Around the League 2024-25 season

If Russia were part of the tourney, it would be a lot more interesting.

Not to trivialize the war, but the current geopolitical situation would add a level of intrigue to the games IMO while adding more talent to the tournament overall.

You also have Canadiens upset about recent issues and booing the American national anthem.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Raccoon Jesus
If Russia were part of the tourney, it would be a lot more interesting.

Not to trivialize the war, but the current geopolitical situation would add a level of intrigue to the games IMO while adding more talent to the tournament overall.

You also have Canadiens upset about recent issues and booing the American national anthem.

I agree, and I think it was an 'easy out' for them due to the numbers game. Who would we pull in as a sixth team? Team world, youngstars again?

Just one more thing I don't like about it. The superteams are fun but it's just a glorified allstar game. Not nearly the same stakes as Olympics or other national pride things.

I"m with you--not to trivialize geopolitics and not to wade too far into those waters at all, but one of the things about the games was the spirit of goodwill and being able to put everything aside in the spirit of competition, even if that sets the stage to some degree (ie "Miracle").
 
When will Team USA finally realize how overrated Faber is? I read it often enough here.
that fourth line is, especially with Larkin, is going to get some greasy goals and get under other team's skin. Wish the Kings had Brock Nelson, he's got pretty under rated hands around the net and guy competes hard every shift.
 

*39% year-over-year decline in Opening Night viewership

*Record-low audience for the Winter Classic

*Sharks Kraken got 175K viewers the lowest-viewed program on ESPN for the entire day. (A women's NCAA basketball game got 390K the same day).
 

*39% year-over-year decline in Opening Night viewership

*Record-low audience for the Winter Classic

*Sharks Kraken got 175K viewers the lowest-viewed program on ESPN for the entire day. (A women's NCAA basketball game got 390K the same day).
I was shocked when the cap was announced with such a rapid three year escalation. The sport, at this moment, is the worst version of hockey that I have seen in the 45 years I have loved it. The quality of the games have been on a slow, steady decline since they removed the redline.

Hockey has long been a game of passion and integrity, if you shift your efforts to build an audience on skill and highlights at the expense of your hard-core fans, you shouldn't be surprised when those with short attention spans skip the nuances learned by watching the game and head to the internet.
 
I was shocked when the cap was announced with such a rapid three year escalation. The sport, at this moment, is the worst version of hockey that I have seen in the 45 years I have loved it. The quality of the games have been on a slow, steady decline since they removed the redline.

Hockey has long been a game of passion and integrity, if you shift your efforts to build an audience on skill and highlights at the expense of your hard-core fans, you shouldn't be surprised when those with short attention spans skip the nuances learned by watching the game and head to the internet.
I think the product is mostly suffering because there's too many meaningless games. 32 teams each playing 82. It's very watered down.
 
Doesn't help the number of subscriptions you have to have to watch all 82 for your team.

The biggest issue as far as viewership imo...finding games is a f***ing chore.

Gary has done great things for the owners but the next commissioner has their job cut out for them, they need someone who is at least somewhat in touch with marketing as well as social and streaming media. The NHLs tv contracts since the lockout era have by and large been a joke and the blackout policies are straight out of the cold war era.

Greatest sport on earth, league run by people who hate the fans.
 
The biggest issue as far as viewership imo...finding games is a f***ing chore.

Gary has done great things for the owners but the next commissioner has their job cut out for them, they need someone who is at least somewhat in touch with marketing as well as social and streaming media. The NHLs tv contracts since the lockout era have by and large been a joke and the blackout policies are straight out of the cold war era.

Greatest sport on earth, league run by people who hate the fans.

It's hilarious when you hear Bettman talk about blackouts and infringing on another teams territory blah blag blah tv rights. He's so out of touch with today's tv market, no wonder tv viewership has tanked. The viewership on lets say" outside streams" is higher than the ones the NHL offers. They have no clue as to what's going on and are so worried that a team may lose a few viewers and protecting the rights of local broadcasters in some midwest broadcast region, the actual viewers can't even watch a game.
 
It's not just the NHL. NBA viewership is down too.

MLB had a nice tick up this year, but overall has been trending down for decades as well.

It's too many low stakes games, and too many other entertainment options nowadays.

NFL only plays 17 games and it's thriving.
 
It's not just the NHL. NBA viewership is down too.

MLB had a nice tick up this year, but overall has been trending down for decades as well.

It's too many low stakes games, and too many other entertainment options nowadays.

NFL only plays 17 games and it's thriving.
The NHL has followed the NBAs lead of prioritizing scoring over the entirety of the game. Both have mirrored the video game experience. The NBA was never more enjoyable than the Magic/Bird, Detroit Piston bad boy, Jordan vs Knicks eras. Its been all downhill since. Those times were marked by conflict being overcome by talent, not just a race to 130 points.

Offense is exciting, but the drama of sport is in overcoming the difficulties to score, not in the scoring itself. Every sport suffers from reducing conflict in favor of cutting to the chase. You may not pay to see defense, but you pay to see offense overcome defense. Making it easier only devalued the goals themselves, whether it happens consciously or not. Highlights over drama dilutes the product.
 
Am I the only one who has no interest in this thing. Just doesn't have the appeal like if it was the world cup of hockey. Maybe just me.
I feel the same. but because there is no NHL, i will watch it just to see those crazy things like the Canadian PP1. Its kind of a weird deal to leave a lot of guys out because they arent in one of the 4 countries too. Two week is a long time. How about just take 3 days off and be done with it - ie nothing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ru4reals

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad