[johnnycanuck]

Whats the deal with the Canadian teams? about 3 years ago people were scared to death about them moving. Are they still in danger, why hasnt anyone been talking about the issue lately?

[jmjinks]

That may depend on where you are. Living in Southern Ontario, I have ate, drank and slept the Toronto Maple Leafs since I was a wee lad. The Leafs have had the luxury of having some of the most loyal fans possible. Back in the 80s, during the Harold Ballard years, when you couldn't buy the Leafs a win if you tried, the old Maple Leaf Garden would still sell out game after game. As I have lived no where else but here, I only know what's relative to my area, however as we have members from coast to coast, it would be interesting to hear what people think about their local team and what chances they have to survive.

[RoyalHighlander]

OILERS=SUCKS= R.I.P

[Johnny-Canuck]

Can you imagine if Gretz was part owner of the Oilers rather than the friggin Coyoties? I would like to hit him over the head with a hard Hespler stick right now!

DAMN YOU PHOENIX!!!

[jmjinks]

That's a very valid question? Why did Gretzky invest in the Coyotes?

I understand his movesa s a player, playing for teh Kings and the Rangers meant playing in front of the biggest U.S. markets. But what does Gretzky have to gain from Phoenix? Enquiring minds want to know.

[Johnny-Canuck]

Its just more of an anger thing. Gretzky is responsable for teams in San Jose and Aneheim and thats something I'll never forgive him for. No matter how much I praised him on Feb.24

[Kimberly]

I have always respected Gretzky, and he proved he is still a true North and strong Canadian at the Olympics.

He prolly won the Coyotes in a bet, and signed the contract when he was drunk, and is now trapped into making them a "good" team.

He prolly feels bad about it. I would like to see him come to Toronto. Yeah, that would be cool.

[Malice]

If I heard right, he was offered a sweat deal from both the Coyotes owners and the NHL to go there.

They are trying to promote hockey down there, and why not use the biggest hockey name in the world.

I heard on the news last night, that hockey rates down around 8th in sports T.V. ratings.

Behind (in no particular order except for the 1st two):

Football
baseball
soccer
golf
bowling
college football
NASCAR

First 2 I can understand, maybe even soccer. But come on, the rest are just showing how much a red neck you are.

[jmjinks]

Malice wrote:

If I heard right, he was offered a sweat deal from both the Coyotes owners and the NHL to go there.

They are trying to promote hockey down there, and why not use the biggest hockey name in the world.

I heard on the news last night, that hockey rates down around 8th in sports T.V. ratings.

Behind (in no particular order except for the 1st two):

Football
baseball
soccer
golf
bowling
college football
NASCAR

First 2 I can understand, maybe even soccer. But come on, the rest are just showing how much a red neck you are.

When talkinga bout teh U.S., none of this surprises me. In teh U.S., football is God, so evena high school football game could draw ratings in some regions. NASCAR is a no-brainer as 90,000+ will fill a raceway to cheer on their favorite driver, so I could imagine how many are watching on TV.

Hockey placing low on that list doesn't surprise me, as the FOX network had tried to have a glowing blue dot follow the puck so that the average American fan could better follwo the game. My reaction was:

Ummm...black puck, white ice surface, how f***ing difficult is that to follow?

[blazincanadian]

In canada growing up we live by few standards, one of which is the fact that canadian hockey is the best in the world and the second is dont piss on electic fences. All my life i've been a fan of a cenrtain NHL canadian based club, which i will leave unmentioned as it will effect the way u think of my opinion. Canadian teams need 2 do 1 of 2 things, start payin players in canadian funds instead of loosing 7 mill or more in exchange per year. If the NHL'ers were to take a change in currancy that would greatly help the canadian teams chances of survival in the "new NHL we watch today"