What is wrong with the NHL?

[IrishAlum1997]

I enjoy watching the Stanley Cup Finals when the opportunity presents itself, and particularly when Detroit is playing. The quality of hockey is fun to watch, more so than attempting to watch a regular season game (which other than college football, I can now only tolerate NBA and NFL regular season). With their World Series, Finals, championship series, etc. underway, why in the HELL does the NHL have the games (conference finals included) coinciding with big NBA playoff games? You would think the NHL would attempt to showcase their product by picking a night onto their own, I know I would watch. With the counterprogramming strategy, I don't do anything more than check out a score after the NBA game.

Am I wrong here? Seems asinine, ESPECIALLY with 2 major market teams playing in the Stanley Cup for the 2nd straight year. Not that I would expect millions of kids to go out and pick up a hockey stick as a result, but you just might get better ratings, more advertising, increased revenues.....

 

[WabashFalcon]

Think about the demographics they are trying to hit. Is an African American going to watch Kobe or Crosby? Is a white guy EVEN going to watch hockey? I played hockey for 17 years of my life and I love it. Doesn't mean my neighbor will. Hockey's just not got the popularity now but is on the rebound.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I enjoy watching the Stanley Cup Finals when the opportunity presents itself, and particularly when Detroit is playing. The quality of hockey is fun to watch, more so than attempting to watch a regular season game (which other than college football, I can now only tolerate NBA and NFL regular season). With their World Series, Finals, championship series, etc. underway, why in the HELL does the NHL have the games (conference finals included) coinciding with big NBA playoff games? You would think the NHL would attempt to showcase their product by picking a night onto their own, I know I would watch. With the counterprogramming strategy, I don't do anything more than check out a score after the NBA game.

Am I wrong here? Seems asinine, ESPECIALLY with 2 major market teams playing in the Stanley Cup for the 2nd straight year. Not that I would expect millions of kids to go out and pick up a hockey stick as a result, but you just might get better ratings, more advertising, increased revenues.....

Well first of all, I'd hardly call Detroit and especially Pittsburgh 2 major market teams. I think TBS, errr, TNT, no, ESPN, oh yeah Versus would agree with me. 2 great hockey towns for sure, but not major markets.

Anyway, here's waht's wrong with the NHL:

1. The zone trap killed the sport for me. It made it a bore for me, the casual fan, to watch.

2. Gary Bettman

3. The lockout

4. Versus (I couldn't find the Stanley Cup finals 2 years ago - no lie)

5. Gary Bettman

** I used to really enjoy hockey, and I'm not knocking the sport at all. But for casual fans, the lockout really set the sport into a tailspin that they're still recovering from.

 

[Honey Nut Irish]

I can watch the Stanley Cup, but thats about it. Unless there is something on the line, the sport just doesn't interest me.

 

[WabashFalcon]

Hey... the rule changes made the game a lot better. No more super crease, two line passes are gone, and the trap is being made really obselete as more teams are going for old-school "dump and chace" and "puckhogging" from blue line to blue line. Plus... I fucking love the Rangers. And Lindquist. I would have his babies.

 

[acerider8]

I should probably preface this email by saying that I am not a casual hockey fan. I am a die hard hockey fan and find it inexplicable that the wonderful sport of hockey has not been able to catch on better in the states...

I digress...

Hockey is a niche sport with a niche fan base and I am completely fine with that. I don't see why there is this constant lament that it can't stack up to the NBA, MLB and NFL. In my humble opinion, if people want to waste there time watching the soap opera that has become the NBA finals over the Stanely Cup finals, then so be it. Hockey is an electrifying sports that doesn't necessarily need the casual fans (tell that to the owners, right?). People that get it, get it.

What I'm trying to say is that it doesn't bother me that the finals are on VS (who by the way do a pretty darn good job with it) and it doesn't bother me that Joe Schmoe at work doesn't know who Evgeni Malkin is. I can appreciate it and invest my time in it and love it all the same.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

I should probably preface this email by saying that I am not a casual hockey fan. I am a die hard hockey fan and find it inexplicable that the wonderful sport of hockey has not been able to catch on better in the states...

I digress...

Hockey is a niche sport with a niche fan base and I am completely fine with that. I don't see why there is this constant lament that it can't stack up to the NBA, MLB and NFL. In my humble opinion, if people want to waste there time watching the soap opera that has become the NBA finals over the Stanely Cup finals, then so be it. Hockey is an electrifying sports that doesn't necessarily need the casual fans (tell that to the owners, right?). People that get it, get it.

