View Full Version : NHL Future Uncertain Once the Party's Over
WarriorLax22
06-08-2004, 03:38 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040608/sp_nm/nhl_cup_dc_9
this would suck...
I'm gonna miss the NHL too, but this could help lacrosse grow. The NLL has scheduled games in NHL cities, and ESPN would replace its NHL games with a combination of the WHA and NLL.
Snuffilufigas22
06-08-2004, 05:53 PM
Yea ESPN is talking about putting the NLL on to replace it. I'd rather see hockey though.
The WHA will be better than the NHL anyway, olympic size ice and no red line.
HdGLaxWarrior
06-08-2004, 08:02 PM
If Hockey gets cancelled, I'll be pissed! I mean thats the sport you can get 5 minutes for beating the heck out of eachother! THATS WHY I PLAY HOCKEY! Is it going to be cancelled?
its not like the whole sport will disapear because the NHL folds. theres no way that a new cba will be worked out, because the NHLPA cant accept the fact the hockey isn't a major sport anymore. hopefully the wha can change that, i think its really interesting having european and north american divisions.
Ghs_Lax25
06-08-2004, 09:28 PM
I would be so happy to see them replace NHL with NLL but then again i would be happy to see the WHA over NHL too.
anjang86
06-08-2004, 09:30 PM
I can't quite recall when the NHL jumped the shark...
was there a pivotal point where people just stopped liking it.
I'm a hockey fan but I dont follow it as much anymore cause my Penguins are terrribly terrible. It seems like the NHL went downhill when I stopped watching it...
Originally posted by nrvlc
I can't quite recall when the NHL jumped the shark...
was there a pivotal point where people just stopped liking it.
It was the trap!! Its a defensive scheme, and its just too good, its lead to a lack of scoring, and thats lead to a drop in casual fans.
a_nik_02
06-08-2004, 11:10 PM
They better figure something out. I don't know what Canadians would do without hockey!
apmlax85
06-09-2004, 12:03 AM
I seriously seriously doubt the nhl is going to fold. Will there perhaps be a work stopage, perhaps, but I think all should be well by mid year. We'll just have to wait and see. I'm hoping it all works out.
zizuhyte
06-09-2004, 12:06 AM
its like my buddy says, tampa bay gets to enjoy their cup a lil longer than most. god i hate this. im in love with the nhl :(
Lyons Lax
06-11-2004, 12:11 AM
Hello NLL contract...
gKash187
06-11-2004, 12:28 AM
I know some of you want to see some more lacrosse but does it have to come at the expense of one of the greatest sports :(.
RockStar
06-11-2004, 07:19 AM
Originally posted by nrvlc
I can't quite recall when the NHL jumped the shark...
was there a pivotal point where people just stopped liking it.
......
It happened as they grew the league from 21 to 30 teams.....not enough really good players to go around.
(Interesting Note - the NLL is talking rapid expansion and has its own unsettled labour issues which have to be dealt with before next season.....anyone see the parallels?)
Once upon a time, more than one guy was getting 60 or 70 goals per season. Now you only get one or two pushing 50.
Now, the stars' linemates aren't as good as they once were, and thus the one $8,000,000 superstar per team can often be negated by a $600,000 defensemen who's a clutch-and-grabber.
If they strike, and 6 to 8 teams go belly up, we'll see better hockey again.
FYI - I am in favour of a hard salary cap, but know it will never happen. I am strongly against a soft cap because I don't think its fair to 80 year old teams like Toronto and Detroit to have to pay a "luxury tax" with money going to poorly planned expansion teams who are now playing to empty arenas.
Thrillhouse
06-11-2004, 12:06 PM
I love watching hockey, but an Olympic size ring with no red line would be so much better. This might just work out for the best.
RockStar
06-11-2004, 02:10 PM
Losing the red line won't do much unless they also address the fact that talent is spread thinly throughout the league.
Trap teams will just redesign the classic 1-4 system and move it further back in the neutral zone. I know, because a marginal team I played for designed a really clever and effective 1-1-3 trap system for a league where there was no red-line. We stifled the best teams with it. If we can do it, a hockey genius like Pat Burns can do it better.
(Point of curiosity - the 1-1-3 we used is almost the same as the old MILL style transition defense system)
My thoughts:
-Bring back tag-up for offside,
-Make the goalie "fair game" if he leaves his crease.
-Scrap the instigator rule, so the goons can protect the stars from cheap shots
-Move the goal line back a few feet so there's a bigger attack zone (all goals come from the front of the net.....moving the line out was stupid!)
-No touch icing (just for safety....no one should end their career just to prevent an icing call).
This stuff will lead to a few more goals, the rest will come when the Anaheims, Carolinas, and Nashvilles of this world go belly up and fold.....the good players will be spread among fewer teams and hockey gets good again!