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Are Things Finally Looking Up for NHL?

By TED STARKEY,

AOL

Posted: 2008-05-08 07:40:40

Filed Under: NHL

Sports Commentary

For a sport that has been dogged by bad luck and self-inflicted wounds over the past few years, the NHL could finally be turning the corner this spring.

Conference Finals Previews: Flyers-Penguins | Red Wings-Stars

The four teams left in the Stanley Cup hunt should finally help the NHL shake some of the awful television numbers that have dogged the league over the past few seasons, and help restore somewhat the league's signature on the national sports radar.

While no one in the league will admit it, the NHL has to be happy there are no Canadian teams left in the playoffs to bring down U.S. television numbers. However, the league's U.S. broadcast partner, NBC, isn't hiding its glee.

"If there is a national hockey team, it would be the Red Wings," NBC spokesman Brian Walker told the Dallas Morning News. "They are the NHL version of the Dallas Cowboys. While we don't root, we are very pleased with all four markets left in the playoffs."

Detroit, a favorite to win the whole thing, represents one of the few NHL teams with a nationwide fan base, and also plays in the 11th largest television market in the country. The Red Wings also consistently score high in local television numbers, and the first Red Wings appearance in the finals since 2002 would certainly ensure that the league doesn't set prime-time futility records like last spring when the Ducks played the Senators.

Another big storyline the network is keen on is Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. While Pittsburgh is only the 22nd largest market in the U.S., it also draws some of the best local ratings for the NHL, as in the Pens' recent win over the Rangers, its anonymous cable carrier Versus actually led all cable providers in men between 18 and 34 during its time slot.

If either of those teams falter, the alternative isn't too shabby either.

The Stars, while being a Sunbelt team, hail from the fifth-largest market in the country and have a very good following locally. And the Flyers come from a sports-rabid part of Pennsylvania and is the fourth-biggest market in the U.S.

Latest NHL Photos

** FILE ** In this Nov. 10, 2007 file photo, San Jose Sharks center Jeremy Roenick reacts after scoring his 500th career goal against the Phoenix Coyotes in the second period of their NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif. The Sharks got off to a head start on their offseason moves, re-signing Roenick, forward Joe Pavelski and backup goaltender Brian Boucher on Wednesday, June 25, 2008, six days before the start of the free-agency period. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)

OTTAWA, ON - JUNE 20: 17th overall pick, Jake Gardiner of the Anaheim Ducks talks with the media during the 2008 NHL Entry Draft at Scotiabank Place on June 20, 2008 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

Getty Images

** FILE **In this March 28, 2008 file photo, Carolina Hurricanes' Tuomo Ruutu (15), of Finland, brings the puck down the ice past Atlanta Thrashers' Chris Thorburn (27) during third period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C. The Hurricanes re-signed Ruutu on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 to a one-year contract worth $2.25 million. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker, File)

** FILE ** Broadcom Corp. co-founder Henry Samueli leaves the U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, Calif. after a hearing Monday, June, 23, 2008. Samueli has been suspended indefinitely by the NHL. The decision by commissioner Gary Bettman comes a day after Samueli pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to the Securities and Exchange Commission. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

** FILE ** In this May 9, 2008 file photo, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin, of Russia, skates against the Philadelphia Flyers in the third period during Game 1 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference finals in Pittsburgh. Until a deal is signed with the NHL, the founder of the new Russian-based Continental Hockey League says there is nothing wrong with his teams trying to poach star players, such as Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

This handout provided by Men's Vogue shows New York Rangers hockey player Sean Avery in the Men's Vogue fashion closet in New York last week. Avery, the NHL's No. 1 pest, is more gourmet than goon these days. Food, music and fashion are all on his plate as a summer intern at Vogue magazine. (AP Photo/Men's Vogue)

** FILE ** In this May 9, 2008 file photo, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin, of Russia, speaks to the media after the Penguins beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference finals in Pittsburgh. Until a deal is signed with the NHL, the founder of the new Russian-based Continental Hockey League says there is nothing wrong with his teams trying to poach star players, such as Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

** FILE ** In this May 30, 2008 file photo, Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin, of Russia, participates in the NHL hockey team's practice at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh in preparation for game four of the Stanley Cup Finals. Until a deal is signed with the NHL, the founder of the new Russian-based Continental Hockey League says there is nothing wrong with his teams trying to poach star players, such as Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

New Tampa Bay Lightning owner Len Barrie, gestures during a news conference Monday morning June 23, 2008 with fellow owner Oren Koules, not shown, in Tampa, Fla. Koules and Barrie are two of an eight-man ownership group approved by the NHL last week. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New Tampa Bay Lightning owner Oren Koules gestures during a news conference Monday morning June 23, 2008 with fellow owner Len Barrie in Tampa, Fla. Koules and Barrie are two of an eight-man ownership group approved by the NHL last week. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Of course, some of the boost is just the luck of the draw, as for the first time since 2001, no Canadian team is left in the league's final four. And, after three years of having a Canadian team playing in the finals against a Sunbelt squad, the ratings figure to go up. And, the measure of success is all relative for a sport that has been dogged by poor numbers, but the sign that NBC extended its deal with the league for one more season shows that network television hasn't quite given up on the sport.

