HockeyRhetoric

Sports Illustrated and SI.com hockey writer, Michael Farber, had this to say on a recent podcast, hosted by Richard Deitsch:

“You have teams in places where hockey is not the topic of conversation. It seems to me, [in accordance with] basic business principles, you want to put your product where people who like that product can sample it. It would be like putting a McDonald’s in an area where everybody is a vegetarian. Unfortunately, in the Southern United States — not to pick only on the Southern US — there a lot of hockey vegetarians.”

It should be noted that Farber made this comment in summation to a point he was making on the degree to which Canada has embraced the Jets. » Read the rest of this entry «

Watching this past weekend’s Sabres games, I was reminded of something I noticed during HBO’s 24/7 Penguins/Capitals: Road to the NHL Winter Classic.

Seeing the Penguins and Capitals documented helped me to fully realizing what those two particular organizations were all about. I consider the Pens and Caps to be something of model franchises for hockey in the post-lockout era. They play in the East, so they have an advantage over the Red Wings and maybe the Sharks or Canucks in terms of visibility but ultimately, the Pens and the Caps were, and still are, the envy of the league. They’re both loaded with elite level talent, smart executives, committed owners, and their facilities are off the charts. Because of these things, their fan support is strong and they get a large share of the national attention. » Read the rest of this entry «

Jason Pominville was recently named the new, full-time captain of the Buffalo Sabres. I have several unimportant, semi-related thoughts on this.

To start, count me amongst what was probably the majority of Sabres fans who, prior to the official announcement, had endorsed Thomas Vanek for the title of team captain. I think the strongest reason for this is also the simplest. Vanek is one of three elite level talents on the Sabres. Myers is probably too young for the captaincy and Miller is of course a goaltender. Vanek is the most talented scorer on the team and by a pretty wide margin too. At this point in his career, Vanek affects every game he is in the line-up for and in a very noticeable, if not measurable, way; but Vanek’s potential impact as captain goes beyond his ability to set up and finish scoring chances. » Read the rest of this entry «

Here’s Robyn Regehr explaining to CBC’s Eliotte Friedman the difference between playing defense for the Flames and the Sabres.

One: “Here, they want the defence to go much further up ice. That doesn’t affect me as much … but I know I’ll have to cover for [partner Tyler Myers].” Two: “[Lindy Ruff] plays some different systems here, including a 1-3-1. I’ve never played that before. In Calgary, we always played a 1-2-2 … As the left defenceman, I’ll be the one [farthest back], but it will still be new for me.” Three: “They play an attacking collapse in the defensive zone … Everywhere I’ve been, there is always supposed to be one defenceman in the front of the net. Here, when the puck goes below the line, both defencemen and a forward pursue, with another forward going to the front.”

Based on what Regehr told Friedman, defensemen on the Flames were instructed to play a safe, traditional, style. » Read the rest of this entry «

So Chris Drury has retired from hockey. I don’t have a really neat and concise opinion on him. It seems like every time I talk about Drury with someone, the conversation goes in a unique direction. The spectrum of feelings people have for Drury has always seemed to overshadow any kind of hard analysis of his greatness. In Buffalo, there is a lot of unresolved bitterness towards Drury but most concede that he was great for the Sabres.

Some people are just inexplicable gifted at what they do. Robert Downey Jr. was put on this Earth to act in front of a camera. Bruce Springstein was put on this Earth to perform music on a stage. Chris Drury — he was put on this Earth to play competitive sports. What’s interesting about Drury is that, in comparison to other pro hockey players, he wasn’t exactly an outlier. I’m not sure if at any point during his professional career he was ever the most talented player on his team. Think about it. » Read the rest of this entry «