THN Player Poll

[Flip-check 6]

I don't read HN much unless it's at a bookstore, they really should conduct more polls like this though. 283 players joined in on it and these are some of the results.

This was likely posted a while ago I believe, but it's summer and this is for those who didn't see it:

How do you feel about the NHL schedule format?

1) There should be more games against the other conference (248) 89%

2) Like it the way it is (25) 9%

3) There should be fewer games against the other conference (6) 2%

What should the NHL do about the delay-of-game penalty for clearing the puck over the glass?

1) Keep it as is: a two-minute minor (128) 46%

2) Treat it like an icing: no line change for offending team (110) 40%

3) Revert to the way it used to be: no penalty (38) 14%

Would you rather see a fourth-line roster spot go to:

1) An enforcer (177) 66%

2) A skilled player who can play the power play and participate in the

shootout (93) 34%

If you could play for any NHL team (other than your own), which would you choose?

1) Toronto Maple Leafs (34) 14.4%

2) New York Rangers (29) 12.3%

3) Detroit Red Wings (19) 8%

4) Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks (18) 7.6%

5) Dallas Stars (15) 6.3%

To what city would you least like to be traded?

1) Buffalo Sabres (40) 16%

2) Edmonton Oilers (28) 11.2%

3) New York Islanders (24) 9.6%

4) Pittsburgh Penguins (18) 7.2%

5) Florida Panthers (17) 6.8%

6) Carolina Hurricanes and St. Louis Blues (13) 5.2%

What is the toughest building to play in on the road?

1) Detroit Red Wings (41) 16.4%

2) Calgary Flames (37) 14.8%

3) Montreal Canadiens (25) 10%

4) San Jose Sharks (21) 8.4%

5) Philadelphia Flyers (14) 5.6%

Which NHL arena has the best ice?

1) Edmonton (152) 58.4%

2) Calgary (22) 8.5%

3) Montreal (21) 8.1%

4) Detroit (13) 5%

5) Minnesota and Toronto (9) 3.5%

Which NHL arena has the worst ice?

1) Anaheim (42) 16%

2) Rangers (41) 15.7%

3) Florida (40) 15.3%

4) San Jose (19) 7.2%

5) Phoenix (18) 6.8%

--

If you had a son who was an NHL prospect, would you prefer to see him play:

1) U.S. college hockey (140) 52%

2) Major junior hockey (104) 39%

3) European hockey (26) 10%

What’s the best thing about your job?

1) Living dream/playing/adrenaline/sold out buildings, etc. (111) 43%

2) Friendship/Teammates (32) 12%

3) Money/Lifestyle (26) 10%

4) Travel/other cities/road trips (25) 9.7%

5) Times off/Summer (22) 8.5%

What’s the worst thing about your job?

1) Travel/flying/sked/missing family (104) 42.6%

2) Injuries (33) 13.5%

3) Nothing (25) 10.2%

4) Losing/slump (17) 6.9%

5) Media/questions/etc. (12) 4.9%

Which of the following phrases most closely resembles your opinion of the NHL working environment?

1) Somewhere in between (161) 60%

2) Progressive and open-minded (55) 21%

3) Old boys network (51) 19%

http://www.thehockeynews.com/en/news/news.asp?idNews=24100

Women rank at #9 for Best Thing about playing, #14 for Worst is "Protein shakes, watching video, late nights, filling out forms, fighting, autographs, missed childhood, girls, money, Cam Janssen, getting yelled at, pre-game skate, coaches and being booed (1) 0.4%" (lol, Cam Janssen?)

I was surprised that the Pens rank up there was least fav teams though, Pittsburgh is going places and the living there can't be that bad can it?

The 4th liner question doesn't really say much to me either: I think anyone would pick an enforcer over a skill player for that line, although it'd be nice to think that your average player would pick a "tough-skilled" player over a non-tough player for say the second or third line.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Would you rather see a fourth-line roster spot go to:

1) An enforcer (177) 66%

2) A skilled player who can play the power play and participate in the

shootout (93) 34%

Well looky here! 66% of the players just chose a fighter over a skill guy who could potentially be the difference in getting an extra pt every shootout. Interesting eh?

