Every postseason, there ends up being a cycle of about eight commercials in total that eventually make you want to rip your television off the wall and throw it out the window. By the time Lord Stanley’s Cup is finally lifted, you’re actually less likely to buy a product from whichever company has appeared most frequently during your months-long hockey binge. At that point, even the mere sight of a brand’s logo can trigger dark and painful memories of commercial breaks past.
If I hear the Five-Dollar Footlong song one more time, I’m never eating another- OH, THERE IT IS! It’s on my TV again. Ok, never eating at Subway.
**Editor’s note: Just kidding. I swore off Subway long ago.
Without further ado, here is the official countdown of the most annoying commercials being played during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
6. Paul Miss-the-Net? – New Amsterdam Vodka
The jury is very much out on whether or not this one is actually annoying. It was mentioned on this week’s Sound of Hockey as an irksome commercial candidate by one of my co-hosts, which is why it landed on this list. Frankly, though, I think it’s pretty funny. It gets bonus points for the fact that it actually features former NHLers doing NHL-looking things, while engaging in NHL-sounding on-ice banter.
The only thing that the Spittin’ Chiclets hosts have working against them here is that their ad is getting played way too frequently. If you see a commercial once, you see it a thousand times, but in this case, we’ve actually seen the commercial a thousand times.
5.Some Sort of NHL/NHL Network/NHL.tv Commercial Featuring a Bunch of Players Getting Asked Really Bizarre Interview Questions
I can’t find a link to this one, but it’s the one where Max Domi, with slicked back hair and a poorly lit background, chuckles and says, “I was pretty spoiled. I had an Audi A5 as my first car. Hahaha!” Then Andrei Vasilevskiy surmises that if he could have any first name, he would choose Sylvester. Hey, give the guy some credit. Nickname? Big Cat? Sylvester the Cat? Get it?
This one may fly under the radar for a lot of readers because not everyone has NHL.tv, and from what I can gather, thisonly aired there (and maybe on NHL Network?). For those of us that were watching the Qualifying Round on the app, though, we saw this commercial enough times in a week to last us a lifetime.
NHL.tv seems to only have a cycle of about two or three house-made commercials that they play on repeat at every break. And every year, those two or three commercials will drive you absolutely bonkers by your third time viewing them.
To be honest, I’m glad I can’t watch games on the app beyond the Qualifying Round, because if I could, I know my TV would eventually be smashed to bits. This one would land much higher on the list, if we weren’t already rescued from it via everything now being blacked out on the app.
4. Marc-Andre Fleury and Mark Stone Getting Silly with an iPhone – Apple
This one falls right in that same vein as the New Amsterdam commercial. If you were to see this one a few times, you’d think, Oh, that’s a fun commercial. Look at these fun-loving hockey players, just acting like fun little kids on the ice. I should go get the new iPhone. That would be fun.
And then you see it for the fifth time. And then you see it for the tenth time. And then you start to really notice that person whistling in the song. And then you can’t unhear that whistle. And then it’s the only thing you notice the second this commercial comes on. And then you’ve decided that you’ll never buy another iPhone as long as you live.
3. Martin Brodeur Lost His Cup – Enterprise
First off, why does Martin Brodeur seem to rent cars so frequently? He’s arguably the most successful goalie of all time. Doesn’t he have cars of his own? Second, why is the Stanley Cup his first guess at which cup he’s missing? The Stanley Cup is CLEARLY SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO HIM WHILE HE’S ON THE PHONE WITH THE ENTERPRISE REP! Third, why do they have to make Martin seem so conceited? Who just drives around with that many trophies in a rental car? I think less of him as a human being every time I see this ad.
The thing that’s most bothersome about this commercial, though, is that sometimes a joke can work, even when you know the punchline. But in this case, we know the punchline, and it isn’t a funny punchline.
Yeah, we know it’s his f***ing coffee cup that’s missing! Just say that from the beginning when he picks up the phone, and then we don’t have to play this stupid f***ing charade during every commercial break!
