First off, thank goodness the Finals start this weekend and not next week like we originally thought. I just told Scotty how sick I am of reading countless articles about the Wings/Pens rematch. A week of being bent over and rammed with Marian Hossa stories would have been unbearable. The two best teams are in the Finals. Let's sit back and enjoy this one.
Now someone asked me this over Memorial Day weekend and I had about 12 different answers:
What's the best NHL city to play in?
Is it Detroit because they are the most talented team? Keep in mind that you'd be living in Detroit. Florida and LA have great weather but your team would be terrible. Toronto has the largest fanbase but again your team would be terrible and everyone (including certain members of the media) think they could do your job better than you. Weather, fanbase, locale, team strength - everything should be considered.
I can make arguments for and against every team. I didn't get into it too much with the guy who asked the question because he really wasn't a hockey guy he was just making small talk. I won't get into the whole thought process on this blog because I don't have 12 drinks in me BUT I think Dallas may be my city.
- Great town - drinking town
- Solid fanbase - not a hockey town per se but far from an LA, Florida or Long Island
- Talented team
- Better weather than Chicago or New York
- Closer to civilization than Calgary
What say you?
- Nemmy
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8 comments:
I'd of course put a vote in for Nashville.
* Great fanbase, (though admittedly not the biggest).
* Real seasons - some snow in winter and warm summers (though both are mild).
* Celeb frequented town (we know how to treat celebs when we see them in the grocery store)
* College town/areas with a great city-wide bar scene
* Low cost of living means you get that *really* big house, not just the kinda big one
* Team is strong every year (almost 5 straight playoffs by the skin of our teeth)
* Tons of great clubs and music (and not just country)
* Close to Chicago, Memphis, Atlanta, and not too far from both the beach in the south and skiing in the east
It ain't perfect, but it's gotta be top 5 with your criteria.
Other noms: Dallas (too hot, big), St Louis, Washington DC
Nashville is a sneaky strong choice, and I really like the Dallas pick.
I'd have to go with Anaheim or Carolina.
I shoulda listed Anaheim. Strong choice too.
I didn't list Carolina since it doesn't have the advantage of either having amazing weather year round (Anaheim) or good balanced seasons (Nashville, St Louis, DC). At least as far as I know. Strong choice outside of that though.
If one of the determining criteria is weather, Denver has to make the top 5. 300 days of sunshine. It'll dump snow one day, and the next it's 70 and sunny.
Despite being in a rebuilding phase, they're easily one of the more successful teams of the last 15 years. Think back the battles they used to have with Detroit.
In addition to the Avs, they have DU (Glenn Anderson) who won back to back national titles in aught4 and aught5.
Good town otherwise as well.
Oh, and there are mountains.
-Chad Ehrenkrantz
Edmonton would be last on my list BTW.
Long Island - my pops could come to every home game...if I played in Vancouver he'd probably still find a way to get to every home game but LI. Beaches...histroy for me...friends...family...familiarity...the Islanders...HOME
My one question,
Can the blonde on the left suck it in any more?
Alex, I totally agree! can we just spend some time looking at that photo... The girl on the far left is sucking in Waaay too hard while the next one over is letting a bit loose. I'm staying on the right side of that frame.
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