NHL 2020-21

[shoothoops]

Positive numbers for this year’s Frozen Four and playoffs. Lots of great games. Always a fun event.


https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2021/04/espns-2021-ncaa-division-i-mens-ice-hockey-championship-coverage-is-most-viewed-since-2014/

[Mr. Nielsen]

NBC has officially pulled out of the bidding for the NHL’s second TV package, according to U.S. and Canadian sources.

[shoothoops]

NBC has officially pulled out of the bidding for the NHL’s second TV package, according to U.S. and Canadian sources.

Turner Sports is expected to be the other new NHL partner besides ESPN.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Turner Sports is expected to be the other new NHL partner besides ESPN.

Sort of shocking as it was reported by HNIC that FOX/FS1 to be the leader over the weekend.

[shoothoops]

Sort of shocking as it was reported by HNIC that FOX/FS1 to be the leader over the weekend.

Turner ended up with a higher bid.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Turner ended up with a higher bid.

From Andrew Marchand.
CBS was not interested in bidding, and Fox was not willing to go hog-wild on bidding.

Turner is going to pay in the neighborhood of $225M per season over its seven-year NHL deal, according to sources. That's nearly $1.6B.

ESPN is paying the NHL $400M a year over its seven-year deal.

[PGsHeroes32]

The west looked stacked up top with Vegas, Colorado and STL.

Coming into the year I definitely had expectations that the Wild would be the "best of the rest" and get that 4th spot. But I didn't think it was a gurantee.

So the fact we have not only clinched a playoff spot already with 10 games left AND been the clear cut 3rd best team the entire time(closer to the big dogs than 4th) is really surprising and impressive.

Ultimately it will still result in just a first round loss but not much you can do about being realigned to have to play the two best teams in hockey. For once, I actually feel confident about the future though rather than just feeling like a middling playoff team.

[shoothoops]

The west looked stacked up top with Vegas, Colorado and STL.

Coming into the year I definitely had expectations that the Wild would be the "best of the rest" and get that 4th spot. But I didn't think it was a gurantee.

So the fact we have not only clinched a playoff spot already with 10 games left AND been the clear cut 3rd best team the entire time(closer to the big dogs than 4th) is really surprising and impressive.

Ultimately it will still result in just a first round loss but not much you can do about being realigned to have to play the two best teams in hockey. For once, I actually feel confident about the future though rather than just feeling like a middling playoff team.

Kaprizov changed Minnesota's team, especially with Zuccarello. And they have had improved goaltending, Kahkohnen, and PK. Good 5v5. Being able to create more offense changed their energy but they are still D & goaltending first type of team.

Colorado, Vegas both have been good as expected in the West. Stl hasn't played the same since they were a top team seeking back to back cups just before the pandemic playoffs. Only two active D remain, have had some injuries, but theirs is more about 60 minutes of doing the little things, effort, and finishing. Get a bit more net front presence, and.better at the blue line. They have a lot of firepower, if they do the little things for 60 minutes. It will be an interesting final push of a couple of weeks.

[Mr. Nielsen]

It's done deal for TNT/TBS
https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/us/media-release/nhl-comes-turner

[PGsHeroes32]

Fiala and Kirill are just clutch.

[DegenerateDish]

100 penalty minutes in the first period of Caps/Rangers tonight.

That’s not a typo.

[MU82]

100 penalty minutes in the first period of Caps/Rangers tonight.

That’s not a typo.

The league totally spit the bit when the powers-that-be chose not to suspend Washington's Tom Wilson for borderline criminal behavior the other night. This one was bound to be ugly.

[Its DJOver]

Torn on who to root for in the Finals.  On one hand, a repeat is pretty boring IMO, on the other, I wouldn't mind seeing Canada's dry streak continue. The Habs also have more than enough post season success for a franchise for me.  Would have preferred Isles v Knights, but it is what it is.

[MU82]

I thought the winner of the Lightning-Hurricanes series would win the Cup, and I see no reason to think differently now.

Talented team with some good young players and also a lot of battle-tested vets, all backed by the hottest goalie in the playoffs. That's a championship combination.

