In Case You Missed it: Habs News and Blogger Views for Sept. 11

I’ll start off today’s mesh of posts and blogs with some non-Habs bits.

Control of the Coyotes: Hearings concluded this evening for the auction process for control of the Phoenix Coyotes. Now it will be Judge Baum’s decision to award the team to the NHL, PSE or throw both bids out. My money is on the league.

The CBC’s Jeff Marek did a great job of twittering highlights from the courtroom as they unfolded.

Hockeyville approaches: The 2009 edition of CBC’s Kraft Hockeyville is just a few days away. Greatest Hockey Legends has been compiling some great stories on the upcoming festivities in Terrace, BC. Well worth the read.

Theo Fleury launches his comeback: The Calgary Flames have invited reinstated winger Theoren Fleury to their 2009 training camp. The 41-year-old will attempt a comeback, much like Claude Lemieux did last season.

No trade, and no golf today, for Dany Heatley:  A report broke on NHL.com yesterday (via ESPN) that the Kings, Sharks and Senators had made a three-way deal to get disgruntled forward out of Ottawa. All teams quickly denied it.

The Ottawa Citizen reports that Heatley made his deposit on a condo being built in the Byward Market area of Ottawa.

In the meantime, the Senators made a peculiar move by asking  Heatley to not attend today’s team golf tournament, “in order to direct attention on the efforts of the Sens Foundation”.

Big Shoes to Follow: The Colorado Avalanche named veteran defenceman Adam Foote as their new captain. And no, they didn’t send a jet for him this time.

OK on to the important stuff:

Fore!: HabsInsideOut.com was all over Thursday’s team golf tournament, with tons of audio. It also includes the Gillet/Molson news conference.

ScottyHockey gives Four Habs Fans the inside scoop on new Habs blueliner Paul Mara.

Dennis Kane looks at the new Canadiens lineup for 2009-10 with notes on P.K. Subban.

Lions in Winter looks at recent developments and comments in the Canadiens lack of francophone players.

Camp Roster announced: 54 players were invited to the Canadiens’ 2009 Training Camp. Only three players from the rookie camp did not get invited. Robert Lang is not on the list either, so that rumor is put to rest.

Dollars and lack of sense. How much would you pay for pre season tix?

For the prices fans pay for pre-season tickets these days, you’d think you were paying for regular season or playoff games.

As the 2009-10 NHL season approaches, ticket sales for your favourite teams are slowly beginning to start.

Pre-season tickets are now readily available for most teams. By next Saturday, all 30 teams will have their pre-season tickets on sale.

I did a little shopping around to see where the deals might be.

As I live in Ontario, I started with the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Sens have tickets available for their three home pre-season  games, ranging from as low as $12.94 and cap out at $150.

The Leafs have four pre-season games at the ACC. Tickets there start at $27 and peak at, sitting down? $416.00!! Prices are the same be it the Buffalo Sabres, or the Pittsburgh Penguins.

I received an insider email today to purchase Leaf pre-season tickets in advance of the public sale.

There’s some clever strategy by Ticketmaster and the Leafs. When you choose the Pittsburgh game. There is no choice in seat preference. You have to take what they offer.

Now let’s see what pre-season tickets sell for elsewhere in the league.

Montreal Canadiens: I didn’t see any pre-season pricing. But since they typically go close to regular season prices, we can assume a range from $28.00 to $201.00

Calgary Flames: $34.00 to $256.00

Edmonton Oilers: $38.50 to $205.00

Vancouver Canucks: $26.50 to $382.50

Detroit Red Wings: $9 to $150.00 (US)

Washington Capitals: $35.00 to $280.00

Boston Bruins: $32.50 to $251.50

Pittsburgh Penguins: $54.00 to $184.00

Tampa Bay Lightning: $15.00 to $349.00

New York Islanders: $19.00 to $175.00

Tix for the Islanders pre-season game in Kansas City ; $10 to $150

Phoenix Coyotes: $10.75 to $325.75

Now the question, would you pay these high-end prices for a pre-season game, in which you may, or may not, see the teams top stars?

For me, I think $100 would be my max.

I’ve made the weekend trip to Ottawa, in the past, to see the Canadiens/Senators in pre-season before. Even with gas and a hotel, you still pay far less than in other cities. Not to mention for $100 I was right on the glass.

But sorry, there’s no way I’m paying over $300 in September to see a team that I wouldn’t pay the same amount to see in the regular season, especially if they have no hope to even make the playoffs.