Why The NHL Sucks

[Cock Throppled]

1. Points for Losing - The stupidest scoring system since the incomprehensible league the Whitecaps are in. There should be no points for losing - period! Give 3 for winning in reg. Two for winning in OT. I for a S/O win. 0 for losing any time.
Of course, this ridiculous system gives the illusion all the teams are evenly-matched so the average brain-dead hockey fan thinks their team is in it right down to the wire, but that's about as realistic a notion as Pam Anderson's boobs.

2. Encouraging fighting - they have talented players, many from Europe who can dazzle with their skating and stick-handling, but they cater to the mouth-breathing neanderthals who get their rocks off watching a mock fight on ice. For those Don Cherry-lovers who think taking fighting out of hockey will encourage stick work, that's why sports have rules. Enforce STRICK and SEVER penalties for high sticks and any problem stops cold.

3. Refusing to crack down on head shots - This league should face a multi-million dollar law suit when a player is permanently disabled by a goonish head shot. This goers back to the last point - enforce the fucking rules. Unfortunately, the owners have their head in the sand and it will take a catastrophic injury to a star player to get their attention.

4. Phantom calls- the refs call penalties for invisible infractions, or things so minor they don't affect play. Even in replays fans are left mystified. Stop it.

5. Weak links - yeah, expanding to hockey hot-beds Phoenix, Tampa and Nashville was brilliant. The league is so anti-Canadian it forgets even small markets can sell out in Canada. And Canadian fans will even support non-professional teams. Look at Maple Leaf fans. At least give Winnipeg, Hamilton or Quebec City or Halifax a try. The weakest teams are also the poorest entertainment.

6. Insane salary cap - pare back the cap and get salaries in line. This is a fringe sport in most of North America and the rest of the world - not the NBA or World Cup Soccer. Don't try to play with the big kids when your major TV revenue comes from Versus.

7. Too many reviews. Some games it seems every goal is reviewed and they seem to take forever. Not every goal needs to get reviewed by Toronto.

8. Gary Bettman.

 

[trackstar]

1. Points for Losing - The stupidest scoring system since the incomprehensible league the Whitecaps are in. There should be no points for losing - period! Give 3 for winning in reg. Two for winning in OT. I for a S/O win. 0 for losing any time.
Of course, this ridiculous system gives the illusion all the teams are evenly-matched so the average brain-dead hockey fan thinks their team is in it right down to the wire, but that's about as realistic a notion as Pam Anderson's boobs.

2. Encouraging fighting - they have talented players, many from Europe who can dazzle with their skating and stick-handling, but they cater to the mouth-breathing neanderthals who get their rocks off watching a mock fight on ice. For those Don Cherry-lovers who think taking fighting out of hockey will encourage stick work, that's why sports have rules. Enforce STRICK and SEVER penalties for high sticks and any problem stops cold.

3. Refusing to crack down on head shots - This league should face a multi-million dollar law suit when a player is permanently disabled by a goonish head shot. This goers back to the last point - enforce the fucking rules. Unfortunately, the owners have their head in the sand and it will take a catastrophic injury to a star player to get their attention.

4. Phantom calls- the refs call penalties for invisible infractions, or things so minor they don't affect play. Even in replays fans are left mystified. Stop it.

5. Weak links - yeah, expanding to hockey hot-beds Phoenix, Tampa and Nashville was brilliant. The league is so anti-Canadian it forgets even small markets can sell out in Canada. And Canadian fans will even support non-professional teams. Look at Maple Leaf fans. At least give Winnipeg, Hamilton or Quebec City or Halifax a try. The weakest teams are also the poorest entertainment.

6. Insane salary cap - pare back the cap and get salaries in line. This is a fringe sport in most of North America and the rest of the world - not the NBA or World Cup Soccer. Don't try to play with the big kids when your major TV revenue comes from Versus.

7. Too many reviews. Some games it seems every goal is reviewed and they seem to take forever. Not every goal needs to get reviewed by Toronto.

8. Gary Bettman.

I agree with 1,3,4,5 and 8. Fighting is part of the game. Changing it for the Europeans should NEVER happen. If they can adapt to the game, great. If not, play in Europe. If the salary cap is lowered too much, we will lose our Canadian elite to European leagues that will pay them more. As far as the reviews, I haven't seen the problem you're talking about. Some goals deserve to be showed over and over again.

