The Final Countdown
The participants in the finals have finally been determined and the first game will be played on Memorial Day, May 28th! The Ducks eliminated the Wings last night while the Senators made it past the Sabres on Saturday. Hey, hey what do you say? I picked both teams to win! I picked Ottawa to win in 6 and the Ducks to win in 7. Although I admit the number of games was incorrect. I can never seem to get those right. This should be a great series between two teams who have played very well for most of the playoffs. I’m sticking with the Senators though and I pick them to win in 6. We’ll talk more about this series later.
Did anyone notice that Chris Chelios skipped the handshake line after the game last night? What a first class jerk. Some things never change, eh? And some people wonder why the Red Wings are still a hated team?
Many bloggers have been posting their thoughts about the dropping of the Ottawa/Buffalo game by NBC, right before over-time on Saturday. Luckily I was glued to the TV and turned immediately to Versus as soon as the network switched. Many people recording the game weren’t so lucky and missed out on the over-time and eventual game winner. In my opinion, the dropping of the game isn’t as much the issue as the original TV contract itself. I haven’t posted about this before, but I have never really liked the Versus/NBC deal right from the get-go. I know that the league office signed for the best deal that they could get at that time, but in my opinion they didn’t sign for the best deal they could get for the league’s future. Allow me to explain. It’s in the league’s best interest to garner as much interest and viewership as possible. Are they going to be able to do that using a network which has 30% fewer viewers than ESPN? Are they going to be able to grow the fanbase using a network many people don’t even have access to? The short and simple answer is no.
While the NHL got the most money they could get at that time, they took the short-sighted point of view, (it’s not the first time), and didn’t look at the big picture. Yes, before you say it, I know ESPN sucks. I know their offer was way below what they had paid for rights earlier. I know that they were cheapening production of the games and the highlight shows afterwards. But the sad fact is that most hotels don’t offer Versus. Many bars and restaurants don’t either. Some basic cable packages don’t. What good is the greatest production work in league history if some of your fans can’t see it? How can you grow the fanbase when 30% of the viewing public is unable to watch the games? Gary Bettman has some tough choices to make in the future. Hopefully he’ll make a decision which is best for the game and it’s fans, not just the decision which puts the most dollars into the owner’s wallets on that particular day.
Bret Hedican’s name has been in the paper the past 2 days. He reportedly already accepted his option to play again next year. That doesn’t surprise me. What surprises me is that Rutherford supposedly didn’t know this. Bret still has to get his hip checked out and will make a decision whether or not to play after that exam during the first week of June. According to his interview, all indications are that he will be wearing the sightless eye again next year. If he really is healthy, that’s good. If he has another repeat performance from last year, no thanks.
Finally, many of us have been wondering about the Scott Walker negotiations. According to a quote by Rutherford in the News and Observer, there is a 3 year offer on the table. That’s probably a year longer than the Hurricanes originally wanted to go, but at least they are making an effort. It’s a no brainer that we need to keep Walker if the price is right! Happy hump day!
Europe
About the Author: Bubba is a hockey fan/citizen journalist who has always wanted to be a sportswriter and is pursuing his dream. He also writes a Hurricanes blog for 
Joe | May 23, 2007 | Reply
Bettman has got to go!!!
http://www.FireBettman.com
Sean Lorichon | May 23, 2007 | Reply
What a game last night! So close, but so far. Get off Chelios’ back! At his age, with his time in the league, if he chooses to skip the shake, he can make that decision, and we all should be fine with it. As far as hating on the Wings, its all jealousy! Did you fail to see the hug that Homer and Pronger shared along with the smile and laugh? That was class. The Wings are class!
I just paid for my season tickets for the year today so I am eagerly awaiting a new year and a revived team, ready to make a serious run at the Cup, and I think they will!…. Hedican needs to stay home! He has been a pain in the A** for the Canes for a long time, and will be a drag on the team and the funds. Rutherford needs to make coming back very uncomfortable for him. He is not what he used to be, and does not deserve what he is getting paid! Dump this guy ASAP!
Go Canes, See ya next year Wings!
TheDope | May 23, 2007 | Reply
I shouldn’t say this, but I love to see Chelios getting ripped. Nice work. I’m supposed to love American born hockey players, but he makes it tough. He’s done some things very wrong over the years like saying Bettman should “get the gas”. I’d love to know who trashed that hotel room in Nagano. Smart money is on Tkachuk but Chelios is also in the running in my book. Hasn’t represented the country or his team with class as far as I’m concerned.
