The Colorado Avalanche and MeiGray have been doing business since 1998. We have had a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the team.
Their appreciation of the game-worn jersey community and their appreciation of and cooperation towards our authentication system makes them a pioneer in professional hockey.
A brief story, before I update their 2013 Program details, that shows their sincere understanding of what we are trying to do ...
A few seasons ago, one of their players was injured during a game. He was removed from the ice by stretcher and taken to a local hospital. Due to the nature of his injury and the speed with which the emergency medical technicians had to work to stabilize the player, his jersey was cut from his body.
We certainly understand those situations happen sometimes, so we never expected the jersey to be returned for authentication and sale when the set was retired from use. And it wasn't.
But a few weeks after we received the set of jerseys from the Avs, an envelope came to NHL-MGG Program Director Rob Grose from Colorado. In the envelope was a solitary program tag, the individually serial-numbered, counterfeit-proof, covert/overt tags were sew into every jersey before they are worn on the ice.
The tag belonged to the destroyed jersey from the injured player. Avs equipment manager Mark Miller made sure to retrieve the tag from the jersey when it was cut, destroyed and discarded by the EMT technicians ... to ensure full compliance of our program.
Now that's dedication and an understanding of our program. He didn't have to do that, we don't ask teams to do it, but we greatly appreciated it.
Now, for the Avs this season:
Their Set 1 jerseys are posted at www.meigray.com and available for pre-order. A 25% deposit holds any jersey.
Set Dates:
Burgundy Set 1: January 22, 2013 – March 12, 2013
White Set 1: January 19, 2013 – March 23, 2013
Burgundy Set 2: March 18, 2013 – April 27, 2013
White Set 2: March 27, 2013 – April 26, 2013
Third Set 1: February 4, 20, March 10, 16, 30, April 8 and 19
If Colorado qualifies for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they are expected to wear Set 2 jerseys.
These set dates are subject to change based on jersey availability from Reebok and the team’s on-ice needs.
We will update any changes if we receive new information.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Check out Gameusedcollector.com
A new website with an open Forum and an open-minded approach to sharing information on our great hobby has been created by a pair of passionate game-worn collectors. I'd like to invite all of you to join.
The website is gameusedcollector.com
This new Forum was developed with the latest software innovations. It was designed with separate boards representing each sport so collectors don’t have to sift through numerous threads. Using social media as well, Game used Collector invites you to share your collection, and your ideas, with a broader audience.
GUC will endeavor to keep you updated of other developments in the world of game used collecting. Its charge is to provide the collecting community a new place to learn, share information and meet other collectors.
Forums are an interesting phenomenon in our hobby. I am a staunch proponent of free speech, and believe strongly that even when MeiGray is criticized on the internet, it helps make us a better company. I have also been a supported of Forums that put integrity and objectivity first.
MeiGray has learned plenty from its constructive critiques over the years, and I feel it has made us a better company. I believe that any company that shies from criticism, or gets into petty arguments due to its thin skin, does not serve itself or its customers well.
Of course, we prefer praise. Who doesn't? We take the good news and the bad news with equal doses of humility and perspective, and count every word written as evidence that collectors care about what we do, and how we conduct ourselves.
Gameusedcollector.com has set a goal of raising the standards for lively and honest discourse about all facets of our hobby. And that can only be seen as a good thing.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Third in an NHL-MGG 2012-13 Series: Edmonton Oilers
The up and coming Edmonton Oilers, chock full of first-round draft picks and budding superstars, will be wearing two sets of home blue and two sets of road white jerseys throughout their 2012-13 regular-season.
In addition, the Oilers will be wearing two new sets of home blue jerseys to be auctioned off for their charity foundation on January 28, 2013 and April 13, 2013.
We have already taken pre-orders on the jerseys worn by Nail Yakupov and Justin Schultz in their NHL debuts.
The Oilers' Set Dates:
Blue Retro Set 1: January 22, 2013 – March 17, 2013
White Retro Set 1: January 20, 2013 – March 12, 2013
Blue Retro Set 2: March 20, 2013 – April 27, 2013
White Retro Set 2: March 25, 2013 – April 26, 2013
Promotional Game: January 28, 2013 in Blue Retro
Promotional Game: April 13, 2013 in Blue Retro
In addition, if the Oilers qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs they plan to wear a new set of jerseys.