As far as hockey being a fringe sport, I don't see football in the Olympics, nor any leagues other than the NFL and CFL mentioned in the media

 

[InTheBum]

1.

6. Insane salary cap - pare back the cap and get salaries in line. This is a fringe sport in most of North America and the rest of the world - not the NBA or World Cup Soccer. Don't try to play with the big kids when your major TV revenue comes from Versus.
.

Give your head a shake...the NBA is a fucking joke these days!

No comparison between the two sports. The NBA is so shitty they couldn't keep a team in Seattle or Vancouver...two major West Coast cities...fucking pathetic and without a doubt the most boring major sport ever created!

 

[Cock Throppled]

Give your head a shake...the NBA is a fucking joke these days!

No comparison between the two sports. The NBA is so shitty they couldn't keep a team in Seattle or Vancouver...two major West Coast cities...fucking pathetic and without a doubt the most boring major sport ever created!

I agree, completely. I hate basketball, but there is no denying it makes a shit load of money and is popular around the world. Personally, I'd rather watch paint dry than basketball. Soccer has its moments, but is also a slow game. My point was how the NHL has fucked up, not the merit of the sport.

 

[BJhunter]

I agree about loser points

there should no postives for losing a game in either regulation, OT, or shootout, a loss is a loss. If we're talking about professional sports, it's all about winning, and shall be rewarded.

But b/c we're in canucklehead land, most don't understand that everyone's point totals are over-inflated. makes for good marketing.

They started to give out loser points when in the 1st season of implementing OT games, divisional rivals would just play into a tie even during the shootout, simply b/c they didn't want the other team to get 2 points, and the loser zilch. Playing each other 6-8 times a season, that can be the difference in making the playoffs or home-ice advantage.

Blame it on the defensive coaches, or even video replay, every coach knows the other team's systems nowadays.

 

[teejay69]

Basketball is a great sport and has world-wide appeal. However - I sometimes find NCAA College hoops much more entertaining to watch compared to some NBA games. One good thing with hockey versus any other sport is the constant action. Even with icing and offsides - it does not take long to resume play. Have you ever watched the last two minutes of an NBA game. Time out - free throws - another time out - another foul - more free throws - boring.

 

[owz]

My take on why NHL sucks?

8. Gary Bettman.

 

[87112]

I think about the early 90s and the golden ear of the NHL when its was on ESPN and I looked forward to the games like crazy. The league was small and focused and I got to know the teams really easy unlike today where its just too scattered. I have been to Miami and you look at the type of people that live there ( Hugh Latino population, ) and wonder how the hell does this place get into hockey?

Bure went from the fishbowl of here to Miami? Talk about going from one end of the earth to another. He could walk around town and not getting mugged for autographs down there too much.

I'll always have the early 90s in my mind as the best hockey ever.

And yes, Bettman screwed up everything.

 

[HB40]

Have you ever watched the last two minutes of an NBA game. Time out - free throws - another time out - another foul - more free throws - boring.

Actually thats the only part of the game worth watching, the last 2 minutes is like a whole game unto itself.
I have time to eat a big bowl of popcorn, drink a case of beer, couple bathroom breaks AND cook a turkey.

I love the NHL, the only thing that bugs me is the Western conference is way more competitive, too many teams don't make the play offs by just 1 point, well my team anyway.

 

[planetsmurf]

1) i agree with the point system needs to change. i like the way the other leagues do it.

2)gary bettman needs to go. he took the NHL of ESPN where it could have a grown to versus which has like a million viewers and no chance to grow.

3) i would rather see two guys fight then have an one one guy todd bertuzzi another guy.

4)the NBA sucks and the game should be shortened to the final two minutes where the NBA really excels.

5) the salary cap is based on a revenues or projected revenues,(not sure which) so in like two years when the NHL feels the economic impact salaries will go down.

 

[BJhunter]

Actually thats the only part of the game worth watching, the last 2 minutes is like a whole game unto itself.
I have time to eat a big bowl of popcorn, drink a case of beer, couple bathroom breaks AND cook a turkey.

I love the NHL, the only thing that bugs me is the Western conference is way more competitive, too many teams don't make the play offs by just 1 point, well my team anyway.