I actually wanted the Red Wings to win so the Senators could knock them out. Hard to get passionate about the Finals series …. except thankfully Chris Pronger is a complete idiot and it makes it easy to root against him. I love how he blames the Canadian Press for his suspension. I can’t stand Tomas Holmstrom - he’s the only Swede that rubs me the wrong way for the way he plays (gritty) - but Pronger’s shot was a cheap one. Also, that situation in Edmonton - I don’t want to speculate on why Pronger had to leave, but there may be one or more women in Edmonton who could offer an explanation.
Go SENS. I hope my CAPS come back stronger next year. For that matter, I’d like to see the Hurricanes get back to form as well.
Good job Bubba…
Sean Lorichon | May 23, 2007 | Reply
Well “The Dope”….. we agree on one thing… We hate Pronger and the Sens need to stop that babymaking machine from getting to the ultimate goal, holding the Cup! He is one player that I hope NEVER hoists the Cup. Cheap, Dirty, and Whiny!
Damn, I forgot about Nagano! I have to say it was probably Cheli from all the reports I had heard when I lived in D Town.
Well lets hope at least the Sens can take out the Ducks… the thougt of a ceremony in Anaheim next year makes me want to puke. But if one player could hoist that Cup this year from that team, wouldn’t you agree that Giggy would deserve it? Played out of his mind in the Champinonship round!
Bubba | May 23, 2007 | Reply
Sean you know we’re buds but we’ll have to disagree about Chelios. He is a great player, but he’s never been my cup of tea. I will give the Red Wings credit though. I figured that after the salary cap kicked in and they couldn’t spend 80 million plus a year to buy up the best players in hockey, they would fall back to mediocrity with everyone else. But instead they have still been one of the better teams in the NHL the past 2 years. Lots of credit should go to their whole organization.
Nice to see you “Mr Dope.” Hope everything is going well over at FantasyDope.com!
TheDope | May 24, 2007 | Reply
Giggy is certainly a worthy player to get the cup - I like Emery’s fire though. And the Red Wings can’t be too disappointed. Overall, Datsyuk played well enough to get the playoff monkey off of his back. And somehow, Hasek didn’t get hurt. I watched pretty closely this season and even though he was only playing every other game, he seemed to wear down in January and always have one nagging thing or another. But he held up in the playoffs.
Good point about the Wings and their salary cap management. Here in Colorado, things haven’t gone quite as smoothly. That being said, there is a lot of young talent here that could make a run.
Everything is great Bubba. Lotsa work keeping baseball and NASCAR news updated. We’re getting tons of visitors now which is what we want.
Sean Lorichon | May 24, 2007 | Reply
Hey Dope, I will be a rare bird from Detroit and say this… Colorado was always my second favorite team even during the heated rivalry with the Wings. That fire will come back, and do not give up on the Avs. They do have talent, young as it may be, but they are structured like the Wings. This was an odd year for them, and I am looking forward to them coming back into the fold to become perrenial playoff contenders. I think Sakics presence will certainly help many of the young players on the team to become very skilled and big threats fast! The only complaint I have with the Avs this past year is that they have that great young goaltender in Budaj, and yet they keep pulling him for that head case in Theodore! I sat back all year and was absoutely amazed to see what Budaj was doing, and then watch him get benched again over Jose. What was up with that? And now they are re-signing Jose? That was a fishy move to bring him there, kudos to Lacroix for using his injuries at the time to avoid salary issues. But, I say give the kid a chance. He did well when he was in there, let him keep going. Goaltending is one of the chinks in the Avs armour with Jose, and when Budaj was in he seemed to sew it up. Thoughts?
And Bubba, Chelios rocks, but so do you! Keep up the great work here this summer, it keeps the fire burning for next October! Go Canes, Go Wings, and Go Avs!
TheDope | May 24, 2007 | Reply
You hit the nail on the head with that Theodore analysis. That was a big complaint from everyone in town here concerning Budaj. Quenville was very quick with the hook for the goalies - not necessarily in game, but he’d yank a goalie after one bad performance rather than letting someone get consistent starts.
I favored the Theodore acquisition at the time, I thought that it would help him as a goalie to get out of the Montreal pressure cooker. Turns out I was wrong. They had to do something though, Aebischer wasn’t going to get it done — looks like he might get pushed out of Montreal with Huet coming on strong and that young rookie they called up looked sharp as well.
The Avs actually had a strong 2nd half and the young players really stepped up.
Wish I could say the same for my Caps - but look out for Backstrom…