Category: NHL

New and Improved Golf Channel to Feature NHL Playoffs!

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In one of the most absurd sports media moves since the Outdoor Life Network acquired the cable broadcast rights to the National (Indoor) Hockey League in 2005, two NHL playoff games will be broadcast on Golf Channel on April 18. A pair of Game 4’s – Lightning @ Devils and Ducks @ Sharks – will be broadcast on Golf Channel on the evening of Wednesday, April 18.

As ridiculous as it sounds, though, it’s probably not that bad of a move. Golf Channel is available in about 79 million households, compared to about 81 million households for NBCSN. Not a massive difference. Both networks trail well behind in household availability to the two other cable networks that will air some NHL playoff games, CNBC and US Network. CNBC is available in almost 94 million households and USA Network is available in 94.3 million households.

It sounds strange to say this but if you are an LA Kings fan living in Boston, you might be better off if the Kings game airs on USA Network instead of NBC’s main cable sports outlet, NBCSN. My grandmother has been getting USA Network since the first Bush administration in the early ’90s. It is doubtful that she gets NBCSN.

A lot of people like to poke fun at the NHL’s television situation, but that’s not the point of this blog. The move to put two games on Golf Channel is mildly amusing, but is likely more about attracting eyeballs to Golf Channel after the Masters rather than a comment on the NHL’s television ratings. It might appease more hockey fans if these games aired on the NHL Network instead of Golf Channel, but that would be far worse for the product. According to the most recent estimate I could find, the NHL Network was only available in about 37 million homes. Ask yourself how many MLB playoff games you’ve ever watched on MLB Network. I know my answer.  ZERO.

As a Bruins fan, I like seeing the B’s and Leafs on NBC in primetime Saturday night. I just worry about that game going to double overtime. If that game has to be finished on NBCSN to make way for a new episode of Saturday Night Live, then the NHL might have a real beef with its television partner.

Ryan Donato Leaves Harvard Early to Go Pro and Shine for the Bruins

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For the second year in a row the Bruins are leaning on a rookie just days removed from his final college game as the team enters its home stretch.

Last year it was Charlie McAvoy. This year its Ryan Donato AKA the kid who carried the USA Olympic team with 5 goals in Pyeongchang. Donato made his debut last night and despite playing his final game at Harvard less than a week ago, the 21-year-old looked right at home and notched 3 points in his NHL debut. Not to mention his first career goal came on an absolute ROCKET.

The kid can play. The Youth Movement is in full swing! Nobody is loving this influx of young talent more than David Krejci.

It would seem like the Bruins are doing their best to reconstruct the 2018 Olympic team that ironically featured 0 NHL players at the time with Donato and recently signed Brian Gionta.

I’ll admit it, I did not expect the Bruins to be nearly this good this year, but goddamn is this a fun team to watch.

Illinois Considers Adding D1 Hockey

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Interesting news out of the Land of Lincoln yesterday, where the University of Illinois released the results of a study into the feasibility of launching a Division I men’s ice hockey program. The feasibility study results state:

[T]here is growing excitement and anticipation about the University of Illinois starting Division I intercollegiate ice hockey. With a growing passion for ice hockey at all levels in the state of Illinois, the foundation appears to be in place for the University of Illinois to develop an intercollegiate men’s hockey program that will be financially successful and competitive on a conference and national level.

The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics said yesterday that no final decision had been made yet on whether or not to add a varsity men’s hockey program. If it were to launch a varsity men’s hockey program, the University of Illinois would become the tenth Power Five school to sponsor the sport, and the third to add it since 2012.

Penn State, which launched its program in 2012, has shown that success on the ice can come sooner rather than later. The Nittany Lions men’s hockey team showed improvement in each of its first four years and made the NCAA tournament for the first time in year four. This year the program is in good position to get back to the tournament again in year five. Progress for Arizona State, which launched its program in 2015, has been a little slower but that could change if/when they find a hockey conference to call home. Life as an independent can be tough for everyone other than Notre Dame football.

The University of Illinois wouldn’t have to worry about life as an independent, though, as they would be able to slide into the Big Ten hockey conference when they’re ready. As Penn State has already shown in that conference, being a newcomer to the sport doesn’t mean being a cellar dweller for years and years. And the University of Illinois could very well have a good amount of talent on its team in a short amount of time.

It was pointed out in the study results that Illinois produced 85 Division I hockey players in 2017. Only Minnesota, Michigan and Massachusetts produced more. Of the eight states that produced the most Division I hockey players, Illinois is the only one without a Division I program. Illinois is also home to an Original Six NHL franchise, the Chicago Blackhawks, so the interest in hockey is there.

If college hockey operated like professional hockey, investors, city leaders and fans would all be demanding the next “expansion” franchise be placed in Champaign. College hockey in Illinois just makes too much sense. There’s no way that program wouldn’t be successful. Adding a Big Ten team in the third largest media market in the country can only mean more exposure for the sport, and there’s nothing to not like about that.