What I'm trying to say is that it doesn't bother me that the finals are on VS (who by the way do a pretty darn good job with it) and it doesn't bother me that Joe Schmoe at work doesn't know who Evgeni Malkin is. I can appreciate it and invest my time in it and love it all the same.

I was going to add something to this but you summed it up perfectly.

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

Hossa skates around the ice tonight with the cup over his head

 

[phork]

Gary Bettman and monstrous US expansion. Blue tailed pucks etc.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

Hossa skates around the ice tonight with the cup over his head

probably, good series man.

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

I still think it would've been completely different if Datsyuk played the first 4 games

 

[NDOM]

Well first of all, I'd hardly call Detroit and especially Pittsburgh 2 major market teams. I think TBS, errr, TNT, no, ESPN, oh yeah Versus would agree with me. 2 great hockey towns for sure, but not major markets.

Anyway, here's waht's wrong with the NHL:

1. The zone trap killed the sport for me. It made it a bore for me, the casual fan, to watch.

2. Gary Bettman

3. The lockout

4. Versus (I couldn't find the Stanley Cup finals 2 years ago - no lie)

5. Gary Bettman

** I used to really enjoy hockey, and I'm not knocking the sport at all. But for casual fans, the lockout really set the sport into a tailspin that they're still recovering from.

How can you NOT call Detroit a major market? Are you freeking kidding me? Have you not seen how good they are? Not bashing you by any means cuz I like you and all but dude.....Detroit is a MAJOR MAJOR market.

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

Not only is Detroit a major market, but there are Red Wings fans all across the country in huge numbers that I bet are driving up the viewing numbers of this finals, Red Wing fan base is ENORMOUS!

 

[WabashFalcon]

Gary Bettman and monstrous US expansion. Blue tailed pucks etc.

You shut your dirty mouth! Go Rangers... err.... The Fighting Happy Feets!

 

[NDinL.A.]

How can you NOT call Detroit a major market? Are you freeking kidding me? Have you not seen how good they are? Not bashing you by any means cuz I like you and all but dude.....Detroit is a MAJOR MAJOR market.

No, I see what you are saying. I don't consider it a major market anymore, but I don't know sh**, I'm not a marketing major. If you guys say that it is a major market, then I'll take your word for it. I misspoke there. My future mother-in-law, a MI native and HUGE Red Wings fan, would kill me anyway if she read that post ha ha. However, how good Detroit is doesn't mean crap when it comes to the size of their market. The S.A. Spurs have been terrific for years, but they are still a small market.

But no way you can tell me Pittsburgh is a major market, and that's what my main point was. Medium-to-big market maybe, but no way is it a major market. It's just not. They are considered small market in baseball, and they almost lost their team in hockey years back before Super Mario saved them. Sid the Kid is a major market name, but not the team.

Like I said in my original post, I'm not bashing hockey at all. Hell, I love soccer, so I know how it feels to absolutely love something and not understand why others don't see what you see (actually, I can see why Americans don't like the sport, but I still love it to death). I was just trying to give you a 'casual' fan's answer to the question. The zone trap made the game a bore for me, and it snowballed from there. The game is much more wide open again, and it's a much better product, but the unfortunately the damage has been done for many fans.

And being on Versus, while it might not bother you AceRider8, is still damaging the sport greatly. Like it or not, you NEED fans. Fans bring the $$$, and the money pays the superstars. And being on an obscure network, no matter how great a job they are doing, doesn't give it the exposure hockey needs, to bring back the casual fan, and of course, the kids...

 

[BGIF]

What is wrong with the NHL?

Two words

Global Warming

Carbon Footprint

It's not a green sport!


10 million illegals are not going to shout [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Òle [/FONT]over a bunch of white guys wearing all the clothes they own running for the line. Brings back bad memories.


ICE is not conducive to that market.

 

[ND FANATIC]

First of all, I love hockey, played it my whole life - but whats wrong with the NHL:

1) Gary Bettman is a complete idiot - you don't put your sports play-off series on channels no one can get. I understand that true hockey fans don't care if its on Vs., but thats not the people they should be targeting, they need to get regular sports fans who flip on ESPN everytime they turn their TV on to see whats on to sit down and watch a game - that's how you grow a fan base. I mean Christ, ESPN made poker and lumberjack competitions TV shows, I think they could make hockey work. Let them televise the games for free if you have to, but you have to get more people watching the games....

2) Nothing against the players, and I don't think its fixable, but there are a lot of names out there that are hard to pronounce. I think casual sports fans can be turned off of hockey because they can't pronounce the players names, it sounds stupid, but I think it happens.

