Sayoonara NHL

Any hockey fans out there on TNL?
What do you guys think of this lockout? Do you think the whole season will be cancelled? Do you think the Player's Union is being a big cock? Do you think that, if this season is cancelled and the lockout continues, there will ever be another NHL season?

Do you live in Jersey and love the Devils, like me? ;o) Or what's your team?

Just generally how do you feel about all this nonsense. And if you weren't aware, I'll go dig up some links about the situation later.

I've never really been a big NHL fan so I could care less. I think this lockout is really going to decimate the fan base; it will be interesting to see how the whole thing plays out.

I've heard from the radio that 70% of people couldn't care less. about the sport, so I doubt it'll be missed much.

Same thing happened with baseball.

Uhh... baseball was missed quite a bit, especially around World Series time. The news was showing clips of the Japanese World Series. The strike totally destroyed the fan base of the MLB for 4-5 years, though. Right now, though, MLB is as popular as ever, thanks to the success of teams all across the country.

I was finally going to be able to attend a Kings game this season. Son of a bitch!

Being in California, the NHL is about all I've got. No Thursday Night Hockey on ESPN. :(

You live in San Diego right?

You got the Chargers.

Oh yeah, the Chargers. Fuck them. And fuck LT, too.

Not even anyone in SD likes the Chargers. Sunday's game against the Jets will be blacked out because 13,000 tickets were unsold by the deadline.

LOL.

You know, for my entire life, living in the NYC tri-state area, I would see ads for sports games on TV and hear "subject to blackout"... but I never knew what that meant, or what causes it. We never get games blacked out.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Right now, though, MLB is as popular as ever, thanks to the success of teams all across the country.

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You're kidding, right? The homerun race in 1998 helped repair the game, but it is nowhere near as popular as its ever been. It is eating the NFL's dust just like every other sport.

BTW, the NHL will survive this just fine, just like it did in 1994. The naysayers don't watch hockey anyway, so who gives a shit what they think?

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Uhh... baseball was missed quite a bit, especially around World Series time. The news was showing clips of the Japanese World Series. The strike totally destroyed the fan base of the MLB for 4-5 years, though. Right now, though, MLB is as popular as ever, thanks to the success of teams all across the country.

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Well I agree with that, but there was a ton of negative news here at the time and not alot people cared to see MLB continue.

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Originally Posted by voltz

I've heard from the radio that 70% of people couldn't care less. about the sport, so I doubt it'll be missed much.

Same thing happened with baseball.

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70% of people don't care about hockey huh... Maybe in the states, but up here hockey is a way of life pretty much. It's gonna be painful if the lockout continues all year, even for myself -- I'm not much of a hockey fan personally, but I'll watch the odd game or two.

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Originally Posted by Rhydant

Not even anyone in SD likes the Chargers.

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Cerrection, everyone in San Diego hates the chargers.

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Originally Posted by cka

It's gonna be painful if the lockout continues all year, even for myself -- I'm not much of a hockey fan personally, but I'll watch the odd game or two.

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I have a cousin who took it pretty hard when they sold off the North Stars (god damn you minnisota!), so I could imagine this year might be it for him.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Uhh... baseball was missed quite a bit, especially around World Series time. The news was showing clips of the Japanese World Series. The strike totally destroyed the fan base of the MLB for 4-5 years, though. Right now, though, MLB is as popular as ever, thanks to the success of teams all across the country.

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How much of a "world" series is it, when different countries have one :) Anyway, I think that this business is really going to hurt business... but I still have my ESPN NHL 2k5 for a nice $20 :)

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

LOL.

You know, for my entire life, living in the NYC tri-state area, I would see ads for sports games on TV and hear "subject to blackout"... but I never knew what that meant, or what causes it. We never get games blacked out.

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Well, what they usually mean with those is because of different stations showing different things. For example, sometimes I'd be watching something on one UPN channel, and then all of a sudden it'd be blocked out because my area wants you to watch the UPN channel that is "closer" to home. Or how sometimes you'll miss Smackdown because a baseball game is on.

