Su Blog Frozen

Ci � qualcosa enduringly che soddisfa circa vedere la balena in loro vecchio garb verde grande. It’s a widely held nostalgia I think for a small market club ravaged by the lure of bigger dollars in some faraway newcomer cul de sac of cash. That playoff series, incidentally, featured a number of players with Caps’ ties: Bobby Carpenter, Dave Poulin, Randy Burridge, Todd Krygier. The Whale had one of the most difficult names to spell in all of hockey history in net, Peter Sidorkiewicz. (I had to keyword search “Hartford Whalers goalie Peter with a weird name who played in the ’90s” to find it.)

I have some suggestions for programming, if the league would like to solicit them. The Caps last season practiced outdoors one winter weekday morning at the Chevy Chase Country Club. Ottawa among other clubs has also skated practices outdoors (a number of AHL clubs, too, including the then-affiliated-with-the-Caps Portland Pirates). That sort of novel event would be perfect broadcast live and replayed in the evening on the NHL Network. It reminds us of the sport’s roots and why it’s so distinctive in the sporting landscape. When the league goes outdoors again for an actual game, in Buffalo on New Years Day for the Ice Bowl, the behind-the-scenes logistics for it ought to be lavishly chronicled.

Over the years the sport has produced some memorable television commercial spots, in individual markets and especially while ESPN broadcast the league. Remember ESPN’s “Hockey Falls” series? I’d like to see those worked in somehow.

It’s too early in this relationship for me to tell if it will be polyamorous: will perched-by-the-plexiglass talents such as Erin Anderson be recruited? There will be a need for talking head talent in the studio; why not bring some aesthetics to our savage sport? The Golf Channel lured a lot of middle-aged, potbellied 30-handicappers as devoted viewers by hiring Kelly Tilghman early on. I’m told that sidelinehotties.com can be a resource here. To be sure the NHL Network will attract a loyal following north of the 49th, but remember, there’s an awful lot of quality live puck broadcast up there too. If the NHL Network wants to strive for Sopranos buzz, Al Trautwig under the hot lights won’t cut it.