[Heaton 1]

Well looky here! 66% of the players just chose a fighter over a skill guy who could potentially be the difference in getting an extra pt every shootout. Interesting eh?

And also according to whoever was in this poll only 1% think winning is important.

[zata40 3]

What is the toughest building to play in on the road?

1) Detroit Red Wings (41) 16.4%

haha heck yes, we intimidate the other teams

us fans rock

[wingsfan40 0]

What is the toughest building to play in on the road?

1) Detroit Red Wings (41) 16.4%

haha heck yes, we intimidate the other teams

us fans rock

We always seem do to pretty well at home

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I don't read HN much unless it's at a bookstore, they really should conduct more polls like this though. 283 players joined in on it and these are some of the results.

This was likely posted a while ago I believe, but it's summer and this is for those who didn't see it:

How do you feel about the NHL schedule format?

1) There should be more games against the other conference (248) 89%

2) Like it the way it is (25) 9%

3) There should be fewer games against the other conference (6) 2%

What should the NHL do about the delay-of-game penalty for clearing the puck over the glass?

1) Keep it as is: a two-minute minor (128) 46%

2) Treat it like an icing: no line change for offending team (110) 40%

3) Revert to the way it used to be: no penalty (38) 14%

Would you rather see a fourth-line roster spot go to:

1) An enforcer (177) 66%

2) A skilled player who can play the power play and participate in the

shootout (93) 34%

If you could play for any NHL team (other than your own), which would you choose?

1) Toronto Maple Leafs (34) 14.4%

2) New York Rangers (29) 12.3%

3) Detroit Red Wings (19) 8%

4) Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks (18) 7.6%

5) Dallas Stars (15) 6.3%

To what city would you least like to be traded?

1) Buffalo Sabres (40) 16%

2) Edmonton Oilers (28) 11.2%

3) New York Islanders (24) 9.6%

4) Pittsburgh Penguins (18) 7.2%

5) Florida Panthers (17) 6.8%

6) Carolina Hurricanes and St. Louis Blues (13) 5.2%

What is the toughest building to play in on the road?

1) Detroit Red Wings (41) 16.4%

2) Calgary Flames (37) 14.8%

3) Montreal Canadiens (25) 10%

4) San Jose Sharks (21) 8.4%

5) Philadelphia Flyers (14) 5.6%

Which NHL arena has the best ice?

1) Edmonton (152) 58.4%

2) Calgary (22) 8.5%

3) Montreal (21) 8.1%

4) Detroit (13) 5%

5) Minnesota and Toronto (9) 3.5%

Which NHL arena has the worst ice?

1) Anaheim (42) 16%

2) Rangers (41) 15.7%

3) Florida (40) 15.3%

4) San Jose (19) 7.2%

5) Phoenix (18) 6.8%

--

If you had a son who was an NHL prospect, would you prefer to see him play:

1) U.S. college hockey (140) 52%

2) Major junior hockey (104) 39%

3) European hockey (26) 10%

What’s the best thing about your job?

1) Living dream/playing/adrenaline/sold out buildings, etc. (111) 43%

2) Friendship/Teammates (32) 12%

3) Money/Lifestyle (26) 10%

4) Travel/other cities/road trips (25) 9.7%

5) Times off/Summer (22) 8.5%

What’s the worst thing about your job?

1) Travel/flying/sked/missing family (104) 42.6%

2) Injuries (33) 13.5%

3) Nothing (25) 10.2%

4) Losing/slump (17) 6.9%

5) Media/questions/etc. (12) 4.9%

Which of the following phrases most closely resembles your opinion of the NHL working environment?

