Making Hockey Better

[RjThoughts]

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.

NYC is a strange animal. So many municipalities in the Metro Area, but each one has its own identity. Devils, Rangers, Islanders, all have their own communities, each very large.

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

NYC is a strange animal. So many municipalities in the Metro Area, but each one has its own identity. Devils, Rangers, Islanders, all have their own communities, each very large.

No argument there.

 

[albertaboy]

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

Hard to say Tampa has ever really thrives, 3 owners in 20 years.

 

[albertaboy]

Annually the best hockey in the world takes place over Christmas, The World Junior Championship.


I actually find older games I watch from the so called glory days boring, very slow.

 

[renard_ruse]

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.

Its already one of the big four major sports (or was until the lockout). It draws slightly more fans over the course of the season than the NBA.

Eliminating fighting? Sorry, they need to bring back real fighting, not the phony fights they have today. They also need to be more permissive allowing players to come off the bench to fight. If they get rid of fighting it will be the death of the sport at the professional level (assuming the lockout doesn't kill it anyway). They need more fighting, like they used to have, if they want to save the sport.

 

[renard_ruse]

Annually the best hockey in the world takes place over Christmas, The World Junior Championship.


I actually find older games I watch from the so called glory days boring, very slow.

I've been watching some older games on YouTube lately. I like the slower pace of the game, its easier to follow the systems the teams are using. You can understand more of the fundamentals.

 

[renard_ruse]

I agree there are too many sunbelt teams. Let the ones that are doing alright stay, but don't protect the ones that aren't. Let them move north (Seattle, Quebec City, and Markham would all be good markets).

Also, please please move or eliminate the Mighty Ducks.

 

[renard_ruse]

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...

You're going to contract the LA Kings, who represent the second biggest market in North America, who just won the Stanley Cup, and who have been in the league for almost 45 years? Kindly, piss off, asshole. Thx.

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

I agree there are too many sunbelt teams. Let the ones that are doing alright stay, but don't protect the ones that aren't. Let them move north (Seattle, Quebec City, and Markham would all be good markets).

Also, please please move or eliminate the Mighty Ducks.

Seattle has no arena, so that is an impossibility. The new arena in Quebec will not open until 2015. Where the hell is Markham?

Again, the NHL is not going to fold a team in the 2nd largest market.

 

[RjThoughts]

I agree there are too many sunbelt teams. Let the ones that are doing alright stay, but don't protect the ones that aren't. Let them move north (Seattle, Quebec City, and Markham would all be good markets).

Also, please please move or eliminate the Mighty Ducks.

They've NOT been the Mighty Ducks since the 2006-2007 season

 

[Ramone45]

You're going to contract the LA Kings, who represent the second biggest market in North America, who just won the Stanley Cup, and who have been in the league for almost 45 years? Kindly, piss off, asshole. Thx.

I don't really care because the league is dead anyway. Why would anyone support a league that has such little regard for its customers? The organization sucks, the product sucks. I understand what you're saying about Los Angeles. But since the NHL is dead to me, I don't care. I think it's time to throw out the baby with the bath water. Start over. Embrace the philosophy that less is more. Smaller league. Shorter season. Owners and administrators should be "hockey people". Sensible rule changes. Protect your players from head injuries. More integrity in officiating. Don't be afraid to admit that you are a lower level, regional league that will never have the fan base of the NBA or NFL or MLB. ...and don't call me names.

 

[renard_ruse]

They've NOT been the Mighty Ducks since the 2006-2007 season

You're right, I think they are officially the California Ducks of Orange County or something like that.

As if it matters.

 

[renard_ruse]

I don't really care because the league is dead anyway. Why would anyone support a league that has such little regard for its customers? The organization sucks, the product sucks. I understand what you're saying about Los Angeles. But since the NHL is dead to me, I don't care. I think it's time to throw out the baby with the bath water. Start over. Embrace the philosophy that less is more. Smaller league. Shorter season. Owners and administrators should be "hockey people". Sensible rule changes. Protect your players from head injuries. More integrity in officiating. Don't be afraid to admit that you are a lower level, regional league that will never have the fan base of the NBA or NFL or MLB. ...and don't call me names.

You float the idea of contracting my favorite sports team of all time, I'm going to call you names, lol.

A new league is definitely a good idea. Its been done before with the WHA.

 

[renard_ruse]

Seattle has no arena, so that is an impossibility. The new arena in Quebec will not open until 2015. Where the hell is Markham?

Again, the NHL is not going to fold a team in the 2nd largest market.

Markham is a suburb north of Toronto. I believe they are already in the process of building a new NHL quality arena. A second GTA team is a no brainer.

 

[Ramone45]

You float the idea of contracting my favorite sports team of all time, I'm going to call you names, lol.

A new league is definitely a good idea. Its been done before with the WHA.

Seriously, do you think the NHL is worthy of your support?

 

[renard_ruse]

Seriously, do you think the NHL is worthy of your support?

No, definitely not, but I'll always be at least a casual Kings fan. If the league ever comes back that is.

 

[Ramone45]

The Kings? Think of all those young hockey players from Moose Jaw or Yellow Knife just DREAMING to play for the Los Angeles Kings with their long history of excellence

 

[RjThoughts]

The Kings? Think of all those young hockey players from Moose Jaw or Yellow Knife just DREAMING to play for the Los Angeles Kings with their long history of excellence

More kids would rather play in Los Angeles than in Edmonton, Calgary, and these days Toronto

 

[Ramone45]

True, unfortunately.