Living on Vancouver Island, of course my pick is the Canucks.

 

 

 

 

 

The problem is also that the tax rates are killing Canadian teams, compared to US ones (even with the $CDN almost on par with the UD$).... In order to pay a player a net salary of say... 1000.00 net, they have to to offer him almost double gross salary to what a US team has to.... And that's probably just on the salary front... I'm quite sure other taxes (TV rights, building/arenas, etc...) are also much higher Up North;.. all that with a much smaller possible audience/attendance reservoir >> almost unfeasable

 

At that kind of rate, it's amazing that Montreal manages anything at all, when you know Quebec has almost double taxes on the rest of Canadian provinces >> I think it was the main reason for the Quebec Nordiques to move to Denver.

 

 

 

this

What, you're back in Canada again?

 

I just hope Malhotra can get up to speed and see some icetime.

 

 

But it's looking like the Stanley Cup is finally heading home...

The numbers when a team is up 2-0 in the Stanley Cup is 42-4. That being said the Canucks have taken the early lead in all thier series then.... I never count a team out of it however it's looking good. 35 years. It's been a long wait and I'm an impatient SOB.

 I was a Broad St. Bully fan(Flyers) when I was a kid and became a full fledge 'Nucks fan when I was 10 years old.

 

Make it seven.

 

 

 

It won't be long 'til it'll be eight.

 

Being also a Habs fan, I witnessed those Bruins-Habs games of the 70's (the Orr-Dryden era) with such awe!!! The respect I have for the bruins still come from those times... always hated the no-class bullies (flyers) , with Esposito, Schultz and Maloney, though.

 

I fear for the Canucks' win though.... Clearly the bruins are going to even it out in Beantown (where they really spanked their foes), but that last game out west is going to be an all-out brawl.  Actually if it does come down to that last game, I'd say the odds for the Bruins are above 50%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not even counting that the Quebec Nordiques (then in WHA) were "stealing/plundering" Habs players right, left & centre...

 

But the 70's were an amazing decade for Canada in general.... The only thing they missed was that first canada Cup, losing to the Czechs (but my then-girlfriend, well sweetheart, was a Czech refugee, so I didn't feel that bad)

 

 

No small thanks to the WHA (what a mess THAT was), CANADA RULED!!!

 

Some of these Canadian cities had two hockey teams for a while ... Toronto (remember the Toros and Napier) or Vancouver (Blazers)... But the Nordiques and Winipeg Jets were regularly champions...

 

I even went to Varsity to see Toros games (against Jets , Nordiques, Calgary Cowboys and Oilers)....

but the only time I ever went to the Maple Leaf Gardens was to see concerts (I hated that Harold Ballard arsehole)

 

 

 

 

 

as an afterthought to my previous post, I find that Hockey was incredible to Canada until 93, when ther habs won it last (since then the stanley drought has stricken).... I mean it was all for the original six teams, until the Islanders, Penguins and Oilers came in >> but these were Canadian offshoots anyway.... Just imagine that the year (95) the Nordiques moved to Denver, they won the cup .... and the following year, the Jets moved to Phoenix and that in 94, the Canucks losdt the finals.

 

 

But since then, the weak CDN$, the high income taxes and small markets have really hurt us.

 

 

 

 

 

(cough... BLACKHAWKS ACTUALLY cough...)

 I have to disagree with you on some of your points you've made. The Canadian teams bring in 35% of the revenue of the league. That's 6 out of 30 teams. That's a huge number of dollars coming in from Canada. Next year it will be 7 and in a couple years it will be 8 and and I'll even predict 9 teams within  5 years.

 

IMO, it was Bettman's "philosophy" to place teams in non-traditional markets that has also hurt the Canadian teams as these teams are compensated by the richer franchises thus taking dollars out of the team's bottom line.

 

To be fair to Bettman he did save some Canadian franchises, like the Oilers, Senators and even the Flames with compensation going to them back in the 90's because of our very low $, but since the lockout and a few years before the Canadian markets have done very well with the salary cap and our high $.

 

It seems some people think it is only the NHL that has problems. Take a look at the other three pro team leagues. All have thier problems too.

 

I think there will be another two teams in southern Ontario as the league can see the huge $ there and not to place another team(s) there is ludicrous. Q.C. will have another team once thier new arena is built. It will be built.

 

Anyway back to the game last night. I couldn't watch the game after the third goal. It was over. The first goal the Bruins scored I said, "here we go again.' After the second, "get Luongo the hell out of there." And after the third goal, "it's over", and I shut 'er off.

 

I'm blaming Luongo for this series going 7. Nobody else but him. He's getting paid the big bucks and he's not the doing the job. He's starting game 7, though he's played well at home, if he let's in the first bad goal, get him outta there. This is for the Stanley cup. The Canuck's aren't going to score three goals on Tim Thomas the way he is playing.