1) Somewhere in between (161) 60%

2) Progressive and open-minded (55) 21%

3) Old boys network (51) 19%

http://www.thehockeynews.com/en/news/news.asp?idNews=24100

Women rank at #9 for Best Thing about playing, #14 for Worst is "Protein shakes, watching video, late nights, filling out forms, fighting, autographs, missed childhood, girls, money, Cam Janssen, getting yelled at, pre-game skate, coaches and being booed (1) 0.4%" (lol, Cam Janssen?)

I was surprised that the Pens rank up there was least fav teams though, Pittsburgh is going places and the living there can't be that bad can it?

The 4th liner question doesn't really say much to me either: I think anyone would pick an enforcer over a skill player for that line, although it'd be nice to think that your average player would pick a "tough-skilled" player over a non-tough player for say the second or third line.

Lovely stuff...

My opinions...

This was likely posted a while ago I believe, but it's summer and this is for those who didn't see it:

How do you feel about the NHL schedule format?

1) There should be more games against the other conference (248) 89%

Without question. I don't care if it's rivals or not, 8 games against 4 teams is ridiculously too much for a year. I'm not for contracting teams, so it'd be hard to play non-conference teams twice, but I propose "just" 6 games against your division teams, 4 games against non-divisional conference opponent teams, and 1 game against non-conference teams. If my math is correct that's 24 division games + 40 non-divison conference games + 15 non-conference games = 79 NHL season games. More than enough and you play everybody, and will at least see everybody in your barn every other year.

What should the NHL do about the delay-of-game penalty for clearing the puck over the glass?

1) Keep it as is: a two-minute minor (128) 46%

Am fine with the newer rule.

Would you rather see a fourth-line roster spot go to:

2) A skilled player who can play the power play and participate in the

shootout (93) 34%

To the grit/tough lovers in here...I'M NOT AGAINST FIGHTING OR ENFORCERS 100%, I like fights but I'm not going to go ga-ga over somebody who just fights or primarily fights. I just don't think their role is as important as the other choice.

If you could play for any NHL team (other than your own), which would you choose?

Don't play hockey, so I can't answer this.

To what city would you least like to be traded?

See above.

What is the toughest building to play in on the road?

1) Detroit Red Wings (41) 16.4%

2) Calgary Flames (37) 14.8%

3) Montreal Canadiens (25) 10%

4) San Jose Sharks (21) 8.4%

5) Philadelphia Flyers (14) 5.6%

Surprised the Shark Tank isn't higher up. That place can get LOUD.

Which NHL arena has the best ice?

1) Edmonton (152) 58.4%

From watching games and from voice-of-mouth, Edmonton without much question.

Which NHL arena has the worst ice?

Dallas' old arena used to be terrible. I went to a few games when I went to college in Dallas-Fort Worth area and whenever somebody would dump the puck in for example, the puck would just die behind the goalline. American Airlines is a bit better.

--

If you had a son who was an NHL prospect, would you prefer to see him play:

No opinion to be fair/accurate.

What’s the best thing about your job?

1) Living dream/playing/adrenaline/sold out buildings, etc. (111) 43%

2) Friendship/Teammates (32) 12%

Perfectly understand #1 response, surprised #2 didn't get higher, would think the camradere would be pretty important, both for friendships and future business/career.

What’s the worst thing about your job?

1) Travel/flying/sked/missing family (104) 42.6%

Self-explanatory

Which of the following phrases most closely resembles your opinion of the NHL working environment?

No opinion to be fair/accurate.

[Crashnburnluder 385]

The hardest building to play in question is really cool to know... espically cause Im from the philly area and there are billboards all over about how they have the most intimadating fans in hockey... from some poll done years ago... and they are still riding it hahah... but GO DETROIT!!! the new most intimdating fans in hockey!!!

[eva unit zero 271]

Well looky here! 66% of the players just chose a fighter over a skill guy who could potentially be the difference in getting an extra pt every shootout. Interesting eh?

