Blogger Press Access Kerfluffle - Do Teams Need Us In The Pressbox?
by hildymac on Aug 26, 2010 11:17 PM EDT
23 comments
This article was originally posted at Thrashing the Blues, and then I realized that it was 11:00 and I couldn't re-work the whole thing, so I decided to import it here.
I normally don't write about blogger access for NHL teams. The Atlanta Thrashers have been outstanding with allowing the bloggers access to the team and getting us media credentials for blogger nights at the arena. Their program is a class act, and I would never want to be seen as questioning what they do or whining to get more access.
Recently, though, two articles on Puck Daddy (found here and here) were posted regarding blogger access - most specifically, the limitations that some teams feel need to be placed on it. Some NHL teams are welcoming of the free PR that bloggers bring and others prefer to let the professional journalists in only - each team has their own reasons for it. The teams who do not credential bloggers are taking issue with the fact that bloggers are getting press access in the locker rooms with said team when that team's the visitor. They feel that their rules for press access at their home arenas should be respected by the teams that are hosting them as well. That's understandable. Just as one state has to respect the laws of another, a NHL team needs to respect the requests of the visiting squad - if they aren't as welcoming to bloggers in the locker room then bloggers shouldn't be allowed back there, end of story.
The real issue comes up with whether or not teams need to treat bloggers more like press and less like hacks with computers. Proposals were made, according to Greg Wyshynski, that basically wanted bloggers in a holding pen a la creepy autograph hounds until someone graced the bloggers with their presence. What good that does the bloggers, and by proxy the team, I don't know. The bloggers only get the company line and they have to deal with the indignity of being treated as unprofessional and being treated as such quite obviously. What do you think they'll write about when they get home - what the Oilers' assistant video coach had to say for 5 minutes, or the fact that they got nothing out of the experience and would prefer to not be subjected to it again? It's not good PR to treat bloggers with distain.
(cont. after the jump)
23 comments | 1 recs |
Thrashers Re-sign Bryan Little
by timmyf on Aug 23, 2010 10:21 AM EDT
11 comments
A variety of sources on Twitter are reporting that the Bryan Little deal is finally done. The reported numbers are 3-years for 1.65M, 2.5M, and 3M, a cap hit of $2.38M. Little was an RFA and not arbitration-eligible, so he didn't have as many options as a guy like Andrew Ladd. The money on this contract seems reasonable, assuming Little scores more than 13 goals in future seasons, and he should remain an RFA at the end of this contract.
A Potential Glut on the Blueline
by timmyf on Aug 20, 2010 2:38 PM EDT
in News
23 comments
Thrashers fans were a bit shocked earlier when Rick Dudley suggested Dustin Byfuglien might play as a defensemen... and with good reason: our blueline is starting to look a little full. We've got a pretty full slate:
- Zach Bogosian
- Tobias Enstrom
- Ron Hainsey
- Johnny Oduya
- Brent Sopel
- Boris Valabik
- Arturs Kulda
- Paul Postma
Defenseman Andrei Zubarev has been in town since Monday and participated in the informal skate today. He has good size and looked sharp.
If Zubarev wasn't planning on signing with the Thrashers and playing here, it'd be a little odd for him to be here skating with the team. So... 9 guys competing for 6 spots? Folks, the blueline is looking a bit crowded...
Mount Puckmore
Our entry into the Puck Daddy Mt. Puckmore series is live. If you're feeling the urge to get all worked up over faceless internet blowhards, scan the comments - it's a hoot!
Link Roundup, 8.18.10 - Yes, it's still August.
by aaron b on Aug 18, 2010 11:48 AM EDT
8 comments
We scour the intertubes for hockey blather so you don't have to. Some season previews (which are about as accurate as you can get without having seen a particular iteration of a given team actually, y'know, skate together), and other assorted stuff.
Former Bruins Assistant Craig Ramsay Hopes to Turn Thrashers Around - NHL - NESN.com
NESN.com previews the Thrashers upcoming season. Includes the BWA Writers Consensus Top Moment from last season.
Bruins New Assistant Coach Doug Jarvis Brings Experience, Success to B's Bench - Boston Bruins - NESN.com
Yea, the headline says it's about Doug Jarvis, but "Craig Ramsay" keeps popping up. I think they liked him in Boston.
The Hockey News 2010-11 NHL regular season predictions - TheHockeyNews.com
Season preview, Thrashers suck, blah blah blah....
