New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche Come to Sprint Center October 6th!!!

Hell yeah, another NHL exhibition game!  This October 6th, Kansas City-area hockey fans will have the treat of seeing the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche play a late-preseason hockey game.  At the Sprint Center.  Here, in KANSAS CITY!!!  This is an interesting matchup between two teams that have absolutely no reason to come here to play a game (let's get the rumor started that the Avalanche are relocating, shall we?).  It's already been said and assumed, but this is the first game that does not feature the Blues (the club with the closest geographic proximity), the Kings (owned by AEG), or teams with a history of wanting to relocate (Islanders and Penguins–the Pens after the fact, of course).  This means, presumably, that the NHL and AEG are either a) continuing to test the waters in Kansas City to see just how popular the NHL brand is here or b) just giving us what we want.  I know I speak for all KC hockey fans when saying who gives a crap why we get another exhibition game here, I'm just glad we get one.  Also, OH WELL WHO CARES LOL HOCKEY!!!!!


I've mentioned it before, and I will do it again and again and again every year that at least one exhibition game plays here, but this means something to KC hockey fans.  If you are a hockey fan in or around KC, and this doesn't mean something to you, "well, then, that's, like, your opinion, man," and your opinion is wrong.  Yes, we all enjoy the Mavericks, and yes, we all want an NHL team, but it's just not a reality at the moment.  Five years from now, though, could be a different story.  This is our game (not "Our Time," because holy crap) to enjoy the NHL.  Just think how much fun our cross state neighbors had this season with the Blues.  Or think about those hockey fans in South Florida, finally getting to see playoff hockey for the first time since 2000.  Or, jeez, if I could find a video of the LA Kings Fanzone/LA Live pre-game stuff for their playoff games, wow, THATS a party any hockey fan can enjoy.  We may have that one day, but for right now, for at least one night, that's us, man.  That's freakin' us.

And, for you local Avs and Rangers fans, I can tell you as a Kings fan, seeing the team I follow in the arena in my hometown is like a dream come true.  It's just...well, let me put it this way: It's better than sex, if sex was performed on ice.

For one game we have a hockey team to follow right here in our own hometown, that's why it's so frustrating to read an interview with ESPN's senior vice-president Vince Doria who says, "hockey doesn't...transfer much to a national discussion" when asked why ESPN doesn't have much hockey coverage.  Pardon my French (kids, close your eyes for the next few words), but I call bullshit.  It's bullshit that hockey isn't in "the national discussion."  It's bullshit that radio/TV talk shows don't talk about it.  He goes on to say, "For whatever reason, and this is my unsubstantiated research on it, hockey doesn't generate that same kind of interest nationwide [Ed: bold is mine]," which is somehow even bigger bullshit that saying hockey isn't part of a national discussion.  Doria, as a professional in his field, holds a myopic view of American culture.  Patrick Burns over at Deadspin is right to say that ESPN, for better or worse, forms the national discussion.  They have risen to a point of dictating all talking points of the casual sports fan, but saying that sports conversations can't  happen organically makes us hockey fans seem like grain-defying hipsters.  No, KC isn't an NHL or NBA market, so no, our talk radio shows will not give them a lot of air time.  But, there are fans of all teams here (yes, even Blackhawk fans), and it's not like the NHL is only spoken about in a 23-city vacuum in America.  Hey look, here's a Kings fan (me).  Oh, wow, Blues fans (most hockey fans around the state of Missouri).  Oh, look over there, Pens fans (80% of the exhibition crowd last year, apparently).  Wow, even a Rangers fan.  How exotic.

The point to all of this: For one night we get to have our own conversation, and hopefully one day, sooner rather than later (but definitely not that soon), we will have about 82 of these conversations every year.

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Oh, yeah, also, don't forget to follow me on Twitter: @FlubberMcGee.  I already have a bunch of KC related hockey links for you to check out, and even more now with the news of the exhibition game.  Check it out and stay up to date.

