in which Detroit plays Chicago on the last day of this season and the loser ends up in sixth place. That would mean a first round matchup against the weaker third seed instead of the fourth-seeded Predators, who neither of those clubs would like to draw as a first round foe. The implications are obvious: this could be a game that each team would want to lose.

“It’s this kind of recipe for disaster the NHL creates with its ridiculous rule that stipulates the winner of each division takes one of the top three seeds in each conference,” Campbell writes. “If that does come to pass, you can bet the Red Wings will sit out Pavel Datsyuk, Nicklas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterberg and the Blackhawks will give the day off to Jonathan Toews (assuming he has returned from his concussion by then), Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp. And they’ll be able to use the excuse they’re resting their stars for the playoffs when really all they’re trying to do is lose the game.

[madootra]

I've been fortunate enough to see games in venues commonly known as the "homes" of the Original Six. The old Forum WAS magical. Maple Leaf Garden was OK, as was the old Madison Square Garden, while the Boston Garden was a shithole. Chicago Stadium and Detroit's Olympia were about the same......Old buildings that were great if the home team was winning, and the crowd was electric. I miss Olympia quite a bit.

[madootra]

Another coach has issues with Team Crosby.......Wonder why?

http://youtu.be/SU7ImcOYqOk