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Originally Posted by voltz

I have a cousin who took it pretty hard when they sold off the North Stars (god damn you minnisota!), so I could imagine this year might be it for him.

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I'm from CT... I'll leave it at that :)

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Originally Posted by TobalRox

I'm from CT... I'll leave it at that :)

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So am I.

I was nearly in tears at the last Whalers game.

Have not watched hockey since.

So, in other words.The NHL, The Player's union, Gary Bettman, The owners and The overpaid crybaby players can go screw themselves. I could care less what stupid hole you have dug yourselves into. You all share the blame, you all freaking deserve it.

Weak dude.

All those overpriced players are gonna get theirs when they discover the game is willing to continue without them.

Seeing how I live in a city that breathes hockey, this news gets pretty damn annoying, since I dont give one toot about how many million some jock is making. I dont know the whole story but apparently its caused by the unsastified team owners with their share or something. Lame.

I think they were trying to get a salary cap in place but I guess players didn't want it.

How much does the average NHL owner make? The average player? How about the average fan? Maybe they should put a cap on ticket ($15), beer ($2) and merchandise prices. That way at least the fans win.

And I'm very happy that the Stars were moved to Texas. Otherwise I couldn't give two shits about hockey.

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Originally Posted by Hot Like Wasabi

I think they were trying to get a salary cap in place but I guess players didn't want it.

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I say force it on them and if they don't like it they can get the f*** out!

In about 2-5 years, it'll be better then it's ever been because of that.

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Originally Posted by Six

And I'm very happy that the Stars were moved to Texas. Otherwise I couldn't give two shits about hockey.

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You bastard! :curse: :curse: :curse:

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

LOL.

You know, for my entire life, living in the NYC tri-state area, I would see ads for sports games on TV and hear "subject to blackout"... but I never knew what that meant, or what causes it. We never get games blacked out.

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Yeah, but we generally only get to see the Jets and the Giants.

NHL really DROPPED THE BALL, much like MLB.

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Originally Posted by Andrew

NHL really DROPPED THE BALL, much like MLB.

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Don't be so PUCKING insensitive.

There's a weird-ass league being formed up here in Canada to compensate for the strike. Tickets are slightly expensive, but most fans don't mind. Besides, we're Canadian; we'll do anything for more hockey.

Okay, the thing about the players is that nobody in their right mind would care about them. Making 100,000 dollars a year for 35 years you'd only make around 3.5 million in your lifetime, minus pention and whatever. These players are complaining because they will have to make that in a year! Don't expect sympathy from anybody. Their major complaint is that they were told they could have 8 million, and now the owners are going back on their word, but if you look at the NHLs business strategy, you can easily see that with no huge TV deal (In the States) and fledgling exposure there's no way to stay afloat with that kind of cash floating out of the companies pockets.

Nobody's asking them to give up being millionaires... people are asking them to stop being pussies and make a little less so they can, in the long term, make a lot more. Oh and 100,000 in 35 years is enough to hold a family of 6 comfortably. It's sick how greedy some people get.

I could understand if this was NBA or NFL where the owners make shit loads because the sport is so widely loved, but hockey in America isn't as respectable as those sports, so you've got to either liven up the game or cut some money. Raising ticket prices isn't an option for any teams not in Detroit, Toronto, or New York, where the things sell out because there's so much population or there's a high percentage of hardcore, diehard fans (Detroit).

Man... it's so annoying. "I'm only making 3.5 million a year for ten years... I'M RUINED!"

The NHL would get alot more exposure if ABC were to pickup more than just the All-Star game. The All-Star game damned boring to watch, mainly because nothing goes on. There is no checking, and its mostly just showboating. The American crowd sees this and then decides that hockey is boring.

If only all regular season games were like the playoffs. :(

sucks all around but at least we have an OHL team here and i can finally watch them. the last 3 years ive been unable to because of my old job. now with better hours and the fact that i can get free tickets to every game it wont be so bad.

just one question. if players signed on for one year deals.....and say this lasts all year. are they free agents at the start of next season?

