NHL playoff ratings up 22% year-over-year

• gabuckeye

  The_Crosby_Show wrote: ^^^^^If ESPN picks up the NHL they better sign Doc Emirck to a contract to announce big time games.

  I'd prefer they pick up Jim Hughson. Best in the business, in my opinion.
• thavoice

  Doc would go where the NHL is to be honest with ya...there are only a few voices I heard who do a great job...he and thorne are top...
  b
  
  but my expereince in limited.
• gorocks99

  

  Love Hughson's calls on the CBC. Still miss Gary Thorne a lot; along with the ESPN National Hockey Night theme song. Those were the days.
  
  
• End of Line

  

  ^^^^CBC is the shit when it comes to announcers and videos lol.
• krazie45

  

  I still think that more Canadian teams would help instead of teams in cities like freaking Phoenix and Tampa Bay.
• KnightXC1

  

  ^^ Correct. Get rid of Phoenix, Tampa Bay, Florida, Atlanta, and Carolina and put them up north where the fans will care about them.
• thavoice

  I agree about the canadian teams. I always said we need more in the league....i usually will root for a canadian team over the rest unless they are playing the Penguins...and Jackets.
  
  Just seems right....it is their fans passion and i have no problem with that.
  
  teams in the deep south..just doesnt seem right to have NHL hockey teams!
  
  I read that the dollar exchange hurts the canadien teams. They pay out in american dollars....and take in canadien. I dont know how it all works but I did read that it hursts those teams.
• gorocks99

  

  In all honesty the league probably needs to contract some of the teams (Florida, Phoenix, TB, Atlanta) rather than moving them all to Canada. Sure, Canadians would support their team like crazy (and yes, Quebec City needs a team again) but as mentioned above, the exchange rate hurts them and the ultimate prize for the NHL as a league is US television ratings. Need to "trim the fat" and focus on bringing in more casual fans.
• krazie45

  

  Two divisions: American and Canadian. Same number of teams. Playoff format the same. USA vs. Canada Stanley Cup every year.....
• Laley23

  

  krazie45 wrote: Two divisions: American and Canadian. Same number of teams. Playoff format the same. USA vs. Canada Stanley Cup every year.....

  That would be awesome. But not nearly enough teams for Canada. I suppose you could get away with putting them in smaller cities because they will still sell out. But what teams in America do you get rid of?
• End of Line

  

  Not enough big cities in Canada for that to happen. Can't put any teams in Onatrio as the Maple Leafs will have a fit.
  
  Quebec City, Winnepeg, Halifax, Sasakatoon, and or Regina could work.
• gorocks99

  

  The_Crosby_Show wrote: Not enough big cities in Canada for that to happen. Can't put any teams in Onatrio as the Maple Leafs will have a fit.

  'cept that Ottawa got a team recently. The Leafs would definitely throw a fit if Hamilton got a team though.
• End of Line

  

  ^^^^Ottawa already had history will a team being there.
• gorocks99

  

  True, but there was almost 60 years between the two franchises.
• End of Line

  

  Eh true.