BigLou11

Apr 22 2008 08:31

Comments...

There are as many opinions on how to improve the game as there are fans.

That being said here are my opinions on your recommendations…

1) I agree that the league expanded too quickly resulting in a little dilution of the talent pool but that will work itself out over time.

2) The Neutral zone trap has been around since the late 70s/early 80s and I’m not a fan of it but I don’t see how they can effectively ban a team strategy (as opposed to individual action).

3) I disagree with expanding the size of the rink; it’s one of the things that distinguished North American hockey from the rest of the world.

4) Fighting is (and should remain) a part of North American Hockey, it keeps the sticks down. But the instigator rule should only be applied to when a player truly instigates the fight. If both players are obviously willing participants in the fight, it shouldn’t matter who was quicker on the draw. That being said I would prefer a good clean, bone-crushing check to a fight because it takes more skill.

5 & 6) A “Real” television contract will remain elusive until the popularity and appeal of the sport is increase to a level on par with baseball, football, & basketball. Unfortunately all the marketing in the world will only take it so far. Most people (especially men) are fans of sports that they can play, particularly one they played as kids. I think Little League baseball is almost universal in American towns because it is an easy game to play and more importantly it is a cheap game to play. It is relatively inexpensive to field a baseball squad. The same goes for basketball. What’s it cost for a basketball? Thirty??? Forty bucks??? and you can get 10 kids out playing. Soccer balls are even cheaper. That’s why soccer is the most popular sport in the world. The sport isn’t any better, and in no way is it more exciting the hockey, but it is considerably cheaper. All it costs to get 22 kids playing is a $10 ball and an open field. Football requires a little more investment in equipment but it’s still a relatively easy game to play again all you need is an open field. Hockey requires an investment in equipment, balance and skill not to mention a rink (as well as the ability to pay rink fees) which not every town has. Hockey is decidedly middle class sport, plain and simple.

Anyway, I know there are those who will disagree with me but that’s my 2 cents.

triz

Apr 15 2008 13:58

Agree

#5 – The NHL and Tv

john_mcgourty

Apr 07 2008 10:45

Ch-ch-ch-changes

I think you’re most likely to see dangerous equipment modified. Wider rinks, no, that would cut into revenue. Ban neutral-zone trap, no, the flow and the scoring are near where the league wants them.
Instigator – I would like to see the guys who are actually mad at each other fight rather than a couple of proxies duking it out a few minutes later. Still, with corporate sales so much of the fan base, you’re more likely to see fighting eliminated rather than made more authentic.
The national TV contract is a goal but with the reduction of the networks’ influence it’s not as critical as in the past. A dedicated network may work best now and we have that in its infancy.
As for marketing – the marketing folks have been ascendant the past three years and their presence continues to increase.
Seems like they’re doing a good job. I know they were very happy around Winter Classic and All Star.

Glenn_V

Apr 04 2008 21:38

Good blog.

Let me address each point quickly:
1) Trap’s been there since the 70s Montreal playoff teams in some way – good luck.
2) Totally agree
3) Again, totally agree
4) That would prevent a lot of cheap shots – good idea
5) ABSOLUTELY!
6) Get the guys from the NFL – especially those who handle Peyton Manning.

piggylady_87

Apr 04 2008 18:35

coverage

I agree that one of the problems with the NHL is that it get zero recgonition in the national media. Hockey is lower on the sports food chain then tennis. ESPN never metions it. While less exciting sports like basketball and baseball get all the attention. No one realizes how hard these guys work on the ice and how physically demanding the game is. The league definatly needs to have another Winter Classic game next year. I think that helped bring in some people who woudlnd’t otherwise watch hockey.

smgbelieve

Apr 04 2008 16:07

Thanks to Mills for suggesting that we eliminate

that goofy trapezoid and at least consider eliminating the shootout, going back to OT to settle things.

I also forgot something else- I’m still sure about the current point set up. I liked settling things via sudden death OT. I don’t mind ending it with a tie after say, a full OT period or two, but I’m not a fan of giving a point to a losing team, just because the score was tied at the end of regulation. Your thoughts?

And a clarification – the reason I mentioned elbow pads is because those things nowadays are hard enough to crack someone’s skull with. Remember Pronger almost killing a guy in last year’s playoffs with a simple elbow? That’s why I mentioned it. Those things have become too much like weapons – like a hockey player with his stick and skates NEEDS more weapons! That’s all I was saying.