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Originally Posted by Rhydant

The NHL would get alot more exposure if ABC were to pickup more than just the All-Star game. The All-Star game damned boring to watch, mainly because nothing goes on. There is no checking, and its mostly just showboating. The American crowd sees this and then decides that hockey is boring.

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i agree. or if the espns would show more games. they have two channels and they show what, mebbe 3 games tops across both for a whole week?

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Originally Posted by Andrew

Okay, the thing about the players is that nobody in their right mind would care about them. Making 100,000 dollars a year for 35 years you'd only make around 3.5 million in your lifetime, minus pention and whatever. These players are complaining because they will have to make that in a year! Don't expect sympathy from anybody.

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The MLBPA made the same mistake, and it took McGwire and Sosa to bring baseball back to the levels it was at in 1993. I think its even popular now, but I doubt theyre gonna make that mistake again.

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I could understand if this was NBA or NFL where the owners make shit loads because the sport is so widely loved, but hockey in America isn't as respectable as those sports, so you've got to either liven up the game or cut some money.

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No shit. The WNBA was threatening to strike this year or last year because their salaries were so miniscule compared to the NBA ones... uhh hello?

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i agree. or if the espns would show more games. they have two channels and they show what, mebbe 3 games tops across both for a whole week?

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They dont show that many games because the ratings are shit.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

They dont show that many games because the ratings are shit.

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quite a catch 22 it is. plus all they ever show is the same 8 or so teams over and over.

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Originally Posted by Dragonmaster Dyne

quite a catch 22 it is. plus all they ever show is the same 8 or so teams over and over.

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Sorry but its really not. Showing more games on TV wont raise their ratings. Higher ratings would lead to more games on TV.

You cant blame ESPN if nobody is watching even the few hockey games they put on TV.

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Originally Posted by Andrew

I could understand if this was NBA or NFL where the owners make shit loads because the sport is so widely loved, but hockey in America isn't as respectable as those sports, so you've got to either liven up the game or cut some money.

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liven up the game how? more scoring like everyone seems to think? thats such an artificial fix. the sport is "lively" enough. they just need to chill on the penalties a bit. in recent years the pace of the game has dropped to that of an NBA game with how many stoppages of play there are.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Sorry but its really not. Showing more games on TV wont raise their ratings. Higher ratings would lead to more games on TV.

You cant blame ESPN if nobody is watching even the few hockey games they put on TV.

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you see. nobody really knows when theyre on. with football and the other sports you have set days that you know FOR SURE that the games will be on. with the hockey sometimes its "thursday night hockey", sometiomes its "sunday night hockey". if they put more effort into it, brought more teams to the fold that are exciting to watch (and not just the big name teams that usually play boring ass trap hocky....cough NJ) they'd get ratings. more exposure equals more ratings. cram that shit down peoples throats.

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Originally Posted by Six

How much does the average NHL owner make? The average player? How about the average fan? Maybe they should put a cap on ticket ($15), beer ($2) and merchandise prices. That way at least the fans win.

And I'm very happy that the Stars were moved to Texas. Otherwise I couldn't give two shits about hockey.

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Average NHL owner makes negative money. Hence the problem. Average NHL player makes 1.8 million I believe.

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Originally Posted by Dragonmaster Dyne

you see. nobody really knows when theyre on. with football and the other sports you have set days that you know FOR SURE that the games will be on. with the hockey sometimes its "thursday night hockey", sometiomes its "sunday night hockey". if they put more effort into it, brought more teams to the fold that are exciting to watch (and not just the big name teams that usually play boring ass trap hocky....cough NJ) they'd get ratings. more exposure equals more ratings. cram that shit down peoples throats.

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:oP
Yeah yeah, knock the trap all you want, 3 cups baby!
The excitement in being a Devils fan nowadays is "Oh man, with their mediocre scorers, can they score enough goals to hold off the competition?"
This strike probably hurts me (and the canadians) the most, as after this season my beloved Devils will most likely be decimated. Niedermayer may leave, Stevens retire, other players to follow. makes me sad.

