If it were up to me, i’d add an award for most assists - the Gretzky?
I’d also add an award for best offense by a defender, anti-Selkie - the Orr? Then make the Norris a true defense award.
The Willie O’Ree nominees were non-players but the Clancy and Messier seem redundant.
I still say there should be an award that’s the opposite of the Lady Byng, like for the dirtiest player. Or at least the best enforcer.
I’ve noticed a lack of Canadian teams in the Finals. Since Montreal won in 93, there have been no champions, and relatively few appearances in the finals (2011 Vancouver was 8 years ago).
Is this due to just the luck of the draw: 70% of the teams are in American cities, so it would be less likely Canadian cities would represent. Plus I’d imagine nearly half the players are Canadian and are spread out, so whether the team is north or south of the border isn’t as important.
Or is it?
In the 90s, I read an article where the NHL players wanted tax breaks if they played in Canada. My memory is foggy, but I recall it was something like “the taxes are much higher so our salaries take a larger hit than the USA”. Whereas Canada was like “tax breaks for millionaires? Gimme a break!”. So players opted to play on teams in US cities.
Was this really a thing? Does it explain the lack of Canadian teams in the Stanley Cup? Or are there Canadian tax breaks in place since that 90s article?
There’s no lack of talent on Canadian teams. Free agency does favour the US market though, for tax reasons, and let’s face it, weather reasons.
But, I think it’s just statistics. Canadian teams are outnumbered: that’s all.
I’m not aware of any specific tax breaks in place for athletes, but the income taxes rates at the highest bracket can be lower in many states, I believe. I don’t believe that’s a huge component, though. The two biggest issues holding back Canadian teams over the past 25 years have been some combination of smaller markets (especially in the pre-cap era) and spectacular front-office incompetence.
Keep in mind that many of the Canadian teams play in cities that are tiny by standards of American sports. Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton all have around 1 million people in their metro areas, and Winnipeg is even smaller. After quickly scanning a list of American metro areas, I see the the smallest American cities with NHL teams are San Jose (1.97M) and Columbus (2.02M). Now, San Jose probably draws a lot of fans from the entire Bay Area so its population base is probably significantly higher, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Columbus has fans in the entire state, drawing eyeballs from Cincinnati and Cleveland too. Canadian teams can partly make up the difference with a lot more market penetration than the smaller American teams, but it’s a significant financial handicap compared to large American teams. Even Vancouver only weighs in at 2.51M people, less than Denver, St. Louis or Tampa Bay.
The biggest problem, though, is just how poorly the teams have been run. The Leafs have been a disaster for basically 50 years. Montreal has been a middling team with little great talent since Roy was traded. Vancouver and Ottawa both had stints where they had contenders but neither team was able to close the deal. The Alberta teams couldn’t compete in the 90s due to financial constraints and have rather famously been terribly run since the 2005 lockout (fun fact: in the last 10 seasons, the Flames have won fewer playoff games than the Oilers!), and Winnipeg has been undone by poor goaltending for basically their entire existence.
That’s cruel. Funny, but cruel!
Is market size more important that attendance? Because Calgary and Edmonton had a higher average attendance last year than Vegas and Dallas.
The Leafs have been mismanaged because they sell out every game, regardless of standings.
“Who cares what we put on the ice? We sell out every game.”
That’s changing under Shanahan. The Leafs will be a strong contender over the next 5-7 years, just like Chicago’s comeback 10 or so years ago.
I am now waiting to see if somebody signs Marner to an offer sheet. In the past Dubas has said the Leafs could match any offer but he has backed away from that position recently.
I doubt it will happen. Dubas is not being committal in interviews, but I guarantee he’ll get Mitch signed. I don’t know how, but it’ll happen. Offer sheets mean giving up way too much.
For what Marner is worth it will be four first round picks, or at worse two first-round picks and a second and third round pick.
Not gonna happen.
I was under the impression that ticket sales are a fairly small part of a modern sports teams’ revenue stream these days. TV rights are the big money makers, I believe.
Having done the math, I’m wrong. Multiplying the Oilers’ average attendance by their average ticket price and 41 home games per season, it comes out to $130M per season. That’s certainly not a small part of their revenue (the Senators, for instance, get about $40M per season from regional and national TV deals). However, I’ll note that I was comparing to the smallest American markets, who don’t win many Stanley Cups either.
It’s true for most major sports, but not hockey, I think. The NHL doesn’t get a lot of money from TV, so it relies more than most sports on ticket revenue.
Devils select US center Hughes with 1st pick in NHL draft; other draft news at the link!
ETA: Kakko went 2nd to the Rangers, for those beside themselves wondering. 
Ryan Callahan has been diagnosed with a degenerative back disorder. It’s unlikely he’ll ever play again. 
Does anyone have any idea where Corey Perry is going to end up?
Subban to N.J. The Devils may be scary next season.
Ddamn, New Jersey making some serious acquisitions lately. A hotshot rookie center and a veteran defensive leader sounds like somebody wants more Ws.
Marleau from Leafs to Carolina.
Welcome back, Mitch.
My google-fu seems to have failed, so I figured I’d ask here, anyone know if Cole Caufield is related to Jay Caufield?