And Lou takes the bait. That question is totally f***ed up, and is DESIGNED to get the result of 'ENFORCERS ROXXORZ!! SHOOTOUTS SUCK!!' Of COURSE you would take an enforcer over a skill player who could play the PP and participate in the shootout for the FOURTH LINE. WHY? Because teams generally only have two PP units, meaning that if a forward is on the PP, he is PROBABLY on one of the top two lines, or MAYBE in cases of depth at one forward position or remarkable chemistry he is on the third line. The chances that a skill guy who is only good enough to be on the fourth line would be picked very often for the shootout are also exceedingly slim. It would have been better had the question offered a third answer, 'defensive/faceoff specialist' which would have garnered, oh I dunno...70-80% of the vote?

[eva unit zero 271]

On many teams the 3rd line centers are the face-off/defensive minded specialist

Maybe placing some names/faces with that 4th line may make it easier for some folks whom are torn between the tuff guy, or skill guy for the 4th line...How about (going back in time here) Kocur, or Hudler for the 4th line?

Think about it this way. There is a very good chance that the third line center for the Wings will be either Hudler or Filppula. There is a decent chance that whoever it is will be on the PP.

Some third line centers around the league this past season: Derek Roy, Jeffrey Hamilton, Tyler Arnason, Mike Ribeiro, Jarrett Stoll, Stephen Weiss, PM Bouchard, Sergei Brylin, Petr Cajanek, Eric Perrin, Niko Kapanen, Bryan Smolinski. That's about half the guys in the league being primarily offensive guys who play the power play on the third line...and I would bet another quarter of third line centers are guys who 'could' play the power play, because this is hardly a definitive listing of the best and brightest third line centers in the NHL, leaving off names of defensively capable guys like Radek Bonk and Jordan Staal.

[Guest REDWINGS4LYFE]

interesting to say the very least

[eva unit zero 271]

For the Wings in particular Draper has spent much of his time as the 3rd line center (which I'm sure he'll continue to play); I personally think Filppula has the skill for a spot on the 2nd line for the 2007/2008 season, but that's just me...As for Hoodlum; well if Babcock gave him some reg ice time - who knows how many points he'd get?... If Filppula does center the 3rd line - I'm sure he'd do well since he appears to be another Hank/Dats clone in the making (loads of offensive ability yet having the defensive smarts)

With many Euros playing the game today (especially on the Red Wings) they may have a different opinion on the needs for/against a physical agitator/tuff guy when compared to their N.American counterparts...As of yet I'm thinking the majority of GMs/coaches feel that having that presence in the locker room, & on ice holds greater importance than having another skill type playing on the 4th line.

I remember watching the clip of Probie duking it out with that little cement head Domi (round 2 - aka Probie's revenge)...Just after Probert gets done pummeling Domi - the camera pans over to the Detroit bench; I've never seen Stevie so animated (that is unless he'd just won the Cup). Stevie was standing, & mimicking Domi with the "I've just gotten the heavyweight belt back, & now I'm wearing it" gesture as Domi skated by - on his way to the pen box...The Joe was nutz, & every Red Wing player was going crazy too

Filppula won't be the second line center. They've already said that Datsyuk will be centering the second line, and that they will at the very least be trying Grigorenko on his wing. Draper has been the third line center maybe four full seasons and a couple more partial seasons in his Red Wing career. As far as the actual question, I didn't disagree with the outcome...I said the question is inherently flawed because one of the answers is a kind of player typically used only on the top two or sometimes three lines, thus making it almost an invalid choice. Had they worded it 'A skilled player who can play special teams' you can bet that it would have been a notably different result.

[vangvace 12]

What’s the best thing about your job?

1) Living dream/playing/adrenaline/sold out buildings, etc. (111) 43%

2) Friendship/Teammates (32) 12%

Perfectly understand #1 response, surprised #2 didn't get higher, would think the camradere would be pretty important, both for friendships and future business/career.

I'm not overly surprised #2 isn't higher. More former players move on to be businessmen and with plaer movement nowadays...