MLSnet.com has every SINGLE MLS GAME in FULL for free available for streaming online. Full picture and everything.

I wish NHL.com put some games online. NHL radio was the best thing ever for me when I was away at school and couldn't watch the devils, but being able to see it would be the best.

On-topic, it just makes me angry that the players' union is being so selfish. I know averages hide lots of bad stuff, but dropping average player salary a half-million and adding a salary cap would not be anywhere near a bad thing for the game. Teams are already very competitive, but there are still large standings discrepancies that could by shortened by the balance a salary cap would add.

Bottom line: the NHL's been losing money, and not just because of bad ratings. (The world cup of hockey however got TREMENDOUS ratings....for hockey.) The players need to suck it up if they wish to continue making a living off the sport they truly love.

Edit: Sad to see that so few people are hockey fans, and that half this thread was devoted to baseball.

Tickets for cheap seats to Devils games are 20 dollars regular season. Why you wouldn't go to that, I don't know. Games in person are fantastic. Bring a friend and bring some food. I could use some help cheering. (When play resumes, if play resumes.)

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Originally Posted by Cowutopia

Edit: Sad to see that so few people are hockey fans, and that half this thread was devoted to baseball.

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It's just reality. There are like five hockey fans in the US.

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Originally Posted by burgundy

It's just reality. There are like five hockey fans in the US.

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That's just moronic. You, being in the NY metro area, should know that nearly every NY Ranger game is sold out despite the fact they have sucked major ass for many years. Even the Islanders averaged 11,000+ per game.

The NHL is major, major trouble. Over the past decade and a half, the league completely lost sight of its major revenue source - fans drawn through the gate. Their TV revenues have always been shit and their ratings have been well behind the pace of the big three major sports. In order to accomodate the higher salaries that teams like the aforementioned Rangers pioneered, they have been alienating their fan base through monumental ticket price increases and season ticket "packages" that required you to pay for pre-season fluff at regular season prices. I saw the NY Rangers seats jump from $16.00 for the "blue" seats to nearly double that in a period of less than 10 years. The hardcore hockey fans have been turned off and its reflected in gate revenue and television ratings. 10 or 15 years ago, the NHL had a religious following among its faithful fan base that supported the league for 10 decades. As the prima donnas multiplied, the fan base was turned off as it slowly morphed into every other major sport - overpriced players, overpriced tickets and apathy.

The league lost 225 million last year and nearly a billion in the last five. The players are unwilling to negotiate realistically and the owners are responsible for their escalating salaries. I don't see the two coming together any time soon and I fear that the league will collapse at some point in the future. It cannot exist as it is and the Players Union refuses to believe it.

Hockey has very little revenue besides gate revenue. Do the math and you can figure out why they are in the tank. It sucks for hockey fans, but what comes in the aftermath of this mess might just be a better product for those fans even if it might be an entirely new league. In this debacle, everybody loses - the owners, the players, and the fans. It will never be the same again.

Not counting those canadians who moved here?

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Originally Posted by voltz

Not counting those canadians who moved here?

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Yeah, the five that moved here might be the five Burg is referring to. :P

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Originally Posted by haohmaru

That's just moronic. You, being in the NY metro area, should know that nearly every NY Ranger game is sold out despite the fact they have sucked major ass for many years. Even the Islanders averaged 11,000+ per game.

The NHL is major, major trouble. Over the past decade and a half, the league completely lost sight of its major revenue source - fans drawn through the gate. Their TV revenues have always been shit and their ratings have been well behind the pace of the big three major sports. In order to accomodate the higher salaries that teams like the aforementioned Rangers pioneered, they have been alienating their fan base through monumental ticket price increases and season ticket "packages" that required you to pay for pre-season fluff at regular season prices. I saw the NY Rangers seats jump from $16.00 for the "blue" seats to nearly double that in a period of less than 10 years. The hardcore hockey fans have been turned off and its reflected in gate revenue and television ratings. 10 or 15 years ago, the NHL had a religious following among its faithful fan base that supported the league for 10 decades. As the prima donnas multiplied, the fan base was turned off as it slowly morphed into every other major sport - overpriced players, overpriced tickets and apathy.

