Toronto Marlies announce opening day roster, October broadcast schedule (update: lineup for Sat.)

Yeah they do fill their building but what are the ticket prices like and what are the actual gate receipts in comparison to the bigger franchise’s? I personally think Leopold is taking a huge risk with signing Suter and Parise to those huge contracts. I can also kind of see why he’s taking that risk too. He trying to build the brand on a more national scale which would generate a lot more revenue in the sale of team merchandise and also open up the opportunities for better local TV contracts, cooperate sponsorships and the like. Who knows for sure he may even be able to charge more at the gate as well. He looking for more exposure on a wider scale by building a winning franchise. It is a big gamble though.

Ya I remember that…I guess the Isles are happy it wasn’t allowed

As strong as NJ is as a club, I have not come across a fan. Every hockey fan I met in NJ was a Rangers fan. Kinda hard when you have a successful neighbor and a crap location for your own rink.

Of course, but for all Wang’s stupidity in relation to hockey decisions, he’s done everything he can to get a new arena.  The problem is beyond solving at this point, but it might become solvable in the next decade.  I don’t think they can continue on with New Jersey AND the Islanders though.  But your losses with one of them.  I guess because of the fact that the Islanders are an icon, my choice would be the Devils.  

It’s not that NY can’t, it’s that they can’t get a suitable arena built for the Islanders due to several constraints beyond hockey.  The belief is that if they had a decent arena, the fans would flock there – and players as well. 

But is any owner going to have success if the location is wrong?  That’s the question.  We know Bettman is brilliant at convincing a string of billionaires to take turns losing money in shit locations, but does that make it okay?

Yes, but they moved the arena, which completely changes the dynamics.  It’s not about having success on the ice – clearly, as they just went to the Cup Final and lost how much?  Location is everything, which Glendale has proven.  They were also successful early on, but once they moved the arena, they were done.  Now you have that franchise committed to a losing location, and I believe we’ll be watching a Phoenix 2.0 scenario there. 
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Now, it’s probably not realistic to walk away from a brand new facility, but that’s what probably needs to happen.  Then hope that in 10 years, that facility has found a new purpose, and they can get something in a better area set up and return hockey to NJ.  Hockey is a far more elitist sport than any of the other big ones, and upper middle class white people – the demographic that supports the sport – aren’t going to go to the ghetto to support anything. 

LOL I know what your saying but we will probably need a new comish to have that happen . Bettmans MO ever since his days in basketball is to try to keep franchise’s from moving. The validity of this strategy is open to question of course when you consider what happened in Winnipeg and PHX but its the way he works.

 Also depends on arena availability, proximity to others ie. Dallas etc

I don’t know that it was a huge mistake though.  The city couldn’t compete in that environment, and the loss of the team forced the city to shut down a shitty old arena and open up a nice new facility in a solid location. 
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The more I think about it, the more I think I’d like to see NJ relocated to Quebec.  What a swan song for Brodeur, and they have the budding French star in Henrique to go with him.  

From what I could gather his hands were tied somewhat in the Peg but he regretted in a big way having to move that team . Little know fact also there was a chance that Gillette was going to sell the Habs to someone who was considering  relocating that team. Bettman put a stop to it very quickly and said relocating a team like the Habs would never happen on his watch . He was also mostly responsible with brokering the deal between Gillettte and Molsen when the team was finally sold . He also jumped through hoops trying to make sure the Sens Oilers and Flames would remain in Canada during the Canadian dollar crisis that almost resulted in those team folding.

Barons player grades — Justin Schultz impresses in pro debut but OKC falls 2-1

http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2012/10/12/barons-player-grades-justin-schultz-impresses-in-pro-debut-but-okc-falls-2-1/

I’m guessing they are signed to AHL contracts at $65,000 per so that’s what they would collect if injured .