Prospects, and the future of the NHL

? am not sure I get your point, Bob. I lived in NY for many years and the NYR have great fan support but hockey is not, generally speaking, given much coverage. A lot of people there still lack a great appreciation for the game. My understanding is that things were not much different in Chicago until the great Kane era began. I see an opportunity to expand their marketing even in large cities. There's a good chance that your meaning eludes me, so I will ask you to expound.

 

The topic of prospects will often bring us to a discussion about the Sabres.

There is the case of 19 year old Nikita Zadorov, who was stuck in limbo because he could not be sent to the AHL Amerks. His rights were owned by London in the OHL and by a KHL team since he stayed in Russia long enough to be drafted there before taking his defensive prowess to N. America. He was a scratch for the first several games, but has now played more than 10 games this season. The first year of his ELC has been burned.

Ultimately, the Sabres could not resolve his rights' status. I do not think there are too many Euro-players that will have his problem, but it's one more thing to consider at draft time.

Meanwhile, Zads has gone from a scratch, to getting >10 TOI, to where he now gets 20+ minutes. He's huge and put that to good use in a game I saw in STL. I think he may deserve to be in the NHL now, but will admit that my bias for Buffalo may be preventing me from an objective stance. Has anyone seen him this year that could provide a dispassioned evaluation?

 

I've only seen a few Zadorov games Dan (this year and last) but I think that he is especially heavy footed. Different from slow?.although yes I think he is also slow.

As for the big markets teams, many could use a boost but none are really in a position to land McDavid anyway. The teams I mentioned earlier would be a complete waste though. They won't be able to market him and w/ the pending(?) franchise moves the organizations are stuck in neutral anyway.

 

Alex Tuch, Minnesota 1st rnd 2014 draft
USNTDP alum, BC freshman F.

Real big and strong with a heavy shot. Not the best skater but I expect that to be his main point of emphasis as a "student-athlete". that and girls, those are the main objectives Im sure. I think he'll be a strong pro but its like shooting craps so who knows.

vs Maine last weekend



vs Minnesota last night

 

NYR has been in ECF 2 of the last 3 years and the finals last year. They already cashed in the tv deals, growth is still significant to every other US market, but relative to growth the past 6 years, it will be much smaller. Same with the other big US markets. They've all had multiple years of success since 2008, the years of consecutive double digit growth are done. My point is that growth in major markets will be closer to overall NHL growth, and it may even lag it as it did coming out of the lockout pt I.

My assumption that there will always be some growth. NYR reported revenue in Forbes was 217 for 14' and 139 in 08'. They're not going to get that same growth over the next 6 years imo. Most of the other big markets have had even more dramatic spikes that are unlikely to be replicated. Dallas, Denver, and MSP are the last big US markets that really have room for a spike.

To my point, it might be in the best interest of the league to get stars in smaller hockey markets. Seguin in Dallas probably does more for the league than if he were in Boston. They have more room for a revenue spike and might even be able to lead the growth in major markets. NYR, BOS, CHI, etc. only has so much more to squeeze out without CF appearances or better every other year.

 

Canada just released their WJC selection roster.
Fucale and Comrie the only goalies, still 10 D and 17 Fs.

http://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/Team-Canada/Men/Junior/2014-15/Selection-Camp/Roster

 

A seat to an exhibition game is $380, I think I might go watch germany vs finland $8.

 

lol, probably the wise decision skinny. what about Sweden/Nylander? are those affordable?

 

$75 from what I see so far on kijiii

 

I'm waiting until game day, there might be some deals, just my feeling.

 

Sabres prospect Josh Bailey (2nd '13) conspicuously absent from the US WJC camp roster. This must be from the n00bs at USA hockey still playing favorites and pandering to NCAA kids. Bailey has 15-15-30 in 24 games w/ Kitchener. He's a big kid and the tourney is on N.A. ice sheets too.
As you well know Im an NCAA proponent but this isn't right.

the rest of the invites-
http://www.usahockey.com/news_article/show/452960?referrer_id=836196


training camp will be at BU's old rink Walter Brown and is free to the public. The tiny human and I may have to check it out.

 

They did take Cole Cassels, he's been developing in Canada more than the US for example. DeAngelo has been in Canada for a while too but I'm not sure where he started either. Maybe Bailey isn't that special.

Now I have to start watching for the politics more closely, thanks Matty.

 

its been going on for years bob, it used to be even more egregious.
Sean Haggerty was the best US born player of his year(s) by a long shot and wasn't invited. He was so much better than all of the other US kids and was one of the only playing in the OHL. This was back in '94ish? and Ive been following these stories ever since.
The number of US born players playing CHL has increased as has the number of CHL-US WJC kids. Still well below where it should be in my opinion??although the US squads have faired well over the past decade or so.

the breakdown of this invite list-
18 NCAA
8 CHL
2 USNTDP
1 USHS


doesn't add up to 30 so my numbers are off somewhere.

 

after a little research, i didn't know Haggerty had already made the previous year's team-

Drafted by Toronto in 1994, Sean Haggerty spent 1993 through '95 playing for the Detroit Jr. Red Wings and represented the United States at the World Junior Hockey Championships in 1995. In spite of leading the OHL scoring race in 1996, he was not invited to be a part that year's USA WJC team for reasons that reportedly had more to do with politics than playing ability.

http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=10718

 

I didn't realize that the politics were anti-CHL, I always thought it was good-ol-boy type stuff for than some nationalistic/ideological agenda.

I guess if it worked to slow down the Canadian, Russian, and Swedish programs, it's good enough for the US too.

 

I went through the whole list. 4 of the forwards are Chicago prospects. One of Rockford's coaches is there too.
Having them all together will help with assessments I think, I wonder how much that type of thing is weighed in the draft room.

 

its gotta at least be part of it.

 

Chicago loves the US (midwest) kids. NCAA too.

 

Button's latest 2015 Draft rankings. McEichel tied for the #1 spot. Although it seems like there's no way McDavid doesn't go #1.


http://www.tsn.ca/craig-s-list-december-ranking-mcdavid-and-eichel-on-even-terms-1.154887

 

I was looking through names of the USHL and Team USA. Blackhawks ties are all over those programs which makes more sense of the drafting. I don't think it's so much that they're finding more hidden talent in the USHL than other clubs, they are just able to eliminate more of the unknowns, especially character related stuff, compared to Canadian programs. That's what I'm leaning towards as I see and learn about more and more of the connections.

Too bad Pierre is always telling me about CDN jrs instead of USHL, he could save me some time and I wouldn't have to hit mute so often.