I don't buy this. There are no shortage of bad pro team names out there and their teams do just fine.

I thought the name was fine.

Also, eat shit.

I dunno. I always found it interesting the coincidences in when a team changed jerseys/logos and magically did better.

I think Derris hit on what is more likely at hand here, bad ownership. TBL almost lost their way but got lucky with the Vinik/Yzerman team that is there now. In one season they've gone from second worst in the NHL to top 4 in the NHL as of right now.

It's had trickle down effects too in that the Norfolk Admirals, their AHL club made the playoffs for the first time in 4 years with TBL and their record this year was second best in Admirals history as well as the first time any TBL affiliate in the AHL has made it to the post season and scored that many points in the standings.

All that to say, the issue at play is bad ownership, no winning, and poor marketing (maybe this touches a bit on what Rabbit was saying since logo and team name are brands to be marketed and if they're shitty, well, then they're shitty).

It's totally ownership. Tampa Bay and Carolina can go in the tank in the next 5 years but that fanbase got to live through that Stanley cup run and experience it all. They know it can happen and the teams can sell that hope to get back.

Thrashers have bungled every decision they've ever made. Why should an Atlanta sports fan with only a remote interest in hockey invest his time and money into a team being run like the Thrashers have been? You've got to be willing to show you at least care about winning and every move has shown ownership isn't.

If teams are making playoff runs and winning Stanley Cups, you could have a Mr. Hanky turd as the mascot and people would still buy in as long as you are beating the brakes off folks.

Like I said above, Nashville as an example.

Just saying FR........this wound is FRESH.

I understand. But yr also close to it, and therefore bias. Not saying that ownership isn't to blame. I think you took my logo reason as a legitimate reason rather than a jokey reasoning it was intended. Been in that situation when a team gets taken away and blamed on fans. Not fun.

The tragedy for the Atlanta hockey fans is that this was the first year that the Thrashers found a line-up that the city could really root for. They've had good players over the years, but they were the kind of players that are more about finesse than kicking ass. Just having one Byfuglien on that team is worth a dozen Kovalchuks, and Evander Kane is going to be a Mike Richards-level star. It looks like they're finally getting built for a playoff run - and it's too bad it came too late for Atlanta. But gotdamn, Winnipeg is gonna LOVE this team.

Fans in the 'peg were out celebrating last night just at the rumour of the NHL coming back:

As a hockey fan and not just a Flyers homer, I hope this works out. This is the 2nd time hockey has failed in ATL, let's not force it down their throats and just accept what is..

Couldn't the same be said for Winnipeg? They failed once already.

Even in their best years they didn't sell out. Why now?

Very true. A Wpg franchise is problematic, seeing as they lack the population base and the corporate support in the same way they did back when they lost the Jets.

This Canucks vs Sharks series is intense!!
Loving it!

Amazing as it was, that shit was 90% luck, 10% skill.

That is true, but this is round 2 let's see what happens. I'd love for hockey to exist every where, but in the lean years only hardcore fans support their teams. I agree the Thrashers ownership was bad, they had Heatly, Kovalchuck etc. but they just didn't do enough to make it a winning team.

Thought some of you might enjoy this link:

http://www.sixteenwins.com/

Hockey infographics.

I just breathed for the first time in 6 weeks.

Correct me if I am wrong, but you were the one that stated that you weren't all that concerned about either team from the East assuming VAN made it to the finals, right?

That said, which would you prefer?

Haha, congrats. Wish it would've been me saying that about either of my teams, but apparently the Caps can't commit to winning, and the Oilers are...

Anyway, good stuff. If Vancouver wins, this will be Canada's 50th SC, so there's that.

Yeah, the East is a little kids' league. If it's Boston it's done in 5 games, because Van will lose at least ONE game by beating themselves and giving it away gift-wrapped. Tampa Bay is a bit more of a challenge, mainly because they're playing with house money - but it'll still end in 6.

I am curious to see how it goes. The thing I'd worry about with Boston is that when they want to, they can limit chances to basically nothing but sharp angle and perimeter shots which makes it a but more difficult for the Sedin's of the world.

I haven't seen much of VAN this year. Do they have much in the way of grit and power or is it more along the lines of high-end skill and speed?

I think TBL is only a challenge because of their ability to score, but even if VAN shows up with 75% offense, they could outscore Mike Smith, Roloson and the TBL defense, even if the games are 10-9 at the end.

They'll play it however they need. The Sedin line is about finesse. The Kesler line is speed and skill mixed with amazing levels of grit. The 3rd line of Hansen, Torres and Lapiere are a wrecking crew. Vigneault's been changing the 4th line nearly every game, so it can be retooled for a speed game or a power game (although every line is about speed - the slowest skaters are the Sedins and Cody Hodgson).

Plus - and this is the main point right now - the Canucks seem to have Lady Luck smiling on them this year. They had no business winning that game last night, for example: 14 seconds away from a plane ticket to SJ, and then that overtime goal was the very definition of "fluke". And yet, here they are.

I couldn't keep my eyes open. I made it halfway through the first OT period (don't even know if it made it to a second or not). And I was just about asleep when I heard the announcers shitting themselves with 13.2 seconds left in the 3rd to tie the game. It was pleasant to go to sleep with one thing on my mind: Sharks, LOL.

I am pretty sure that Chara is going to quite literally chew the flesh off H. Sedin's face tonight.