Hockey is officially dead...does anyone care?

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The NHL will cancel the season on Wednesday...officially.

I love hockey, but I have to believe that this will kill what's left of the NHL fanbase in this country. Nobody was watching hockey before the labor dispute, and nobody will be around once its resolved.

Thoughts?
 
I barely even knew it was gone. I find most sports boring as hell to watch, but I will say that hockey videogames are usually really fun.
 
[quote name='evilmax17']I barely even knew it was gone. I find most sports boring as hell to watch, but I will say that hockey videogames are usually really fun.[/quote]

NHL '95 on the Genesis is still one of my favorites.
 
Hockey needs to be gone for a few years so they kill off several teams, particularly the ones in the south. I'm from Dallas, and who the hell plays ice hockey in 100 degree heat?
 
I don't care. I'll miss the playoffs but baseball will be going on by then anyway. They need to contract about 8 teams (that aren't the Devils or Rangers), put a salary cap on team spending (I think the players already agreed to this), and remarket the sport. It's just not popular enough to be considered a "major" sport in the US. I think less teams would help though because you would have a better product on the ice as a result...
 
I'm not really much of a sports fan (football, basketball, hockey, soccer, hockey, etc.), so I wouldn't miss any of them if they dropped out of sight for a season or two. If multi-millionaire players and multi-billionaire owners want to blow the whole season arguing about money, more power to them. Some of us in the real world actually have to work for a living.
 
[quote name='javeryh']I don't care. I'll miss the playoffs but baseball will be going on by then anyway. They need to contract about 8 teams (that aren't the Devils or Rangers), put a salary cap on team spending (I think the players already agreed to this), and remarket the sport. It's just not popular enough to be considered a "major" sport in the US. I think less teams would help though because you would have a better product on the ice as a result...[/quote]


Sorry, but I've got to disagree.
If you did pare it down that tightly, you'd at least have to maintain the original 6 (Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers.)
The rest of the franchises can fight over the extra slots, but the Original 6 would need and automatic inclusion.
 
WOOT WOOT! Now theres no godamn sharks games being played over my Warriors games. (isnt it sad how i consistently enjoy the Warriors)
 
javeryh wrote:
I don't care. I'll miss the playoffs but baseball will be going on by then anyway. They need to contract about 8 teams (that aren't the Devils or Rangers), put a salary cap on team spending (I think the players already agreed to this), and remarket the sport. It's just not popular enough to be considered a "major" sport in the US. I think less teams would help though because you would have a better product on the ice as a result...



Sorry, but I've got to disagree.
If you did pare it down that tightly, you'd at least have to maintain the original 6 (Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers.)
The rest of the franchises can fight over the extra slots, but the Original 6 would need and automatic inclusion.
Click to expand...

I think javery is right on this one. Isn't it the Black hawks that has the worst record ever in all major sports? Plus leaving the west coast out would : A) lose money that west coasters could possibly spend on the league. B) Someone will start a competing league in the west so fans over here can GO to games.
 
[quote name='JSweeney'][quote name='javeryh']I don't care. I'll miss the playoffs but baseball will be going on by then anyway. They need to contract about 8 teams (that aren't the Devils or Rangers), put a salary cap on team spending (I think the players already agreed to this), and remarket the sport. It's just not popular enough to be considered a "major" sport in the US. I think less teams would help though because you would have a better product on the ice as a result...[/quote]


Sorry, but I've got to disagree.
If you did pare it down that tightly, you'd at least have to maintain the original 6 (Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers.)
The rest of the franchises can fight over the extra slots, but the Original 6 would need and automatic inclusion.[/quote]

No... I meant lose about 8 teams so there's 24 or so left (including the Devils and Rangers). The original teams should stay - it's all the expansion teams that have to go....
 
I miss hockey, but even if they did salvage the season, they're not getting a dime from me at this point (unless they cut jersey prices). I've made due with indoor lacross and AHL to fill the void.
 
[quote name='basketkase543']Anybody want to explain what is causing the season to be cancelled for the 2nd year in a row? I don't follow hockey so I'm not really sure why this is happening.[/quote]
it wasn't cancelled last year.
 