The league lost 225 million last year and nearly a billion in the last five. The players are unwilling to negotiate realistically and the owners are responsible for their escalating salaries. I don't see the two coming together any time soon and I fear that the league will collapse at some point in the future. It cannot exist as it is and the Players Union refuses to believe it.

Hockey has very little revenue besides gate revenue. Do the math and you can figure out why they are in the tank. It sucks for hockey fans, but what comes in the aftermath of this mess might just be a better product for those fans even if it might be an entirely new league. In this debacle, everybody loses - the owners, the players, and the fans. It will never be the same again.

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:(
Exactly.
And by so few hockey fans, I meant so few on these forums. I personally know a good deal of hockey fans, probably because Jersey has had so much success recently. It seems more people are Devils fans than other pseduo-Jersey teams, and even the real ones. (nets/metrostars) Or maybe I just live in a good town.

Ugh haho, you summarized everything so well....when all the bad news is condensed into 2 crystal clear paragraphs it actually makes me feel like I want to cry.
...Okay, I'm actually crying. DAMN YOU FOUL GODS!

feel free to make with the jokes now.

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Originally Posted by Cowutopia

:(
Exactly.
And by so few hockey fans, I meant so few on these forums. I personally know a good deal of hockey fans, probably because Jersey has had so much success recently. It seems more people are Devils fans than other pseduo-Jersey teams, and even the real ones. (nets/metrostars) Or maybe I just live in a good town.

Ugh haho, you summarized everything so well....when all the bad news is condensed into 2 crystal clear paragraphs it actually makes me feel like I want to cry.
...Okay, I'm actually crying. DAMN YOU FOUL GODS!

feel free to make with the jokes now.

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It's no joke, and I know how you feel. Fuck the NHL and the owner's shortsightedness and the players greediness. Travesty.

dosent bother me , we have the jhnanstown chiefs, who did very well last year,and are gearing up for another good season, it aint nhl level quality, but the lower leagues play pretty hard, and i can actually afford the tickets, double bonus

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Originally Posted by Cowutopia

Do you live in Jersey and love the Devils, like me? ;o) Or what's your team?

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I live in Jersey and love the Rangers. Its been hard to lately though...

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Originally Posted by frostwolf ex

dosent bother me , we have the johanstown chiefs, who did very well last year,and are gearing up for another good season, it aint nhl level quality, but the lower leagues play pretty hard, and i can actually afford the tickets, double bonus

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Ahh, lucky. I don't live very close to any. I'll probably end up watching the high school teams.
When I head out to NU I'll be able to see all the Boston colleges' teams play.
And worcester has the Blues' farm team.

Look what NHL stars do when there's no NHL!
http://www.nhl.com/onthefly/news/2004/10/219480.html

I'm so glad we'll finally be competitive in that sporting area. @!#$%%$&@#

Today is the <cough> first day of the NHL season, or it was supposed to be. Nice to see that no talks are scheduled. I don't know which side is worse.

Any bets on when some teams officaly announce they are shutting down?

As strange as it seems to me, when I really think about it I suppose that the NHL is going to just shut down. The players want a disgusting amount of money considering the fan base is so much smaller than that of the NFL, MLB, or NBA. It has it's die hard fans and because of this it always would have survived if the players were making the reasonable saleries (well reasonable for the sports world that is) but if the player's want other sport super star type checks... that just won't work.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_yl...v=st&type=lgns
Clap your hands or hockey will die!

COME ON, CLAP!

I gots AHL dogs.

so what does this mean? the season is still on?

edit - nevermind i see, season is shot to hell. So did they get to an agreement for once? I'd fucking stone someone if the NFL players association tried this bullshit. NO ONE WILL EVER TAKE AWAY MY FALL NFL FOOTBALL.

