NHL season 2017/2018

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I'll admit that I don't like seeing a team in Vegas,

Why?

Originally Posted by J.OT13

...and I don't like how they participate in bending the rules (for example, taking a huge part of Derick Brassard's salary so that Pittsburgh doesn't blow their cap).

Retaining salary is something that all NHL teams do. They did do it in a convoluted way in the Brassard trade but it didn't violate any rules. Toronto is still paying Kessel, as an example. Ottawa is still paying a portion of Phaneuf's salary, etc.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Why?


Retaining salary is something that all NHL teams do. They did do it in a convoluted way in the Brassard trade but it didn't violate any rules. Toronto is still paying Kessel, as an example. Ottawa is still paying a portion of Phaneuf's salary, etc.

Why, because it's a city in the desert. Most people who fill the seats are probably tourists. I doubt a whole lot of locals give a damn about hockey. I feel like Vegas was just a vanity project.

I understand retaining part of a traded player's salary when that player isn't worth what he's paid, but bringing in a third party team to take on part of the salary is a shady way to get around the salary-cap rules.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Why, because it's a city in the desert.

How does this preclude it from an NHL franchise? It's not the first. There's an arena, an owner, and a local market. That's all you need for an NHL franchise.

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Most people who fill the seats are probably tourists.

They've sold out season tickets again for 2018-2019 despite an increase in the cost and they account for 80% of the seats in the arena. How many tourists do you think are buying those?

How many of the thousands of people who showed up for the Vegas Fan Fest do you think were tourists?

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I doubt a whole lot of locals give a damn about hockey.

Vegas was ranked fourth among local American markets for TV viewership for all 2nd Round game of the playoffs (after Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Nashville. Ahead of Boston, Tampa, DC, Minneapolis...). [Source]

In fact, Vegas has been hitting 14% viewership locally for its second round games against San Jose. That means that's LV is getting 14% of the 757K Nielsen homes listed for the market. This means that 100,000+ TVs are tuned in locally to watch the Golden Knights play the Sharks. You're free to doubt local interest but numbers are numbers.

Vegas leads the NHL in mechandise sales (to be expected, as an expansion franchise).

Hockey registrations are also at an all-time high in Nevada.

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I feel like Vegas was just a vanity project.

Any professional franchise expansion to any market is going to be a vanity project. Regardless of sport.

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I understand retaining part of a traded player's salary when that player isn't worth what he's paid, but bringing in a third party team to take on part of the salary is a shady way to get around the salary-cap rules.

If you think Vegas was shady then you must really hate the Blackhawks.

[Steveston]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Why, because it's a city in the desert. Most people who fill the seats are probably tourists. I doubt a whole lot of locals give a damn about hockey. I feel like Vegas was just a vanity project.

I understand retaining part of a traded player's salary when that player isn't worth what he's paid, but bringing in a third party team to take on part of the salary is a shady way to get around the salary-cap rules.

Seriously? So, you think tourists buy tickets, jerseys, hats, and paint their faces for the game that they're attending while they're on vacation?

Look around the crowd -- these are hard core fans, equal to any Canadian city. Lack of tradition doesn't mean lack of passion.

[MonctonRad]

[Mrs Sauga]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ If the Preds were that dominant this series wouldn't have gone to 7 games.

Rinne dropped the ball. But I believe the real Rinne is back. Jets won't stand a chance.

[Mrs Sauga]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I understand retaining part of a traded player's salary when that player isn't worth what he's paid, but bringing in a third party team to take on part of the salary is a shady way to get around the salary-cap rules.

Shouldn't Pittsburgh take the blame then?

[khabibulin]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Why, because it's a city in the desert. Most people who fill the seats are probably tourists. I doubt a whole lot of locals give a damn about hockey. I feel like Vegas was just a vanity project.

I was in Vegas 2 months ago and it was near impossible to get a ticket, to see the Sens no less. Las Vegas loves their Golden Knights. They are the most successful (on and off the ice) NHL expansion team story ever!

Will be interesting to see what getting an NFL team will do to that fan support though.

[thenoflyzone]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Vegas was ranked fourth among local American markets for TV viewership for all 2nd Round game of the playoffs (after Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Nashville. Ahead of Boston, Tampa, DC, Minneapolis...). [Source]

Buffalo’s viewership is staggering, considering they aren’t in the playoffs. A true hockey town.

[White Pine]

Vegas is actually an interesting choice because it's a decent-sized city and doesn't really have anything in the way of professional sports. They'll get a football team in a couple of years but hopefully that's enough time for hockey to gain a foothold.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

Buffalo’s viewership is staggering, considering they aren’t in the playoffs. A true hockey town.

Indeed, imagine if the Sabres ever actually made the playoffs!

Jets/Preds game 7 tonight...i'm leaning Preds but both teams are so evenly matched it's mostly a tossup. Just hoping for an exciting game.

[Jammon]

Originally Posted by Mrs Sauga

Rinne dropped the ball. But I believe the real Rinne is back. Jets won't stand a chance.

They are two really evenly matched teams who play different styles. Rinne has been hit and miss the whole playoffs. I think the Jets can catch him if they dictate play and get the lead early. They can't allow the Preds to get the lead and then play the defensive trap. If that happens, they are doomed.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Mrs Sauga

Shouldn't Pittsburgh take the blame then?

I have an issue with both.

I'm thinking tourists through the casinos and hotels buying the season tickets. I don't have numbers, I might be wrong, but there is a pretty good chance they buy a good chunk of the tickets and offer them out as giveaways.

The NHL went above and beyond to give Vegas exposure to the NHL over the years, and to get them the best expansion team in NHL history. And admittedly, it's paying off. We'll see if the team continues to succeed once new major league franchises join the market.

Would anyone at least concede that the NHL Awards should no longer be in Vegas? That it should move from NHL city to NHL city just like the draft, outdoor games and all-star game?

[Wpg_Guy]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dc4lFJdX4AANxqX.jpg:large

[1ajs]

jets win hmm

[HomeInMyShoes]

Jets!

[J.OT13]

Wow, 5-1. Convincing win at that.

I'm a little disappointing. I wanted to see Nashville win the cup, mostly for certain players (Fisher and Turris who were big community leaders when they played for the Sens, and Subban for his work in Montreal and to slap Bergevin in the face).

But, Winnipeg was my number 2. Would be nice to bring the cup back to Canada.

Go Jets Go!

[Berklon]

So that's one more current NHL team/city that will make the finals since the Leafs last appearance.

Only 3 teams/cities left:

Winnipeg or Vegas
Arizona
Columbus

[khabibulin]

Originally Posted by Mrs Sauga

Nashville is a prove playoff team with tons of experience. Now that Rinne is back in form, Preds will be unbeatable. Jets will probably play better than last game, but it won't be enough.

Waaaa Waaaa

[Wpg_Guy]

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