I Wish I Had a Tallon Blueprint... :(

The NHL rolled out a new playoff ad campaign this year meant to attract the "casual fan," replacing their old, passive voiced "History Will Be Made" campaign of the previous two seasons.  This new campaign is titled "Because of the Cup," and it encourages these "casual fans" to watch because...uh, I guess because it's the Cup, which is good enough for me and you, but maybe not for the random dude over at the KC basketball blog (as far as I can tell, no such blog exists...).

Anyway, the NHL has created many team specific spots, but only of most Eastern Conference playoff teams, Detroit, and Vancouver (fix this, NHL).  One of the Eastern Conference teams featured in the ads are the upstart Florida Panthers.  The Panthers won the Southeast Division this year after free-falling into that position the last month of the season or so.  Oh, and don't forget GM Dale Tallon's wild 2011 free agency signing period.  Basically, this team wasn't supposed to crack the top ten in the East, let alone win the division, but here we are.  That's why they play the games, etc.  That being said, here is the NHL's "Because It's the Cup" ad for the Panthers:

The "Tallon Blueprint"?  You have to admit, his "blueprint" is an unconventional one, if not entirely different than the one that resembles Brian Burke's ass.  But, basing a commercial around free agent acquisitions.  Damn, that's really going to attract the casual fan...  It's obvious the NHL wants to go away from pointing out specific players that maybe only semi-interested fans might know, but you can't talk about the GM and then show a bunch of the first year Panthers if that's the case.  Point out the fact Florida hasn't been to the playoffs in forever.  Or, if you will show players, maybe point out Jose Theodore's decent season, or Tomas Fleischmann's strong scoring year, or...or....wow, no one on this team stands out.  Really.  It's the truth.  Go to the League Leaders page on NHL.com.  No one leads the league in any scoring category or plus/minus category.  Not even near the top.  Theodore is the best goalie on the team, which is like mediocre compared to most of the league.  How did they make the playoffs?

Dale Tallon, you are a special kind of genius.

Which Team is Your Team? The Second of the Best NHL Team For Kansas Citians

Which team do I play for now?   Do you even know who I am...?

In the second of our series of five NHL teams that Kansas Citians can cheer for, we have a team very similar to the Kings.  But in what way?  Jump to find out.

Well, hellooo...

YOOOOOOUUUUURRRRRRRR FLORIDA PANTHERS!!!!!!

Village West Best Potential Award:  Player that brings the most to the team

Eh, call it a long shot, but if we are talking the most potential, I have to go with Mike Santorelli.  Last year he played in his first full season in the NHL, but still scored 41 points (20-21=41).  He was a miserable -17 on a team that did not score a lot, but that number should go down with an improved defense this year.  Of the 195 team goals scored, though, he scored over ten percent of them.  Plus, he is getting $1.6MM for the next two years, and will be an RFA at the age of 27.

Yes, Booth and Weiss are the heart and soul, blah blah blah...  How droll.

Union Station Biggest Burden Award: Player with least upside and carries a big financial burden

Tomas Fleischmann, like him or not, is getting paid a lot of money to play on the top line and (hopefully) score.  His cap hit is something to the tune of $4.5MM over the next four years on a team that was desperately trying to get to the cap floor in the offseason.  He only scored thirty-one points in 45 games last year with the Avs and Caps (12-19=31) and he has only scored as many as 51 points (23-28=51) in any one season.

Eric Hosmer/ 2004 2008 2012 Royals Hope Award: Reason for Optimism

The Panthers blog Litter Box Cats puts it best, so I will defer to them:

Three rookies looking to make the jump: Erik Gudbranson, Jonathan Huberdeau and Quinton Howdenare all in contention to start the year with the Panthers, but do not think any have assured spots on a very competitive roster that is already at capacity. Howden is worth mentioning after a great year Moose Jaw of the OHL but after a possible injury in rookie camp, he has probably fallen off the radar for a roster spot. Huberdeau has been fantastic in the last few weeks, but size is still his major hurdle to jump. If he signs an entry level deal in the next weeks there is a very good possibility he gets the 9 game NHL tryout, but expect him back in juniors after that. Hubs still has a way to go before we see him crack the lineup. That leaves the most developed of the prospects, Erik Gudbranson, in contention for a roster spot. Gudbranson has shown he wants to be a Panther, and assuming he competes well with the big guns in the next weeks, should have that distinction when the season opener rolls around. Gudbranson will undoubtedly get the 9 game tryout, but should also be part of a 7 man defensive group.