The season is not shot to hell. I have a feeling that it will get uncanceled this saturday (today) like its being rumored to. I mean what the hell is Bettman going to say to Gretzky and Lemuix? "Sorry guys, no hockey." Its not going to work, those two are hockey icons with loads of weight behind them (a.k.a. the fans). There is too much pressure and panic now that its actually sinking in that there would not be a Stanley Cup playoffs this year.

In my opinion, its Game On. And what a freaking sweet season it will be, super scrappy. Teams clawing at each other tooth and nail with so few games to get into playoff spots. Can't fucking wait.

And then the Spurs will win....

I'm not a religious man by any means, but I'm praying tonight before I hit the sack.

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Originally Posted by Clash_Master

In my opinion, its Game On. And what a freaking sweet season it will be, super scrappy. Teams clawing at each other tooth and nail with so few games to get into playoff spots. Can't fucking wait.

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This might be the best thing ever to happen to the NHL. Every game will count. Its going to be like an extended Playoffs. Fucking awesome!

And the best part, the Kings have areally good shot at the playoffs this year! None of this lose/tie-the-last-12-games-and-lose-a-playoff-birth crap.

I know I being super hopefull, but I mean come on. If these guys did'nt want this season to happen why the hell would they even be talking right now when the season has been canceld. If it was'nt just Bettman trying to push things, why would they suddenly be metting 3 days later?

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This might be the best thing ever to happen to the NHL. Every game will count. Its going to be like an extended Playoffs. Fucking awesome!

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And everyone should know, that NO SPORT has as exciting and intense of Playoffs as Hockey does. Its fucking edge of your seat stuff, and to think that its basically being extended by 28 games! Hoo! It gets me giddy!

Its true, and a lot of people don't realize this. Mainly because if you don't live in a city with a local team (like me in San Diego), then you dont get NHL games on standard television. You'd have to get ESPN or another network that carries NHL games.

What you do see on ABC is the All-Star Game and maybe a few regular season matches if there isn't anything else happening on a sunday morning. The all-star game is crap because the players are just screwing around. And thats what alot of people in the states think of hockey. Slow paced and lots of scoring.

But to see teams like Detroit/Colorado go at it... its a thing of unadulterated beauty.

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Originally Posted by Rhydant

This might be the best thing ever to happen to the NHL. Every game will count. Its going to be like an extended Playoffs. Fucking awesome!

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The NBA had a season shortened to 54 games a few years ago, and it was pretty damn awesome. It was so awesome that people were talking about permanently shortening the season. Of course the powers that be will never do that.

I dont give a fuck about hockey, but I do hope hockey fans get a short season in some form.

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And everyone should know, that NO SPORT has as exciting and intense of Playoffs as Hockey does.

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Did you watch the ALCS this year?

I have to admit, the baseball thing was pretty exciting this year, if I wasn't sick to my stomach every time the Yankees were on it would have been great. (That and if the ending to the season had been different.)

But hockey playoffs are generally super exciting and intense. I just...everyone hypes them up so much constantly that I wonder if some newcomers are disappointed. Nothing's as exciting as a ferocious, close hockey game. Baseball makes you bite your nails sometimes but hockey makes you bite your nails with bodies flying. And when you get that perfect pass play to set up a goal...and the goalie flies out of nowhere to make some ridiculous save...it's just amazing.

Greatest moment of my life was seeing the Devils hoist the cup in person. Come on, hockey!

Oh yeah, a short season WILL be awesome. And as I recall, the Devils won the last one. (Though our team's gone wayyy downhill since then.)

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Originally Posted by Dragonmaster Dyne

liven up the game how? more scoring like everyone seems to think? thats such an artificial fix. the sport is "lively" enough. they just need to chill on the penalties a bit. in recent years the pace of the game has dropped to that of an NBA game with how many stoppages of play there are.

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Actually, a salary cap would be a great start. Right now the talent teams like Detriot and New York have makes it almost impossible for rural teams to win cups. Look at Anaheim with their breakout goalie for that season. The team was something EVERYONE was willing to watch because it was a great underdog story, and then they just lost (I think to Detroit, I can't remember, but probably Detroit or some powerhouse team).