MisZGoalie

Apr 04 2008 15:20

=)

Fighting in hockey should be legal! If only we could add that to the NHL All-Star Game Skills competition!
Great thoughts in improvements,and maybe some things will change

jedimasterzeke

Apr 04 2008 14:32

uhh let's see

yes the NHL expanded way to much and too quickly, 12 teams, uhh no, but let’s not have any more or at least have them in places where ice naturally occurs. move the teams like atl, flo. phoenix, phoenix?, to the northwest or back to canada.

nothing wrong with the neutral zone trap. i agree with what some others said, 1st how would you regulate banning it? hockey is a free flowing game, would you do it like basketball, the 3 second rule in the paint? plus if you’re so good than beat it. and there have been many rule changes that have sped up the game, i would not want to see games turn into lacross scores 11-7, that would be dumb.

i agree with widening the rinks (which might also speed up the game), all the leagues outside of NHL have wider rinks, the olympic rinks are wider, problem is it takes away seats from arenas and it would be major construction process and owners and arena owners won’t do that unless they can be compensated monetarily.

Equipment? goalie pads could be reduced, got no problem with that which might also bring scoring up and really show who’s the best goalies, but elbow pads? the reason player pads have gotten stronger/harder, is because the amount of injuries they incurred during checks into the boards and the slashing that had increased during the “cluth and grab” years, plus if you were elbowed with an actual elbow it would be harder than the pads they wear, the elbow is one of the hardest bones in the body and a fantastic weapon in hand to hand combat (this is not an opinion it’s a fact, ask any martial artist).

Instigator? ahh no opinion either way really. you can police with the rule. that player just gets his head knocked off with a good solid check the next time he’s out and then usually a fight occurs.

Real national contract? absolutely, VS is ok, but the analysts suck. NHL on NBC stinks, its only on after football season is over in late january-early feb. half the season is over by then. and milbury stinks. we the fans need to petition ESPN to put it back on instead of college b-ball. I’ve mailed them several times over the years how not many people care about college b-ball unless they know someone or go to college or its march madness. plus they put women’s college b-ball on over the NHL too, no offense to women but the fact is there is a much larger audience for NHL than women’s college b-ball, especially from Oct-Jan.

Marketing, yes it has to get better, but let’s not bring in an idiot who doesn’t know hockey, that’s how bettman was hired. we need someone who will not just cater to the owners, bettman is a consummate politician with his interest group policies and not a fan (historian) of hockey.

And finally, officiating needs to improve immensely. i agree with trying to not have teams do the clutch and grab but come on, some of these calls are ridiculous, even the ones that are called for my team, i try to remain objective and its been atrocious.

sandman

Apr 04 2008 14:21

Thoughts

Hi S: I agree 100% with 1&2. NO trap, Olympic size rinks 100’ x 200’. #3 ?? Players could have gotten mammed/killed in the
20’s, 30’s, 40’s,50’s 60’s,70’s, 80’s … and a few did die from hockey related injuries…. Not sure I agree here – don’t want to argue.
#4 – agree 100% man up! #5 –
cable owns the market and local/regial Fox. VS. should step up and televise more games.The NBC game of the is kewl and I enjoy it even with commercials however Hockey does not draw high enough ratings. Most people can’t understand the game in the US and don’t want to learn about it anyway. Canada is way different.Times have changed that is why teams can pay 10mm contracts + per year which is crazy. A working man has to pay $300.00-$400.00 for good seats (2)at a game and a nice night out dinner/parking etc. This is CRAZY IMO. I don’t mind paying to watch my passion. I don’t watch any “network” TV to many ED, and rip off sponsers/commercials- can’t stand it!! #6 – they have those folks already!! The league is just fine with THIRTY (30) teams is some obscure market that have flourished. They share profits for sammler vs. BIGGER markets. Things change all the time. Tampa Bay for example stills draws 20,000 to a game tied for last overall. Attendance and sponsership/revenues are UP ALL the way around. Chicago in their upsurge this year was starting to get 20,000 fan a game. Toronto sucks and you can’t even get a ticket for most games. I do agree it is a perfect hockey universe and the league will adjust as the examples you noted!
Loose the trapezoid and the penalty for delay of game when the puck is shot out in you D zone untouched, get rid of the SHOOT OUTS – so Jr. A, Amatuer, old IHL, AHL ish!PEACE OUT- MILLS

mcbane12

Apr 04 2008 14:10

less is more

Hockey is hockey is hockey until it gets changed so much we won’t recognize it. We love the sport – why change it for people who don’t? That said I agree with #s 3 and 4.