Making Hockey Better

[Ramone45]

Here are some changes I'd like to see in the NHL if it survives and ever comes back:
1). Eliminate teams in non-traditional markets. No one is interested in the south or the desert and it just dilutes the talent. Hockey is a regional sport and it will never be a "major"league like the NBA or the NFL.
2). Enforce the rules. Officiating has always been a joke.
3). Eliminate fighting. No other legitimate sport permits it.
4). Institute No-touch icing.
5). Shorten the season. Over by the end of March. No one wants to watch hockey
in June. Less is more.
The NHL has lost me as a fan. I'm sick of their bullshit and their product. I might consider coming back if they instituted meaningful change, but they won't, so I'm gone. They have to cancel this season. If they do play a truncated schedule, they cannot present the Stanley Cup because it would be illegitimate. This season is gone as far. as I'm concerned. I won't forgive them for this.

 

[RjThoughts]

Fire Bettman!
Fire Fehr!

Okay, anything else is gravy!

 

[RjThoughts]

Here are some changes I'd like to see in the NHL if it survives and ever comes back:
1). Eliminate teams in non-traditional markets. No one is interested in the south or the desert and it just dilutes the talent. Hockey is a regional sport and it will never be a "major"league like the NBA or the NFL.
2). Enforce the rules. Officiating has always been a joke.
3). Eliminate fighting. No other legitimate sport permits it.
4). Institute No-touch icing.
5). Shorten the season. Over by the end of March. No one wants to watch hockey
in June. Less is more.
The NHL has lost me as a fan. I'm sick of their bullshit and their product. I might consider coming back if they instituted meaningful change, but they won't, so I'm gone. They have to cancel this season. If they do play a truncated schedule, they cannot present the Stanley Cup because it would be illegitimate. This season is gone as far. as I'm concerned. I won't forgive them for this.

Non-traditional hockey franchises in San Jose and Tampa Bay thrive.

 

[Cratchit]

Here are some changes I'd like to see in the NHL if it survives and ever comes back:
1). Eliminate teams in non-traditional markets. No one is interested in the south or the desert and it just dilutes the talent. Hockey is a regional sport and it will never be a "major"league like the NBA or the NFL.
2). Enforce the rules. Officiating has always been a joke.
3). Eliminate fighting. No other legitimate sport permits it.
4). Institute No-touch icing.
5). Shorten the season. Over by the end of March. No one wants to watch hockey
in June. Less is more.
The NHL has lost me as a fan. I'm sick of their bullshit and their product. I might consider coming back if they instituted meaningful change, but they won't, so I'm gone. They have to cancel this season. If they do play a truncated schedule, they cannot present the Stanley Cup because it would be illegitimate. This season is gone as far. as I'm concerned. I won't forgive them for this.

1) I disagree. While it's not traditional, to say that a city like Nashville cant have a team is just absurd. They are succesful and do thrive, As does San Jose and others

3) No, fighting is still very much a part of hockey. I think its essential in that it can spark a rally, protect the star players, and hell, is just entertaining.

5) umm, i love hockey just as much in June as i do in December


You want to help hockey? Fire Bettman. Let the public know whats the transcript in these talks. How many times will they meet without anything of substance being settled or agreed on

 

[LiFeNdEaTh]

i'm happy as hell hockey is off tv...

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

Here are some changes I'd like to see in the NHL if it survives and ever comes back:
1). Eliminate teams in non-traditional markets. No one is interested in the south or the desert and it just dilutes the talent. Hockey is a regional sport and it will never be a "major"league like the NBA or the NFL.
2). Enforce the rules. Officiating has always been a joke.
3). Eliminate fighting. No other legitimate sport permits it.
4). Institute No-touch icing.
5). Shorten the season. Over by the end of March. No one wants to watch hockey
in June. Less is more.
The NHL has lost me as a fan. I'm sick of their bullshit and their product. I might consider coming back if they instituted meaningful change, but they won't, so I'm gone. They have to cancel this season. If they do play a truncated schedule, they cannot present the Stanley Cup because it would be illegitimate. This season is gone as far. as I'm concerned. I won't forgive them for this.