Did anyone see the article on espn.com about the players agreeing to the salary cap? I guess they gave a number for it and the owners said it was too high. fuckin greedy bastards
 
I'm a huge Bruins fan and I miss hockey a lot. I think about it every day.

It hasn't been gone for 2 years. Its been gone for this season, and maybe next season, but it was here the season before.

The following cities do not have what it takes to sustain a hockey team:
Raleigh, NC (Hurricanes)
Columbus, OH (Blue Jackets)
Nashville, TN (Predators)
Sunrise, FL (Panthers)
Tampa, FL (Lightning)
Atlanta, GA (Thrashers)

Make all but one of these teams gone. I don't know why you'd move a hockey team from Hartford, CT to Raleigh, NC. They could have gone anywhere, but they went to North Carolina? What the hell?

They've been trying to reduce fighting in the NHL to appease the anti violence crowd. Why? They don't watch hockey. They picked Nascar country to expand into, and they got rid of the one thing they might want to see?

Make the season shorter by about 10 or 15 games, no more games on back to back nights, and no more 3 games in 4 nights deals. The players just suck when they do that.

Make ties equal to a loss. You'll see 2 teams absolutely killing each other in the last few minutes of a tie, or OT.

Salary cap is a no brainer, and the very reason why there is no hockey today. Owners want it, players don't, and both will gladly waste 2 seasons to get their way. Whoever blinks first will lose.

Get better marketing and better TV coverage. Have all games in HDTV. Hockey is one of those sports that is 10 times better when you watch it live, unlike Football, but the widescreen format will really help hockey. Sell the fighting aspect heavily.

Abolish the 2 line pass rule, at least for the redline.

Stop having the conferences play each other, make it like how baseball used to be with 2 different leagues. Play your division a ton, and the other conference teams some. Everyone wants to see Bruins-Canadiens or some of the other rivalries, nobody gives a damn about Bruins-Phoenix or Flyers-Sharks.

Reduce ticket prices drastically. Hockey fans are blue collar people, its not an affluent or corporate sport like football. The more fans you price out, the more fans you lose, and the less people get interested in hockey, because hockey is 10 times better in person.
 
[quote name='dafoomie']I'm a huge Bruins fan and I miss hockey a lot. I think about it every day.

It hasn't been gone for 2 years. Its been gone for this season, and maybe next season, but it was here the season before.

The following cities do not have what it takes to sustain a hockey team:
Raleigh, NC (Hurricanes)
Columbus, OH (Blue Jackets)
Nashville, TN (Predators)
Sunrise, FL (Panthers)
Tampa, FL (Lightning)
Atlanta, GA (Thrashers)

Make all but one of these teams gone. I don't know why you'd move a hockey team from Hartford, CT to Raleigh, NC. They could have gone anywhere, but they went to North Carolina? What the hell?

They've been trying to reduce fighting in the NHL to appease the anti violence crowd. Why? They don't watch hockey. They picked Nascar country to expand into, and they got rid of the one thing they might want to see?

Make the season shorter by about 10 or 15 games, no more games on back to back nights, and no more 3 games in 4 nights deals. The players just suck when they do that.

Make ties equal to a loss. You'll see 2 teams absolutely killing each other in the last few minutes of a tie, or OT.

Salary cap is a no brainer, and the very reason why there is no hockey today. Owners want it, players don't, and both will gladly waste 2 seasons to get their way. Whoever blinks first will lose.

Get better marketing and better TV coverage. Have all games in HDTV. Hockey is one of those sports that is 10 times better when you watch it live, unlike Football, but the widescreen format will really help hockey. Sell the fighting aspect heavily.

Abolish the 2 line pass rule, at least for the redline.

Stop having the conferences play each other, make it like how baseball used to be with 2 different leagues. Play your division a ton, and the other conference teams some. Everyone wants to see Bruins-Canadiens or some of the other rivalries, nobody gives a damn about Bruins-Phoenix or Flyers-Sharks.

