DBAHO Posted October 26, 2004 Share Posted October 26, 2004 From Spector of FoxSports.com, There's been a considerable amount of focus on the potential survival of the new NHL markets during this lockout, but there are two big market franchises that face potential problems at the gate. The Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks are two of the "Original Six" franchises in the National Hockey League. Over the years, they've won Stanley Cup championships and have had Hall of Fame players on their rosters. Most importantly, they could always count on strong fan support. Prior to the imposition of the 1995 collective bargaining agreement, the Bruins and Blackhawks were two of the most popular draws around the NHL. Although it had been many years since either club won the Stanley Cup (1972 for the Bruins, 1961 for the Blackhawks), they perennially made the postseason and in the early 1990s were considered Cup contenders. In the years following the 1995 CBA, Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs and Blackhawks owner William Wirtz took hard-line approaches to player salaries. Both men were, and still are, considered advocates for stringent controls over player salaries. While other big-market franchises substantially increased their player payrolls, the Bruins and 'Hawks dug in their heels. The Blackhawks were especially tight with payroll as Wirtz insisted he would never pay what he considered ridiculously high salaries. More than once since 1995, he chided his fellow owners for what he considered reckless spending. Jacobs' Bruins also played hardball with their players in salary negotiations. Despite their hard-line tactics toward salary negotiations, both clubs have at times made contradictory moves. It's often overlooked that the Blackhawks were the first team to make an offer sheet to a restricted free agent when they tried to pry Keith Tkachuk away from the Winnipeg Jets in the fall of 1995. As for the Bruins, they were the first team to circumvent the hard cap on entry-level salaries under the old CBA by signing then-rookie Joe Thornton to a bonus-laced contract. They surprised many by inking unrestricted free agent Martin Lapointe, a career checking forward with the Detroit Red Wings, to a four-year deal worth over $5 million per season in 2001. The motive behind this deal was never clear, although rumor has it Jacobs was then squabbling with Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Illich, and in a fit of pique ordered his management to sign Lapointe, whom the Wings were hoping to re-sign. The hard-line tactics of both clubs resulted in player holdouts, which have often hurt their clubs more than helped, as well as a steady parade of talent out of those respective cities. Since 1995, the Blackhawks lost Jeremy Roenick, Ed Belfour, Chris Chelios, Tony Amonte, Gary Suter, Alexei Zhamnov and Steve Sullivan. Meanwhile, the Bruins bade farewell to Adam Oates, Jason Allison, Bill Guerin, Kyle McLaren, Brian Rolston and Glen Murray. All these moves were based on financial, rather than roster, needs. Their tight-fisted ways haven't done wonders for their post-season records. Since 1995, the Bruins missed the playoffs twice and advanced to the second round only once. Twice over the past three seasons, they finished near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, only to be upset both times by the underdog Montreal Canadiens. The Blackhawks fared worse, missing the postseason six times over the past seven years, and in their sole playoff appearance were eliminated in the first round in five games by the St. Louis Blues. The lack of success of both clubs over the last decade has begun to erode their once-strong fan base. While both clubs talk about wanting to be financially responsible, a growing number of their fans feel the Bruins and Blackhawks just aren't willing to build and maintain winning franchises. The attendance figures tell the tale. The Blackhawks average attendance dropped from a high of 20,818 in 1994-95 to a paltry 13,253 in 2003-04. In a city where the fans have a long history of making the Blackhawks venue one of the noisiest and most boisterous in the NHL, it's a serious decline. The Bruins haven't dropped off that badly, but after averaging a high of 16,323 in 1999-2000, attendance slipped to 15,133. Fans aren't deserting the Bruins, but a sense of apathy is creeping into their attitude toward the franchise and that should be worrisome. Most galling to the fans of both clubs are the expensive ticket prices. Despite maintaining payrolls far below those of their more free-spending big market peers, the Bruins and Blackhawks last season had the fifth and eighth highest ticket prices respectively. Their supporters are starting to question paying out that much money when they believe they're simply not seeing the results on the ice. If fans perceive that ownership doesn't care or is unwilling to invest in the franchise to make it a winner, they're not going to be as supportive as they once were. And that, of course, translates into bigger losses at the gate, which in a gate-driven league like the NHL can be serious. The status of the Bruins and Blackhawks should be of concern to the NHL's front office, given the league's visibility problems in the U.S. sports market. It's embarrassing enough to have the New York Rangers slide into expensive mediocrity without two more big-market clubs going into serious, self-inflicted decline. 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NUKE_CLEVELAND Posted October 26, 2004 Share Posted October 26, 2004 As long as that cheap prick Dollar Bill Wirtz is in charge the Slackhawks will be a total crap team. All Dollar Bill needs is 8000 or so people to show up and drink his beer and watch his s***ty team get pwned in their own building by powerhouse teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets and he'll continue to make a profit and the cycle will continue. Dont get too wound up about guys like Tuomo Ruutu Slackhawk fans because as soon as he asks for a contract hes worthy of Dollar Bill will balk and he'll end up playing for Colorado or the Rangers. Seems to me like the Slackhawks are becomming the Montreal Expos of the NHL. They develop franchise players every now and again only to ship them off just as they enter their prime.......(Roenick, Belfour, Amonte ring a bell?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilJester99 Posted October 26, 2004 Share Posted October 26, 2004 Bill Wirtz is the biggest reason for the problems of the Hawks. The man still thinks he is in the 1960's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAVVY18 Posted October 26, 2004 Share Posted October 26, 2004 I'm just glad this is getting some national attention. People know we suck, but they didn't know why we sucked. This article is correctly pointing the finger right at Wirtzy boy. I am just holding out hope he will die soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NUKE_CLEVELAND Posted October 26, 2004 Share Posted October 26, 2004 I'm just glad this is getting some national attention. People know we suck, but they didn't know why we sucked. This article is correctly pointing the finger right at Wirtzy boy. I am just holding out hope he will die soon. I also was glad to see the ESPN article a while back talking about how the Slacks were the worst run franchise in pro sports. Anything to spread the word beyond CHicago about what a prick this guy is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubKilla Posted October 26, 2004 Share Posted October 26, 2004 I also was glad to see the ESPN article a while back talking about how the Slacks were the worst run franchise in pro sports. Anything to spread the word beyond CHicago about what a prick this guy is. "Dollar" Bill makes Reinsdorf look like Steinbrenner. I remember a time when you couldn't get anything but a 2nd Balcony seat in a corner for a Blackhawk game at the Old Chicago Stadium. You had to get that ticket a few weeks in advance too. I remember the roar after Sutter scored a goal in the 1992 Stanley Cup Finals against the Detroit Red Wings helping propel the BlackHawks to a 1-0 sweep of rival Detroit with 1:00 left in the third. Now, I can walk up to the UC regardless of what team is in town the day of the game and pay $35 for a "cheap seat." I can watch the St. Louis Blues win a game 3-0 while the SlackHawks set a new NHL WORST record for SOG during a game..... 12!!!!! I can pay $7+ a beer. And this is what "Dollar" Bill Wirtz thinks is good for SlackHawk fans? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IlliniKrush Posted October 26, 2004 Share Posted October 26, 2004 "Dollar" Bill makes Reinsdorf look like Steinbrenner. I remember a time when you couldn't get anything but a 2nd Balcony seat in a corner for a Blackhawk game at the Old Chicago Stadium. You had to get that ticket a few weeks in advance too. I remember the roar after Sutter scored a goal in the 1992 Stanley Cup Finals against the Detroit Red Wings helping propel the BlackHawks to a 1-0 sweep of rival Detroit with 1:00 left in the third. Now, I can walk up to the UC regardless of what team is in town the day of the game and pay $35 for a "cheap seat." I can watch the St. Louis Blues win a game 3-0 while the SlackHawks set a new NHL WORST record for SOG during a game..... 12!!!!! I can pay $7+ a beer. And this is what "Dollar" Bill Wirtz thinks is good for SlackHawk fans? I was also at that Blues game when we 'broke' the shot total record Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubKilla Posted October 26, 2004 Share Posted October 26, 2004 I was also at that Blues game when we 'broke' the shot total record I don't think the St. Louis goalie broke a sweat that night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Prawn Posted October 26, 2004 Share Posted October 26, 2004 I am really needing some Carolina hockey now. I was driving to work and "Rock you like a Hurricane" came on and the cravings for hockey began. I really need to get to a Wolves game soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Critic Posted October 26, 2004 Share Posted October 26, 2004 I remember the roar after Sutter scored a goal in the 1992 Stanley Cup Finals against the Detroit Red Wings helping propel the BlackHawks to a 1-0 sweep of rival Detroit with 1:00 left in the third. WAIT A MINUTE - Wirtz delivers a STANLEY CUP WINNING TEAM and you STILL hate him???? I think you meant Western Conference Finals.....heh...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Critic Posted October 26, 2004 Share Posted October 26, 2004 I really need to get to a Wolves game soon. As reported in an earlier angry thread , I went to see the Wolves last Saturday and it was great....until they dropped the puck.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubKilla Posted October 26, 2004 Share Posted October 26, 2004 WAIT A MINUTE - Wirtz delivers a STANLEY CUP WINNING TEAM and you STILL hate him???? I think you meant Western Conference Finals.....heh...... Yes. You're right. That's what I meant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Prawn Posted October 26, 2004 Share Posted October 26, 2004 As reported in an earlier angry thread , I went to see the Wolves last Saturday and it was great....until they dropped the puck.... I wish I could see them play the WolfPack or the BSens. But it seems they are staying mainly in their division again this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Critic Posted October 26, 2004 Share Posted October 26, 2004 I wish I could see them play the WolfPack or the BSens. But it seems they are staying mainly in their division again this year. Yeah, that sucks. Aside from Hamilton, Edmonton, St John's and Syracuse, they pretty much stay in their own conference. But HOORAY, more of the San Antonio Rampage for US!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted October 27, 2004 Share Posted October 27, 2004 Bill Wirtz is the biggest reason for the problems of the Hawks. The man still thinks he is in the 1960's. Only when it comes to salaries. He's very modernistic, even progressive, when it comes to pricing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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