Fourteen years ago when the Rangers won the Stanley Cup, Sports Illustrated declared "Why the NHL's Hot and the NBA's Not." While the sport has done a lot to cool itself down in the meantime, it shows that sometimes all that is needed to boost the profile is have one its marquis franchises take home the championship.

The NHL still has to overcome the stigma of the lockout and appointment viewing on its national cable carrier, but unlike the past two seasons, it appears the game is finally starting to move in the right direction.

2008-05-06 13:34:14

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mark81961 02:15:24 AM May 09 2008

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We in Detroit know PLENTY about the playoffs...how many Cups have you won since '92? ZIPPO....how many have we won....THREE....and there are still a lot of our guys on the roster that were around for the last one....experience in the post-season wins out over youth that is getting the first taste of any success...Fellow Wings fans, you can back me on this do you see as I mentioned before, this looks like a 1983 revisit with Crosby in Gretzky's role? You learn first before winning from a team that HAS WON....we in Detroit are NOT "neanderthal typists", we know VERY WELL what the playoffs are about....WINGS ROLL ON....

hanovick 03:44:24 PM May 08 2008

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I always enjoy reading comments from neanderthal typists, who apparently just learned to speak, are between the ages of 10 and 15, or just learned English as a second language.
As they incoherantly dissect the upcoming Conference Finals, using phrases like, "the fix is in ", or believe "Sidney Crosby's...........not ready to handle the hype of the finals" it becomes increasingly evident they know absoutely zippo about the Playoffs, Penguins, or Crosby. I am I a Penguin fan ? You better believe it. Can they be beaten ? Yes.
Let current talent and the players decide. If you allow this to happen, with any luck (which all teams need), Sir Sidney will be skating around the ring holding the Cup aloft.

frycycle 01:58:19 PM May 08 2008

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kingb1, there is no dirtier team in the NHL than the Fliers, so don't cry when they get called for their signature style of play. The NHL wont turn things around until they get a real tv deal. One game a week on VS and one on NBC will just never cut it.

dpmohr64 07:33:19 AM May 08 2008

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Until the NHL can figure out a way to have all of its officials call penalties consistently from period to period and game to game, it won't attract new fans and may lose some old ones.

mark81961 01:19:38 AM May 08 2008

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P.S. - I voted "no" on the progressing in the right direction - there are a fair amount of people such as me that can't afford cable and wonder, if the NBA, which has been around a lot shorter time frame than the NHL, has an exclusive network contract for the Finals with ABC, why can't NBC do the same thing for the NHL??? A fair amount of cable markets don't carry Versus, and I live too far from Windsor to pick up CBET for Hockey Night in Canada....come on, NBC, get with the program, come on, commissioner Bettman, you too!!!!!

mark81961 01:14:43 AM May 08 2008

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It would be no surprise to see the Wings vs. Penguins in the finals - the only two teams that repeated as champions in the '90s - except, sorry Penguin fans, Crosby's talented but not ready to handle the hype of the Finals - this has shades of 1983 written all over it when the New York Islanders finished their run of four in a row by showing a young Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oliers how to win a Cup. A fair amount of Wings from the 2002 team are still there and know what it takes to win, the Penguins don't have anyone from 1992....Wings take it all....GO WINGS FOR #11!!!!!

sewilson 01:11:18 AM May 08 2008

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Ever notice, that Philadelphia never makes any of the lists for best paces to live?
Maybe they don't publish the 11,649th best place in the US

namrehtael 09:34:52 PM May 07 2008

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Dallas is simply UNSTOPPABLE. They personally swept California hockey. Theyll win EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kingb1 07:12:45 PM May 07 2008

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the pens will win because the nhl wants crosby to hold the cup. I cant wait to see all of the BS calls that the flyers are going to get tommorow. The fix is in. The good old face of the nhl (redwings) verse the new face of the nhl(crosby).

shevchenko913 07:08:22 PM May 07 2008

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Hockey does not ****..
** bet for the Champion is Pittsburgh. They seem like a tough team and look like they can beat the Flyers and whoever wins the West.
GO PENS!!!

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