Puck_Pun

I don't think the Senators need another owner that makes everything about him. The best team owner to me is one who signs the cheques, lets the GM and Coach do their jobs, then collects the profits without trying to be the centre of attention. Who owns the Sharks? NFI. With Snoopy at the helm he'd make it all about his ego trip just like Melnyk did, and that would be pretty rubbish

Well, this series has finally gotten interesting

Article

Fanatics will replace Adidas as the NHL's outfitter of on-ice uniforms and authentic jerseys beginning with the 2024-25 season, the league announced Tuesday.

The deal runs 10 years. Financial terms were not disclosed. This marks the first time Fanatics branding will be directly on an official player uniform for a professional sports property.

Fanatics has been an NHL retail partner for nearly two decades. It will remain the official manufacturer of a broad range of NHL apparel, including the replica jerseys that it has produced since 2017. Fanatics will also make the uniforms for all NHL on-ice officials beginning in 2024-25.

"This expansion of our partnership with Fanatics is a reflection of our shared commitment to innovation, performance, and serving our players and fans," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. "Fanatics is a sports industry market leader and with its proven track-record in e-commerce and retail operations, licensed fan merchandise and performance gear, our players and fans should look forward to what Fanatics will bring to the best uniforms in all of sports."

ESPN reported last July that Adidas had decided not to pursue an extension of its seven-year deal to make NHL jerseys.

Fanatics chief executive officer Michael Rubin's companies have operated the NHL's e-commerce operation since 2005. Fanatics runs on-site retail stores in a handful of NHL arenas and for events like the NHL All-Star Game and the Winter Classic. It also operates an NHL flagship retail store in Manhattan, which opened in 2021.

Since 2017, Fanatics has produced the "Breakaway," innovating the fan replica jersey's design by using more stain resistant fabrics and adding a foldable jersey logo crest for easier storage. Fanatics also has produced the NHL's Authentic Pro product line -- training apparel and headwear worn by NHL players, coaches and staff -- since 2018.

"This is a natural evolution of our partnership with the NHL," Doug Mack, CEO of Fanatics Commerce, told ESPN. "I've said to our team that when we deliver big results for partners and we bring innovation to how they serve their fans, it earns us the right to do more together."

While this is the first time Fanatics branding will be directly on an official player uniform, it's not the first time Fanatics has made game uniforms.

"The Fanatics brand is fairly well known to fans, but we're often thought of as more of an e-commerce company," Mack said. "This isn't the first time we've done performance product, but this will be the most visible we've ever been in making that performance product."

For example, Nike is the official outfitter of Major League Baseball, but Fanatics has made MLB's Nike-branded uniforms for all 30 teams since 2017, when it acquired Majestic. In total, Fanatics makes close to 100,000 MLB uniforms each season. Fanatics also makes authentic NFL jerseys that carry a Nike logo, which are sold online and in stores.

NHL executive vice president of marketing Brian Jennings acknowledged that fans might only know Fanatics as a company that makes replica gear rather than game-worn jerseys, which could lead to challenges in perception about the league's new authentic jersey maker.

"It's fair. I understand there may be, initially, some trepidation, but I do have a lot of confidence in the team at Fanatics," Jennings said. "I look back at the history with our locker room, at what they're doing with other leagues, and I do think that they will be able to do this."

Jennings said part of that confidence is in how Fanatics is approaching the task. It has senior executives in place with experience launching game-worn jerseys at Reebok and Adidas. Fanatics also doesn't plan on reinventing the jersey -- at least initially. They'll use the same factory based in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, that Adidas did to produce its jerseys. The specs for the jerseys will be exactly the same. While there will be differences in some of the fabrics and materials, "it will be almost indiscernible" to the jerseys currently in use, said Jennings.

The NHL indicated that the first significant changes to its on-ice jerseys could be in the 2026-27 season, when different fabric options and player safety innovations like protection against skate lacerations might be introduced.

When the NHL knew Adidas was getting out of the hockey jersey business, Jennings said it surveyed the "competitive landscape" to see what else was out there. In short order, it became apparent that Fanatics offered something "very appealing" to the league as a jersey-maker, especially given its existing partnerships as an apparel maker and e-commerce retailer.

"Each step of the way, you've just watched this increase in commitment to product, commitment to performance, commitment to design," Jennings told ESPN. "If you think the changes in retail were dramatic over the last five years, they're going to be even that much more dramatic in the next 10 years. And Fanatics, driven by Michael Rubin and his senor team, are definitely visionaries."

Copy+pasting...