Like diffusionX said, alot of interest came back to baseball when some of the smaller teams started winning again. The same thing would happen in hockey. Right now the playoffs are won by a handful of maybe 4 or 5 teams, and it's kind of lame. Forcing a more widespread use of talented athletes around the entire league would spread competition and give other teams a better shake at winning the big one.


Also, half the reason a lot of people hate the NHL now (while liking hockey the sport) is because it's all about violence. Back in the day they didn't even wear helmets for god sakes, it was about talent and scoring. If anything they should be calling more penalties. It'll never happen, but a focus more on the sport in a clean way would probably be the best route.

Dude, the Devils beat them. For the cup. In 7 games. Shame game 7 wasn't that close. I was there. Gah but it was awesome.

And it's not really all about violence at all. The violence is just what makes it into the media. It's the same as when some football star gets arrested for beating up a hooker or what have you...one or two players being retarded screws up the image for the rest of the league. That Bertuzzi thing was really sick.

It's always had fights and hard checks.

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Originally Posted by Cowutopia

Dude, the Devils beat them. For the cup. In 7 games. Shame game 7 wasn't that close. I was there. Gah but it was awesome.

And it's not really all about violence at all. The violence is just what makes it into the media. It's the same as when some football star gets arrested for beating up a hooker or what have you...one or two players being retarded screws up the image for the rest of the league. That Bertuzzi thing was really sick.

It's always had fights and hard checks.

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It's undeniable that violence is becoming more and more prominent in hockey. It's more violent now than it was 10 or 15 years ago, when a fight was kind of a rare thing and considered a nuisance. Now there's one in every night.

It's not in the media, it's in the game. The media perpetuates a stereotype that it's ALL about violence, which it's not, but it's definitely become a big part of the game now.

Devils Ducks was the most BORING playoff series I've ever snored through. Correction, second most boring. First belonged to Ducks Wild before it. At least the Devils had some talent that year. But it was still boring as hell. I'm sorry but the game sucks right now. Dump chase hack slash ice it play safe cause an offside lull the other team to sleep then get out with a one goal win. Leveling the playing field is a good first step, it would distribute talent more evenly and allow smaller market teams to keep their core players for long periods of time. After they do that they have to make it illegal to allow a coach to preach defence first.

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Originally Posted by Error

Devils Ducks was the most BORING playoff series I've ever snored through. Correction, second most boring. First belonged to Ducks Wild before it. At least the Devils had some talent that year. But it was still boring as hell. I'm sorry but the game sucks right now. Dump chase hack slash ice it play safe cause an offside lull the other team to sleep then get out with a one goal win. Leveling the playing field is a good first step, it would distribute talent more evenly and allow smaller market teams to keep their core players for long periods of time. After they do that they have to make it illegal to allow a coach to preach defence first.

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Exactly.

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Originally Posted by Error

Devils Ducks was the most BORING playoff series I've ever snored through. Correction, second most boring. First belonged to Ducks Wild before it. At least the Devils had some talent that year. But it was still boring as hell. I'm sorry but the game sucks right now. Dump chase hack slash ice it play safe cause an offside lull the other team to sleep then get out with a one goal win. Leveling the playing field is a good first step, it would distribute talent more evenly and allow smaller market teams to keep their core players for long periods of time. After they do that they have to make it illegal to allow a coach to preach defence first.

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Ducks/Red Wings was an AMAZING series, even though it was only 4 games. Highlight of that postseason. I agree the Devils/Ducks was pretty boring.

Alright sometimes you get a boring series, but like Devils/Senators was an incredible series, or games with Tampa...they're just great to watch.

FUCK! 6 1/2 hour meeting today and they still could not agree on anything. Fucking morons. Stupid fucking morons. How can they not agree on anything? It makes no sense. Serves me right for getting my hopes up again. God fucking damn it.

http://www.nhlcbanews.com/news/meeting021905.html

Yeah, you assholes didn't fucking clap, did you?

