Prospect Info: '24-'25 Prospects Thread: Generation Z

[Peat]

Basketball. That’s actually why the thought came to me. Someone at work said they read an article that one of the reasons the NBA is more popular is because their superstars are on the court all the time and hockey is more a team sport.

I disagreed but it made me think. Anyways, I agree with your points. Just thinking out loud.

I keep forgetting basketball exists

I do think that in terms of popularity, the extent to which star players are less focal is a problem for hockey. All the action is there but being able to tune in to watch a star player do star things over and over just isn't happening in the same way it does for pretty much any other major American sport or soccer.

 

[SEALBound]

Basketball. That’s actually why the thought came to me. Someone at work said they read an article that one of the reasons the NBA is more popular is because their superstars are on the court all the time and hockey is more a team sport.

I disagreed but it made me think. Anyways, I agree with your points. Just thinking out loud.

I also tend to think that some sports are more popular than hockey because of the relative ease to understand the game and also play the game. Basketball is a lot easier to understand than hockey and it cost significantly less to play. I went to elementary school with a playground that had about 10 basketball hoops and no hockey rink. So if people want to join in and play the sport they also like to watch, it's easier to do that with soccer, baseball, football, and yes basketball.

Basketball is also a sport where the addition of one megastar catapults you to a legitimate chance at a championship. There may only be one hockey player that could do that - McDavid but it ain't like he's going anywhere anytime soon.

One thing I wouldn't hate seeing added to the CBA as a take from the NBA is the "optional" years at the end of a deal. Then, a player or team can elect to honor the remaining year of a deal or not. Great example would be Hayes for us or Tavaras for the Leafs. Plenty of times in recent memory teams wish they could opt out of a last year. Similarly, if a player is screaming a long and thinks they can get a better deal than the one they are on, they can go for it. Good example would be Sam Bennett.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

The NHL's done a f***ing abysmal job of marketing its stars for decades. Sid and Ovi should've been marketed to hell and the NHL failed to capitalize on the entire generation. Shit, for the first years, you had to watch those dudes play on the Outdoor Life Network.

 

[SEALBound]

The NHL's done a f***ing abysmal job of marketing its stars for decades. Sid and Ovi should've been marketed to hell and the NHL failed to capitalize on the entire generation. Shit, for the first years, you had to watch those dudes play on the Outdoor Life Network.

They were. We can talk about other players and there's good reason for disgust, but the NHL went all out Sid and Ovi, especially Sid vs Ovi. I really don't have much issue with how the NHL responded to those two entering the league and for nearly a decade after.

It get tough when it's Sid, then Ovi, and then...? Malkin? Thornton? The Sedins? Honestly, there was such a drop off after Sid and Ovi that I think it was tough. Toews+Kane was certainly doable. But it's hard to go out and market "The Sedin Twins" and a means to compete with the NBA, NFL, MLB, etc.

Today, they should be shoving McDavid, Draisaitl, and Matthews down everyone's throat the way they did Sid and Ovi. They do to an extent with McDavid but the problem is he's in f***ing Edmonton. Not LA, not New York, not Chicago...Edmonton.

 

[chethejet]

McDavid to the oilers was a disaster for the NHL. If he is NY, Boston, Chicago NHL has their boy.