These set dates and this information is subject to change based on jersey availability from Reebok and the team’s on-ice needs.
In addition, the Oilers will be wearing two new sets of home blue jerseys to be auctioned off for their charity foundation on January 28, 2013 and April 13, 2013.
We have already taken pre-orders on the jerseys worn by Nail Yakupov and Justin Schultz in their NHL debuts.
The Oilers' Set Dates:
Blue Retro Set 1: January 22, 2013 – March 17, 2013
White Retro Set 1: January 20, 2013 – March 12, 2013
Blue Retro Set 2: March 20, 2013 – April 27, 2013
White Retro Set 2: March 25, 2013 – April 26, 2013
Promotional Game: January 28, 2013 in Blue Retro
Promotional Game: April 13, 2013 in Blue Retro
In addition, if the Oilers qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs they plan to wear a new set of jerseys.
These set dates and this information is subject to change based on jersey availability from Reebok and the team’s on-ice needs.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Our Opinion of Game-Cuts/Game-Issueds
So I'm talking to a team about a game-worn jersey deal (no hints, sorry) and the conversation turns to game cuts.
How many game cuts did I feel was appropriate for the team to supply, I was asked
I told them what MeiGray has believed since it was founded in 1997 ... none should be planned for supply. Some will inevitably be included in any team's year-end inventory because plans change, players get traded, players get hurt, and some jerseys do not get worn once they are prepared.
But we believe there is no good reason why a team should supply a game-worn jersey dealer with deliberately prepared game cuts. It is asking for trouble.
Did you know that when MeiGray sells a game cut or game-issued jersey it automatically stamps it inside the jersey "NOT GAME WORN."
Did you know that when MeiGray sells a game cut or game-issued jersey the letter of authenticity identifies the jersey as not worn and the MeiGrade Registration number logs the jersey as not game worn.
I am sorry to say that we have seen too many honest collectors ripped off by dishonest people who claim "they lost" the LOA of a game-issued jersey and sell the jersey as game worn. It's one of the many reasons why MeiGray encourages collectors to check with us before purchasing a jersey on the secondary market ... with just the serial number in hand, we can tell you what's being offered, and if the jersey is what the seller says it is.
There are good reasons why game issueds hit the hobby. Collectors who otherwise could not afford a game-worn jersey can get a jersey of their favorite player or team, from the locker room, when a jersey that was supposed to be worn is not worn.
Solid reasons why game issueds exist?
1. Teams make a backup for a player, and the players never gets to wear the jersey.
2. Player gets hurt before the jersey goes into circulation.
3. Player gets traded before the jersey goes into circulation.
4, Team prepares a new set for the playoffs and team misses the playoffs at the last minute.
Less solid reason why game issueds exist?
1. Player changed sizes and never wore the jersey. Occasionally it could happen, but most equipment managers know exactly what to prepare for their players, so this rarely happens. It's not impossible, but does not happen often.
2. Player asked for additional jerseys. This happens, but MeiGray does not characterize those as game issued.
MeiGray's definition of a game-issued jersey is a jersey that was prepared for the player's use, but was never worn. A player ordering extra jerseys does not necessarily mean the player planned to wear them. We're usually careful and take it case-by-case.
You should be careful, too.
How many game cuts did I feel was appropriate for the team to supply, I was asked
I told them what MeiGray has believed since it was founded in 1997 ... none should be planned for supply. Some will inevitably be included in any team's year-end inventory because plans change, players get traded, players get hurt, and some jerseys do not get worn once they are prepared.
But we believe there is no good reason why a team should supply a game-worn jersey dealer with deliberately prepared game cuts. It is asking for trouble.
Did you know that when MeiGray sells a game cut or game-issued jersey it automatically stamps it inside the jersey "NOT GAME WORN."
Did you know that when MeiGray sells a game cut or game-issued jersey the letter of authenticity identifies the jersey as not worn and the MeiGrade Registration number logs the jersey as not game worn.
I am sorry to say that we have seen too many honest collectors ripped off by dishonest people who claim "they lost" the LOA of a game-issued jersey and sell the jersey as game worn. It's one of the many reasons why MeiGray encourages collectors to check with us before purchasing a jersey on the secondary market ... with just the serial number in hand, we can tell you what's being offered, and if the jersey is what the seller says it is.