I've always wondered about that, why does basketball think that there's so much strategy that they have to have so many timeouts? What, they don't know what game plays to draw up? At least the NFL can be excused b/c that's just a far superior league

Don't agree about if the Western conference is 'way more competitive"; Detroit, New Jersey, Boston, Washington, Chicago, Philadelphia aren't pushovers either. I sure you didn't include Vancouver in your eyes

And about that 1 point, well, so whomever your team is, they've also have taken advantage of that when your team lost, right? All 30 teams get that loser point, that's why, it's such a moot point. Literally.
At the end of the day, the Stanley Cup winners aren't based on whether they're from the East or West; at that point in time, in late May or whatever, it's the best team that wins.

 

[wess]

1. Points for Losing - The stupidest scoring system since the incomprehensible league the Whitecaps are in. There should be no points for losing - period! Give 3 for winning in reg. Two for winning in OT. I for a S/O win. 0 for losing any time.
Of course, this ridiculous system gives the illusion all the teams are evenly-matched so the average brain-dead hockey fan thinks their team is in it right down to the wire, but that's about as realistic a notion as Pam Anderson's boobs.

2. Encouraging fighting - they have talented players, many from Europe who can dazzle with their skating and stick-handling, but they cater to the mouth-breathing neanderthals who get their rocks off watching a mock fight on ice. For those Don Cherry-lovers who think taking fighting out of hockey will encourage stick work, that's why sports have rules. Enforce STRICK and SEVER penalties for high sticks and any problem stops cold.

3. Refusing to crack down on head shots - This league should face a multi-million dollar law suit when a player is permanently disabled by a goonish head shot. This goers back to the last point - enforce the fucking rules. Unfortunately, the owners have their head in the sand and it will take a catastrophic injury to a star player to get their attention.

4. Phantom calls- the refs call penalties for invisible infractions, or things so minor they don't affect play. Even in replays fans are left mystified. Stop it.

5. Weak links - yeah, expanding to hockey hot-beds Phoenix, Tampa and Nashville was brilliant. The league is so anti-Canadian it forgets even small markets can sell out in Canada. And Canadian fans will even support non-professional teams. Look at Maple Leaf fans. At least give Winnipeg, Hamilton or Quebec City or Halifax a try. The weakest teams are also the poorest entertainment.

6. Insane salary cap - pare back the cap and get salaries in line. This is a fringe sport in most of North America and the rest of the world - not the NBA or World Cup Soccer. Don't try to play with the big kids when your major TV revenue comes from Versus.

7. Too many reviews. Some games it seems every goal is reviewed and they seem to take forever. Not every goal needs to get reviewed by Toronto.

8. Gary Bettman.

Mister perfect, why dont you try and be the commisioner for a day, or a ref.

 

[Moose]

1. Points for Losing - The stupidest scoring system since the incomprehensible league the Whitecaps are in. There should be no points for losing - period! Give 3 for winning in reg. Two for winning in OT. I for a S/O win. 0 for losing any time.
Of course, this ridiculous system gives the illusion all the teams are evenly-matched so the average brain-dead hockey fan thinks their team is in it right down to the wire, but that's about as realistic a notion as Pam Anderson's boobs.

2. Encouraging fighting - they have talented players, many from Europe who can dazzle with their skating and stick-handling, but they cater to the mouth-breathing neanderthals who get their rocks off watching a mock fight on ice. For those Don Cherry-lovers who think taking fighting out of hockey will encourage stick work, that's why sports have rules. Enforce STRICK and SEVER penalties for high sticks and any problem stops cold.

3. Refusing to crack down on head shots - This league should face a multi-million dollar law suit when a player is permanently disabled by a goonish head shot. This goers back to the last point - enforce the fucking rules. Unfortunately, the owners have their head in the sand and it will take a catastrophic injury to a star player to get their attention.

4. Phantom calls- the refs call penalties for invisible infractions, or things so minor they don't affect play. Even in replays fans are left mystified. Stop it.

5. Weak links - yeah, expanding to hockey hot-beds Phoenix, Tampa and Nashville was brilliant. The league is so anti-Canadian it forgets even small markets can sell out in Canada. And Canadian fans will even support non-professional teams. Look at Maple Leaf fans. At least give Winnipeg, Hamilton or Quebec City or Halifax a try. The weakest teams are also the poorest entertainment.