Unless you’re a New England fan. Just one more midwest powerhouse for BU, BC and Maine to compete against for talent.

The Yet to Exist Seattle NHL Team Just Sold 25K Season Tickets. In an Hour

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ESPN – Seattle fans have spoken: They want hockey. The Oak View Group, the prospective owners of a potential NHL franchise in Seattle, say they reached 25,000 deposits within the first hour of their season-ticket drive Thursday. That exceeds the goal of 10,000 deposits — which was reached in the first 12 minutes. The group says its website has slowed down because of the influx in traffic, though deposits are still being accepted. The OVG reached a deal with the city of Seattle for $600 million to renovate KeyArena downtown. As a hockey venue, it is expected to seat about 17,000. In February, the OVG submitted paperwork, including a $10 million down payment, to the NHL to be its 32nd franchise. The league is likely to accept the bid pending the results of the season-ticket drive. The Vegas Golden Knights ran a season-ticket drive in 2015; that campaign received 5,000 deposits in the first two days.

What a genius marketing ploy by the NHL. Oh you want an NHL team, Seattle? Well we’re gonna need you to sell all of your season tickets for a team that doesn’t technically exist yet. Its a win-win move for both sides. The NHL gets a resounding Yes to the question “does this city really want an NHL team?” Seattle gets to actually justify the renovations to KeyArena in the HOPE a professional sports league blesses them with a team.

This should be the way expansion cities are selected in every major sport moving forward. Why would you go through all the work of putting an expansion team (or relocating a team) to a city if you’re not 100% sure its going to work? Thats how we got stuck with the Arizona Coyotes for the past 20 years.

I know oftentimes these deals are wink wink behind closed doors, but now cities don’t have to build an entire arena with a surrounding complex and pray a pro team wants to move there. Thats how it worked in Ballers on HBO anyway and thats all the research I intend to do on the matter.

But holy shit does Seattle want a hockey team. Or I guess any team really. You’d be the same way too if the best young player in the game and his entire team up and moved to OKLAHOMA CITY on you.

But 25K tix in an HOUR?! Thats bananas. It took the Las Vegas Golden Knights two days to reach 5K. So this is a done deal now. The NHL is going to Seattle. I for one and fired up because I’ve always wanted to go to Seattle and eat sushi in the bleachers at Safeco, but this gives me one more reason to fly out there. Package it with a Seahawks game to see the 12s to see Russell Wilson by day and the TBD Seattle NHL team by night.
Plus you just know this team’s jersey will be bright as fuck obnoxious lime green and I am here for it. Love the neon colorway, need more of it in my life.

 

Seattle Approves $660 Million Stadium in the HOPE an NHL Team Will Come

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SI – The Seattle City Council approved a plan Monday to renovate the aging Key Arena with the goal of attracting an NHL or NBA team. The $660 million project and any cost overruns will be covered entirely by the Los Angeles-based Oak View Group. The company claims it can reopen the arena by the fall of 2020. Seattle has tried numerous times to build a new arena for a potential pro sports franchise but previous efforts have been unsuccessful.

Holy shit, I know people on the west coast are a lot more optimistic than my brethren here in the Northeast, but even this is wild. I’m sure there have been some wink, wink agreements, but I ain’t putting a goddamn dollar down unless I have something in writing about a pro team coming to town. Otherwise you’re going to have the nicest facility in the country that Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran can play at once a year. Props to the city for getting a private equity group to cover the costs. As Miami will tell you, saddling a city with the bill for an entire arena is a goddamn disaster that residents end up paying off for 30 years. If the Boston Red Sox themselves threatened to leave town unless the city paid for a new stadium with the public’s tax dollars, I’d drive them to the airport myself.

The Supersonics leaving Seattle remains one of the all-time great screwjobs in sports history. Especially because they had JUST drafted Kevin Durant and you saw how great he was going to be.

Then they up and moved to OKC and formed the Thunder. I would be so goddamn bitter if that happened to me. Like if the Celtics just moved to Milwaukee, I’d probably never watch the NBA again. Which is probably why they’re shooting for an NHL franchise. If you get dumped you don’t go crawling back to your ex asking them to take you back. No, you find a chick thats twice as hot and flaunt that shit. AKA a shiny new stadium with a new NHL team for a ravenous fanbase.

I hope it works out for ya Seattle, I truly do, because there is nothing I want more than to eat sushi in the bleachers at Safeco Field. Combine that with a little Starbucks brewery tour and an NHL game? Now thats a pretty sweet little trip.

The New USA Olympic Hockey Jerseys Are Here and They are…Not Great

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Drumroll please for the 2018 Team USA hockey jerseys…

Ehhhhh. These literally look like the jerseys the generic hockey players would wear in a Winterfresh chewing gum commercial.

These look like something the actor would be wearing in a Peppermint Patty commercial when he takes a deep icy breath after crushing a two pack of patties.