There are good reasons why game issueds hit the hobby. Collectors who otherwise could not afford a game-worn jersey can get a jersey of their favorite player or team, from the locker room, when a jersey that was supposed to be worn is not worn.
Solid reasons why game issueds exist?
1. Teams make a backup for a player, and the players never gets to wear the jersey.
2. Player gets hurt before the jersey goes into circulation.
3. Player gets traded before the jersey goes into circulation.
4, Team prepares a new set for the playoffs and team misses the playoffs at the last minute.
Less solid reason why game issueds exist?
1. Player changed sizes and never wore the jersey. Occasionally it could happen, but most equipment managers know exactly what to prepare for their players, so this rarely happens. It's not impossible, but does not happen often.
2. Player asked for additional jerseys. This happens, but MeiGray does not characterize those as game issued.
MeiGray's definition of a game-issued jersey is a jersey that was prepared for the player's use, but was never worn. A player ordering extra jerseys does not necessarily mean the player planned to wear them. We're usually careful and take it case-by-case.
You should be careful, too.
Monday, January 21, 2013
In from LA, out to Denver
Here's a first ... I'm bloggin' from midair.
We're on our way to Loveland, Colorado for the ECHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition, which pits the Colorado Eagles vs. the ECHL All-Stars.
The MeiGray team, including program director Jason Rubin, Rob Grose, Drew Wojciechowski and myself will be authenticating the one set of jerseys worn by the Eagles and the All-Stars in the Skills Competition tomorrow night, and the three sets of jerseys (one for ECHL-MGG Program Auction, one to the PHPA and one to the players) each side will wear in Wednesday's game.
Thanks to Southwest Airlines, because I never did take advantage of WiFi blogging before.
If I could have, I would have Sunday, when I returned back to New Jersey from Los Angeles in order for our team to organize the jerseys the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings wore in their Banner Raising Season Opener on Saturday.
That unique set, with the Banner Patch worn by the Kings for one game, are now up for auction.
MeiGray is proud to say we introduced what we hope has become an NHL tradition a year ago, when the Bruins put a patch on their jerseys replicating the banner raised to celebrate their 2011 Stanley Cup. The NHL permits teams to wear this patch for one game, the Banner Night opener.
Wonder what Flyers owner Ed Snider thinks about this tradition?
Back in the '70s, the Flyers attempted to put a patch depicting their Stanley Cup on their jerseys prior to the season. In fact, the pictures taking for that season's hockey cards showed the team with its patch. But when the league honchos got wind of the idea, they ordered the Flyers to remove them.
I'd like to see the Stanley Cup champion permitted to wear a patch depicting the Cup all season. Why not? Teams already gun for the champs, it's not like seeing the Cup on a team's jersey will make a difference. Bragging rights are earned in this sport, so why not let the winners brag all season?
It's not easy lugging a set of one-game jerseys home from an arena. Although they are authenticated and packed in one huge hockey bag within minutes after the game (yes, I wear surgical gloves), I usually have to drag them to my rental car, drag them back to the hotel, lug them to the airport, and hold my breath to make sure nothing happens between takeoff and landing.
I usually lug a few of the big jerseys (this weekend it was Quick, Doughty, Brown, Richards, Carter, Williams and Kopitar) in my carry-on, shove the bag into the overhead bin, and make sure I do not fall asleep on the plane.
Who can sleep on planes anyway, nowadays? No leg room.
We're on our way to Loveland, Colorado for the ECHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition, which pits the Colorado Eagles vs. the ECHL All-Stars.
The MeiGray team, including program director Jason Rubin, Rob Grose, Drew Wojciechowski and myself will be authenticating the one set of jerseys worn by the Eagles and the All-Stars in the Skills Competition tomorrow night, and the three sets of jerseys (one for ECHL-MGG Program Auction, one to the PHPA and one to the players) each side will wear in Wednesday's game.
Thanks to Southwest Airlines, because I never did take advantage of WiFi blogging before.
If I could have, I would have Sunday, when I returned back to New Jersey from Los Angeles in order for our team to organize the jerseys the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings wore in their Banner Raising Season Opener on Saturday.
That unique set, with the Banner Patch worn by the Kings for one game, are now up for auction.
MeiGray is proud to say we introduced what we hope has become an NHL tradition a year ago, when the Bruins put a patch on their jerseys replicating the banner raised to celebrate their 2011 Stanley Cup. The NHL permits teams to wear this patch for one game, the Banner Night opener.
