Is the NHLs reputation being tarnished ?
As a Canadian, you just can’t help but have that glint of pride when talking about “our game”. It’s something we’re tremendously proud to showcase and that is unique in defining our values and traditions as a country and as a people.
Over the years, as NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has taken over and expanded the league on his vision of bringing hockey to the lower American states and possibly even Russia, a question needs to be adressed. Is our game that popular ?
Surely to us die hard hockey fans the answer is undeniable but when compared to other pro sports how do we fare up ?
What I don’t understand is Bettmans desire to sell a game to a non existant market. Unless you’re from Boston, Detroit or New York, most Americans have hockey way down on their list of priorities. There’s no doubt football is king in the USA. I cant remember who coined the phrase
“Baseball might be Americas’ pass-time but football is Americas’ passion” but needless to say that hockey pales in comparison to both of these. As a matter of fact I believe Poker has better ratings than Hockey.
A survey conducted in January of 2008 asking Americans which sport they prefer places hockey in the single digits in percentile compared to footballs 30%.
Auto Racing being in 5th place gets 10%. Ouch.
I often find myself turning to the NFL for inspiration. what makes this game so good ? How can we improve the NHL to attract new markets ?
It’s hard to sell a game thats being played on ice to someone who lives in Nashville. Most of them have never actually seen snow, so how do you expect them to relate to the sport. It’s not merely a business, it’s our culture, our heritage, our youth !
Hockey means watching the sun set early and shovelling the driveway. It’s that walk to the ice rink with your skates slung over your stick while you proudly wear your favourite teams jersey. It’s the tying of the laces, the numbness you forget when you’re on the ice for a while, the blistering cold you refuse to give in to as you pursue the puck as hard as you can on a breakaway pass.
It’s coming back home to defrost your ailing shins, wipe your runny nose and have a hot chocolate. Thats hockey !
In my opinion, the NHL still needs an overhaul. Bettman needs to abandon this silly plan of selling to the southern states. Start with people who know what winter is, the rest will follow once the game picks up in popularity. If a good product is out there that everybody else enjoys, others wont want to be left out.
To get the game stronger, you need to return it to its roots. We need to sell a better product. Skills may sell the game but passion makes it. We need more canadian teams. We play with passion and fervor. Look at the teams that win the Stanley Cup and then glance at their canadian content. The Anaheim ducks had more Canadian players than any other team and of course led by Scott Niedermayer, a Canadian.
Here is a list of Stanley Cup champions and their captains over the last 15 years or so:
2006 Carolina – Rod Brind’Amour
2004 Tampa Bay – Dave Andreychuk
2003 New Jersey – Scott Stevens
2002 Detroit – Steve Yzerman
2001 Colorado – Joe Sakic
2000 – New Jersey – Scott Stevens
*1999 Dalls – Hatcher (American)
1998 Detroit – Steve Yzerman
1997 Detroit – Steve Yzerman
1996 Colorado – Joe Sakic
1995 New Jersey – Scott Stevens
1994 New York R – Mark Messier
1993 Montreal – Guy Carbonneau
1992 Pittsburgh – Mario Lemieux
1991 Pittsburgh – Mario Lemieux
At the exception of Darrian Hatcher, all Canadian. The list goes on and on but I rather not take up too much space.
A few things I’ve noticed from the NFL is it’s officiating. Clear and concise.
There is video replay for every situation.
If a player gets an elbow to the head and it isnt called by the refs … you call it after the whistle when you see the replay. You would think this is a simple enough rule to instate. Somehow, even after seeing it, it’s become this unwritten law that if you miss it during the play, you missed it period. The game has evolved since back in the day, we have the technology and we use it to refuse or allow goals, so why is this any different ?
The tendency is to even out the penalties. If you missed one earlier then you give the other team one later during the game for a bogus gesture and would have been tolerated had they not missed the previous penalty. It’s often at an inappropriate time and leads to costing the undeserving team the game. How familiar is that situation ?
It cheapens the game. The referees should never be a factor in determining who wins. Does the name Kerry Fraser ring a bell ?
Rules need to be implemented concerning incidents with intent to injure. Why is Chris Simon even suspended. He should have been expelled. Playing hockey is a privilege and he should have lost it a long time ago.
There should be a rule stating that the player who injured with intent should be suspended LONGER than the duration of the injured players
inability to participate. You hit the guy and he’s gone for 2 months, you dont come back for more than 2 months. Simple.
When has it become ok to crash the net ? Last time I checked, there was a penalty called obstruction. The referees seriously need to crack down on this. Its another move that cheapens the game. It’s not difficult to score when you smash into the goalie. I think this may be the leagues fault as Im sure they told the referees to let it slide a lot more. It fits with their philosophy of more goals = better show therefore its a good thing. I remember Martin Brodeur speaking up for the goalies of the NHL saying that it was unacceptable and they are prone to way more injuries.
Speaking of Brodeur, tell me the Devils wouldnt get more than 7000 spectators if they were moved up north. Their new amphithetre … Newark, mostly renowned for being 1st in auto theft in all America. Come on.
If your product isnt seen, it cant prosper. We desperately need to get coverage in the states. Yes, Bettman was low balled by Fox ( was it Fox ?)and thats why he went to Versus but we need a marketing blitz to sell this game properly. We need to prove that there is demand for this sport.
On a sidenote … I know CBC is in Toronto but did it really take the Leafs to completely collapse to start showing more Habs games and Oilers games etc etc. I dont watch CBC anymore for that purpose, then again Im lucky enough to be bilingual and watch the game in french on RDS but damn, our commentators suck. Talking about Spezzas stick 2 minutes into the action or never seeing who scored, always guessing. Pathetic.
Another answer to the league playing in Russia and injuries, again inspired from the NFL: less games !
I know, I know, I can hear you all yelling at me but wait just a minute. Football players play once a week, it allows them to recuperate. If we play 70 games rather than 82 it allows for better rest periods and travelling (Russia). More intense games seeing as the players are refreshed not to mention players overall morale.
Playing on Christmas eve, Christmas and the day after should be instored. Same for New Years eve, New Years and the day after.
Another thing is playoffs in late May or June … it just seems wrong, it’s summer.
Shaving off a few games would end the post season in early May. I know, it’s less money for the owners and less games for the fans so surely a no-go but Im just throwing it out there.
This would be my focus, other than just getting rid of Bettman:
-Better officiating
-More Canadian teams
-A real television contract
-A marketing plan from owners to sell the game locally and attr
act people (free stuff, cheap tickets and concessions, a tailgate party, anything to get some interest and curiosity stirring)
-A better overall structural approach from the Bettman clan as to where to implement the game. The game should be sold where there is a minimum of interest and if it has a legitimate shot at flourishing, not for the sake of making a buck.
This article is too long Im starting to forget all the points I wanted to make lol but Im hoping you guys can fill out the blanks.
Thanks for reading