Bob Stauffer, radio analyst for the Edmonton Oilers has said that the Oilers offer for Erik Karlsson would be their 2023 1st, defensemen Evan Bouchard, prospect Xavier Bourgault (as the 3 1sts) and two contracts, Tyson Barrie to balance out the numbers and another roster player.

Also apparently they want as much as 40% salary retention by SJ which seems a little high, but likely a benchmark they plan on doing down from. Of course there's the issue of the no movement clause, they'd have to convince him to sign off on it

Quality merch for sale

https://www.espn.com.au/nhl/story/_/id/35265273/sources-nhl-considering-84-game-regular-season-schedule

I'll just copy the important bit:

The addition of two regular-season games would allow the NHL to keep its current schedule format, which sees every team visit every opponent at least once, while giving divisional rivals four games against each other every season. One theory is that the preseason schedule could be shortened to compensate for the additional games. Games against divisional rivals typically draw larger crowds and bigger audiences on national and local television. "They could play Calgary in Edmonton 10 times and sell them all out. It's crazy," said one NHL general manager.

So yeah, possibly more rivalry games ahead. It's not that big a change, really. 

Ryan Reynolds expressing interest is a surprise. He already owns a soccer club in the National league so he's no stranger to owning teams. This will be interesting. 

58 minutes ago, NHL HHOF said:

Are we getting that downtown Ottawa arena on that Lebreton Flatts land?

Maybe! 

It depends on how good they are at negotiation. If it does happen the team would be worth more

I'm proud to say I'm going to lodge an offer of one thousand dollars cash

https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/ottawa-senators/garrioch-report-indicates-the-ottawa-senators-may-be-putting-up-a-for-sale-sign-soon

GARRIOCH: The Ottawa Senators are going up for sale

Seven months after the death of its owner, Eugene Melnyk, the Ottawa Senators are for sale

As first reported by Los Angeles-based Sportico, the NHL team’s board of directors have “already interviewed sell-side bankers” and “there is significant interest in the franchise.” An article published Tuesday listed the value of the franchise at $655 million U.S.

This newspaper has confirmed that Galatioto Sports Partners, a New York-based investment bank, have been retained by the family to sell the franchise, as first reported by Sportico.

The expectation is the Senators will remain in Ottawa, league sources say.

Though there haven’t been active discussions with potential buyers, those are expected to pick up in the next month when the paperwork is done between Galatioto and representatives of the hockey franchise. 

As first reported by Los Angeles-based Sportico, the NHL team’s board of directors have “already interviewed sell-side bankers” and “there is significant interest in the franchise.” An article published Tuesday listed the value of the franchise at $655 million U.S.

This newspaper has confirmed that Galatioto Sports Partners, a New York-based investment bank, have been retained by the family to sell the franchise, as first reported by Sportico.

Though there haven’t been active discussions with potential buyers, those are expected to pick up in the next month when the paperwork is done between Galatioto and representatives of the hockey franchise.

This is the first time since the passing of Senators’ owner Eugene Melnyk there has been any talk publicly the team will be sold. The franchise is part of the massive estate Melnyk left to his daughters, Anna and Olivia, and it has been operating business as usual since his death in March.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told this newspaper in an email he couldn’t comment. Senators representatives weren’t able to comment on the matter either.

Melnyk purchased the Ottawa Senators and their arena, then the Corel Centre, in 2003 for $130 million (all figures U.S.). Nearly two decades later, league sources say that the $655 million valuation listed by Sportico isn’t even close to what the franchise will be worth if the Melnyk family does decide to sell a portion or its entire stake in the team.

Elsewhere around the league, the expected sale of the Nashville Predators to former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam will reportedly value the franchise at $775 million. The Seattle Kraken, meanwhile, paid $650 million in an expansion fee to get into the NHL.

Meanwhile in Ottawa, the Senators won preferred bidder status from the National Capital Commission in June to build a new rink at LeBreton Flats. The organization signed a memorandum of understanding with the NCC and has until next September to get a lease in place for the land.

The work to finalize the rink bid is continuing daily behind scenes.

Representatives of the partners in the LeBreton project—which includes Sterling Project Development, Populous, Tipping Point Sports and Live Nation—were in town last month to meet with Anthony LeBlanc, the club’s president of business operations, chief financial officer Erin Crowe and NCC officials.

News of the Senators sale will surely set off speculation of who’s interested.

In the weeks after Melnyk’s death, local businessman Roger Greenberg told CTV Ottawa he was interested in being involved with a group. He’s a partner in the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, which owns the CFL’s Ottawa RedBlacks and the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s.

League sources also say Farm Boy executive Jeff York has met with NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and has a group in place. He was part of the other bid with Andre Desmarais of Power Corp. at LeBreton Flats in 2016.