Reduce ticket prices drastically. Hockey fans are blue collar people, its not an affluent or corporate sport like football. The more fans you price out, the more fans you lose, and the less people get interested in hockey, because hockey is 10 times better in person.[/quote]
You make a lot of good points, unfortunately I wonder if the NHL will actually come back.
 
[quote name='JSweeney'][quote name='javeryh']I don't care. I'll miss the playoffs but baseball will be going on by then anyway. They need to contract about 8 teams (that aren't the Devils or Rangers), put a salary cap on team spending (I think the players already agreed to this), and remarket the sport. It's just not popular enough to be considered a "major" sport in the US. I think less teams would help though because you would have a better product on the ice as a result...[/quote]


Sorry, but I've got to disagree.
If you did pare it down that tightly, you'd at least have to maintain the original 6 (Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers.)
The rest of the franchises can fight over the extra slots, but the Original 6 would need and automatic inclusion.[/quote]

Original Twelve, even.

I did care before, but I stopped somewhere along the way. It's hard to miss something when stubbornness is all that's keeping it from existing in the first place.

That said, I'm planning on hitting EB up on Friday for a copy of one of the NHL games for my PS2. It's time for some hockey to be seen in my house this season...
 
I miss watching the bruins, and since I just got HDTV the games would have been even better to watch. (I was watching a college game last night in HD and it was incredible looking)
 
You for got to mention the Penguins, Capitals Coyotes, Oilers, Flames and Sharks, none of them have turned a profit in years. But I dont think many people care anymore, especially outside canada. I dont even think a salary cap would be any good unless it is around 35 mil, cause hockey wont be as popular when it comes back, which isnt saying much in the first place.
 
[quote name='fieldkillah']I miss watching the bruins, and since I just got HDTV the games would have been even better to watch. (I was watching a college game last night in HD and it was incredible looking)[/quote]

hockey is awesome in HD
 
[quote name='snotnose_colossal']You for got to mention the Penguins, Capitals Coyotes, Oilers, Flames and Sharks, none of them have turned a profit in years. But I dont think many people care anymore, especially outside canada. I dont even think a salary cap would be any good unless it is around 35 mil, cause hockey wont be as popular when it comes back, which isnt saying much in the first place.[/quote]
Projected cap is 40 million.

The Bruins have been very profitable, a smart and responsible owner, in a decent market (not Columbus or Raleigh or Nashville) can make a profit. The NHL's biggest problem is their TV revenue... There isn't any. Most of the NFL's money is from TV.

If they fix the game and bring it back to the level of the 80s and early 90s, hockey will be fine. If they keep having this boring shit with 0-0 ties and teams not even trying to score, then people won't watch.
 
What is it about Columbus that doesn't make it a good hockey market? Aside from the team being complete crap, I remember in their first 1.5 years, they sold out most of their games. Columbus may not have had hockey ingrained in them, but the town took to it pretty quickly. Its when the people realized that the Jackets didn't have the stamina to last in the second half of the season, ticket sales dropped pretty dramatically. Kind of like most sports in Columbus, if the team doesn't perform, naturally the ticket sales will drop.
 
[quote name='Sunwoo22']What is it about Columbus that doesn't make it a good hockey market? Aside from the team being complete crap, I remember in their first 1.5 years, they sold out most of their games. Columbus may not have had hockey ingrained in them, but the town took to it pretty quickly. Its when the people realized that the Jackets didn't have the stamina to last in the second half of the season, ticket sales dropped pretty dramatically. Kind of like most sports in Columbus, if the team doesn't perform, naturally the ticket sales will drop.[/quote]
Thats how it usually is when a team moves. They are popular at first and then people lose interest. You are right about them not competing tho. If the team doesn't have a chance why bother.
 
the problem with a 35-40 mil cap is what to do with teams like Toronto and Philly who paid more than that for one line. Nobody is gonna wanna pay Alex Mogilny 9 million a year anymore. And the reason Colombus is a bad place for a team is that hockey is not popular enough. Look at somewhere like Chicago were the team is shit, but they still sell out all the time
 
