auxlepli

Continue to grow the game with Versus and NBC. Also, seek other networks ... CBS and Fox. Many teams are on Fox's regional networks. Leverage that for a national contract. It will take time to grow the game to it's previous ratings peak. Which was when by the way? 1994, when SI had the famous, or is it infamous now, NHL hot, NBA not cover? Heck maybe the NHL as already surpassed that. Anyway to expect instant, fast-food gratification is unreasonable. Where as ESPN said it wants the NHL back? And if ESPN has, the network should back it up with the dollars. Which to my knownledge it hasn't. Finally the NHL should not sell its figurative soul to go back to a network that openly hates hockey.

Yep, and ESPN didn't have faith in the NHL when it came back.

Yeah because the NHL on ESPN worked so well previously. Not.

The NHL is on regional Fox networks, Versus and NBC ... you know that network that broadcasted the Olympics. Or did you miss that too?

A majority of the owners love him. Stop going to games, watching the games and then maybe the owners will get the hint.

Team USA stars would be perfect for pimping the NHL.

Interest in NHL hockey could increase because of Olympic hockey, and particularly this year's tournament, which in my opinion has been the best Olympic tournament I've seen. However, I'm cynical and skeptical. There will be some impact, but I doubt it will have a significant impact even though the reason I'm a hockey fan is because of Olympic hockey. I don't know exactly why it won't have a signficant impact, but I can say it's not because the NHL isn't on ESPN. There were several years were NHL games were on ESPN, and ESPN exposure didn't boost the NHL's prominence in the states then. To think that it will now is simply wishful thinking and ultimately wrong.

Hockey > Basketball > Baseball > Nearly every other sport > American Gridiron Football

They are the only reason why I'm glad Team Canada won.

What would that be? I have signatures turned off. More NHL exposure on ESPN is at best a pipe dream and more likely a fallacy. Hockey fans would never see a game on the four-letter network because NHL games would be subordinate to stock car racing, women's softball, baseball, basketball, American football, football, bowling, darts, and poker. To think otherwise is wrong based on the NHL's previous experience on ESPN. As for taking an ESPN discount vis-a-vis exposure ... ask the players and owners if they're ready to take a pay cut the next time negotiations are up so the League can theoretically gain more exposure. I'm willing to bet the owners and players say no.

Ummm ... no, that is the point. ESPN had a chance to match OLN's offer and ESPN didn't. That's the point. NHL and Bettman didn't leave ESPN; ESPN left the NHL. No, I'm not happy the coverage the NHL receives, and I wasn't happy with ESPN's coverage either. To think that it will be better on a Mickey Mouse network is foolhardy. I do think it's better now than then. What's funny is I remember hearing a Bodenheimer interview on the radio in February 2007 time frame where he said the NHL should come back to ESPN, clearly faulting the NHL when in fact it was his fault the NHL left. The puck was in his zone. He decided not play it. Oh and thanks for reminding me about my outdated signature. I have signatures turned off. I had that though for all the ESPN apologists on the board - just in case they forgot that in fact the NHL has the most lucrative contract it could get and it's with Versus.

Well, I'm not predicting gold for this U.S. team; I'm just happy the U.S. team won Sunday night. I'm happy the U.S. beat a Canadian team. I'm happy the U.S. beat a team it hadn't beaten in the Olympics in 50 years. I'm happy the U.S. won a pretty intense and exciting game. I'm happy the U.S. beat a team that features NHL players I absolutely can't stand - Pronger and Getzlaf to name two. I'm happy the U.S. remained undefeated, and I hope it does throughout this Olympics.

Wrong. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versus_(TV_channel)#Hockey 4 = http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?i...TC-DT9705204233 ESPN evangelists should blame Bodenheimer.

With those USA throwback jerseys the photos are so reminiscent of the 1980 US - Soviet game. I dig it the most.

I posted on Twitter to NBC that their Olympic hockey coverage sucks. I did that even prior to this post, because at home I don't receive MSNBC nor CNBC and I didn't see any mention at of the mens' games on the NBC side.

What a fantastic game. Even with the Americans scoring 41 seconds in, Canada pretty much dominated the first half of the game. In the second half the Americans finally got their wheels, or maybe Canada just tired. Anyway there was a lot intensity to the game. After the U.S., normally I'd pull for Canada to win gold - especially this year with Yzerman and Babcock in prominent postions. However this year there are so many players on Team Canada that I just can't stand - Crosby, Pronger, Getzlaf, Heatley, Neidermeyer and Perry - that my order is now USA, Finland and Russia.

Doc is great announcer in my opinion. Thanks for the link.

I like the system as it is. There's no need to change it in my opinion.

If you want more hockey coverage, move to Canada.

I still can't believe D-Mac sullied himself and signed a deal with Versus.

You mean more great ideas like the shootout that posters here just love? I'm surprised so many here are in favor of the NHL hiring Shanny.

The team is no longer around, and everytime I went they never gave out whoopee cushions.

I want to see the jerseys, but all I see at nhl.com is black.

Need photos of the Canadiens jersey before I can comment. I didn't see and haven't seen them.

My hockey trip to Chicago was one of my worst hockey experiences. The fans were nice though, but that was before the Hawks' current renaissance. The food, particularly the Chicago dogs, were good. Beer selection was just OK. The UC's sightline are horrible. There's nothing around the UC, no bars, no restaurants, no hotels ... nothing. People complain about JLA, but really there's bars, restaurants and hotels within walking distance of JLA. Also there's tons of shuttles and the People Mover. As great as public transportation is in Chicago, the L doesn't have a stop at UC, which was astounding to me. Go to game there to say you've been. That's what I did, but I don't ever plan to go back.