Wonder what Flyers owner Ed Snider thinks about this tradition?
Back in the '70s, the Flyers attempted to put a patch depicting their Stanley Cup on their jerseys prior to the season. In fact, the pictures taking for that season's hockey cards showed the team with its patch. But when the league honchos got wind of the idea, they ordered the Flyers to remove them.
I'd like to see the Stanley Cup champion permitted to wear a patch depicting the Cup all season. Why not? Teams already gun for the champs, it's not like seeing the Cup on a team's jersey will make a difference. Bragging rights are earned in this sport, so why not let the winners brag all season?
It's not easy lugging a set of one-game jerseys home from an arena. Although they are authenticated and packed in one huge hockey bag within minutes after the game (yes, I wear surgical gloves), I usually have to drag them to my rental car, drag them back to the hotel, lug them to the airport, and hold my breath to make sure nothing happens between takeoff and landing.
I usually lug a few of the big jerseys (this weekend it was Quick, Doughty, Brown, Richards, Carter, Williams and Kopitar) in my carry-on, shove the bag into the overhead bin, and make sure I do not fall asleep on the plane.
Who can sleep on planes anyway, nowadays? No leg room.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Second in an NHL-MGG 2012-13 Program Series, Los Angeles
The defending Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings will be wearing two sets of home black and two sets of home white jerseys throughout their 2012-13 regular-season defense of the Stanley Cup. Each set will be worn for approximately half the regular season.
In addition, the Kings will be wearing a special set of jerseys in Saturday's Banner Raising opener, with a special Banner Patch. That's an NHL tradition that started last season, when the Boston Bruins wore a Banner Patch to celebrate their 2011 Cup during the 2011-12 home opener.
I will be in Staples Center promoting the set, which goes up for auction at auction.nhl.com when the puck drops. And I will be authenticating the set immediately after the game and flying it back to New Jersey for the auction on Sunday.
As we did last season with the Kings, one set of white and one set of black regular-season jerseys will be available for retail sale through MeiGray and our pre-ordering process. We're getting Black Set 1 and White Set 2. Team LA, the Kings' store at Staples Center, will also have available this season White Set 1 and Black Set 2, after it is worn and authenticated by MGG.
As for the Retro Set of purple Vintage jerseys, we will keep you posted when a decision on that set is made.
In addition, the Kings will be wearing a special set of jerseys in Saturday's Banner Raising opener, with a special Banner Patch. That's an NHL tradition that started last season, when the Boston Bruins wore a Banner Patch to celebrate their 2011 Cup during the 2011-12 home opener.
I will be in Staples Center promoting the set, which goes up for auction at auction.nhl.com when the puck drops. And I will be authenticating the set immediately after the game and flying it back to New Jersey for the auction on Sunday.
As we did last season with the Kings, one set of white and one set of black regular-season jerseys will be available for retail sale through MeiGray and our pre-ordering process. We're getting Black Set 1 and White Set 2. Team LA, the Kings' store at Staples Center, will also have available this season White Set 1 and Black Set 2, after it is worn and authenticated by MGG.
As for the Retro Set of purple Vintage jerseys, we will keep you posted when a decision on that set is made.
Monday, January 14, 2013
First in an NHL-MGG 2012-13 Program Series: Boston Bruins
Hi everybody,
MeiGray is talking with each of its nine program teams as we prepare for the shortened 48-game NHL regular season.
Taking into account team jersey needs, the fewer games being played, contractual and charitable components of our deal, and each team's desire to do the right thing, we will be reporting each week on what each of our teams plans to do regardings its sets of game-worn jerseys.
Boston:
The Bruins will be thanking the fans for their patience and understanding during the lockout by opening up on Saturday, Jan. 19 vs. the NY Rangers at TD Garden with a Shirts Off Their Backs Night.
We will be preparing for the Bruins a special set, to be worn in the opener and distributed to fans after the game. Once the lineup is set, it will be determined if any players (specifically if any player makes his NHL debut) will wear two jerseys in the opener: One for the program and one for SOTB.
That information will be distributed once the game ends.
After this season-opening set, the Bruins this season are planning to wear two regular season sets in home and road, one or two Thirds over the course of the season (still to be determined), and a final game Shirts Off Their Backs Night set.