1. Fuck you. While I'm not a huge hockey fan I'm glad that I can see my Devils play @ least twice a year. The more cities that have hockey, the more people will play hockey.

3. I know the purists love it, but with all the brain injury stuff coming out, hockey may need to end fighting.

I don't know enough about Bettman to call for his head. He represents the owners and wants to get a deal done that is in their best interest.

 

[RjThoughts]

I live in an area that has two Division I hockey programs - Union College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - and two American Hockey League franchises - Adirondack Phantoms and Albany Devils.

The NHL's abolition of fighting will never happen.

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

I live in an area that has two Division I hockey programs - Union College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - and two American Hockey League franchises - Adirondack Phantoms and Albany Devils.

The NHL's abolition of fighting will never happen.

I know some purist fans will be up in arms about it, but if you just invested millions in a player, do you want to see him getting into a fight, knowing that he could get a concussion?

 

[RjThoughts]

I know some purist fans will be up in arms about it, but if you just invested millions in a player, do you want to see him getting into a fight, knowing that he could get a concussion?

Most of hockey's concussions come from elbows and sticks to the head. Fighting not so much.

 

[Cratchit]

Most of hockey's concussions come from elbows and sticks to the head. Fighting not so much.

exactly. i am not a hockey purist, but i just see the true need for it in the sport.

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

Most of hockey's concussions come from elbows and sticks to the head. Fighting not so much.

Aren't they fighting because someone got an elbow or stick to the head? Punching in the head certainly won't help. The NFL ruled out head to head hits, hockey can rule out head shots too.

 

[Cratchit]

Aren't they fighting because someone got an elbow or stick to the head? Punching in the head certainly won't help. The NFL ruled out head to head hits, hockey can rule out head shots too.

It may not help from a physical standpoint, but it can help your team in other ways. Showing you wont let cheap shots occur, that you cant give a dirty shot to the superstar on your team without payback, or just sometimes knowing a teammate is fighting starts a rally and sparks the team because you have been playing lackluster up to that point.


i think the NFL is different in that the impact force of helmet to helmet is so much stronger than just a hit to the head which they usually try to keep their helmets on while fighting and its punches to the face, not the brain. the refs are keeping a close eye on the fights and stop it if need be

 

[miles]

Fighting in hockey is similar to a brush back pitch in baseball, and it will never change.

I gave up on the NHL when the league allowed Atlanta Thrashers' bumbling ownership to fuck over the fan base and ultimately sell the team, and I haven't watched the game since they left. The commissioner is a lying slimeball. Right now it looks like they're on a suicide path.

 

[Ramone45]

I think most people would agree that the NHL over-expanded. In Raleigh, the team may do OK, but the fan base is very small and mostly comprised of northern expatriots who need their hockey fix. Most people don't care about the home team, they just go to see the team they used to follow up north. They have a small albeit dedicated fan base. I don't think it is really sustainable long term. I would contract the Florida teams, Carolina, Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles or Anaheim, maybe the Islandersbecause they suck and you don't need three teams in NYC. I'd like to see Quebec get a team. See , this league is so fucked up, they thought it was a good Idea to move a team from Minnesota (THE US hotbed for hockey) and move it to Dallas. Maybe Connecticutt could get a team again.

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

I think most people would agree that the NHL over-expanded. In Raleigh, the team may do OK, but the fan base is very small and mostly comprised of northern expatriots who need their hockey fix. Most people don't care about the home team, they just go to see the team they used to follow up north. They have a small albeit dedicated fan base. I don't think it is really sustainable long term. I would contract the Florida teams, Carolina, Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles or Anaheim, maybe the Islandersbecause they suck and you don't need three teams in NYC. I'd like to see Quebec get a team. See , this league is so fucked up, they thought it was a good Idea to move a team from Minnesota (THE US hotbed for hockey) and move it to Dallas. Maybe Connecticutt could get a team again.

You'd contract teams in the largest North American markets and replace them with small markets?