6. Insane salary cap - pare back the cap and get salaries in line. This is a fringe sport in most of North America and the rest of the world - not the NBA or World Cup Soccer. Don't try to play with the big kids when your major TV revenue comes from Versus.

7. Too many reviews. Some games it seems every goal is reviewed and they seem to take forever. Not every goal needs to get reviewed by Toronto.

8. Gary Bettman.

1. I figure all games should be 3 point games. 3 pts for winning in regular time, 2 pts for winning in OT or the shootout and 1 pt for losing in ot or the shootout.

2. Fighting is better then stick swinging.

3. Agreed.

4. Agreed though I would think it is hard on the refs sometimes with the speed of the game. Personally I just wish they were more consistant with the calls. I don't think the players know what will be call from period to period let alone from game to game.

5. Agreed. They could lose a few teams or have them relocated to more hockey friendly cities.

6. The cap has gone up because revenues have gone up. The cap will go down if revenues go down.

7. Gotta get the calls on goals right.

8. No question about that one.

 

[Cock Throppled]

2. Fighting is better then stick swinging.

What's your point? Fighting is better than taking a crowbar to the opponents' legs before the game, too. Why do the Don Cerrys of the world think that eliminating fighting means there will be stick swinging? If it's perceived to be a problem deal with it - Swing your stick at an opponent and get an automatic ban from professional hockey. Voila - no more stick swinging.
[/QUOTE]

 

[BJhunter]

1. I figure all games should be 3 point games.

Not sure if that really makes sense, you're messing w/ tradition. Kinda like saying a touchdown is worth 10 points, hahhaa...and the Nuckleheads would be so please, 100 pt seasons would be the norm here

think that was raised at one point, rewarding 3 points for a win, didn't soccer experiment with that, wonder how were the results...

 

[trackstar]

All We Hear Is...

Not sure if that really makes sense, you're messing w/ tradition. Kinda like saying a touchdown is worth 10 points, hahhaa...and the Nuckleheads would be so please, 100 pt seasons would be the norm here

think that was raised at one point, rewarding 3 points for a win, didn't soccer experiment with that, wonder how were the results...

Blah, blah blah, Trackie, blah, blah Nucklehead, blah, blah Swedish Meatballs, Blah, blah, Hubby Bubby, blah, blah, blah, Sedins, blah, Detroit, blah, bla, Homers, blah, Burkie, blah, blah Sundin, blah, blah, Swiss Cheese, Blah,Bandwagon, blah, blah, constructive criticism blah, blah blah, dude, blah, dude, blah, dudes, blah, blah, blah, sissies, blah, sisters, blah, blah, Does she suck good cock, blah, blah, blah...


That should just about cover your next 300 posts

 

[87112]

Too much middle of the road parody in the NHL, sports is always more fun when David plays Goliath. I turn on my NHL center ice on my TV and see way too many teams that same records, skills set. What we need is more kick ass teams that set a bar for the rest of the waterdowned league.

 

[Thatotherguy]

Don't agree about if the Western conference is 'way more competitive"; Detroit, New Jersey, Boston, Washington, Chicago, Philadelphia aren't pushovers either. I sure you didn't include Vancouver in your eyes

Wow. Just wow. Talk about either completely missing the point, or just knowing absolutely nothing about hockey (or, quite likely, both). Virtually every year in the Western Conference everyone's fighting for a playoff spot because there isn't a huge gap between the top teams of the conference and the bottom teams of the conference. In the Eastern Conference, there almost always is a huge gap between the top teams and the bottom teams, hence why it's less competitive. The top teams in the East are competitive against the top teams in the West, but the Eastern Conference is less competitive (there's less competition for playoff spots, therefore by definition it's less competitive). Was that spelled out simply enough for you to understand?

 

[aznboi9]

Was that spelled out simply enough for you to understand?

You might need crayons.