The Bruins are one of MGG's most popular teams, probably because of Boston's long-standing popularity in the NHL, their huge and loyal fan base, and their classic jerseys. Captain Zdeno Chara, rugged forwards Milan Lucic, and Shawn Thornton, budding superstar Tyler Seguin, and underrated defenseman Dennis Seidenberg regular sell out and are among the most popular sellers.
------------
Look for me in Los Angeles on Saturday when the Kings raise their 2012 Stanley Cup banner and celebrate last summer's thrilling Cup triumph.
MGG will be promoting two special Stanley Cup-related LA Kings auctions at the Kings' opener at noon Saturday vs. the Chicago Blackhawks at Staples Center. We will be set up outside the building around LA Live at Fan Fest, and in the main concourse during the game. We will be taking pre-orders for 2012-13 jerseys during the game, as well. I hope to see you Saturday.
MeiGray is talking with each of its nine program teams as we prepare for the shortened 48-game NHL regular season.
Taking into account team jersey needs, the fewer games being played, contractual and charitable components of our deal, and each team's desire to do the right thing, we will be reporting each week on what each of our teams plans to do regardings its sets of game-worn jerseys.
Boston:
The Bruins will be thanking the fans for their patience and understanding during the lockout by opening up on Saturday, Jan. 19 vs. the NY Rangers at TD Garden with a Shirts Off Their Backs Night.
We will be preparing for the Bruins a special set, to be worn in the opener and distributed to fans after the game. Once the lineup is set, it will be determined if any players (specifically if any player makes his NHL debut) will wear two jerseys in the opener: One for the program and one for SOTB.
That information will be distributed once the game ends.
After this season-opening set, the Bruins this season are planning to wear two regular season sets in home and road, one or two Thirds over the course of the season (still to be determined), and a final game Shirts Off Their Backs Night set.
The Bruins are one of MGG's most popular teams, probably because of Boston's long-standing popularity in the NHL, their huge and loyal fan base, and their classic jerseys. Captain Zdeno Chara, rugged forwards Milan Lucic, and Shawn Thornton, budding superstar Tyler Seguin, and underrated defenseman Dennis Seidenberg regular sell out and are among the most popular sellers.
------------
Look for me in Los Angeles on Saturday when the Kings raise their 2012 Stanley Cup banner and celebrate last summer's thrilling Cup triumph.
MGG will be promoting two special Stanley Cup-related LA Kings auctions at the Kings' opener at noon Saturday vs. the Chicago Blackhawks at Staples Center. We will be set up outside the building around LA Live at Fan Fest, and in the main concourse during the game. We will be taking pre-orders for 2012-13 jerseys during the game, as well. I hope to see you Saturday.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Yes, You Can Photo Match a Football
The phrase photo-match gets thrown around a lot these days.
It's an important phrase, and in the game-worn authentication world it means that the EXACT item being authenticated is PROVEN authentic and game-used because a picture of the EXACT item can be produced to prove the item legit.
An item is NOT photo matched because the style matches, or the color matches, or the number on the player's back matches. An item is NOT photo matched if it looks similar.
MeiGray works with photographs and video to try and prove items real. We have photo matched jerseys and sticks and helmets, pucks and skates and even footballs.
Yes, footballs. They get scuffed. They get marred with white chalk from the yard lines and sidelines. And the referees mark the balls with their unique marks to ensure no ringers are snuck into NFL games. Those marks are done by hand and are detectable from photos ... if you look hard.
And basketball jerseys today are relatively easy to photo-match because the airknit holes in each jersey create a fingerprint in which no two jerseys are exactly alike.
We believe a photo-matched item is the best type of item to own in one's collection. Now we admit it's far easier to photo-match a jersey Robert Griffin III wore two weeks ago that the Washington Redskins delivered to us unwashed as part of our game-worn jersey program than it is to photo-match a jersey worn by Jim Brown 50 years ago.
Nevertheless, if a jersey was worn in an NFL or NHL or NBA game, it can be conclusively proven to be real ... if it's real.
It just takes time, effort, and a desire to let the facts take you wherever they lead.
It's an important phrase, and in the game-worn authentication world it means that the EXACT item being authenticated is PROVEN authentic and game-used because a picture of the EXACT item can be produced to prove the item legit.