East: Which playoff misses could turn into hits? - NHL.com
NHL.com picks apart the also-rans from last season, and which teams could make this years' postseason. SPOILER ALERT! Just like tee ball, EVERYBODY has a chance!
30 in 30: Revamped Thrashers have look of an improved team - NHL.com
Another season preview, this one from NHL.com consigliere Rocky Bonanno.
LATE ADD: Hockey never sleeps and more things I learned this busy summer - SI.com
Darren Eliot with some salient thoughts on Brendan Shanahan, Ilya Kovalchuk & others. Am I the only one that wouldn't mind seeing Shanny as commissioner one day?
A look at what’s left of NHL free agency | Posted Sports | National Post
If you've never read Down Goes Brown, you owe it to yourself to check it out. A little Leafs-centric, but when you're writing hockey jokes, that can only be a plus. Now it seems DGB (AKA Sean McIndoe) has hit the big time, writing for the National Post. Please note the first comment under this particular entry.
And finally - I was watching Ben Wright's video interview with new Thrashers netminder Chris Mason, and was siezed by a sudden urge to hide under my bed crying. Imagine this mug staring at you from behind a goalie cage:
Laser focus, people.
Thrashers & Hawks Move to "Dynamic Ticket Pricing"
"Dynamic pricing adjusts single-game ticket prices as late as the day of the game through computer analysis of team performance, opponent, weather conditions, day of the week and gate giveaways."
Ticket pricing has been a touchy subject, especially for season ticket holders. Some teams have recently moved to tiered pricing - tickets that are priced according to the quality of the opponents. Now, the Thrashers are doing one better: prices based on real-time factors, including day-of-game weather.
What say you, Thrashers fans?
Big Buff with the Big Cup
Absolutely surreal to see him with the Cup in the Thrashers jersey, but here it is.
Kovalchuk's Contract with Devils Ruled Void
by The Falconer on Aug 9, 2010 6:08 PM EDT
in News
19 comments
When Ilya Kovalchuk signed a 17 year deal with the New Jersey Devils this summer, the NHL rejected the contract. That decision was appealed and went to an arbitrator who sided with the NHL today ruling that the contract was an attempt to circumvent the salary cap.
I think virtually everyone agrees that the contract was an obvious attempt to circumvent the cap. The contract stretches out until Kovalchuk is 44 years old and was worth $102 million. But in reality the first 10 years paid Kovalchuk $95 million and the final 7 years paid him just $7 million. The purpose of the contract was to pay Kovalchuk $9.5 million per season over the next ten years, but the contract would only count as $6 million in cap terms. Kovalchuk could retire after 10 years and the Devils would magically have created an extra $30.5 in cap space over the those ten years. This is why the contract was voided.
The problem is that other recent contracts signed by Marian Hossa and Chris Pronger also exploited the same loopholes, but not to the degree found in the Kovalchuk contract. This leaves open the question of where the boundary line between "cap circumvention" and "clever planning" rests. Until the next CBA defines this line with great clarity, it is likely to we will see other NHL contracts probe and test how far these life-time contracts can push the boundary of cap circumvention.
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
82 | 54 | 15 | 13 | 121 |
|
Atlanta
|
82 | 35 | 34 | 13 | 83 |
|
Carolina
|
82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 80 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
82 | 34 | 36 | 12 | 80 |
|
Florida
|
82 | 32 | 37 | 13 | 77 |
(updated 4.12.2010 at 9:21 AM EDT)
Thrashers Schedule
Next 5 Games
|
Columbus
|
Tue 09/21 | 7:00 PM EDT |
|
Carolina
|
Sat 09/25 | 7:00 PM EDT |
|
@
Nashville
|
Mon 09/27 | 8:00 PM EDT |
|
Nashville
|
Wed 09/29 | 7:00 PM EDT |
|
@
Carolina
|
Fri 10/01 | 1:30 PM EDT |
Last 5 Games
|
Pittsburgh
|
Sat 04/10 | W 1 - 0 |
|
@
Washington
|
Fri 04/09 | L 2 - 5 |
|
New Jersey
|
Tue 04/06 | L 0 - 3 |
|
@
Pittsburgh
|
Sat 04/03 | OT - L 3 - 4 |
|
@
Washington
|
Thu 04/01 | L 1 - 2 |
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