The NHL yesterday released its '09-10 schedule, and the league has “shelved plans for a special re-launch” in the first week of March following the Vancouver Olympics, according to Bruce Dowbiggin of the GLOBE & MAIL. The "centerpiece was to be a game featuring" the Penguins and Capitals. The idea was to "capitalize on the profile hockey will gain in the United States from the Vancouver Games" by featuring Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin in a “special venue in the U.S. capital -- possibly the National Mall.” Sources said that details “were discussed during meetings at the NHL draft last month, but there was not enough time to pull all the elements together.” Also, NBC “was reluctant to commit to the time after putting its main schedule on hiatus for the 16-day Olympic break” ( GLOBESPORTS.com, 7/15 ). ROAD TRIP : The GLOBE & MAIL's Matthew Sekeres notes the Canucks will go “more than six weeks -- Jan. 27 to March 13 -- between home games” due to the Olympic hockey tournament taking place at GM Place. A Canucks official said that the “14-game epic over 40 days is simply the team doing its part as good hosts for the 2010 Games” ( GLOBE & MAIL, 7/16 ). In Vancouver, Elliott Pap notes to "compensate for the long road swings, the Canucks will play eight straight at home in December and 10 of their last 15 will also be at GM Place" ( VANCOUVER SUN, 7/16 ). Canucks GM Mike Gillis and VP/Hockey Operations & Assistant GM Laurence Gilman “met with the NHL schedule makers in January in an attempt to reduce the impact of the prolonged journey” ( CP, 7/15 ). DETAIL WORK : The MONTREAL GAZETTE notes Olympic Stadium was not listed as the venue for the November 28 Capitals-Canadiens game despite the facility receiving the "go-ahead from the NHL's competition committee at last month's draft." A Canadiens spokesperson said that there are “still some details that need to be worked out” ( MONTREAL GAZETTE, 7/16 ). Capitals GM George McPhee said, “We talked about it (with the league) a little bit today, but we don’t know if that is going to happen or not. It is something that Montreal is working on, it is probably 50-50 as to whether it is going to happen or not” ( WASHINGTON TIMES, 7/16 ). BANNER DAYS : In Pittsburgh, Tricia Lafferty notes the Penguins will raise their Stanley Cup champions banner at Mellon Arena during their season-opener on October 2 against the Rangers. The Penguins will again “cap full season ticket equivalents at 14,000 for the upcoming season” in the 16,940-seat arena. The team also will “continue to offer popular ‘Student Rush’ promotions to local college and high school students during the season” ( Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 7/16 ). Meanwhile, on Long Island, Greg Logan notes the Penguins that next night will play the Islanders and No. 1 overall pick John Tavares at Nassau Coliseum. The NHL “plans to waste no time before showcasing Tavares in Canada,” as the Islanders’ second game is October 8 against the Senators ( NEWSDAY, 7/16 ). ON THICK ICE : Despite the current economic climate, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that the NHL has "remained strong, due to increasing viewership and advertising opportunities." Bettman: "While we are under no illusions about a difficult economic environment, we seem to be weathering it fairly well." Bettman "pointed to the league's season ticket renewal rate," which at 83% is "above this time last year, as a sign of the league's health." Bettman said that he "expects season ticket sales for the coming year to be 'at least [as] high as last year's levels'" ( REUTERS, 7/16 ).
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| Canadiens Officials Says There Are Many Details To Be Worked Out For Olympic Stadium Game |