2. Following Her Dreams Into Taxidermy – Geico
Woof. This one could easily have taken the pole position, but was saved by the fact that if you could watch it only once, you might think that it’s a decent and perhaps even chuckle-inducing spot.
But you haven’t watched this commercial only one time, have you? I don’t even need to include the video for you to know which one I’m talking about (though I’m still including it), do I?
Poor Idina. Poor, poor, stinking rich and pretty famous Idina.
She couldn’t have known how many times they were going to play this ad when she signed on to do this. If she had, she would have realized that she was potentially losing thousands of fans by participating, and no popular recording artist/Broadway star/Frozen voice actress in their right mind would take that risk. Alas, it has happened, and now I’m done with Idina, just like I’m never buying any kind of insurance from Geico, even if switching actually saves me 20%.
As an aside, remember when John Travolta introduced her at the Academy Awards as “the Wickedly talented Adele Dazeem?” That was the Idina (or Adele) that I once knew and loved. Bring back Adele Dazeem!
HE READ THAT WRONG, OH YEEEEEAAAAAAAAH!
1. Five… Five Dollar… Five Dollar Footlooong! – Subway
I. Cannot. Believe. Subway. Is. Still. Using. This. Campaign.
Where Idina Menzel saved herself by at least signing on to do a spot that’s semi-tolerable in small doses, Charlie Puth made a deal with the devil by signing on with Subway. He knew exactly what he was getting himself into when he agreed to sit down in front of a Casio keyboard and sing the worst jingle of a generation.
Remember this Subway “commercial” from Happy Gilmore? Well, never have I wanted to tee up a Cold Cut Combo like Happy and launch it into somebody’s sandwich hole more than I do when Charlie appears on my screen.
They should just use that Happy Gilmore commercial as their actual commercial in perpetuity.
Anyway, congratulations, Charlie. Most hockey fans seemed to have no idea who you were before, but now that they do know who you are, they will hate you forever.
A milestone episode for the guys calls for a very special guest!
This week, Sound of Hockey welcomes Lance Lopes, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the Seattle Kraken. Lance was technically the very first employee hired by the Oak View Group in Seattle to make Climate Pledge Arena a reality, and as such was one of the most influential people in bringing the 32nd NHL franchise to life. Lance shares some fantastic behind-the-scenes stories about the arena processes and the triumphant 2018 season ticket drive. This is a very interesting interview.
Also in this episode, you will hear some solid NHL Bubble chatter from John, Andy, and Darren, and some good ribbing of Mike Milbury for an atrocious tweet.
Segments this week include Bad Boys, Weekly One-Timers, and Tweets of the Week.
SEATTLE — Against an impossibly blue sky, a crane swung a steel beam around before lowering it down to two workers perched up high on the frame of the structure. The workers secured the beam into place as hundreds of their fellow BN Builders crew members on the ground looked on. Once secured, the final beam in the Seattle Kraken’s Northgate practice facility was installed.
Monday’s activities were what are known as a ‘topping off’ ceremony and is a celebration of a major milestone in the construction of the Northgate Ice Centre.
Two workers celebrate the installation of the final beam at the Northgate Ice Centre. (Brian Liesse photo)
The three-sheet practice facility, which will also serve the community by allowing public access to the ice, has taken shape. All three rinks are visible, although made of dirt rather than ice at the moment, and missing boards, benches, and glass.
To reach this point in the project, which broke ground in February, crews had to excavate 25,000 cubic yards of dirt and install just short of 3 million pounds of structural steel.
Installation of the final beam on Monday was the result of 2,700 man hours and the crew celebrated with raucous cheers as the beam was set in place. All of the workers got a chance to sign the beam before it was hoisted in the air, forever cementing their names into the Northgate project.
Inside, in one of the rinks, prior to the beam being secured, BNB workers, along with team staff and visitors, gathered in front of giant flag with the now widely popular Kraken ‘S’ on it.
