Comments on: NHL Humiliated, Bigger Nets, Hawks Hockey, Rangers Hockey

By: NjDEVSFN

NjDEVSFN — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:05:19 +0000

is there really anything wrong with the NHL? (i may do a bigger story later.)

i can count on ONE hand the amount of times Scott Gomez took the puck from behind Brodeur into the offensive zone from 1999-2004.

he does it at least 2 times a period now.

skating up-and-down hockey is whats exciting.

i agree that 6-5 isnt always exciting and it is exciting when its NOT expected. 1-0 with 30saves by each goalie is exciting stuff, because ONE shot changes the game, that keeps fans on the edge of the seat.

is hitting REALLY gone? is fighting REALLY gone?

i see plenty of hits. last season the Devils 4th line was called the "Dobermans" and they provided the energy in the form of hits (and a coupla goals).

sure, fighting is well done. but in THIS "new" NHL, the only way players are going to willingly fight a lot more than they are now is if the instigator rule is dropped.

i like the new NHL. i don't think there is a problem.

i wouldnt be surprised if the people that have issues with the new NHL fit under the following:

1) their favorite team has gone from pre-lockout winners to post-lockout losers.

2) they don't have that "exciting" player. i really dont see people from Pittsburgh complaining about the new NHL.

sports evolve and as fans we gotta evolve with it. do i like everything about the game now? i dont know, i do like fighting. but im just as big a fan now as i was 3 years ago.

of course, if the NHL makes the nets bigger...i'll flip out like every other hockey fan on the planet!

By: Komic-J

Komic-J — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 13:46:17 +0000

I have no problem with people voting for whoever they want...what I have a problem with is someone making a "campaign" to get an underserving player into the All-Star Game.

You want to vote for Rory...Hey, it's your right as an NHL fan. Just don't go on a crusade against the All-Star voting system, asking people to support your cause. Rory wouldn't even be in the Top-20 defenseman if the guy just voted for him, and let everybody else vote for the players they wanted in the first place...which is the idea right, vote for whoever you want ?

I'm not saying the system is perfect...it has flaws ! Right now, we could even see Eastern Conference vs. San Jose Sharks (Joe Thornton, Jonathan Cheechoo and Patrick Marleau are in the Top-4 apparently). But it's nothing the "Vote for Rory" campaign can solve...

By: OneSharpMarble

OneSharpMarble — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 19:44:38 +0000

There is nothing wrong with the rory fitzpatrick situation, the idea of the voting is for people to vote for whomever they want to. If they don't want fans to vote then don't let them vote. if you don't like who they pick just get rid of the voting. People who complain aren't very intelligent at all. IE Don Cherry.

As for your brilliant idea of removing the icing call that could be the single worst idea I have heard yet.

By: Downtown

Downtown — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 17:38:10 +0000

By the way, Mikster, getting rid of icing would slow the game to a snails pace.

As somone else pointed out, the hockey would be reduced to two teams dumping the puck the length of the ice for 65 mintues (most assuredly every game would go to overtime to break the 0-0 draw). Dumping the puck would be the coach's first choice on every play since it would be the safest one. Unfortunately, you cannot legislate offence.

I do agree, however, that all attempted passes should be given the benefit of the doubt and have icing waived. I too hate the stoppage in play becasue one player misses another by a couple of inches on a pass.

By: Downtown

Downtown — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 17:32:47 +0000

Actually fellas, the Vote for Rory Campaign was started by a guy in Buffalo who was a big fan of Fitzpatrick's. It was certainly NOT meant to expose flaws in the voting process (though it has).

The resoning was players who give it their best go but may not be the most skilled shoud be rcognized as well. Not saying I agree the All-Star Game is the best forum for that, just telling the story.

Some people, perhaps, have voted for Fitzpatrick as a sort of protest but the movement did not begin that way. It was an earnest attempt by a fan to get him recognized for shuttling between the minors and big leagues, doing whatever he could to help his team.

By: rojoke

rojoke — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 15:14:51 +0000

I think it's a good idea if they increase the net size, but not they way they proposed last fall, with the bloated frames. It looks ridiculous. If you kept the frame rectangular and made it four to six inches higher and two to three inches wider, the goalies would not have an easier time adapting. They've adapted to the new pads, they'll adapt to larger nets if they're used.

By: mmatras

mmatras — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 14:38:00 +0000

I think the campaign will prove to be successful in its point. It will bring about change well before change would have come otherwise. It got the attention of everyone: Not by being immature, but by making an important point. If you don't like what has happened, then surely you will be another advocate for changing the system. The vote for Rory campaing is as 'immature' as having Thornton, Marleau and Cheechoo in the top 4 and Naslund Sedin and Sedin all in the top 10 for voting. You've misused the terms of mature/immature. A campaign like this is in fact a mature way of making the point. How else is a bunch of nobodies going to make sure their voice is heard? Its not a boycott of the game, its not a disruption of the festivities, its not voting in multiple questionable players. Its one player, a journeyman. You've repeatedly argued that it prevents the game from gaining respect from non-NHL fans: the fact of the matter is that NHL fans barely care about the all-star game because it rarely introduces the contemporary success stories and break-out seasons. If this campaign is successful, meaning that the manner in which the selction is revamped, then the All-star game, and by extension, the league and sport, gain respectablity by ensuring that its own institions (ie. All Star game) respect the sport, league, and spirit of said institutions. It may not be 'mature' enough for you, but perhaps you can recommend an equally successful way for fans to have their voices headed to. Its not a question of maturity of those who are voting for Rory, but rather, the maturity of those who are blindly voting for the regulars rather than those who deserve to be there. The Rory campaign is in fact an educated response to the entrenched uninformed and/or ignorant and/or immature practice of all-star voting that has bleed the institution of its spirit and legitimacy as a measuring stick.

By: Freeze

Freeze — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 13:56:50 +0000

You bring up a good point. However, if anyone touched Gretzky out on the ice, they'd have to answer to McSorely or Semenko or McClelland. The cops patrolled the ice to make sure the stars were protected. Today, the more physical players can take liberties with the stars and get away with it because most NHL teams won't roster a goon because the game has opened up and they feel they'll be at a disadvantage.

As for fighting itself, there really aren't too many serious injuries coming out of the fights. Mostly cuts, bruises, and damaged pride. But, if you run the other teams' stars and get away with it, then injuries often follow.

I watch Datsyuk and Zetterberg get man handled on a nightly basis with no one to come to their defense. It's pathetic.

The goons make the game safer for the stars, and they earn their pay with the entertainment value of the fight itself.

Today's NHL reminds me of the All-Star games - pretty wide open, lots of skating and passing and play making, and also a boring product that lacks soul and grit.

It's unfortunate that Gary Bettman has turned his back on Canada and allowed the Europeans to dictate how the game of hockey will be played.

By: Komic-J

Komic-J — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 13:34:42 +0000

I kinda like that !!! Where do I sign ?

By: gg_idiot

gg_idiot — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 12:50:43 +0000

I don't know I can just see some weird freaky goals happening if it were allowed to stay in play from the net. It would be really tough for the players and goalie to keep track of it.

Yeah Yawny didn't do too well with the untalented team, but sometimes its hard to make an omelette without eggs. But I see your point.

Possible candidates for replacing Renney.

Messier?
Granato if you could pry him from the Avs
Bring back Keenan?
What has been happening with Larry Robinson?