2009 NHL off-season trades, rumours, draft thread

NBC would never put Montreal in the game.

 

Where would they play an outdoor game in Montreal?

 

Why not Molson Stadium?

 

The Winter Classic at Fenway was one of the worst-kept secrets in hockey for months.

It's not a huge surprise that one of NBC's four pet teams got the nod instead of the Bruins' biggest rivals from Montreal (or even pseudo-pet team Washington). That the Rangers -- the team that makes U.S. TV executives get really tingly for some strange reason -- weren't selected as a visiting team leads me to believe a future Classic is set for one of the NYC fields (probably new Yankee Stadium).

 

Undergoing renovation right now. Currently also only seats 25K (or will after the renovations), although I would expect a few temp bleachers to be hauled in to get the capacity closer to 40K.

 

It could work after the renovations, though, right?

Maybe CBC should organize its own Winter Classic......Montreal vs Toronto, home-and-home, Molson Stadium and BMO Field.

 

Montreal is not going to be very good next season, IMO. And, yeah, Montreal was in the outdoor game in Edmonton in 2003, so they have been featured before.

And, I read somewhere that Montreal was playing Washington at Olympic Stadium, albeit with the roof closed. What's up with that?

 

the reason it's not Montreal Boston is because this game is NBC's baby so why would NBC want a Canadian team? That is why there was talk of a doubleheader with Calgary hosting.
There is also talk of a game at the Big O, but I doubt you will ever see a Canadian team featured for the day game on New years day.

 

NBC did a Rangers-Canadiens game from Montreal on Super Bowl Sunday two years ago. So it's not an open and shut case.

To follow that logic further, why then is CBC televising the game as well? Surely, they would have no interest in a game between two US teams.

I suspect in time Calgary, Montreal and Toronto will all host outdoor games, as well as New York, Minnesota and possibly Pittsburgh.

 

In amongst the Winter Classic announcement, NHL and NBC also announced a two-year extension through the 2010-11 season.

Yet again, a 'revenue sharing' deal is in place.

 

CBC is televising this game because Candians love hockey, meaning they can sell advertisement, meaning they can make money. Do you get that Mark?

The outdoor classic on New years day is NBC's, it does not make good business sense to have a Canadian team. One of the only times I can agree with this.

Of course Canadian cities will host outdoor games it just won't be the afternoon game on New Years day.

 

Canadians watch NHL hockey, not just the Canadian teams.