[shoothoops]

Pat Maroon has now won 11 straight playoff series, seeking his 12th, and, 3rd straight Stanley Cup. (Seeking his 2nd straight with Tampa after winning it with St. Louis in 2019)

ESPN signed Mark Messier after TNT signed Wayne Gretzky. (Plenty of Jari Kurri jokes to NHL Network)

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Pat Maroon has now won 11 straight playoff series, seeking his 12th, and, 3rd straight Stanley Cup. (Seeking his 2nd straight with Tampa after winning it with St. Louis in 2019)

ESPN signed Mark Messier after TNT signed Wayne Gretzky. (Plenty of Jari Kurri jokes to NHL Network)

Montreal seeking first Canadian Stanley Cup since 1993. First one to play for the cup since 2011.

[MU82]

Pat Maroon has now won 11 straight playoff series, seeking his 12th, and, 3rd straight Stanley Cup. (Seeking his 2nd straight with Tampa after winning it with St. Louis in 2019)

[PGsHeroes32]

I really wanted the Isles to win it.

Had absolutely no expectation of them beating the Lightning. Come game 7 I was less confident they would win then the WIld would beat Vegas in game 7 2 rounds ago.

Bummer

[shoothoops]

Montreal seeking first Canadian Stanley Cup since 1993. First one to play for the cup since 2011.

Yep. It’s been a long time for the Habs, and, Canada in general. I know several Nashville fans and media that didn’t see it coming for Shea Weber. It’s good for the game.

[JWags85]

I think the storyline for the Fonals is kind of great.  You have a legendary Original Six team who has been snakebitten for the last 25+ years.  From an old school hockey hotbed.  Facing off against one of the most successful expansion teams from a “weird” non-traditional hockey market.  Also intriguing since they are normally Division mates and the Lightning’s success has contributed in no small part to the Habs recent struggles.

Unfortunately he played for the Badgers, but Caulfield is insanely fun to watch and a great story

[Billy Hoyle]

Yep. It’s been a long time for the Habs, and, Canada in general. I know several Nashville fans and media that didn’t see it coming for Shea Weber. It’s good for the game.

Since the Habs won the Cup in 1993, the last for a Canadian franchise, every current Canadian franchise has now made the finals, except for Winnipeg (which didn’t exist until 2011-12), and Toronto.

Vancouver (2x), Edmonton, and Calgary each lost in 7 games. Ottawa lost in 5. It’s time for another Canadian champion.

To twist the knife a little more, Colorado won the cup the season after relocating from Quebec City.

[cheebs09]

So, I’m not much of a hockey fan, but I was following the Toews story. Really relieved the ALS rumors were not true. Sounds like he will play next year and was/is battling Chronic Immune Response Syndrome.

[MU82]

Very sad story about a Columbus Blue Jackets prospect who just died in a fireworks accident:

https://apnews.com/article/columbus-blue-jackets-matiss-kivlenieks-hockey-nhl-sports-032b8580cdc3cd53c4a950886714c6d2

When I was a kid, one of my best friends had 3 fingers blown off in a fireworks accident, and I've never been a fan of them since. This is just the latest example why.

Death always sucks, but this was just so unnecessary.

[JWags85]

Very sad story about a Columbus Blue Jackets prospect who just died in a fireworks accident:

https://apnews.com/article/columbus-blue-jackets-matiss-kivlenieks-hockey-nhl-sports-032b8580cdc3cd53c4a950886714c6d2

When I was a kid, one of my best friends had 3 fingers blown off in a fireworks accident, and I've never been a fan of them since. This is just the latest example why.

Death always sucks, but this was just so unnecessary.

Also another case study in the dangers of "fast" information on social media.  I think 3 different causes of death came from "sources" in the morning yesterday, none of which were the actual.  Incredibly tragic.

Fireworks are incredible, beautiful, and steeped in history across the globe...but really have no business being used outside of professionals.  The danger/excitement of a bottle rocket isn't worth the risk.  And nobody shooting off a shell in their backyard is experiencing an ounce of an actual incredible firework display, its just pyro desires.

[MU82]

Also another case study in the dangers of "fast" information on social media.  I think 3 different causes of death came from "sources" in the morning yesterday, none of which were the actual.  Incredibly tragic.

Fireworks are incredible, beautiful, and steeped in history across the globe...but really have no business being used outside of professionals.  The danger/excitement of a bottle rocket isn't worth the risk.  And nobody shooting off a shell in their backyard is experiencing an ounce of an actual incredible firework display, its just pyro desires.

Bolded is what I meant when I said I've never been a fan of fireworks. I like a good, professional display as much as anybody does.

And yes to what you said about the race for info on social media. The legitimate media made some errors, too, but issued corrections pretty quickly.

Obviously, a terrible tragedy.