Iron Crotch

I agree with all of the comments above about Wambach. She is clearly past her prime and just doesn't move well enough any more. The team would be better off with Chesty Leroux and Alex Morgan paired up top.

I watch the Hawks play live a ton since they're in the Preds division. And, they have mastered the art of the subtle interference play, which is just enough to disrupt the other team, but not enough to draw a penalty. Toews is the all-time master of the subtle interference play that gives space to a teammate. Penalties are way down in the NHL. If the refs actually called the game according to the letter of the law it'd help the game tremendously. More power plays = more goals.

Points are only half of the game. You also have to stop the other team from scoring too. That's always been the issue with Cody.

I've heard this is a big issue with the Coyotes. The stadium is in an area that most fans can't get to on weeknights. Same with the Florida Panthers. The stadium is nowhere near downtown in a city where gridlock is the norm. It was like that in DC back in the day when the Caps and Bullets played in Landover on the far side of the beltway from those of us living in Northern Virginia. I'd have to leave work an hour early and sit through an hour and a half of bumper-to-bumper traffic just to go to a weeknight game. Fortunately, they put the new arena downtown and people could get there on the Metro. Problem solved.

This is where I'm at with Cody. If both Eichel and Samson make the opening day roster next year, there just isn't a lot of ice time for a struggling "top 6" guy like Cody. If it is a choice between Hodgson and Grigorenko, I'd take Grigo since he is younger and will have a much cheaper salary. Plus Grigo is good at faceoffs, which is useful.

I'd definitely rather trade him. I just wonder if there are any buyers. Maybe a swap of guys who need a change of scenery?

We do a 5-year EBIDTA projection for 6 potential markets using various data sources to fuel the assumptions. Abridged version... A club's primary revenue sources come from ticket sales, broadcast revenue, concessions, arena revenue (if applicable), corporate sponsorships, plus some other smaller categories. In the NHL the bulk of revenues come from ticket sales (unlike, for example, the NFL). We start from a template, which is the Nashville Predators financials from several years ago. A healthy team in a non-traditional market has a 60/40 or better mix of corporate-to-non-corporate ticket sales. Luxury suite sales and a large premium seat buying base are what a non-traditional market needs to survive while the casual fan base is converted to die hard fans over a number of years hopefully. On the expense side: player salaries, marketing, lease expenses (if applicable), broadcast expenses, customer services, and some other smaller categories. Arena ownership is huge. That allows the team/owner to capture non-hockey arena revenues and avoid a lease payment. From there you mix in an absolutely massive amount of information from a variety of sources about the building, seating capacity, number of luxury suites, concession agreements, broadcasting revenues and fees, existing corporate base, existing sponsorship opportunities, marketing ROI, ticket prices, capacity assumptions, mix of corporate and non-corporate fans, mix of casual to die hard fans, blah, blah, blah,... massive spreadsheets. The results vary given assumptions, but the financials generally work very favorably for Houston, although the absolute best is always another Toronto-area team. What drives Houston is the huge corporate base (26 Fortune-500 companies) and favorable downtown arena deal. We on this board are die hard hockey fans and we tend to think other markets need to be full of die hard fans to survive. But, that isn't necessarily the case. BTW - By comparison the entire state of Nevada only has two Fortune-500 companies (Harrah's and MGM Mirage). I don't like a revenue model based on out-of-town fans, but it can work with some clever marketing and if the casinos really support the team.

You "know" this based on what?

Supposedly Cody is in Sweden right now to 'work on his skating stride': http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?blogger_id=6 I think if GMTM expects both Eichel and Samson to be on the Sabres next year then Cody is too expensive to keep around as a project.

There is only one reason Houston doesn't already have a team and isn't in the running for one in the near future. Les Alexander.

Every year my students and I do an economic analysis of viable markets for a new NHL team using several different data sources. And, if we ignore obvious markets up north (Hamilton, etc.), Houston always comes up #1 given its huge population, huge corporate base, existing venue in place with over 100 luxury suites, sports culture, etc. Las Vegas could work but it'll be dependent on opposing team fans (at least until the local fan base is grown), which is risky given economic fluctuations. Tourism, of course, drives the economy in Las Vegas, so a lot of folks don't have typical 9-to-5 jobs. So, many potential fans are working when games take place. Tie-ins with the casinos will have to be an important part of the team's marketing effort. If I had to place two new teams in the U.S., I'd go with Houston and either Portland or Seattle. ..but the thought of seeing a Sabres game in Las Vegas is definitely appealing!