[Lou_Siffer 1]

And Lou takes the bait. That question is totally f***ed up, and is DESIGNED to get the result of 'ENFORCERS ROXXORZ!! SHOOTOUTS SUCK!!' Of COURSE you would take an enforcer over a skill player who could play the PP and participate in the shootout for the FOURTH LINE. WHY? Because teams generally only have two PP units, meaning that if a forward is on the PP, he is PROBABLY on one of the top two lines, or MAYBE in cases of depth at one forward position or remarkable chemistry he is on the third line. The chances that a skill guy who is only good enough to be on the fourth line would be picked very often for the shootout are also exceedingly slim. It would have been better had the question offered a third answer, 'defensive/faceoff specialist' which would have garnered, oh I dunno...70-80% of the vote?

On the contrary, I happen to think they tried to skew it into having more guys pick the skill guy...which is why they made an effort to throw in the shootout part. But regardless, with the way people talk about enforcers being dead, I just like seeing that the players still think having one matters.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

What is the toughest building to play in on the road?

1) Detroit Red Wings (41) 16.4%

haha heck yes, we intimidate the other teams

us fans rock

The Wings have been a tough team to play against for a long time, and that is why it's hard to win at the Joe, not because it's a loud building or we're intimidating. The Joe often sounds like a golf course compared to some other buildings in the league.

[Flip-check 6]

On the contrary, I happen to think they tried to skew it into having more guys pick the skill guy...which is why they made an effort to throw in the shootout part. But regardless, with the way people talk about enforcers being dead, I just like seeing that the players still think having one matters.

I didn't read it that way at all.

Why would a player want a 4th liner on their squad to help with a shootout? Eva points out a crucial thing about it, it's the 4th line. What kind of skill player will you pick up that can score there, really?

The question in my eyes wasn't fair at all--it would have been fair if they'd bumped it up to the 2nd line and asked the same thing. It's a bit of a no-brainer if we're talking about line 4 and "skill" "shootout players".

Edited August 13, 2007 by Flip-check

[eva unit zero 271]

On the contrary, I happen to think they tried to skew it into having more guys pick the skill guy...which is why they made an effort to throw in the shootout part. But regardless, with the way people talk about enforcers being dead, I just like seeing that the players still think having one matters.

I still think the data is wortless because it's not a realistic situation. As I said before, it would have been worthwhile had the options been an enforcer and a defensive specialist, because that is a situation you might actually see. No coach will put PP players on the 4th line; or more accurately, no coach will put 4th liners on his PP. If they're good enough to be on the PP, they're not 4th liners.

[Opie 308]

I still think the data is wortless because it's not a realistic situation. As I said before, it would have been worthwhile had the options been an enforcer and a defensive specialist, because that is a situation you might actually see. No coach will put PP players on the 4th line; or more accurately, no coach will put 4th liners on his PP. If they're good enough to be on the PP, they're not 4th liners.

That was my first thought when I read the question, if your fourth liners are options for you pp you either have an unbelievable team and need to cut some players to make cap or your team sucks!!!!!!!!

And even if your team sucks your top 6 forwards should be your pp and maybe a third liner because a forward plays point on one of your units. Other than that there is no way a 3rd or 4th line guy ends up on your pp.

[vangvace 12]

I still think the data is wortless because it's not a realistic situation. As I said before, it would have been worthwhile had the options been an enforcer and a defensive specialist, because that is a situation you might actually see. No coach will put PP players on the 4th line; or more accurately, no coach will put 4th liners on his PP. If they're good enough to be on the PP, they're not 4th liners.

But the question didn't ask if it was a realistic situation. All it asked is would they rather have an enforcer or a skilled player who can play the power play and participate in the shootout. Not will be a regular on the PP or the go to guy in the shootout. There is a big difference between can and will. Possbly and does.

In general:

I'm curious if most of this discussion is really that some people didn't like the results and choose to read into the questions and pick them apart.

Oh, and that nobody's questioned who the players are that participated yet.