 

All in all, I hope it's a good game and close. Either way, win or lose, I'll have tears in my eyes from joy and relief or sheer disappointment.

 

You're bringing me some solid optimism here.... Indeed, I'm not that close to the NHL action or grapevine, since I'm on the other side of the pond...

 

What is that seventh team you're talking about for next season.... a new franchise or an existing one moving???

How about that 8th you mention??? Please tell me more

 

I agree that since (and just prior to) the lock-out, we've seen Canadian teams get into the finals (Oilers, senators & Flames), but still too many Canadian teams didn't make the playoffs this year (that's also a big problem... all six teams play in two different divisions > good for rivalry.... but, sportwise...)

 

 

 

anyway, STANLEY HEAD HOME!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, here's the Moose logo. Pretty cool. So Canadian. I could accept it.

 

http://www.faceoff.com/Forever+always+jets/4871031/story.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.faceoff.com/Forever+always+jets/4871031/story.html

There has been great play from both teams this series.But both teams not being able to win on the road is pretty bad.

 

 

I don't think the name of Winnipeg Poohs will scare any NHL brute....

I'd prefer the the Moose logo, but I think this would be easily transformed into bad jokes... (mouse, or sumthin' else)

 

The Jets would be a good idea (although the NHL might resent the use of the 70's WHA powerhouse name),  because after all, it's only been 14 years

 

 

Soooo it would be the second time Atlanta would loose their franchise to Canada (after the Flames). Not a good idea for canucks to take holidays in Geargia, uh???

 

 

 

 

Poohs is worst than the Mighty Ducks.

 

Bettman didn't take history in account in regards to Atlanta. The Flames weren't a bad team in Atlanta making the playoffs six out of the eight years they were there. As far as teams relocating to other US markets I really have no idea where they would go. Oklahoma City? Seattle I would think could support a team. Back in Hartford? Kansas City..it didn't work there as well. Portland, Oregon...maybe. Milwaukee...hockey is pretty big there on a high school and university level.

 

In summary, I can only see teams relocating to Canada in the immediate future. I even think the lower mainland of B.C. could support another team.

 

I'm already nervous and excited about game 7 tonight.

They could have white uniforms, with a brown stripe down the back of the pants.

 

Oh, wait, the Canucks wore those this past week in Boston.

 You made my day. That's friggin' hilarious.

 

Loungo must be eating contaminated oysters in Boston as he has a bad case of the sh*tz.

 

^ Exactly why its a dark day for hockey.  God, I hate Bostonians.

Agreed,but it was a small minority of a****les and the city of Vancouver and its citizens shouldn't be blamed as a whole.

 

You're all supposed to be polite.  What's the deal, buddy?

  The Olympics must have really cramped some people's style as well.

 

To be fair, I was not confident of the Canucks' chance once they got blown out in the two Beantown games....

 

Is that Ellen Page, posing in front of the fire, in the black top?

 

Probably the least deserving member of the team, too.  If he were a few inches shorter he wouldn't have any chance to make an NHL roster.  "Skill" is completely tied in to his freakish reach.  Recchi might be less deserving, actually, since he should've retired 5-6 years ago and has simply been along for the ride.

 

Well hopefully Recchi will retire and we'll never hear from him again. I still can't believe the Bruins won the cup, this just doesn't make any sense to me,well except that amazing goaltending can take you all the way.

 

The difference, and it was a huge difference, was in the goaltending and probably more than other Stanley Cup final I've watched. I place 95% of the blame on Luongo. He chocked... he more than choked. There is no excuse, he's getting paid big bucks to at least keep it close. Hell, it wasn't even close. Sure he played well in the other home games. Three good games, four brutal games. That doesn't cut it.

 

The Canuck's signed him last year to 12 year contract at roughly 5 million a year on average(sliding scale system). "Crazy", I said at the time. Five years, OK, but 12! He's past his prime IMO and with that big contract how/when is the team going to move him in the future, but in the meantime we have a very good, young developing goalie in Cory Schnieder which the team is most likely going to lose this summer. Luongo was the face of the franchise. I think that has now changed.

 

I'm not making any apologies for those idiots that went on an immature crusade and so they could film themselves with thier cell phones and post it on youtube. I think the riots would of happened if the Canucks did win. Just a bunch of punks looking for an excuse to raise hell. Throw 'em in jail for a week. They'll think twice next time.

 

Congragulations to the Boston Bruins and especially Tim Thomas who had one the best years as goalie in the history of the NHL. Conn Smythe winner and no doubt the Vezina as well. Best save % all time and just a great guy who paid his dues to finally make it to the big league through hard work, perceverance and determination. Way to go Timmy.

 

 

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/738304-gary-bettman-can-the-nhls-commisioner-go-anywhere-without-being-booed" rel="nofollow - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/738304-gary-bettman-can-the-nhls-commisioner-go-anywhere-without-being-booed

Too bad, I was hoping they would choose "The Poohs".