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

It may not help from a physical standpoint, but it can help your team in other ways. Showing you wont let cheap shots occur, that you cant give a dirty shot to the superstar on your team without payback, or just sometimes knowing a teammate is fighting starts a rally and sparks the team because you have been playing lackluster up to that point.


i think the NFL is different in that the impact force of helmet to helmet is so much stronger than just a hit to the head which they usually try to keep their helmets on while fighting and its punches to the face, not the brain. the refs are keeping a close eye on the fights and stop it if need be

Or they could just penalize players for cheap shots.

 

[Ramone45]

You'd contract teams in the largest North American markets and replace them with small markets?

Would you not agree that hockey is a niche sport and that being in those so called big markets is not exactly propelling the NHL to the "major leagues"?
Granted, the NHL is its own worst enemy. After this lockout and likely canceled season, me and many others could give a fuck.

 

[RjThoughts]

I think most people would agree that the NHL over-expanded. In Raleigh, the team may do OK, but the fan base is very small and mostly comprised of northern expatriots who need their hockey fix. Most people don't care about the home team, they just go to see the team they used to follow up north. They have a small albeit dedicated fan base. I don't think it is really sustainable long term. I would contract the Florida teams, Carolina, Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles or Anaheim, maybe the Islandersbecause they suck and you don't need three teams in NYC. I'd like to see Quebec get a team. See , this league is so fucked up, they thought it was a good Idea to move a team from Minnesota (THE US hotbed for hockey) and move it to Dallas. Maybe Connecticutt could get a team again.

LA and Anaheim are fine
Tampa Bay is fine
Carolina is fine

If there is to be contracting, it will be Phoenix, though the league would probably like to see them relocate to Quebec or Hartford, if the state okays plans for a new arena.

NYC can have three teams, because, well, it does NOT have three teams. The only team in NYC are the Rangers. The Devils play in Newark, NJ, which is another state, another city. The Islanders don't draw well, because they suck. A better owner surrounded by better hockey people will bring the team back. Yes, they are moving to Brooklyn in 2014, but as people from Brooklyn like to say, they're the 4th largest city in the US

 

[LiFeNdEaTh]

tbh --- hockey is only good when fights are on.

 

[eyer]

The NHL should follow President Obama's outstanding example...

...and go away in 4 more years.

 

[LiFeNdEaTh]

The NHL should follow President Obama's outstanding example...

...and go away in 4 more years.

hahaha

 

[Beco]

Whatever happened to hockey? I cant seem to find it in my newspaper or on TV

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

Would you not agree that hockey is a niche sport and that being in those so called big markets is not exactly propelling the NHL to the "major leagues"?
Granted, the NHL is its own worst enemy. After this lockout and likely canceled season, me and many others could give a fuck.

All of the major leagues have teams in what are considered small markets. Kill hockey in So Cal and the Stanley Cup games wouldn't be on nationally.

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

LA and Anaheim are fine
Tampa Bay is fine
Carolina is fine

If there is to be contracting, it will be Phoenix, though the league would probably like to see them relocate to Quebec or Hartford, if the state okays plans for a new arena.

NYC can have three teams, because, well, it does NOT have three teams. The only team in NYC are the Rangers. The Devils play in Newark, NJ, which is another state, another city. The Islanders don't draw well, because they suck. A better owner surrounded by better hockey people will bring the team back. Yes, they are moving to Brooklyn in 2014, but as people from Brooklyn like to say, they're the 4th largest city in the US

That's where I grew up, and it's kinda the same market. When Ranger & Devil games are both on TV, and you can step outside the Prudential Center and catch a train to MSG, and be there in under 20 minutes, I'd say that's the same market.

 

[coastal-boy]

Whatever happened to hockey? I cant seem to find it in my newspaper or on TV

The league locked out the players after they refused to sign a "new" contract that reduced their pay by 24%. When the Players Union finally agreed to the League's offer of 50:50 split in hockey-related revenue, the League then refused to honor all existing contracts.

The NHL is dead. It will never recover from this. Next year, the league will bring in AAA players, tout them as NHL quality and try to market that. The elite players are already playing over in Europe. Next year, 70% of what was the NHL will be overseas.