3) Gary Bettman is a complete idiot.

 

[Quinntastic]

2) Nothing against the players, and I don't think its fixable, but there are a lot of names out there that are hard to pronounce. I think casual sports fans can be turned off of hockey because they can't pronounce the players names, it sounds stupid, but I think it happens.

I don't think that happens, but reasonable minds can disagree I guess.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

I still think it would've been completely different if Datsyuk played the first 4 games

I dont, see you in game 7

 

[PADOMERNUT]

How can you NOT call Detroit a major market? Are you freeking kidding me? Have you not seen how good they are? Not bashing you by any means cuz I like you and all but dude.....Detroit is a MAJOR MAJOR market.

Being good doesnt make you a major market. For example, Toronto is a major market, and their team sucks. Fact is with the economy the way it is its not a major market anymore. Detroit has trouble selling out their own arena in the playoffs. And dont lie, you know thats true. I couldve gotten a ticket to game 5 for face value on ticketmaster less than 24 hours before the game. How does that happen. I watch the same games you do, and there are plenty of empty seats at the Joe.

Hockeytown? Its more like hockey township. Honestly though, its not their fault. The biggest employer just went bankrupt. The economy sucks and I'm sure that has alot to do with it. That and sky high ticket prices. But my point is it is those factors that say its not a major market. The ability of the team to play well doesnt factor into whether a team is a major market team.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

Hossa skates around the ice tonight with the cup over his head

Is Hossa playing in this series? Maybe someone needs to issue an amber alert for him.

Home teams are 12-2 in game 7's so Detroit is going to win. But 6 goals in the playoffs for Hossa? Thats not what you are paying him for.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

Seems like Wings fans are growing tired of old Marian....

Marian Hossa Discussions - LetsGoWings.com Forums

 

[NDOM]

Marian Hossa was one of the biggest flops EVER in hockey period. He comes to the Wings because he said "I have a better chance on winning a cup". Now his old team has just a good a chance as the Wings do. I'm gonna get a lot of shit about this but the NHL is a scam just like the NBA is. Its all rigged. The NHL wants the Pens to win this year so they will. Just like the NBA, they want the Lakers to win so THEY will. Someone explain to me how Kobe Bryant goes 79-83 from the charity stripe through the playoffs and he goes 5-10 last night?????? Hmmmmm. Yeah the NBA wants Orlando to win at least 1 game (Since they have never won a finals game EVER) anyway. I'm done ranting.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

Marian Hossa was one of the biggest flops EVER in hockey period. He comes to the Wings because he said "I have a better chance on winning a cup". Now his old team has just a good a chance as the Wings do. I'm gonna get a lot of shit about this but the NHL is a scam just like the NBA is. Its all rigged. The NHL wants the Pens to win this year so they will. Just like the NBA, they want the Lakers to win so THEY will. Someone explain to me how Kobe Bryant goes 79-83 from the charity stripe through the playoffs and he goes 5-10 last night?????? Hmmmmm. Yeah the NBA wants Orlando to win at least 1 game (Since they have never won a finals game EVER) anyway. I'm done ranting.

come on man, put down the hooch

 

[Quinntastic]

Marian Hossa was one of the biggest flops EVER in hockey period. He comes to the Wings because he said "I have a better chance on winning a cup". Now his old team has just a good a chance as the Wings do. I'm gonna get a lot of shit about this but the NHL is a scam just like the NBA is. Its all rigged. The NHL wants the Pens to win this year so they will. Just like the NBA, they want the Lakers to win so THEY will. Someone explain to me how Kobe Bryant goes 79-83 from the charity stripe through the playoffs and he goes 5-10 last night?????? Hmmmmm. Yeah the NBA wants Orlando to win at least 1 game (Since they have never won a finals game EVER) anyway. I'm done ranting.

I agree that a lot of these games are rigged. I most certainly agree.

 

[NDOM]

I agree that a lot of these games are rigged. I most certainly agree.

Finally someone who agrees. Everyone else is so naive, they think I'm crazy. lol

 

[WabashFalcon]

C'man? How the hell will the games be rigged? It is impossible to rig a game. Even if 23423413 fouls and penalties are called but the "unwanted" team scores more points, the game isn't rigged. Unless players throw games, doesn't work.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

Yea do you actually think kobe missed those free throws the other night on purpose? Just because the NBA wanted Orlando to win a game??? Come on....

And if the NHL wanted the penguins to win the stanley cup, they wouldnt have called 9 penalties on them in game 5, whether they were warranted or not (which they were).

Dont be so naive