[Opie 308]

The way I see it - defensive specialists generally play either on the 2nd, or 3rd forward lines - they play a fair # of minutes shutting down other teams top lines, & play alot on the pk...Guys like Draper, Peca, Brind 'Amour, Lehtinen, & Guy Carbonneau are/were def 2nd, or 3rd liners...4th liners are def character/high energy types whom see limited ice time.

Which is why having it be enforcer vs defensive specialist would have made more sense. But if you had to choose between a 4th liner who gets pp time and shoot outs vs an enforcer, most people would take the enforcer because why waste a roster spot on a 4th liner for your pp. If he is a 4th liner by default he is not good enough to be on the pp, the shoot out is such an anomaly that some team could have a goalie who has crazy dekes and put him on the shoot out line up. The question is leading some one to answer one way.

I think if you reword it the percentages would change.

[Flip-check 6]

But the question didn't ask if it was a realistic situation. All it asked is would they rather have an enforcer or a skilled player who can play the power play and participate in the shootout. Not will be a regular on the PP or the go to guy in the shootout. There is a big difference between can and will. Possbly and does.

This is just a player poll, not an article analyzing team depth. The language is put simply.

And sure, yet an unrealistic poll question is useless. 'So NHL guys, what goalie would you like to become God and turn the league back into the Original Six? It's not gonna happen, we're just asking... for informational purposes, you know.'

I get what you're saying, and somewhere else it'd apply, but not here.

I'm curious if most of this discussion is really that some people didn't like the results and choose to read into the questions and pick them apart.

Oh, and that nobody's questioned who the players are that participated yet.

Pardon? It's not that, that particular question was just loaded, that's all.

And I agree a list of players would be interesting. Just in an additional info sort of way, I don't care so much which 283 guys answered.

Edited August 14, 2007 by Flip-check

[eva unit zero 271]

The way I see it - defensive specialists generally play either on the 2nd, or 3rd forward lines - they play a fair # of minutes shutting down other teams top lines, & play alot on the pk...Guys like Draper, Peca, Brind 'Amour, Lehtinen, & Guy Carbonneau are/were def 2nd, or 3rd liners...4th liners are def character/high energy types whom see limited ice time.

Brind'Amour is NOT a shut-down guy.

Peca had some solid offensive years, he wasn't on the second line for his defense.

Draper has spent most of his career on the fourth line.

Carbonneau was a fixture on the third line because he wasn't just a defensive specialist, he was THE defensive specialist.

Lehtinen is a guy capable of putting up decent scoring numbers, and is one of the most offensively capable wingers on his team.

Generally around the league, when you look at fourth liners, their purpose is primarily defensive or physical, or both. That's why including PP/shootout as the second option makes zero sense, because you never put that kind of player in that role.

But the question didn't ask if it was a realistic situation. All it asked is would they rather have an enforcer or a skilled player who can play the power play and participate in the shootout. Not will be a regular on the PP or the go to guy in the shootout. There is a big difference between can and will. Possbly and does.

In general:

I'm curious if most of this discussion is really that some people didn't like the results and choose to read into the questions and pick them apart.

Oh, and that nobody's questioned who the players are that participated yet.

No, that's not what this discussion is about. I would have picked enforcer too, I feel a skill guy who can't be a defensive shut down guy or a physical player is a poor decision if used as a fourth liner. Hudler is a primary example of this. The Wings would have been better off with Hudler on a higher line and a guy like Cleary, Franzen, or someone else on the fourth line.

[vangvace 12]

Generally around the league, when you look at fourth liners, their purpose is primarily defensive or physical, or both. That's why including PP/shootout as the second option makes zero sense, because you never put that kind of player in that role.

No, that's not what this discussion is about. I would have picked enforcer too, I feel a skill guy who can't be a defensive shut down guy or a physical player is a poor decision if used as a fourth liner. Hudler is a primary example of this. The Wings would have been better off with Hudler on a higher line and a guy like Cleary, Franzen, or someone else on the fourth line.

Nice post eva... it explains your position to me much better.