The team could also be sold to people based in Toronto or the United States, a primary reason why the investment bank was retained.

Anna and Olivia Melnyk have been doing their due-diligence before determining what’s next, taking advice from their mother, Laura, the club’s financial advisors along with independent council, sources say.

Their father didn’t just own the Senators. There are several other businesses, including a line of beauty care products, a concussion recovery company and real estate.

The Senators organization is being run by LeBlanc and Crowe on the business side, while general manager Pierre Dorion is in charge of the club’s hockey operations.

The trio report to Sheldon Plener, a partner in the business law group at Cassels, longtime business associate Lawrence Zeifman and Senators’ chief administrative officer John Miszuk, who have been directing the team since Melnyk passed away.

The league office keeps in touch with Plener on a regular basis because he’s the executor of Melnyk’s estate.

On the whole it's hard to find one that's really all that great. Either there's little that's different, like the flyers "let's take our away Jersey and make the stripe black", or it's kinda plain. 

I assume Detroit is recognising its long standing connection with the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise

I dislike every time Tampa Bay says "you know what looked good? That logo we made out of wordart" 

You guys like this? Yeesh. I get the reference, but it's still crap. 

The overlaid animated boards are a bit of an issue. While it's mostly teething issues, they're far more distracting than even their IRL equivalent (having seen them used in football games).

The way they shift as it falls to track the camera movement properly enough along with the occasional glitch involving players makes the whole experience pretty rubbish. I see the appeal for the league, they can still ad space that caters to the market it's broadcasting to, but ho boy it's not a good look overall. 

Feh. 

22/23 jerseys for the Sharks were released recently. I like the added stripes, and in general is a very throwback design. The removal of the orange piping has been met positively. 

Controversially they've moved to teal shorts. I like it, though I've seen many people be annoyed by it

On 8/21/2022 at 1:01 AM, MaineFlyFan said:

Ya Know..... I can really appreciate the fact that as a Simpson's fan from Australia,  you used the little Australian boy from the episode were Bart goes down under to see if toilets actually flush counter-clockwise down there, as your avatar!!.... Hysterical and well played sir.

 

(Also, do they actually flush counter clock-wise?!?.....)

OT yeah, but small amounts of water like that in a toilet aren't enough to be affected by the Coriolis effect. Toilets here also have far less water sitting in the bowl than in the US

Because I turn everything into a Simpsons meme

32 minutes ago, TropicalFruitGirl26 said:

@Puck_Pun


You said these were copy/pasted....were any of these opinions yours as well? Or did you just straight up repost what someone else had?
 

Nah, I don't really have it in me to be that vitriolic to people I know, let alone someone who plays hockey

It's wonderful bait, so I thought I'd paste it here

Players with long but failed NHL careers?

They all say that you must be really successful if you play at least 10 yrs in the NHL and if you reach that you're a bust. But there are some players whose NHL careers can be written off as failures disappointments and busts because they failed to win a Stanley Cup, were known to be on the losing side of the worst trades in league history than their long fraud careers and had at least 1 season where they didn't hit 20 pts in a high scoring league. They failed because they didn't work hard enough to improve their hockey skills, didn't focus on their summer training enough, or they just slept their way to a roster spot. These are the players who played for more than 2 conference finals and zero Cups to show for.

Who else do you think have long but bust NHL careers past present? Here is my list and why:

- Galchenyuk: from 1 30 goal scorer in 2016 to out of the NHL in 2022. Was waived by the laughable Ottawa Senators in January 2021, more known for the blunder that let the Habs rally from down 3-1 in the 2020 playoffs, and needed a PTO to even get signed to the Coyotes. Who cares if he is top 10 in points in the 2012 draft? Still a bust.
- James Neal: The Real Deal can't stay on a NHL roster and finished the year in the AHL. Never won anything in his life. Proud owner of a dubious 2 SCF losses and 1 Calder Cup loss record. Meanwhile Lucic was on pace for a 22-goal season for the Flames at the age of 33 last season. Ladd, Okposo, Loui Eriksson, Nate Thompson all outlasted him in the NHL.
- Brian Boyle: back to back Cup losses just like James Neal. Yikes.
- Drouin: Look at how great Sergachev has been for Tampa. Top 25 defender in the NHL while Drouin isn't even a top 500 player. Thanks to Drouin, Tampa has two Cups while Drouin will be out of the league in two years.
- Loui Eriksson: nobody remembers his 70 pt seasons in Dallas and 30g seasons in Boston. His only claim to fame is being part of the lopsided trade that sent Seguin to Dallas while Eriksson faded to obscurity. How embarrassing is that he can't even put 20 pts on a trash Coyotes team?
- Giroux: Remember when this loser refused a trade to the Avalanche so he can go to the Panthers? Jack Johnson and MacDermid's Cup rings makes Claude the Fraud a failure in his overrated career. Now he is stuck in the ******** that is Ottawa for the rest of his life. Is this dude allergic to winning Cups? 
- Kris Russell: WHO CARES! What has he done in his NHL career honestly?
- Erik Karlsson: From first ballot HHOFer to overpaid bum in San Jose. Does anyone else still care about this guy? No playoffs since 2020.
- Spezza: What a sad career. One and done in the SCF, never made to a conference final since 2007, retired 5 pts away from 1000 pts. Retired with zero Cups which automatically disqualifies him from the HHOF or any GM job in the NHL.
- Joe Thornton: As big as a loser like his no Cup friends Spezza and Marleau. Plays over 24 seasons in the league and over 1000 players won a Cup before he did. NOT a HHOFer. What an idiot for signing with the Panthers where he played for only less than 30 games. Then you have Chara playing almost 82 games at the age of 43.
- Marleau: Recordholder of most games played in the NHL and zero Cups. Roenick was right he is a gutless loser.
- Erik Haula: 7 teams at only 30. Bet on him being out of the NHL next year. Nothing special, he is just a loser. 
- Barrie: Traded for Kadri who is a top 10 C in the NHL and watched his old team win the Cup this year. The Oilers want to trade him away too. SAD. 
- Kyle Turris: If you get scratched the whole playoffs for the OILERS, you shouldn't be in the NHL. A total loser from his draft year to now. Not surprised nobody wants to sign him. Why has he not quit playing hockey yet?
- Yandle: an embarrassment to the NHL.
- Shea Weber: NO CUPS, NO NORRIS FOR YOU BOZO! Most overrated defenseman ever who wishes he was as good as Duncan Keith.
- Zuccarello: a goblin riding Kaprizov's coattails. Never contributed anything of value his whole career. 
- Derick "Butterface" Brassard: the King of All NHL Busts. Has any other player have had a sadder, more pathetic life and 15 years in the NHL than the worst player in the league? If the 2006 draft was re-drafted in 2022 he won't be a first rounder. Let's look at how pathetic this human suitcase's life and career is: 5 conference final appearances, only 1 SCF appearance which was a L, only 19 pts in 46 games last season which was not even top 500 in league scoring, 10 teams and zero Cups, played less playoff games than Brad Malone, Josh Archibald and Zach Kassian in 2022, best known for being part of the most lopsided and worst trade in league history when he was sent to Ottawa for a future HHOFer / top 5 player in the NHL (better than Crosby and Mackinnon the overrated) / top 10 Ranger ever, got scratched the whole playoffs while the guy NYR got led the league in playoff scoring during their ECF run and would've beaten Colorado for the Cup if they didn't blow a 2-0 lead, failed for all but two NHL teams, can't even crack an ECF lineup in 2020 over Ladd, Lou extended Martin / Parise / Greene / Clutterbuck to multi yr deals while Bustssard settled for Arizona and Philadelphia where he can't even get 10 goals and making less money than the whole NHL, and is now out of the league at only 34 years old. Jack Johnson and the Avs Cup winning vets make Brassard's 15 years in the league so meaningless. Virtanen and Rinaldo were way more successful than this glorified scrub yet ****** Brassard outlasted both in the NHL. Let's be honest only reason he lasted that long because he slept his way to a roster spot for the Islanders, Coyotes and Flyers when he should've gone to Russia in 2019. If he wants to make money doing what he is good at, he can follow the footsteps of Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton on how they got famous. But that doesn't change his failed NHL career. 
- Derek Stepan: Bald headed loser who cannot keep a roster spot in the playoffs. Tony DeAngelo is gonna be an All Star for the Flyers while Stepan will be an All Star...in the Swiss League. 
- Sam Gagner: why is he still in the NHL?
- Niederreiter: no Cups, no contract. Clutterbuck is still in the NHL.
- Karl Alzner: idiot picked the Habs over the Caps in 2017. Now he is out of the NHL.
- Brouwer: Oshie is a Caps franchise icon while Brouwer bounced around and was out of the NHL by 2021. Does anyone remember he won a Cup with Chicago in 2010? Everyone only knows him as the reason why the Caps won the Cup in 2018 because they traded him for Oshie, for failing in Calgary and for being an AHLer by 2019.

Who's yours?

Something something town grier. 

Anyways, it'll be interesting to see if he starts with some major moves or sets up some picks in future years. Either way some sort of renewal is very needed