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pornrex · 2005-04-20, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Chris

What I would really like to see is a predominently Canadian NHL, with a handful only of American teams. Teams that can be supported by fans. Minnesota is a good example.

It might happen.

You seem like a nice guy Chris. But really, for now, why not try stepping outside the box? Watch some b-ball, its the playoffs man. Or how about some baseball or even Nascar? Get over the fact that there's no NHL. No Hockey League. The game was on the decline anyway. Scoring is down, Trap is up. Clutch and grab is the name of the game. Hell, go to your local strip joint if you REALLY gotta see some clutching and grabbing.

ronaldo · 2005-04-20, 11:42 AM

The NHL lockout was a great thing to happen in my opinion.

First it changed my opinion on basketball and its players forever. They are as good or better athletes than hockey players and the games are at least as exciting.

I was never a fan of a sport who's prerequisite to success appeared to be being tall and black (see-Manute Bol). However, after watching for most of the season AND March Madness, it was more entertaining than NHL hockey has been in YEARS.

If you want to see entertaining hockey, you had to look at international hockey. This is another good thing about the lockout. The NHL has to look to win fans back, and ADMITTEDLY provide a more entertaining product. Why did that take so long?

The NHL talent pool has been reduced greatly with a 30 team league to the point that you now have 2nd and 3rd line players on the teams scoring lines. Sorry Chris, Darcy Tucker is at BEST a 3rd line mucker and should NEVER see time on the 1st and 2nd lines of ANY NHL team.

So the players nowadays have to compensate for their lack of skill by showing the truly Canadian aspect that we've come to be so proud of-grinding. It used to be that the 3rd and 4th lines were your grinders. Now some teams don't have ONE scoring line. They're ALL grinders. Not by design, simply through lack of talent. That's why the game is no longer entertaining.

Sure we all get caught up in the NHL playoffs, but those of us with any hockey sense, know we're watching an inferior product.

The NHL only needs to make ONE change to make the game more entertaining. It's something it CAN'T do however. Change the ice surfaces to international size with international rules. Now, I know they can't do this because of the lost revenue and construction costs. I can appreciate that. But also how would it look, when Peter Forsberg gets 8 breakaways a game when he literally walks around Ken Klee on defense. It's gonna make the players look like minor leaguers (*cough* pylons *cough*).

Neither the NHL NOR the NHLPA can afford to show the lack of skill of it's players or members. The NHL markets it's league as having the best players in the world, and the NHLPA argues on behalf of it's players with the NHL in the same vain. It'd be kind of hard for a Maple Leafs defenseman to stand up in front of the arbitration committee and demand more money, when the team would simply have to show the player falling on his ass 4 times a game as a SKILLED player made a move at the line.

Now, because I can see you're waiting anxiously for my input on how this lockout will end, here it is.

The NHLPA will win. Here's why.

When the NHL starts out with replacement players in October, the fans will flock to the arenas, because the ARE truly on the owners side in this fiasco.

After the honeymoon period of two to three weeks, the fans will soon realize, that they're paying to watch NHL wannabes who couldn't crack a regular lineup. Then the attendance and enthusiasm will die.

The owners will capitulate, and the NHLPA will proudly stand up and proclaim (albeit falsely) that the FANS were on THEIR side. They want to see the greatest hockey players in the world. (That part is true).

The only way this situation won't happen is if there's a player revolt and some of the TOP players cross that line to play when the league resumes, OR they come to a resolution prior to training camp.

P.S. Don't EVEN get me started on these guys taking away the jobs from overseas players who are playing to put food on their tables. When Don Cherry speaks out against the players, you KNOW something's wrong.

P.P.S. Picking on assorted Maple Leafs above WAS by design. They suck. I love Tie though.

2005-04-20, 11:42 AM	#2
ronaldo Rock stars ... is there anything they don't know? Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 14	The NHL lockout was a great thing to happen in my opinion. First it changed my opinion on basketball and its players forever. They are as good or better athletes than hockey players and the games are at least as exciting. I was never a fan of a sport who's prerequisite to success appeared to be being tall and black (see-Manute Bol). However, after watching for most of the season AND March Madness, it was more entertaining than NHL hockey has been in YEARS. If you want to see entertaining hockey, you had to look at international hockey. This is another good thing about the lockout. The NHL has to look to win fans back, and ADMITTEDLY provide a more entertaining product. Why did that take so long? The NHL talent pool has been reduced greatly with a 30 team league to the point that you now have 2nd and 3rd line players on the teams scoring lines. Sorry Chris, Darcy Tucker is at BEST a 3rd line mucker and should NEVER see time on the 1st and 2nd lines of ANY NHL team. So the players nowadays have to compensate for their lack of skill by showing the truly Canadian aspect that we've come to be so proud of-grinding. It used to be that the 3rd and 4th lines were your grinders. Now some teams don't have ONE scoring line. They're ALL grinders. Not by design, simply through lack of talent. That's why the game is no longer entertaining. Sure we all get caught up in the NHL playoffs, but those of us with any hockey sense, know we're watching an inferior product. The NHL only needs to make ONE change to make the game more entertaining. It's something it CAN'T do however. Change the ice surfaces to international size with international rules. Now, I know they can't do this because of the lost revenue and construction costs. I can appreciate that. But also how would it look, when Peter Forsberg gets 8 breakaways a game when he literally walks around Ken Klee on defense. It's gonna make the players look like minor leaguers (cough pylons cough). Neither the NHL NOR the NHLPA can afford to show the lack of skill of it's players or members. The NHL markets it's league as having the best players in the world, and the NHLPA argues on behalf of it's players with the NHL in the same vain. It'd be kind of hard for a Maple Leafs defenseman to stand up in front of the arbitration committee and demand more money, when the team would simply have to show the player falling on his ass 4 times a game as a SKILLED player made a move at the line. Now, because I can see you're waiting anxiously for my input on how this lockout will end, here it is. The NHLPA will win. Here's why. When the NHL starts out with replacement players in October, the fans will flock to the arenas, because the ARE truly on the owners side in this fiasco. After the honeymoon period of two to three weeks, the fans will soon realize, that they're paying to watch NHL wannabes who couldn't crack a regular lineup. Then the attendance and enthusiasm will die. The owners will capitulate, and the NHLPA will proudly stand up and proclaim (albeit falsely) that the FANS were on THEIR side. They want to see the greatest hockey players in the world. (That part is true). The only way this situation won't happen is if there's a player revolt and some of the TOP players cross that line to play when the league resumes, OR they come to a resolution prior to training camp. P.S. Don't EVEN get me started on these guys taking away the jobs from overseas players who are playing to put food on their tables. When Don Cherry speaks out against the players, you KNOW something's wrong. P.P.S. Picking on assorted Maple Leafs above WAS by design. They suck. I love Tie though.