emptynet Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 I dont understand how some people cry for parity in hockey, but when they get it, they poke fun at the lack of interest in the final because of the two teams. Carolina and Edmonton were two teams that no one picked to meet each other in this years Stanley Cup Final. A more likely scenario would have been a meeting a couple of years from now when Carolina was scheduled to meet Edmonton during the season. But here we have 2 "small market" teams, and all you read about is how BAD this final is going to be. So is everyone looking for parity, or are they looking for parity...to a point. Are they looking for the small market cinderella to go up against the "no way you can beat em" favorite? I know I'll be watching every game, not only because I think this is a better match up than most people think, I see a Canadian team winning the cup for the first time in 13 years I hear alot of people saying, "I'll watch if I have time", or "I'll try to catch a period or two." Would it be a different story if it was Boston vs. Detroit because of the Original Six days. This is going to be a very emotional series. Edmonton would love nothing more than to win the cup, Canada's first in 13 years, and do what Calgary could not do 2 years ago. Talk about heating up the Battle of Alberta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueNJ97 Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 It's the NHL. Unless this match-up can miraculously bring in ratings in the 3 range, no, let me revise that, in the 4 range, it will continue to be the whipping boy for every sports commentator and non-sports TV critic out there. It doesn't matter. If it were the 'dream' match-up of Philly or NY/Detroit, the rating would, I'm sure, barely budge, because nobody outside of HOCKEY fans in those cities would care. And then the continued low ratings would simply be taken as yet one more sign that the NHL cannot draw the ever-so-fvcking-precious 'casual' fan that it continues to bastardize the game to attract, and who will never come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 It's the NHL. Unless this match-up can miraculously bring in ratings in the 3 range, no, let me revise that, in the 4 range, it will continue to be the whipping boy for every sports commentator and non-sports TV critic out there.It doesn't matter. If it were the 'dream' match-up of Philly or NY/Detroit, the rating would, I'm sure, barely budge, because nobody outside of HOCKEY fans in those cities would care. And then the continued low ratings would simply be taken as yet one more sign that the NHL cannot draw the ever-so-fvcking-precious 'casual' fan that it continues to bastardize the game to attract, and who will never come. Have to disagree Sue - the ratings would be huge in an NY/Detroit final. Just those cities alone is a huge boost to the ratings - that's everyone's point with this whole thing. I'm not that excited for this Cup final because neither team has anyone who's that much fun to watch and neither goalie is spectacular. Carolina has Staal, Edmonton has Pronger - these aren't the juggernauts of past years squaring off, like in say, 2000. Even 2004 had the star power of Iginla and Lecavalier + St. Louis - the goaltending of Kiprusoff and Khabibulin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueNJ97 Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 Have to disagree Sue - the ratings would be huge in an NY/Detroit final. Just those cities alone is a huge boost to the ratings - that's everyone's point with this whole thing.I'm not that excited for this Cup final because neither team has anyone who's that much fun to watch and neither goalie is spectacular. Carolina has Staal, Edmonton has Pronger - these aren't the juggernauts of past years squaring off, like in say, 2000. Even 2004 had the star power of Iginla and Lecavalier + St. Louis - the goaltending of Kiprusoff and Khabibulin. Do you really think the average Yankee or Mets fan will drag themselves away from their baseball games? They won't. They don't care. Ranger fans will tune in. There actually aren't that many of them, despite claims to the contrary. Not enough to move the ratings the way anyone would want. And NY fans of the other sports...wait for it...DON'T CARE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerseyDevil86 Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 The Devils/Ducks final was one of the highest rated final series in a while if I am correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 Do you really think the average Yankee or Mets fan will drag themselves away from their baseball games? They won't. They don't care. Ranger fans will tune in. There actually aren't that many of them, despite claims to the contrary. Not enough to move the ratings the way anyone would want. And NY fans of the other sports...wait for it...DON'T CARE. I think you're forgetting how hockey-mad New York was in 1994. The Yankees were in first place and no one cared - it was all Knicks and Rangers. Now since both teams are doing very well maybe it would be more low key than in 94, but I see no reason to think that New York wouldn't be drawing huge ratings for a Stanley Cup team. Also coming off the lockout is still a big thing for the casual fan - in an ideal world for NHL execs, the NY/Detroit final happens in the next two years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueNJ97 Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 I think you're forgetting how hockey-mad New York was in 1994. The Yankees were in first place and no one cared - it was all Knicks and Rangers. Now since both teams are doing very well maybe it would be more low key than in 94, but I see no reason to think that New York wouldn't be drawing huge ratings for a Stanley Cup team. Also coming off the lockout is still a big thing for the casual fan - in an ideal world for NHL execs, the NY/Detroit final happens in the next two years. That was due to the end of the curse and the Messier mystique. Once-in-a-lifetime thing. Not happening again. The baseball fans pay absolutely no attention this time as they are expecting another Subway series. The basketball fans are under a rock somewhere and not appearing. I don't know if you notice but laughing AT the NHL, including in NY, is a national sport now. It doesn't matter who is in it. They don't notice and they don't care. It could be Detroit/Philly, LA/Boston, / Detoit NY for the next 3 years and nobody would care. Complaining that these cities are not in it is simply the excuse to keep laughing at something they had no intention of watching anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek21 Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 Sue I couldn't disagree more with you. Not worth going nuts over though. I agree with emptynet's post. This is the best thing that could've happened. You had a Final 4 which wasn't even there 2 years ago. And Edmonton couldn't compete realistically for a Cup under the old format. Then they got the cap and were able to get Pronger and Peca and add Samsonov and Roloson to the mix. For the last time, TO HELL WITH THE RATINGS! It's not about that. The NHL is back! For those who don't care, you never did in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 Ratings are the only way you're going to get to see the games, Derek. You realize that one step down from OLN is no nationwide coverage of the Stanley Cup playoffs, which would be a disgrace. Yes, you had 4 teams who hadn't been there, but you also had no history and teams that really lacked a dominant force. This was a great Game 1 though - saved by the third period for sure. I'm still not thrilled about the matchup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek21 Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 Tri, if it were New Jersey against Dallas or Colorado, it would be the same match-up we've seen. Or a Detroit. Eventually, you got to have new teams in there. For better or worse. This was their first season back after a fatal 2004-05. You can crow about the ratings forever. It's not going to change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizDevil30 Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 Think if the Devils made the finals they would've started them on 6/6/06? Or would they have thought that gave the Devs an unfair advantage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'7' Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 (edited) Ratings are the only way you're going to get to see the games, Derek. You realize that one step down from OLN is no nationwide coverage of the Stanley Cup playoffs, which would be a disgrace.Yes, you had 4 teams who hadn't been there, but you also had no history and teams that really lacked a dominant force. This was a great Game 1 though - saved by the third period for sure. I'm still not thrilled about the matchup. C'mon, what do you really care about? The matchup or the quality of play? Very rarely do the planets align and give us a great final. You're asking for too much. Both teams have quality depth on offense, but we're still a long way from seeing Crosby or Ovechkin in the finals. Edmonton-Carolina aren't even "new" teams, Carolina was in the finals as recently as 2002 and Edmonton has been to six. Edited June 6, 2006 by '7' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek21 Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 Think if the Devils made the finals they would've started them on 6/6/06? Or would they have thought that gave the Devs an unfair advantage? This made me laugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 C'mon, what do you really care about? The matchup or the quality of play? Very rarely do the planets align and give us a great final. You're asking for too much. Both teams have quality depth on offense, but we're still a long way from seeing Crosby or Ovechkin in the finals.Edmonton-Carolina aren't even "new" teams, Carolina was in the finals as recently as 2002 and Edmonton has been to six. Edmonton hasn't been to a final since Mark Messier had hair. Carolina was in the Finals in 2002, but only Ward, Hedican, Wesley, Wallin, Brind'Amour, and the two Adams's remain from that club. It's an almost entirely different squad. This was a fantastic Game 1 - usually there's just more star power in the Finals. Neither of these teams has established itself as a consistently successful team or a team 'on the rise' - I'd put money on one out of the two missing the playoffs next year. I guess part of it is the lockout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek21 Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 You want star power? Man. That's the NBA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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