Downie and Kunitz should both be suspended. Can't remember a year with this many suspensions and so few overtime games (just 2 in 23 games) this early in the playoffs.
As for the Coyotes and their fans, I feel for them. I mean, c'mon, they've been there 15 years and have NEVER won a playoff series and only made the playoffs 5 times in that span. So we've never really had the chance to see how they would or would not support a winning team. Ditto for Atlanta, Florida, Columbus. I read that Phoenix is the sixth largest city in the US, so in that sense, it makes as little sense not to have a team as it does for Los Angeles not to have an NFL team.
I'll be the first to admit I don't have an answer. In a market with four major pro teams, a major Division I college, plus major golf and auto racing events every year, I understand competition for the sports dollar (both fans and advertisers) is steep and you have be consistently successful if you hope to stand out in the crowd. Heck, I remember Cardinals games when Sun Devil Stadium was 1/4 full.
So while I'm not going to say they're a completely lost cause, I really wonder if any other city would do any better, given the same set of circumstances. At this point, nothing would surprise me. I could see the league selling if they get what they consider a reasonable offer, or standing pat, or even (God forbid) contracting and focusing on an expansion franchise someplace else. Will be interesting to see.
As for the Coyotes and their fans, I feel for them. I mean, c'mon, they've been there 15 years and have NEVER won a playoff series and only made the playoffs 5 times in that span. So we've never really had the chance to see how they would or would not support a winning team. Ditto for Atlanta, Florida, Columbus. I read that Phoenix is the sixth largest city in the US, so in that sense, it makes as little sense not to have a team as it does for Los Angeles not to have an NFL team.
I'll be the first to admit I don't have an answer. In a market with four major pro teams, a major Division I college, plus major golf and auto racing events every year, I understand competition for the sports dollar (both fans and advertisers) is steep and you have be consistently successful if you hope to stand out in the crowd. Heck, I remember Cardinals games when Sun Devil Stadium was 1/4 full.
So while I'm not going to say they're a completely lost cause, I really wonder if any other city would do any better, given the same set of circumstances. At this point, nothing would surprise me. I could see the league selling if they get what they consider a reasonable offer, or standing pat, or even (God forbid) contracting and focusing on an expansion franchise someplace else. Will be interesting to see.