this is good for the league.

It's very good. As I noted in the documenting-our-hockey-freefall thread, Philadelphia is the one and only American NHL market that has enjoyed continuous support. Chicago, Boston, Detroit, Minnesota, New York, Long Island, and Pittsburgh have all experienced anything from dangerously low attendance/viewership/revenue to existential crises (Penguins almost moved, Isles almost moved, Devils almost moved, Sabres went bankrupt, the Wirtzes were going to surrender the Blackhawks franchise to the league had Bill not died when he did) to outright relocation (North Stars). Probably because the Flyers have always been run as a competent organization. For all the talk about "growing the game," Snider was one of the only owners this bullshit league has ever had who really, truly worked hard to evangelize for the sport in his city/state/territory. Guys like Jacobs, Wirtz, and the various MSG/MLSE owners are just glorified carnies who never saw far enough past selling seats and booze. Even under Comcast ownership, of all corporations, the Flyers always gave a shit. Good for them.

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the fans give a shit and that's important. every game i've ever been to, going back to the spectrum, have always been electric. even during the "We'll-Qualify-For-The-Playoffs-Just-To-Lose-To-The-Sabres" years, the fans were always rabid and excitable.

yes, they're violent. it's philly.

Yeah, northeastern hockey fans exist in a constant state of agitation. I like it a lot. Can you imagine a Flyers-Canadiens semifinal? No one will be able to go a minute without completely losing their shit. Truly my people. Hawks fandom nowadays is closer to that of the Capitals and Penguins in terms of intensity: any sort of failure is met with a pout and "well, I certainly didn't pay for this."

The 76ers seem to escape the Violent Philly Fan stereotype. NBA basketball doesn't angry up the blood.

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Well, so much for the Flyers, huh? They're only three points out of a playoff spot, but if you adjust for point inflation, their record drops from 28-24-7 to 23-27-9, and they're a whopping 26 goals below even. I'd hit the eject button on a season like this; even if they squeeze past Toronto, Long Island, Boston, and (somehow) Florida for the last spot, they'll just get shellacked. Garbage team, fire the coach, etc., etc.

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they are such a tease. at this point i'd rather them not make the playoffs and make some changes. that win streak was just a smokescreen.

They should consider getting Gallant or some other real-ass pro coach. I don't think Hakstol is good enough for the National. College to pro is a tough transition for coaches, I suspect.

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