After constant GM changes since the new owners took over in 2001, the team looks like it will stick with new GM Dale Tallon’s rebuilding plan for the franchise.  Digging around the cap floor, the team has chosen not to pay many of their veterans ridiculous salaries.  Thus, by the time the youth of the system hits the ice full time, it will be easier to lock them up long term.

Katie Horner Scared-Sh!tless Award:  Reason to Worry

The organization’s past instability operates as a double-edged sword.  The owners have given GM Tallon a fairly long leash so far, but how much farther will it go?  Will the new additionsmesh well, or do they need to have a full season under their belt?

Buck O’Neil Positive Attitude Award:  Reason to cheer them

1. Again, if you are a bandwagoner, now is as good of a time than any.  They can’t get any worse, and they seem to be going in the right direction.
2. Maybe they will continue to struggle financially and pack up and move to KC.  Nah, probably not...
3. They have a lot of cap room to make moves if they want to (but they don’t, so don’t count them out.
4. They have an awesome marketing deparment.

Also, Randy Moller.  (Does he do this anymore?  I listened to a few games online last season and he didn’t scream the pop culture references.  Made me sad.)

Mark Funkhouser Memorial Trophy:  Reason to Hate Them

1. You are not a fan of non-traditional hockey markets. (*cough* Kansas City *cough*)
2. You dislike an unstable organization that ranks towards the bottom half in team attendance every year.
3. You already cheer for teams that haven’t won playoff games since the ‘90s (or before).
4. Their inability to keep quality goaltenders (Vokoun, Luongo) reminds you too much of the Royals with Beltran, Damon, Dye, Cone, Greinke, etc.
5. You are afraid of panthers.

Worlds of Fun Ride that Best Describes the Franchise: Le TaxiTour

I was going to say the Halloween Haunt thing they do every year, but that’s not a ride.  So, instead, the Panthers are a lot like the Le TaxiTour, antique looking (French?) taxis on a auto-guided track.  I wanted to ride the taxis every time I went to WoF as a kid.  They were nice and safe, no loops, not too fast, and my dad let me “drive” around the time I was five or six.  It was cool.  But every time I rode, I knew what was going to happen.  There was no big surprise.  Such is the Florida Panthers.  Every season the Panthers come out with a somewhat different, albeit mediocre, look and don’t do anything too exciting on the ice.  Then the regular season ends, and they are forgotten.  Forgotten, that is, until the next year when everybody is all like “hey, I remember this” and the cycle begins anew.

By the way, I still like Le TaxiTour, so, yeah.

"Follow me to freedom!!!"

Number of Floating, Disembodied Jack Harry Heads:

Three out of five

One finals run and no real history other than that.  Very similar to the Royals, though, in that they are finally starting to build up deep in the minors for a future that could be somewhat lucrative.  Also a compelling parallel, the fact that they fill out their roster with a bunch of veteran "character" guys.  You could call them the Royals of the NHL.  But, Jack and other media types only scream about them for so long, and then midseason hits and no one cares.

Misunderstood and ignored in south Florida, the Panthers struggle from attendance and support issues, prompting many to start relocation rumors even though the Panthers have a stable ownership group.  Those following them are hardcore fans and not just bandwagon jumpers, so you cannot be plagued with that semi-pointless stigma.  

You will not see them in Kansas City unless their situation gets worse, but the media probably wouldn't care anyway.  They probably aren't the "right situation" we need, like the Rangers, Bruins, Red Wings, or Blackhawks...

Still, a solid choice for Kansas Citians to follow.  I mean, few others follow them, so why don't we start a Midwest support group.  That would be cool.  Jump on the empty BANDWAGON and be a part of something you create!

And that's JACK SMACK!!!