An item is NOT photo matched because the style matches, or the color matches, or the number on the player's back matches. An item is NOT photo matched if it looks similar.
MeiGray works with photographs and video to try and prove items real. We have photo matched jerseys and sticks and helmets, pucks and skates and even footballs.
Yes, footballs. They get scuffed. They get marred with white chalk from the yard lines and sidelines. And the referees mark the balls with their unique marks to ensure no ringers are snuck into NFL games. Those marks are done by hand and are detectable from photos ... if you look hard.
And basketball jerseys today are relatively easy to photo-match because the airknit holes in each jersey create a fingerprint in which no two jerseys are exactly alike.
We believe a photo-matched item is the best type of item to own in one's collection. Now we admit it's far easier to photo-match a jersey Robert Griffin III wore two weeks ago that the Washington Redskins delivered to us unwashed as part of our game-worn jersey program than it is to photo-match a jersey worn by Jim Brown 50 years ago.
Nevertheless, if a jersey was worn in an NFL or NHL or NBA game, it can be conclusively proven to be real ... if it's real.
It just takes time, effort, and a desire to let the facts take you wherever they lead.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Let the 2012-13 NHL Season Begin
Kudos to the NHL and NHLPA for getting a deal done.
Yes, I know, I know ... they should have gotten this deal done months ago. But I prefer to take the high road on a day in which MeiGray (and virtually every NHL partner) is scrambling to prepare after weeks and weeks and months of waiting and waiting, and hoping, and fearing, and doubting, and ...
Bottom line? We got our game back.
A 48-game regular season schedule eliminates more than one-third of the regular season games, but it will provide an action-packed three months in which EVERY regular season game will have meaning.
And although East will not venture West and West will not face the East, we will get a great amount of rivalry games and big games that will impact the playoff race.
The NHL long ago was ridiculed for its ultra-inclusive playoffs, but with 16 of 30 teams qualifying, there is a true sense of achievement to making the Stanley Cup Playoffs. And as we saw last spring when the No. 6 seeded New Jersey Devils faced the No. 8 seed Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Final, a hot team in April is more dangerous than a team atop the conference who accumulated many of its points early in the season.
I will be interested to see the quality of play early in the season. With players scrambling back from overseas teams, or their own workout regimens, and only 7-10 days of organized training camps, the early-season games figure to be interesting.
A team that gets hot early will put itself in position for a prime playoff seeding, because there will be less time for teams to play catch-up if they start slow. And that fact might jeopardize the chances of a more talented team if it does not get going early. Of course, a team that needs one or two months to jell can still sneak in and get hot in time for the full two-month Stanley Cup Tournament.
When we last played a 48-game season, back in 1994-95, I covered the New Jersey Devils for the NY Daily News and they won the Stanley Cup despite a 22-18-8 regular season and a No. 5 seed in the playoffs. The Devils were criticized in some circles for not winning in a legitimate season, but I can tell you from being there every day that the notion the 1994-95 season was not legit is ridiculous.
The 48-game season was more than enough to determine the eight deserving playoff seeds in each conference. And as we have all seen for decades, the four-round Stanley Cup Playoffs is the most grueling path for any professional team to take to win its league championship.
The Devils' first Stanley Cup was very, very deserved. They won 16 playoff games over four rounds. They defeated Boston, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia to emerge from the Eastern Conference and they swept the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings in the 1995 Finals.
Seventeen years later, here we are again with a shortened season and a long road to the summer, when the Cup will likely be lifted.
Yes, I know, I know ... they should have gotten this deal done months ago. But I prefer to take the high road on a day in which MeiGray (and virtually every NHL partner) is scrambling to prepare after weeks and weeks and months of waiting and waiting, and hoping, and fearing, and doubting, and ...
Bottom line? We got our game back.
A 48-game regular season schedule eliminates more than one-third of the regular season games, but it will provide an action-packed three months in which EVERY regular season game will have meaning.
And although East will not venture West and West will not face the East, we will get a great amount of rivalry games and big games that will impact the playoff race.
The NHL long ago was ridiculed for its ultra-inclusive playoffs, but with 16 of 30 teams qualifying, there is a true sense of achievement to making the Stanley Cup Playoffs. And as we saw last spring when the No. 6 seeded New Jersey Devils faced the No. 8 seed Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Final, a hot team in April is more dangerous than a team atop the conference who accumulated many of its points early in the season.