The movies "The Replacements" (I think that's the title) kicked ass.

Take it as you will.

AHL isn't that hot. Take that as you will.

I've liked the Aeros games I've been to.

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Originally Posted by Thief~Silver

The movies "The Replacements" (I think that's the title) kicked ass.

Take it as you will.

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That was football.

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Originally Posted by Andrew

Actually, a salary cap would be a great start. Right now the talent teams like Detriot and New York have makes it almost impossible for rural teams to win cups. Look at Anaheim with their breakout goalie for that season. The team was something EVERYONE was willing to watch because it was a great underdog story, and then they just lost (I think to Detroit, I can't remember, but probably Detroit or some powerhouse team).

Like diffusionX said, alot of interest came back to baseball when some of the smaller teams started winning again. The same thing would happen in hockey. Right now the playoffs are won by a handful of maybe 4 or 5 teams, and it's kind of lame. Forcing a more widespread use of talented athletes around the entire league would spread competition and give other teams a better shake at winning the big one.


Also, half the reason a lot of people hate the NHL now (while liking hockey the sport) is because it's all about violence. Back in the day they didn't even wear helmets for god sakes, it was about talent and scoring. If anything they should be calling more penalties. It'll never happen, but a focus more on the sport in a clean way would probably be the best route.

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Interesting point about the interest resurging in a sport because of the lesser teams winning championships. And in consideration to the NFL, with all due respect to the Patriots (yes dynasty and all that bit), It would most certaintly ROCK THE BLOCK if a lesser team clawed their way to a championship next season in real glorious underdog fashion. Patriots are great and all that but look here's the thing, if they go again next year - BORING AS HELL. I want a super bowl in the old Jets vs Colts style, or just some unexpected teams in there. Contrary to most people's opinions, I was damn pleased that Tampa Bay made it in 2002 and won, it was interesting at least (not the game itself). How about the fuckin Arizona Cardinals in the superbowl? That would be excellent.

It's like watching college ball, Tracer, or even women's ball. The passing just isn't there at an NHL level, the shooting in BBall. But they're still fun to go to, I suppose.

(CP) - Finally. A tentative deal that could mean the NHL is back in business as early as next week.

Round-the-clock talks ended Wednesday with word that the NHL and Players' Association had struck an agreement in principle, the culmination of 10 straight days of talks in New York.

The process is not quite over. The players' rank and file and the owners have to ratify the agreement. The players will gather next Wednesday and Thursday in Toronto while the owners will meet Thursday in New York with both sides expected to approve the deal, paving the way for the NHL to reopen for business this fall.

Heard about this in the car today. Awesome.

Whew!

I was kind of rooting for it to go on forever. The amount of coverage the NHL recieves up here is disgusting, it's like what the NFL, college football and baseball get combined in the states. I really hate it, because if I want to know about any other sport I have to wait until like 40 minutes into Sportscenter, once they've done dissecting the minutiae of that night's epic Predators/Panthers matchup, what it means fo the future of humanity, and how each and every one of the players' extended family members feels about it deep down.

Can't wait to start watching the Caps lose again.

Man, today was great.

First I finally managed to order a beer without getting carded, and then while in the restaraunt I hear about this.

All I need is a blow job to cap off the night and I can offcially say its the best day ever.

Thats it? A blowjob? NO ass?

Well this better be the last time they tell us that it looks like an agreement has been made. When I hear that it officialy is back on I will celebrate. And by that I mean a press conference.

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Originally Posted by Clash!

Well this better be the last time they tell us that it looks like an agreement has been made. When I hear that it officialy is back on I will celebrate. And by that I mean a press conference.

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IBTN. Now the Devils need to sign Niedermayer and get this show on the road.

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Originally Posted by bandit

Thats it? A blowjob? NO ass?

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I've been working, moving around boxes, and walking around comic con all day. I'm tired. The spirit is willing, but the body cannot keep up.

So...happy....