Just kidding about the Yay! part. Truth is, worse than not caring, I’m pretty disgusted. You see I hate The Devils. I hate their unoriginal trap defense and their dump and chase offense. I hate how when they move into a town they name their farm team the Devils, like the Utica Devils, the Lowell Devils and now the Albany Devils. They can care less if the town had a name already tied in with the local identity, ie; River Rats or Lock Monsters. They just sweep that old name aside in favor of the new name. It sends the message that only the parent team matters and in truth, to them I think that’s all that does matters, at least that’s how it felt last time they were in Albany.
But what got me to writing this blog post is an article in the local paper, the Times Union, Devils can’t damn Albany. Read it, it has all the same hopes of a battered wife that thinks time it will be different. This time the Devils will be different and they will be different to Albany. The author states – “Albany can’t be treated like an afterthought. Not again.”
To which i say ….Think again and get used to it. The Devils are going to use Albany for 4 years (or however long the contract with the Time Union Center is) and then be on their way. Look at how good they treated Lowell – http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_15267410 I really liked these classy parts;
“A mover asked by a Sun reporter where the items were headed simply replied, “Albany.” The team’s executive director, Chris Ciceri, was on site but refused to comment on what was going on.”
or
“UMass Lowell spokeswoman Patti McCafferty said yesterday the Devils rejected three contract proposals from the university to stay in Lowell and recently told university officials that they will likely accept a better offer elsewhere.”
Expect that to be Albany in 4 years getting the same treatment. Perhaps they will be headed to a new home in Atlantic City? Seems like they are already playing 4 games down there for next season. http://blog.timesunion.com/hockey/why-are-there-only-albany-devils-36-homes-dates/5647/
The Devils treated Albany and Lowell like chewed bubble gum each time they left and while they were in town, but I know, but this time it will be different. That’s as promising as “they only treat us like this cause they love us so damned much.” (and cause we are secretly asking for it)
About the part;
“There’s a lot of difference,” the architect of three Stanley Cup winners said. “We will be in there with our complete staff. We’ll be marketing and promoting and doing everything we possibly can, as well as the hockey. So we will be in total control as to the whole operation.”
And they didn’t have that in Lowell? (I honestly don’t know, but I’m taking a guess they did) Oh I know, I heard that people in Lowell didn’t care about the Devils, they cared more about the NCAA D1 UMass River Hawks. Well that and they threw out the name of the team that the community seemed to really like as they moved in, the Lowell Lock Monsters….. that or people hate the trap and dump / chase play and given the option would rather watch another team play or paint dry.
Well good thing then they are moving to Albany and not throwing out the name river rats…oh wait they are? oh…well then at least they are the only hockey in town and people will have no choice to watch em…oh wait, we have two NCAA D1 hockey programs, RPI and Union, and another AHL team up the road…
“There’s a lot of difference,” …. yup, I feel it already, the way they slinked out of Lowell in silence and crept right back into Albany with just a press release and a couple of blog posts about it in the Time Union speaks to that whole “lot of difference” going on already.
I know, by now I sound like a rabid Devil hater and nothing could change my mind. I also hate the Flyers but I love the Adirondack Phantoms. In fact this blue bleeding Rangers fan went to well over a dozen Adirondack Phantoms games last season and even 3 viewing parties for the Philadelphia Flyers while they were in the NHL Playoffs held by the Adirondack Phantoms front office in a bunch of different locations in Glens Falls. Why? Just to support the Adirondack team.
Oh by the way, did i mention their new logo?
It looks like a stick figure of Satan with erectile dysfunction leaning over trying to catch his breath.
I know, I meandered a bit in this blog post. Did I mention I hate the Devils?