 

[trackstar]

Wow. Just wow. Talk about either completely missing the point, or just knowing absolutely nothing about hockey (or, quite likely, both). Virtually every year in the Western Conference everyone's fighting for a playoff spot because there isn't a huge gap between the top teams of the conference and the bottom teams of the conference. In the Eastern Conference, there almost always is a huge gap between the top teams and the bottom teams, hence why it's less competitive. The top teams in the East are competitive against the top teams in the West, but the Eastern Conference is less competitive (there's less competition for playoff spots, therefore by definition it's less competitive). Was that spelled out simply enough for you to understand?

You know, to be honest, I do think that he knows about as much about hockey as the next fan does, but his knowledge gets lost in ego and presentation. Many of us follow all of the Canucks games, as well as other games that are broadcasted, watch or listen to the hockey news/talk shows, buy the almanacs, go on other city's websites to gain insight as to where the rest of the NHL is standing on their issues, etc. yet don't have the need, nor desire to believe that we are the only ones doing so, therefore trying to make everyone else look dumb in the process.

Let's be honest, even the best minds in hockey disagree with each other. Nobody can predict with all certainty what will happen game to game, nor who will win the cup. We can take the info that we are given and handicap teams, but if that were an exact science, bookies would not exist. I'm not sure exactly why being a long time fan makes you worthy of the names that bjh throws at you/me/us/them, but he obviously takes great joy in doing so Really, it's sad, because it is a lot of fun debating hockey with people that pay attention to the game and the stats.

Nobody here qualifies as a hockey expert. Being in your current profession proves that, so the best anyone can give here is their mostly uninformed opinion. It's easy to say such things as, if Sundin were so great, how come only the Canucks were offering him so much money? Who's to say that they weren't? We know that the Rangers were fighting hard to get him, it was reported that the Habs made a great effort to get him as well. What other GM's made a good go for him, but chose to keep it from the media? Let's be honest, there is much more the people DON'T know than what they do. A LOT happens behind closed doors and never makes it to our ears. Regurgitating what you hear on talk shows does not make you knowledgeable, it makes you a parrot. Acting like you know versus you just hard is just silly.

As for the media, GM's in the NHL laugh at them. These are people with an informed opinion, but are still not privy to all of what goes on in the office. Some meia types kiss ass in the effort to gain better access to management, some pride themselves in being the :Edgy reporter who's not afraid to speak his mind". In turn, many, "Fans" emulate their behaviour and style.

Take a look at each teams website bulletin board. I saw VERY little difference in which the more uneducated fans had to say than what you would see on the Canucks site. Every city has the haters, the flag wavers, the pessimists, the "Experts" and the arm-chair GM's. Vancouver is no different.

I love and always have loved watching the Canucks. Even during the worst years, I would cheer them on and have a blast watching the games. I loved watching the Canucks play against the Russians when they did their NHL tour years ago. Did they win? Oh hell no, but it was still fun to watch.

For the bandwagon fans, what's the big deal? Who are they hurting? What's the sense in giving a shit as to how long they have been a fan? Looking at the extras cheering and getting pissed off because you have been a fan longer is so ridiculous It's like when Nickleback first started out, people loved them. When they got popular, the initial fans got pissed, crying out that these new fans aren't real fans! They weren't there at the beginning like "I" was. Then they become world famous and all of the little teenie boppers just hate them. Why? Because they are way too cool to like a band that everyone else does

Or when you go on movie review sites. How often do you see some attention-starved child write, "I'm first!". They don't care to be noticed for a great and helpful review, they just care to be noticed.

Without trying to be insulting, BJH, you have become this kind of a person. I have no idea why, or why you care to put down fans of any kind. Where there could be great debates, you offer the same remarks, try to belittle people and take the fun out of any thread that has anything to do with hockey. Why not try your debating skills and realise that parroting Don Cherry about Swedish player and going on about unless you are THE number one team with 22 of THE most elite players on your team and have won countless Stanley cups, you have a shitty team.

Many people here have offered arguments to your statements that make so much sense, yet rather than humbly admitting that they have VERY valid points, you offer nothing more than your usual rhetoric. Belittling people only makes sure that your points are not hear, wanted, nor accepted. You're rapidly becoming the SilkyJohnson of hockey threads. Is that REALLY what you want?

Now, as you have noticed, there was no mud-slinging in anything that I wrote. If you choose to respond in your usual way, then that is your choice. I will put you on ignore and imagine that many will be heading the same was soon enough. It's up to you as to how seriously you would like people to take you on this subject.