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Post by Boston_Habs on Jul 11, 2016 12:26:25 GMT -5
According to TSN, the Habs' AHL affiliate will move from St. John's to Laval for the 2017-18 season. Logistically this makes a ton of sense to have the AHL team close to home and provides a great way for fans to see the future talent.
However, it seems Montreal has struggled to support any hockey team other than the Habs. The Verdun Junior Habs, the Laval Voisins/Titan, the Montreal Rocket... all came and went, but I think this is the first AHL franchise in the area, so maybe the fact that it's the Habs farm team will make for more interest... and I presume a MUCH cheaper ticket!
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Post by blny on Jul 11, 2016 12:46:15 GMT -5
When the Habs announced the press conference over the weekend, that was pretty much the consensus on what the announcement was.
I realize Sherbrooke is outside Montreal, but it's close enough to the burbs that a lot of fans could have gone when the farm team was there in the 80s and 90s.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 11, 2016 13:16:32 GMT -5
It will be interesting to see if a minor pro team is supported, especially if they continue to not make the playoffs under Lefebvre and company.
The ticket prices will likely be key, but not if the on ice product continues to underwhelm.
A lot easier to move guys between the team and for management and scouts to keep tabs on the prospects.
The seafood won't be as good as in St. John's!
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 11, 2016 13:49:15 GMT -5
A lot easier to move guys between the team and for management and scouts to keep tabs on the prospects. It seems to work for Toronto ... I originally had envisioned a weekend of hockey in Montreal and then Laval (or whichever way works), but I still can't bring myself to fork out the bucks for either ... One smoked meat sandwich from Schwartz's in Montreal will make you forget about that pretty quickly ... or a few steamed hotdogs ... or .... Cheers. |
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Post by Skilly on Jul 11, 2016 20:58:41 GMT -5
I've had a smoked meat sandwich from Schwartz's ... Took a cab from downtown just to get it and then back yo the hotel. Didn't make me forget ...
This was no surprise. The day St. John's was given the team, we were told it was only for two years. It's one of the reason most I know only got a one year commitment. St. John's will support a losing franchise , but not a lame duck franchise. The Leafs, Jets, and now the Habs all made it known that last year they were leaving and ticket sales plummeted , the Leafs were that bad
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Post by seventeen on Jul 11, 2016 21:15:18 GMT -5
The Laval Regular Seasoners, or Les Saisons Regulieres.
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Post by Andrew on Jul 12, 2016 14:13:51 GMT -5
The Laval Regular Seasoners, or Les Saisons Regulieres. The Laval Foxhole Grinders |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jul 12, 2016 18:53:51 GMT -5
According to TSN, the Habs' AHL affiliate will move from St. John's to Laval for the 2017-18 season. Logistically this makes a ton of sense to have the AHL team close to home and provides a great way for fans to see the future talent. However, it seems Montreal has struggled to support any hockey team other than the Habs. The Verdun Junior Habs, the Laval Voisins/Titan, the Montreal Rocket... all came and went, but I think this is the first AHL franchise in the area, so maybe the fact that it's the Habs farm team will make for more interest... and I presume a MUCH cheaper ticket! I remember going to the forum to watch the Montreal Jr. Canadiens. The place was packed and rocking for every game. Of course it helped that they had Houle, Tardif and Perrault with Globensky ready to drop the gloves with anyone foolish enough to challenge him. Good product sells. Prior to that I went to some Montreal Royals games and the house was packed. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have inherited Habs seasons tickets and lots of young men lack the $160 to shell out for a NHL game. Seeing our future stars in a HAPPY racious crowd is always a good deal. Driving to Laval is not like taking the bus to Atwater and St. Catherine St. The crowd and the mood is part of the package. I remember the electricity when the Habs played the Rangers in the playoffs and I saw an away game on the big screen at the Keg. It's the entertainment package. When we attend a rock concert, the sound is not as good as sitting at home and listening to my stereo but the crowd has it's effect. I prefer a good college game in LA from the third row over an NHL game in the nosebleeds. |
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Post by Boston_Habs on Jul 13, 2016 8:57:24 GMT -5
I do think the fact that the team is affiliated with the Habs should make a difference in fan interest. Like the Marlies in Toronto, but Toronto is a way better sports town.
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Post by jkr on Jul 13, 2016 17:57:18 GMT -5
Montreal did have their AHL team in Montreal for 1 season way back in 1970/71 before they moved to Halifax. It's been so long that it's like a new experience.
I don't know if Toronto is a better sports town than MTL but they are more tolerant of a loser as the Leafs have proven. My impression is that Toronto will support it if it's perceived as big league - NHL, MLB, NBA. But teams like the Argos will struggle. Should be interesting to see how they do in the new stadium.
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Post by jkr on Jul 13, 2016 17:59:08 GMT -5
It will be interesting to see if a minor pro team is supported, especially if they continue to not make the playoffs under Lefebvre and company. The ticket prices will likely be key, but not if the on ice product continues to underwhelm. A lot easier to move guys between the team and for management and scouts to keep tabs on the prospects. The seafood won't be as good as in St. John's! Maybe moving the team so close to Montreal will put the AHL team under more scrutiny & force some improvements. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 19, 2016 12:02:50 GMT -5
The Habs are having an online poll for fans to chose the new name of the franchise. It closes in a few days, and is apparently open to QC residents 18 and older. I am sure there are some pretty interesting suggestions...some serious, no doubt some cheeky funny, and likely a few that are fans venting from this summer's events. I wonder if we will see the final list or just a sanitized list or just the winning submission.
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Post by seventeen on Jul 19, 2016 13:22:12 GMT -5
It's always dangerous to have a contest to pick names (Boaty McBoatface for example). How else did the excuse, "It seemed like a good idea at the time" come about?
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Post by jkr on Jul 19, 2016 18:12:10 GMT -5
The Habs are having an online poll for fans to chose the new name of the franchise. It closes in a few days, and is apparently open to QC residents 18 and older. I am sure there are some pretty interesting suggestions...some serious, no doubt some cheeky funny, and likely a few that are fans venting from this summer's events. I wonder if we will see the final list or just a sanitized list or just the winning submission. Probably just the winning name. They won't take any chances now. |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jul 19, 2016 22:30:20 GMT -5
It's always dangerous to have a contest to pick names (Boaty McBoatface for example). How else did the excuse, "It seemed like a good idea at the time" come about? Montreal PK's. Laval francophones. Coffee grinders. Overtaxed Cap Hits? |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 8, 2016 12:59:08 GMT -5
It is official...the Laval Rocket. Le Rocket de Laval.
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Post by seventeen on Sept 8, 2016 14:37:57 GMT -5
Lettuce pray they make the playoffs.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 8, 2016 16:04:31 GMT -5
Lettuce pray they make the playoffs. It would be nice to give the fans of St. John's a playoff run in the team's last year on the Rock. The farm team's last playoff appearance was an eternity ago, pre-Lefebvre. Can he finally break his 0-4 goose-egg since taking over? I know that Berg has mentioned a few times that player development is more important than winning; however, you have to wonder if they can give last year's team a passing grade on that measure given that so many home grown and drafted prospects were not offered contracts in the offseason: Dumont, Bournival, Bennett, Ellis and Dietz. Did all of their development stall enough that a better option was to bring in new guys from outside the organization? Lefebvre has nine lives it would appear. |
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