[quote name='cthcky33'][quote name='fieldkillah']I miss watching the bruins, and since I just got HDTV the games would have been even better to watch. (I was watching a college game last night in HD and it was incredible looking)[/quote]

hockey is awesome in HD[/quote]

I'll second that! (of course most anything is awesome in HD)
 
[quote name='Sunwoo22']What is it about Columbus that doesn't make it a good hockey market? Aside from the team being complete crap, I remember in their first 1.5 years, they sold out most of their games. Columbus may not have had hockey ingrained in them, but the town took to it pretty quickly. Its when the people realized that the Jackets didn't have the stamina to last in the second half of the season, ticket sales dropped pretty dramatically. Kind of like most sports in Columbus, if the team doesn't perform, naturally the ticket sales will drop.[/quote]
Columbus, Ohio may be a nice city, but its simply not big enough to support a team in one of the 4 major sports. Cleveland and Cincinatti both have teams, and they're considered smallish.

Breaking news, the NHLPA has conceded to the owners' demands for a salary cap, to try and save the season, but a deal is still not close. Stay tuned.
 
people keep saying that the southern teams need to dissapear and such, but the only way for hockey to have more fans is to broaden its audience out of new england and canada, and most of the southern teams do pretty well attendance wise. and yes, a lot of people play hockey in the south, me included
 
[quote name='cthcky33']people keep saying that the southern teams need to dissapear and such, but the only way for hockey to have more fans is to broaden its audience out of new england and canada, and most of the southern teams do pretty well attendance wise. and yes, a lot of people play hockey in the south, me included[/quote]

Since when have Chicago and Detroit been in New England?
 
[quote name='snotnose_colossal']the problem with a 35-40 mil cap is what to do with teams like Toronto and Philly who paid more than that for one line. Nobody is gonna wanna pay Alex Mogilny 9 million a year anymore. And the reason Colombus is a bad place for a team is that hockey is not popular enough. Look at somewhere like Chicago were the team is shit, but they still sell out all the time[/quote]

Chicago does not sell out all the time. In fact they have had one of the lowest attendance averages in the league for a couple years now. Where as Colombus still sells out many of their games and has a good attendance record for an expansion team.
 
[quote name='Consummate Canuck'][quote name='snotnose_colossal']the problem with a 35-40 mil cap is what to do with teams like Toronto and Philly who paid more than that for one line. Nobody is gonna wanna pay Alex Mogilny 9 million a year anymore. And the reason Colombus is a bad place for a team is that hockey is not popular enough. Look at somewhere like Chicago were the team is shit, but they still sell out all the time[/quote]

Chicago does not sell out all the time. In fact they have had one of the lowest attendance averages in the league for a couple years now. Where as Colombus still sells out many of their games and has a good attendance record for an expansion team.[/quote]
Chicago has the worst owner in sports... He won't even televise the home games. Its not that Chicago is a bad city for sports, they can easily support a hockey team.

There is a place for hockey in the south, but not at the scale they've expanded. Florida isn't big enough for two teams. Atlanta is a good choice, especially since the Flames were there originally. But I would question whether Nashville is a good choice, and Raleigh is far, far too small for any major sport.
 
[quote name='Consummate Canuck'][quote name='snotnose_colossal']the problem with a 35-40 mil cap is what to do with teams like Toronto and Philly who paid more than that for one line. Nobody is gonna wanna pay Alex Mogilny 9 million a year anymore. And the reason Colombus is a bad place for a team is that hockey is not popular enough. Look at somewhere like Chicago were the team is shit, but they still sell out all the time[/quote]

Chicago does not sell out all the time. In fact they have had one of the lowest attendance averages in the league for a couple years now. Where as Colombus still sells out many of their games and has a good attendance record for an expansion team.[/quote]

i remember seeing something on espn about how the chicago wolves(the ahl team) had higher attendance then the blackhawks did a few times
 
Hockey? Thats the one with the ice skating, right?

The only loss here is the memory of seeing 'Dragnet' with a friend who was a big LA Kings fan for unfathomable reasons, and getting a great laugh out of Ackroyd's restroom rant about Los Angeles.
 