I will be interested to see the quality of play early in the season. With players scrambling back from overseas teams, or their own workout regimens, and only 7-10 days of organized training camps, the early-season games figure to be interesting.
A team that gets hot early will put itself in position for a prime playoff seeding, because there will be less time for teams to play catch-up if they start slow. And that fact might jeopardize the chances of a more talented team if it does not get going early. Of course, a team that needs one or two months to jell can still sneak in and get hot in time for the full two-month Stanley Cup Tournament.
When we last played a 48-game season, back in 1994-95, I covered the New Jersey Devils for the NY Daily News and they won the Stanley Cup despite a 22-18-8 regular season and a No. 5 seed in the playoffs. The Devils were criticized in some circles for not winning in a legitimate season, but I can tell you from being there every day that the notion the 1994-95 season was not legit is ridiculous.
The 48-game season was more than enough to determine the eight deserving playoff seeds in each conference. And as we have all seen for decades, the four-round Stanley Cup Playoffs is the most grueling path for any professional team to take to win its league championship.
The Devils' first Stanley Cup was very, very deserved. They won 16 playoff games over four rounds. They defeated Boston, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia to emerge from the Eastern Conference and they swept the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings in the 1995 Finals.
Seventeen years later, here we are again with a shortened season and a long road to the summer, when the Cup will likely be lifted.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Wow ... 40 Years
I'm on my way in a few minutes to Binghamton, NY.
The trip takes three hours. But it takes me back 40 years.
The city celebrates 40 Years of Hockey tonight. Actually for me, it is 37 years since I moved into Binghamton, NY as a freshman at the State University of NY at Binghamton, now called Binghamton University.
Being a hockey nut from NY City who grew up in Madison Square Garden's blue seats, I loved going to the sparkling new Broome County Veteran's Memorial Arena to watch the North American Hockey League's Broome Dusters fight with other NAHL teams.
Being a journalism student who wanted a career as a sportswriter, I wrote a few freelance pieces on the Dusters in Susquehanna Magazine, the Sunday section of the Press and Sun-Bulletin. I covered games as sports editor of Pipe Dream, the school's paper. Then I interned at the Press and S-B as a senior.
And then I got a job covering the Dusters, who became the Binghamton Whalers. And it was my start to a career that landed me at the Morristown, NJ Daily Record covering the NJ Devils and finally the NY Daily News covering the NY Islanders, the NY Rangers, and eventually the NY Giants.
I started MeiGray in 1997 and left the business after 18 seasons ... and obviously I have a soft spot in my heart for Binghamton. So I will be bringing the old jerseys I began collecting in 1979 (my collection started because I wanted one gamer for every team I covered).
I will be bringing 37 years of fond memories, 37 years of stories, 37 years of hockey .... and there will be many old friends who will be bringing their 40 years of nostalgia.
Should be awesome. I can't wait.
The trip takes three hours. But it takes me back 40 years.
The city celebrates 40 Years of Hockey tonight. Actually for me, it is 37 years since I moved into Binghamton, NY as a freshman at the State University of NY at Binghamton, now called Binghamton University.
Being a hockey nut from NY City who grew up in Madison Square Garden's blue seats, I loved going to the sparkling new Broome County Veteran's Memorial Arena to watch the North American Hockey League's Broome Dusters fight with other NAHL teams.
Being a journalism student who wanted a career as a sportswriter, I wrote a few freelance pieces on the Dusters in Susquehanna Magazine, the Sunday section of the Press and Sun-Bulletin. I covered games as sports editor of Pipe Dream, the school's paper. Then I interned at the Press and S-B as a senior.
And then I got a job covering the Dusters, who became the Binghamton Whalers. And it was my start to a career that landed me at the Morristown, NJ Daily Record covering the NJ Devils and finally the NY Daily News covering the NY Islanders, the NY Rangers, and eventually the NY Giants.
I started MeiGray in 1997 and left the business after 18 seasons ... and obviously I have a soft spot in my heart for Binghamton. So I will be bringing the old jerseys I began collecting in 1979 (my collection started because I wanted one gamer for every team I covered).
I will be bringing 37 years of fond memories, 37 years of stories, 37 years of hockey .... and there will be many old friends who will be bringing their 40 years of nostalgia.
Should be awesome. I can't wait.
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