These look like a Minnesota Timberwolves practice shirt.

These kinda look like shit, and twitter dot com was not much kinder. What is wrong with classic stars and stripes? Just give me my dose of patriotism and testosterone with some stars and stripes and lets call it a day.

Introducing the First Bruins T-Shirt from The 300s. BUY! BUY! BUY!

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We needed a Bruins shirt and I’m not looking to just print any old shirt so this one took a while in the think tank, but it. is. here. This Bruins t-shirt is fresh as lettuce and is a must have for any self respecting B’s fan. Show some respect to Rene and this Bruins pre-game tradition by picking one up now. Shoot an email to the300sred@gmail.com to pre-order yours before the first shipment goes out.

Tuukka Rask Injured in Bruins Practice

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Hey Bruins, I don’t have time for this shit right now. I’m still mourning Gordon Hayward’s broken ankle from last night. I don’t need this.

According to Joe Haggerty Anders Bjork “crashed” into Rask during a drill and Tuukka had to be helped off the ice after looking “woozy.” Well thats just great. I got Hayward traumatizing me last night with his leg, now we got Rask getting dropkicked by his own teammate, all while former Bruins goalie prospect Malcolm Subban is 2-0 and leading the division for Las Vegas. Hey Anders, little advice for ya bud:

Richard Deitsch Ranks the Top 25 PxP Broadcasters: The 300s Reacts

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Image result for al michaels

Sports Illustrated – We live in a great era for play-by-play voices. The list of quality game-callers is deep and sports broadcasting has become far more inclusive than ever as evidenced by women (Tiffany Greene, Beth Mowins, Kate Scott, etc…) regularly getting play-by-play assignments that have traditionally been the domain of men only.

Given the quality of talent among play-by-play voices, I thought it would be a fun parlor game to list the 25 best working play-by-play broadcasters in the business. This list is entirely subjective. It is entirely based on my likes when it comes to professionalism, preparation and quality of broadcast. I expect to be told on social media that the list sucks.

While Deitsch admits that his list is subjective and that he expects to get pushback on social media, he won’t get much pushback from me. His list is more than fair and includes a wide range of broadcasters from a wide range of sports. Still, I’ll add my two cents.

23. Phil Liggett, NBC Sports

The soundtrack for the Tour de France in the United States…

22. Mary Carillo, The Tennis Channel and NBC Sports

A play-by-play caller who is unafraid to deliver truths while calling a match…

A cycling announcer and a tennis announcer right out of the gate had me concerned about the direction of this list. Where’s the Boston Marathon announcer going to be ranked?

18. Sean McDonough, ESPN

McDonough continues to be criminally underrated. While he currently handles Monday Night Football and college basketball broadcast duties for the worldwide leader, he was also a terrific college football and Major League Baseball broadcaster. Arguably the best Boston play-by-play announcer of all time.

17. Brad Nessler, CBS

Love listening to Brad Nessler. I feel like my dad watching an Oilers/Bengals game in 1990.

14. Chris Fowler, ESPN

The best tennis match caller working today. There are better on college football but he’s improved each year at that gig, too.

I’ll give Deitsch credit, he is showing more respect to non-Big 4 sports than I would on my list. But I still miss listening to Brent Musburger on big-time college football games. Fowler is ranked too high for my tastes.

13. Gus Johnson, Fox Sports

Would probably be higher on this list if he stilled called NCAA Tournament games. It’s a shame we don’t get to hear him on CBS (or TBS) in March any more.

10. Joe Buck, Fox Sports

Perennially underrated as a baseball voice and he’s self-deprecating on the mic, which is welcome.

I agree with this statement 100%. Not the best in the business, but not deserving of much of the criticism he receives.

9. Kevin Harlan, CBS, Turner Sports, and Westwood One

I respect a broadcaster who will do play-by-play of a drunk fan on the field during the fourth quarter of a lousy Monday night game.

4. Ian Eagle, CBS Sports, Westwood One, Tennis Channel, YES Network

The highest ranked Sunday afternoon NFL broadcaster on the list and I don’t disagree. Though his partner, Dan Fouts, might need to be the next analyst to get pushed out the door when Peyton Manning decides to get back in the game.

2. Al Michaels, NBC Sports

Still the gold standard for the NFL—and still going strong at age 72. He’ll call his 10th Super Bowl on Feb. 4, 2018.

From the Olympics to the World Series to the Super Bowl and everything in between, Michaels is perhaps the best of all time.

1. Mike Emrick, NBC Sports

I did not expect to see a hockey broadcaster at the top of this list but it is well deserved for the Doc. No other sport and broadcaster go together better than Emrick and hockey. Hell, Emrick does minor league and college games when the NHL goes into lockouts. That’s dedication. I can’t imagine Mike Tirico announcing a Northeastern basketball game the next time the NBA has a lockout.

What are your thoughts? Tweet at us @The300sBoston