USA Men's National Team 2 - Germany 1. First win for the USA over Germany ever on German soil. Unbelievable match.

Zelalem is starting in the center of the midfield next to team captain Emerson Hyndman. Zelalem has crazy ball skills. He is very good in tight spaces and can hold guys off in the midfield with quick feet and deception. But, he still seems to try to make the highlight reel play too often and he holds the ball too much instead of passing it to the open player. He is sort of like a highly skilled NHL rookie who needs to learn what you can and can't do as the competition gets better. Hyndman is the more effective player right now because he makes better decisions. But, Zelalem has crazy talent. He just needs more experience. He wasn't great against Columbia IMHO. I think the US men's national team has always struggled to find world class central defenders and world class strikers.... that is the strength of this U-20 team (Miazga, Carter-Vickers, Rubin). (I've watched all 4 US games)

Huge win for the USA U-20's against Columbia in the Round of 16. Rubio Rubin is a finisher. He had one good chance all game and put it into the net. On to the Quarterfinals against Serbia. http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2015/06/10/usa-u20-world-cup-colombia-steffen-rubin-quarterfinals

I've become a soccer junkie as of late. The USA U20's play Columbia in the round of 16 at the U20 World Cup later tonight (early tomorrow AM). Not sure they'll win tonight, but I think this might be the most talented U20 team we've ever fielded. Several of these guys will be on the men's national team roster in a few years. One really intriguing player who has the potential to be the best center back the U.S. has ever had is Cameron Carter-Vickers. Kid is only 17 playing on the U20's and is the best defender on the field. He will be playing in the EPL sooner rather than later for Tottenham Hotspur. Other very talented players on the team: Emerson Hyndman (Fulham), Rubio Rubin (Utrecht), Gedion Zelalem (Arsenal), Maki Tall (Lille; out hurt), Deservio Payne (Groningen), Matt Miazga (NY Red Bulls). I assume he means that both prefer the ladies to the gentlemen. ;)

Her father Han will be proud.

I miss the glow puck. :ph34r:

Tampa, ! :D

I though it was okay in the first half. In the second half the ref was lost. The card against Rapino was harsh. All-in-all nice first win for the US. Next game should be a good one.

I agree wtih the above. People are optimistic, but this team still finished dead last in the league two years running. We're nowhere close to needing "finishing pieces" like Sharp. I like cheaper older players who can offer mentoring to the younger guys (like Gionta), but otherwise if we make a blockbuster trade it has to be for someone who can grow with the group (e.g., Bogosian and Kane). What's most interesting to me is with all the young center depth - Eichel, Reinhart, Girgs, Grigo, Compher - either someone has to be moved to wing or someone is trade bait. Most assume Grigorenko is trade bait, but I'm not so sure. Murray likes big forwards and Grigo has size, speed, and faceoff ability. I wonder if any of these guys not named Eichel could slot in on the wing.

Pretty amazing to watch a triple crown winner. Such a rare accomplishment. And, now he gets to retire to stud... http://money.cnn.com/2015/06/06/news/companies/american-pharoah-stud-fees/

It's not like it was a little dip in production, which will happen to any player. 13 points in 78 games played is shockingly poor. I guess we'll see what he can do in a more offensive-minded system under Bylsma. If he is still a roster regular this season, I'll assume there was something going on with CoHo last season that the public was unaware of.

This. We're all spouting opinions and none of us really know what the hell we're talking about. No offense to the board regulars, but I don't necessarily like to see the same 5 or 6 posters dominate every discussion. Most boards benefit from a variety of different opinions. Post away, everyone.

Maybe Ottawa would take Hodgson for Lehner? ... doubt it. Hodgson's contract is an albatross.

Here is an interesting blog from "Garth" about a potential trade with Ottawa for one of their excess goaltenders... http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=69070