Monthly Archives: March 2010

Responding to Rumors

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We live in a world of presumption of leaks and rumors and fast pixel generation.

I am being inundated with emails and media requests regarding next year’s Winter Classic. Our season ticket holders are asking me about buying tickets already to the game.

Not so fast. Hold on.

The NHL will decide if we are playing in the next Winter Classic. They have NOT made any decisions.

Location has NOT been decided.

I believe DC is being strongly considered to hold a game next year or at a time in the future. We have earned that respect and consideration.

When the NHL decides they will inform us and we will inform our fan base. I promise.

Til then this is all speculation…and much to do about nothing. Chill.

It is a Facebook World–We are Just Living in It

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Amazing stats. Amazing that there are two absolute winners now on the web. Google and Facebook. It is almost a zero sum game.

Check out these user based stats and marvel at their growth.

All they need now is a successful IPO and they become the second in line big winner on the web.

It is fascinating to watch how value chains get created and where value accrues like Intel, Cisco, Microsoft, Apple, Google and Facebook. There aren’t that many break out value creators .

Tough Room

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Comedians often say that a venue was a “tough room” when they can’t get a smile or a laugh from the paying audience. We empathize. Our team did not play well for a period yesterday. We were down 4 to 0 after 1 period of play. Yikes.

And some of the fans booed, as is their right. Fans pay good money to watch our team play. And we didn’t play well. And we ended up losing the game 5 to 3.

We ended up still clinching the best record in the Eastern Conference so we will have home ice advantage throughout the playoffs in the East. We have now won the Southeast Division crown and the Eastern Conference crown in the regular season. We also lead the NHL in points and can win the President’s trophy.

Our record at home is 27-5-4.That record is best at home in the NHL this season.

We have 109 points. Most in our franchise’s history.

Read some of the comments here in this piece.

You should see some of my emails that were sent during the game.

We get the joke. We understand that many of you are demanding and passionate and want perfection.

I don’t mind when fans boo and I don’t mind when fans vent. It is your right. We live in a newly interactive society and a world of great self expression.

We want to do well for you, our great fans. Thank you for caring so much.

We have played very well as of late “you are what your record says you are” but I understand we didn’t play well yesterday.

I have no beef with your emails. I have no beef with your comments. I have no beef with your booing.

Self express away.

But try to be happy. I know you can do it.

The “F” Word

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Our country’s VP made a verbal gaffe the other day. It has been joked about perhaps rightly so.

But some folks have uttered that “F “word on air and it wasn’t a laughing matter.Check out this film The “F” Word. Click here. Very interesting and thought provoking. Watch it this weekend. What the”F” else you got to do this weekend? :-) .

Most Points in Team History

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One of my goals is to always improve year over year. That bar is getting higher to jump over and I am pleased that we have checked another one off our list. With our 1 point gained in Carolina last night we now have 109 points which is 1 more than last season and the most in franchise history. I think if we win one more game and get to 111 points we can clinch the Eastern Conference top spot. I may be wrong but I think that is the case.

We will need to win about 4 more games out of 8 left to play to clinch the President’s Trophy for most points in the NHL during the regular season. That is another goal to meet. We have work to do.

It is very motivating to hit goals and for those of you who have read my book “The Business of Happiness” you know how focused I am on getting checks marked off of lists.

I am proud of our coach. I was very concerned about last night’s game. We didn’t arrive into Carolina til very late after a very emotional game against the Penguins the night before. Taking a point is a good result for a team that plays on the road in a back to back situation. We have become greedy and we aren’t satisfied with just 1 point but I was still happy to add to our standing points.

I have said it before and I will say it again we have “miles to go before we sleep”.

We should enjoy the journey though. We should embrace our progress. We shouldn’t be satisfied. I get the joke but once in awhile it is ok to say” job well done”. Try to be happy. You can do it :-) .