“We’re really here today to honor you,” Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke said to the group. “We believe in unions and we believe in what you’ve done here. I just want to give thanks to each and every person here and I hope you never forget what you’ve done here. In these times, to come to work and put these masks on, to not step away, it’s truly the American spirit.
“We know that under this roof that you’ve built, amazing things are going to happen…you’ve played a really important role. Never, ever forget, and forever take credit…I can’t wait to come back and invite all these men and women back. I’m buying the beer and we’re going to celebrate.”
The Northgate Ice Centre is an 180,000 square foot project, located on the east side of the mall where the Macy’s Department Store had been, and will serve as a practice space for the NHL club as well as house its staff. Along with the three rinks, the facility will feature a restaurant and a Virginia Mason Clinic.
One of the three rinks at the Northgate Ice Centre practice facility. (Brian Liesse photo)
Phase one of the project is targeted to be finished in June of 2021 which includes the team office area and main rink. The remainder of the project is set to be finished in September of 2021.
“This is thrilling,” Kraken executive counsel Lance Lopes said. “It’s been fantastic to see this thing take its final structure. We’ve known how big and impressive it was going to be for some time. But, until you actually see it in place, it really hits you. We’re so excited about what we’re about to bring to Seattle.”
Work on the project was briefly stopped in March as the State limited what construction projects could be worked on during the COVID pandemic.
Eventually given the green light, the work continued with workers following strict social distancing and masking procedures. With the final beam in place, work can now begin on completing the structure, putting in walls, windows, and at some point, next summer, ice.
“We have a lot of work to do still but we’ve been able to continue to stay on pace,” Lopes said. “We’re really happy with the way our construction teams have stepped up and stayed safe. We’ve haven’t had any positive tests out here. The team has really been paying attention and we have a safe site and an on-time site.”
Check out pictures of the structure in a gallery from photographer Brian Liesse:
Every playoff I enjoy digging into the rosters of the playoff teams to see how they compare across relatively basic demographic information such as Nationality & Age. This year I have added ‘acquired type”, thanks to CapFriendly. Quick bit of disclosure, data is grabbed from CapFriendly and NHL.com.
For a player to be counted in these numbers, they must have played a second of ice time of the playoffs. (i.e. Thatcher Demko has been the back up goalie for Vancouver in all their games but has yet to play a second on the ice and will not be counted.)
Age
Nationality
For a comparison, ~48% of the league is Canadian.
Here is a distribution by team
How acquired
This is a fun view on how these teams were built.
As you can see, the Vegas Golden Knights do not have one of their draft picks playing on their team….but their 2nd pick in their history is playing for Montreal.
The Seattle Kraken are a season away from playing but the NHL playoffs feature players who cut their teeth in the Northwest. There are guys who played junior hockey locally – we’re just talking Washington and Oregon here, not British Columbia which is technically Southwest Canada – or are natives of the area.
As the playoffs progress, we’ll check in with guys who stood out on the ice.
By Andy Eide
New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal is no shrinking violet when the game is on the line. He wants the puck. He wants to make the play.
It was that competitive spirit that helped Barzal as he led the Seattle Thunderbirds to the 2017 WHL Championship – where he was named playoff MVP. Sunday, in overtime against the Washington Capitals in Game 3 of the Islanders best-of-seven first round series, Barzal got the puck on his stick.
Breaking in behind the Capitals defense, Barzal collected a pin-point pass from Jordan Eberle and skated in alone on Washington goalie Braden Holtby. Barzal deked and swept the puck past Holtby’s pad to give the Islanders a 2-1 win and put them up 3-0 in the series.
“I run that play a little bit in practice, or even in games, just try to sneak behind the D a little bit,” Barzal said in Toronto, Sunday. “Just time it perfectly on the blue line and great play by Ebs.”
It was the first playoff overtime goal by Barzal, who was playing in his 15th postseason game of his three-year career. The goal was the second of the playoffs for Barzal, the first in the series with the Capitals, to go along with a pair of assists.
