The "NHL is Messed Up Because..."

[auxlepli 17]

Because it blatantly favors Sunbelt teams.

[auxlepli 17]

... of schedules like this:

[betterREDthandead 58]

... of schedules like this:

That would be a fun schedule if the division race were tight. It's kind of boring now, but kind of has a little side benefit in that it puts the team in a playoff, same-team-every-night mode of thinking.

[auxlepli 17]

Because Pronger only receives an eight-game suspension while for the same incident Simon received a 30-game suspension. The NHL has suspended both players eight times too.

[BlackhawksFan 4]

Gary Bettman, words do not describe nor do justice the abject contempt your regard is held across this great continent.

[wingnut40 176]

...Because the entire NHL and officals are totaly *** for pronger and the whole Ducks team.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

1) Bettman's lack of passion and understanding for the game (alternate answer is being a slappy for idiot owners instead of a steward of the game).

2) Campbell's lack of spine and consistency when doling out punishment. and I'm talking about way more than the latest Pronger slap on the wrist.

3) General deterioration in quality and consistency in officiating, in spite of having an extra ref.

4) Bad changes to the game like shootouts and the points awarded for losing.

[Wings_Rule_1010 4]

Because officiating can be so bad, that even when 20,000 fans + the players see a puck hit the netting, somehow ALL of the refs miss it. Yet, refs someone manage to see a little hook or grab. Baffles me.

[IceMunkee 15]

1) Bettman's lack of passion and understanding for the game (alternate answer is being a slappy for idiot owners instead of a steward of the game).

2) Campbell's lack of spine and consistency when doling out punishment. and I'm talking about way more than the latest Pronger slap on the wrist.

3) General deterioration in quality and consistency in officiating, in spite of having an extra ref.

4) Bad changes to the game like shootouts and the points awarded for losing.

I could not have said it better myself

[Wingsfan4life19 26]

A team from Anaheim, CALIFORNIA won the Stanley Cup last year... Correction, the fact that there's even a team in places like Anaheim, California.

[BlackhawksFan 4]

A team from Anaheim, CALIFORNIA won the Stanley Cup last year... Correction, the fact that there's even a team in places like Anaheim, California.

I think it's just fine to have a team anywhere as long as the travel logistics make sense and, more importantly, the market is vibrant and able to support a hockey team. It looks like Anaheim, so far, has been able to do that.

Florida and Nashville, on the other hand, have not.

[Wingsfan4life19 26]

I think it's just fine to have a team anywhere as long as the travel logistics make sense and, more importantly, the market is vibrant and able to support a hockey team. It looks like Anaheim, so far, has been able to do that.

Florida and Nashville, on the other hand, have not.

Good point. I wasn't specifically refering to Anaheim ( although I kind of was). I was regarding the amount of non-hockey cities who are succesful one year, and develop a strong following, then aren't succesful, and lose alot of fans ( Tampa Bay). The NHL needs teams in locations where there are HOCKEY fans, not just bandwagon fans.

[55fan 5,133]

1) Bettman's lack of passion and understanding for the game (alternate answer is being a slappy for idiot owners instead of a steward of the game).

2) Campbell's lack of spine and consistency when doling out punishment. and I'm talking about way more than the latest Pronger slap on the wrist.

3) General deterioration in quality and consistency in officiating, in spite of having an extra ref.

4) Bad changes to the game like shootouts and the points awarded for losing.

I can live with the 4th one, although I do think there should be a bit more overtime before going to the shootout. I do like actually having a winner. Points awarded for losing is kind of dumb, but if that were the worst thing in the NHL, we'd be in good shape.

As for numbers 1-3, you nailed it.

[RedArmy 4]

Because Pronger only receives an eight-game suspension while for the same incident Simon received a 30-game suspension. The NHL has suspended both players eight times too.

exactly

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I can live with the 4th one, although I do think there should be a bit more overtime before going to the shootout. I do like actually having a winner. Points awarded for losing is kind of dumb, but if that were the worst thing in the NHL, we'd be in good shape.

As for numbers 1-3, you nailed it.

I would definitely prefer more minutes of 4 on 4 prior to the shootout.

If they keep the shootout, they're going to have to keep awarding the point for losing because it's such an illegitimate way to lose a game. I don't think teams will be happy playing 60+ minutes of hockey in a tie game, then coming away with no points do to the shootout.

I agree though. If that were the worst thing about the league, it wouldn't be too bad.

[T-Ruff 47]

They only advertise during NHL games.

Exactly, seeing NHL commercials during games has really gotten on my nerves.... Why don't I see them during The Office, Family Guy, etc..... The NHL should take out a Super Bowl commerical next year, highlighting all the fast-paced action, how the play doesn't stop every 7 seconds, the fights, the huge saves, etc.... It would be the best thing they could do marketing-wise.....

[Cern 0]

Insisting on penetrating 'new' markets that may possibly potentially in the distant future be profitable instead of capitalizing on already hockey-crazy markets untouched by the NHL. Almost all of the SE division is a joke, they can't even give away enough tickets in Atlanta or Miami to get their arenas half-full. Football, baseball, and basketball are king in those areas, hockey is simply a joke to people down there.

Oh, and the overtime format. And this talk of making nets larger.

Edited March 17, 2008 by Cern

[Cern 0]

because their shirts on shop.nhl.com are over priced and the tax/handling fee is a biznatch.

Is it too late to add this EDGE system crap to my list? What a downgrade, all the teams have been forced into five or six inflexible templates and virtually every logo/jersey design change looks terrible compared to what they had the previous season (beyond teams that simply retained their previous design and adapted it into the new cut, the only teams with new jerseys that were actually improvements that I can think of were Boston and Tampa Bay). Plus the replica jerseys look terrible. The material seems suspiciously thin and insubstantial, the shoulder patches are cheap-looking single-piece leathery sew-on things, and they put a giant RBK logo right on the front of them because God knows you haven't been reminded quite enough times that you're wearing a RBK product. Thank god the Wings kept to the exact same design as the pre-EDGE jerseys and hence provide me with zero reason to get one instead of a vintage sweater from CCM.

Not to mention the redundant number-on-the-front trend is being adopted by more teams and will probably wind up becoming a mandatory feature in an effort to confuse audiences into thinking they're watching football on ice. Plus talk of putting advertizements onto goalie uniforms means that in a few years we'll probably start looking more and more like the Euro hockey leagues.

Wow, I write way too much sometimes

Edited March 17, 2008 by Cern

[GoalieManPat 1,007]

Almost all of the SE division is a joke, they can't even give away enough tickets in Atlanta or Miami to get their arenas half-full. Football, baseball, and basketball are king in those areas, hockey is simply a joke to people down there.

Thats nothing new. Most of the area in the SE is very "bandwagonish" with pro teams. They will only show up to a losing teams games if its college football.