[quote name='dafoomie']I'm a huge Bruins fan and I miss hockey a lot. I think about it every day.

It hasn't been gone for 2 years. Its been gone for this season, and maybe next season, but it was here the season before.

The following cities do not have what it takes to sustain a hockey team:
Raleigh, NC (Hurricanes)
Columbus, OH (Blue Jackets)
Nashville, TN (Predators)
Sunrise, FL (Panthers)
Tampa, FL (Lightning)
Atlanta, GA (Thrashers)

Make all but one of these teams gone. I don't know why you'd move a hockey team from Hartford, CT to Raleigh, NC. They could have gone anywhere, but they went to North Carolina? What the hell?

They've been trying to reduce fighting in the NHL to appease the anti violence crowd. Why? They don't watch hockey. They picked Nascar country to expand into, and they got rid of the one thing they might want to see?

Make the season shorter by about 10 or 15 games, no more games on back to back nights, and no more 3 games in 4 nights deals. The players just suck when they do that.

Make ties equal to a loss. You'll see 2 teams absolutely killing each other in the last few minutes of a tie, or OT.

Salary cap is a no brainer, and the very reason why there is no hockey today. Owners want it, players don't, and both will gladly waste 2 seasons to get their way. Whoever blinks first will lose.

Get better marketing and better TV coverage. Have all games in HDTV. Hockey is one of those sports that is 10 times better when you watch it live, unlike Football, but the widescreen format will really help hockey. Sell the fighting aspect heavily.

Abolish the 2 line pass rule, at least for the redline.

Stop having the conferences play each other, make it like how baseball used to be with 2 different leagues. Play your division a ton, and the other conference teams some. Everyone wants to see Bruins-Canadiens or some of the other rivalries, nobody gives a damn about Bruins-Phoenix or Flyers-Sharks.

Reduce ticket prices drastically. Hockey fans are blue collar people, its not an affluent or corporate sport like football. The more fans you price out, the more fans you lose, and the less people get interested in hockey, because hockey is 10 times better in person.[/quote]

Raleigh is actually a very good spot for Hockey. This area is filled with a ton of people from the north due to a lot of the technological companies moving to the south (such as IBM). Not only that, but this area is growing by leaps and bounds. Also when the team was competitive, this area was huge into hockey. When they made their run to the Stanley cup, this area was into it from the start, and only since the team has become one of the crappier teams have sales been down.

The main problem with hockey here is that it costs a ton of money to go to the games, and despite the fact that Raleigh has a new arena, it is constructed so shitty, I will not go. Renunion Arena is 25+ years old in Dallas and is built of a better quality. Who in their right mind does not build in a drink holder into the chair? Not only that, but if you sit near the top, you constantly feel like you are going to fall over.

Not only does the arena suck, but it is damn hard to get to. Raleigh has horrible traffic problems and the two major arena's here are right in the heart of it (the RBC center and the football stadium, which for some reason the name slips my mind).

My cousin works on Irbe's pool and my dad built basements for Brindamour and Francis, so if hockey leaves the Triangle it will really suck (though Raleigh sucks ass in general). I just hope they get competitive again, and lower the amount it costs to go.
 
Meh. I'd like hockey to come back, but if this kills it I won't be devistated or anything.
 
MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, etc. They all consist of a bunch of rich overpaid athletes and cranky billionaire owners. I just find it funny when rich people feel the need to argue and bring the season to a crashing halt because they're not making enough money.
 
I miss hockey more then anything right now. Being a Leafs fan, I wasn't totally aware of the reality of some of these other team's losses until this catastrophe. The Leafs make a ridiculous amount of money, something near $2 million per home playoff game.

The thing is, I think all/most Canadian teams are economically viable under the right system. The people here are just so passionate about the sport that they will support it under all circumstances.

Another thing is the ridiculous ticket prices some teams have. I know for tickets at the Leafs game, The third best section is $200 samolians a seat. The average man cannot afford that more then maybe once a season.

By the way, this new deal the players offer is gold. The owners CANNOT afford to reject it and keep credibility.
 
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