Something the NHL should adpot (that the NFL does)

by tehchico on Sep 3, 2009 4:55 PM EDT

It's been something I've been thinking about, what are some things the NFL does that the NHL should do?

Obviously the reason I look at the NFL, because as a whole the league seems to be unstoppable with Marketing (usually very good marketing) as well as TV deals and drawling interest.

Over the last 4 seasons or so the NFL has started the season with the reigning Super Bowl Champs playing a Thursday night at home, almost an offering of congratulations on a season well done.

The NHL should start it's season on National TV (Sorry Versus) with a stand alone game of the Stanley Cup Champ opening up at home, raising the banner against a division rival. Have the cup in the house, an nice ceremony, raise the Stanley Cup Champions banner and drop the puck on the new NHL season.

Agree? Disagree?

Any other thoughts?

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I think that's a good idea

although it would obviously only be a small step for the NHL. They need to do a lot more to get back into the public conscious again.

And division rival? As long as it isn’t the Flyers, sounds good to me. Want to lord it over the Rangers?

Broad Street Hockey -
Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Geoff Detweiler on Sep 3, 2009 5:12 PM EDT reply actions

Why not the Flyers? Don’t wanna see the banner going up or somethin?

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by FrankD on Sep 3, 2009 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Not at all

Broad Street Hockey -
Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Geoff Detweiler on Sep 3, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions

the NOT ON VERSUS is spot on…….we need more ideas like this!

by lrcaniac on Sep 3, 2009 6:22 PM EDT reply actions

I think not on Versus in general

is a good idea. So tough to compete with fly-fishing and RC truck racing.

by Desroko on Sep 6, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions

make the NHL network system wide…sat and cable…….and maybe Comcast will get it’s head out it’s rear……MAYBE……………………………….

by lrcaniac on Sep 8, 2009 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the one eternal benefit that football will always have over hockey, and any other sport for that matter, is that games are always scheduled on the same days. Everyone knows that you can catch your team on a Sunday or Monday with the odd Thursday game thrown in here or there. It’s not rare to think a game is scheduled on Thanksgiving because over the years the NFL has managed to make Thanksgiving synonymous with football, more particularly the Lions.

Such is the ease of have a 16-game season.

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by FrankD on Sep 4, 2009 11:36 AM EDT reply actions

I think that would be a good idea.

And maybe even a west coast game of significance too (if the champ is in the Eastern time zone). Like this year I would put the Pens first game and the Joe Sakic banner ceremony as the only two games on the first night of the season.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Sep 4, 2009 12:58 PM EDT reply actions

A big goal for the NHL

is get back in with ESPN

by daburgh73 on Sep 4, 2009 2:57 PM EDT reply actions

Why?

by PensFan024 on Sep 8, 2009 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Simple answer, people watch ESPN more than the former “Outdoor Channel.”

PensBurgh penalty - Lavender - 2 Minutes for Excessive Stanley Cup Raising.

by Lavender on Sep 8, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions

So by that logic you are now a bigger fan of poker, womens tennis, and the WNBA than you are of the NHL because those sports are more readily available on ESPN. Or…do you go to the channel that is broadcasting what you watch? I don’t know about you but I watch what I want, not just what happens to be on the four letter network.

by PensFan024 on Sep 8, 2009 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m with ya. If I have to watch channel 1,084 for a hockey game I wanna see I’m going there. Doesn’t matter who is hosting the event. I’m not entirely stoked when NBC hosts a Pens game but I’m over bashing Maguire (for now) and just kinda deal.

Besides, if people think NBC and Versus are bad for announcing, just wait for who will “debut” as the hockey PbP guys on the Worldwide Leader.

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by FrankD on Sep 8, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

No, but by that logic I am aware the Poker All Stars is something happening in the universe. NHL fans have never left, the NHL has just left mainstream TV. All I say in regards to a move back to ESPN would be that it will gain newer and younger viewers just as it did pulling me in to watch the Avalanche clash with the Red Wings throughout the 90’s.

PensBurgh penalty - Lavender - 2 Minutes for Excessive Stanley Cup Raising.

by Lavender on Sep 8, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Absolutely. NHL on ESPN, so much as being on ESPN 2 twice a week, would be nice. I grew up with it on ESPN. It has to be an upgrade over re-runs of poker, or Nascar Live for that matter.

PensBurgh penalty - Lavender - 2 Minutes for Excessive Stanley Cup Raising.

by Lavender on Sep 8, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Challenge flags. Same goes with baseball.

by eyeamzerox on Sep 5, 2009 2:56 AM EDT reply actions

Baseball managers

prefer to throw bases, not flags.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf9E1zhnFec

by Desroko on Sep 6, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

You are right about ESPN

Before I go any further I have to concede this, I hate ESPN!!! I have never witnessed a network more in love with itself, especially when you consider, in the grand scheme of things, how irrelevant what they do is.

That being said, in the world of sports they are becoming the Wal-Mart of sports broadcasting. Right or wrong there are people who know more about poker, WNBA, and Little League than the NHL because “The Network” carries their events, thusly promotes said events.

ESPN is un-American in that it has no real competitor (at least Fox News has MSNBC and CNN) and they have created a sports monopoly where either you cater to them or go to hell (which is apparently what Versus in the cable world).

If the NHL is ever going to be more, right or wrong, it has to get on ESPN, assuming it needs to be more, which I am not convinced it needs to be. Only if the KHL gets serious about plucking players away from the NHL should the NHL get worried and go begging to “The Network”.

Life is about one simple choice, get busy living or get busy dying

by Dr Tre on Sep 8, 2009 10:58 AM EDT reply actions

Also like the NFL: The Penguins captain becomes an admirer of the German culture (nicknaming himself the Canadian Bavarian) and changes his name to Sidney Siebenundachtzig.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Sep 9, 2009 9:41 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs