News That Only Gets Released When There Are Two Series-Deciding Games On

by Jonathan Willis on Apr 28, 2009 11:00 PM MDT

The New York Rangers and Alexander Ovechkin are two of the NHL's biggest media draws. Tonight, Ovechkin's Washington Capitals played the seventh game of their series against the Rangers, with Sergei Fedorov scoring the winner with only five minutes left to go in the third period of the contest. On the same night, New Jersey and Carolina also competed in a seventh game, with the Hurricanes emerging victorious.

In politics, the Friday night press release is where political parties hide things they don't want to become major news; it's the end of the week, and that reduces press coverage. They don't have things like series-deciding games to cover up the news for them, but the NHL does, and there's no reason not to take advantage of that.

Perhaps the timing of this story being released is completely coincidental, but I know that if I worked in the NHL's PR department, I'd try to camouflage the fact that the league is financially propping up a troubled franchise underneath a pair of games that should draw the attention of the hockey world. It only makes sense to do so.

Tweet Comment 4 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Haha

I like the PR suspicions and instinct, but I wonder if the league even so much as provided off-the-record confirmation. The story struck me as purely from public records and financial filings dug up by the reporter: No comment from the NHL or any involved party, no acknowledgment, not even an “NHL sources have confirmed” — just an “according to financial records.”

But then Bettman will deny things until they serve his purpose. The weak economy does not affect the league … until it’s cause to discourage long-term contracts and criticize the NHLPA. Phoenix is not on “life support” from the league … until who knows what purpose the league will have to acknowledge such publicly accessible information. Meeting with interested second-team-in-Toronto groups are mere formalities … until the day arrives when it’s time to hype a second team like sliced bread.

Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.

by Dominik on Apr 28, 2009 11:36 PM MDT reply actions

Yeah, you're probably right..

I’m not sure how acquiring that kind of information works in the U.S.; I know in Canada it would take some time to get it via a Freedom of Information request so if you guys have a similar system it could well be that this just happened to be when Harris got the information.

If that’s the case, it is fairly fortuitous timing for Bettman and the NHL.

It's only my opinion, but it's right.

Writer for The Copper & Blue, OilersNation, and CanucksArmy.

by Jonathan Willis on Apr 28, 2009 11:46 PM MDT up reply actions

No doubt

Being that I’m big on the non-PR bandwagon of the NHL, the timing of this works out awfully well for the league. We should be happy that major American media outlets let things in the NHL go mostly ignored or else this bit of news would be getting a lot of run.

That said, the vultures are circling around the Coyotes waiting for them to drop. It’s going to be a long summer in Glendale trying to fend off the rumors and stories.

Gross Misconduct with yours truly

by HockeyJoe on Apr 29, 2009 5:03 AM MDT up reply actions

We should be happy that major American media outlets let things in the NHL go mostly ignored or else this bit of news would be getting a lot of run.

Too true. I’m picturing the media insanity of this coming out about a team in another league (as that sports finance consultant in the story says happens). But it sounds like such info is normally kept well-sealed, and this one only hit the public record because of the Coyotes’ arena management agreement with Glendale?

Lighthouse Hockey: Side effects may include Weight gain and frequent game loss.

by Dominik on Apr 29, 2009 8:51 AM MDT up reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

Oilers Schedule

Last 5 Games

@ Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	Sat 04/07	L 0 - 3
Anaheim Anaheim Calling	Thu 04/05	OT - L 2 - 3
@ Los Angeles Jewels From The Crown	Mon 04/02	L 0 - 2
@ Anaheim Anaheim Calling	Sun 04/01	W 2 - 1
Los Angeles Jewels From The Crown	Fri 03/30	L 1 - 4