In what was a tight checking game, Barzal had some looks and created offense in regulation but couldn’t find the back of the net until the extra frame.
“I feel like our line’s been pretty solid five on five, we’ve played well, and I think we’ve scored a few goals,” Barzal said. “Tonight was a great game I thought by our team. In general, I thought our line played well in the O-Zone and created chances…just really happy to get the winner there.”
To slow down Barzal, the Capitals threw defenseman Brenden Dillon out on the ice against him as much as possible.
Dillon, who played for the Seattle Thunderbirds from 2007-2011, held Barzal in check for most of the night – playing over nine minutes against him. Barzal had the last laugh however as Dillon was on the ice as Barzal got behind everyone in overtime.
“We get to practice with him and against him,” New York’s Anders Lee said about Barzal. “We see how dynamic he really is day in and day out. He proved it out there on the ice again tonight.”
Barzal, 23, is in his second Stanley Cup Playoffs. He’s still learning but Sunday checked off a big accomplishment by winning a game in overtime.
“He wants to be that difference maker and today he got an opportunity and he capitalized on it,” Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said. ‘I just like the growth of Mathew and he’s growing all the time as a player and these experiences are going to help him grow and play the right way, know how to play in the playoffs…he’s been accepting of the challenges I’ve given him.”
Hart blanks the Habs
Game 3 between the Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens turned into one of ‘what you can do I can do better’.
Former Everett Silvertips goalie Carter Hart became the youngest Flyer to record a shutout as he blanked Montreal 1-0 after kicking away all 23 Montreal shots. It was an impressive performance that came a game after Hart was pulled in the second period during Friday’s Game 2 while allowing four goals as former Tri-City American Carey Price shut out the Flyers 5-0.
Hart showed no residual effects from Friday’s loss.
“It’s a good thing that he’s a little bit oblivious to some things as a goalie in Philadelphia,” Flyers Jakub Voracek said Sunday. “He’s really strong mentally. He’s a young kid who works really hard and he’s pretty impressive. The way he bounced back, even last year, if he had a bad game he’d bounce back strong.”
After being pulled on Friday, Hart was visibly upset and cameras caught him slamming the door at the bench shut. There was anger and frustration.
Hart said he and his teammates hit the pool Saturday for some fun to get their minds off the game for a few hours. That helped reset him and the Flyers as a whole.
Sunday, it was back to business for the 22-year-old.
“I’ve just got to do my job,” Hart said. “That’s what it comes down to at the end of the day. That criteria is stopping pucks, so when it’s time to play the game, that’s all I have to worry about. We’ve got a great crew in front of us that makes my job easier.”
Philadelphia took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series that has been a goaltending clinic. Goals have been tough to come by. Hart got the shutout while his boyhood idol, Price, has only surrendered three goals in the series.
Game 4 will be played Tuesday.
Other Northwest notables
Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore scored the lone goal for the Golden Knights as they fell to Chicago 3-1 in Edmonton Sunday. Vegas leads the series 3-1 and will look to advance to the second round with a win on Tuesday. Theodore has been outstanding in the postseason and Sunday’s score was his fourth of the playoffs to go with six points in six games.
Vegas Golden Knights Defenceman Shea Theodore is off to a hot start in the playoffs. (Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire)
In Sunday’s most entertaining game, the Dallas Stars scored late against Calgary to force overtime. The Stars would go on to win 5-4 and even their series at 2-2. Flames’ forward Derek Ryan picked up an assist on a goal in the third period that looked like it would be game winner. Ryan not only played for the Spokane Chiefs from 2003-2007 but he is a Spokane native.
The Seattle Kraken hooked up with WaFd Bank Thursday for a public drive-through event. WaFd and the team recently entered into a sponsorship deal, making WaFd the official bank of the Seattle Kraken. To celebrate, the Kraken took over the Ballard WaFd drive through to hand out merch, raffle away future tickets, and give away autographed Ron Francis sticks.
