Is this the most uneventful NHL season you've witnessed?

[Zalos]

Definitely not. However, this thread has been the most boring I've read in a while. Basically just a bunch of unhappy fans from eliminated teams complaining about the NHL not being the way they'd like it to be.

Reality check...
- You will never see regular seasons with 60 games.
- You will never witness dynasties again.
- You will never watch a player beat Gretzky' records.
- You will never enjoy *classic* ( ) brawls again.

The list could go on and on. But the point is, if you don't like the game anymore, go and jump on the NFL or NBA bandwagon. Good riddance. Some of us still enjoy this sport.

 

[Coastal Kev]

Definitely not. However, this thread has been the most boring I've read in a while. Basically just a bunch of unhappy fans from eliminated teams complaining about the NHL not being the way they'd like it to be.

Reality check...
- You will never see regular seasons with 60 games.
- You will never witness dynasties again.
- You will never watch a player beat Gretzky' records.
- You will never enjoy *classic* ( ) brawls again.

The list could go on and on. But the point is, if you don't like the game anymore, go and jump on the NFL or NBA bandwagon. Good riddance. Some of us still enjoy this sport.

Those two points sum up the pro NHL crowd here. You're right, some of the hard core hockey fans will enjoy whatever product they are served by the NHL. But, some are not enjoying and will soon be leaving. You say good, ok. But maybe enough of us hard core fans will leave and it will be the beginning of the collapsing of the sport.

 

[mikethelegacy]

Get rid of the obstruction. Many great players aren't gonna come here if it continues. I honestly believe the styles of crappy hockey the NHL plays right now are big reasons players like Kovalchuk, Radulov, etc left for the KHL and why others won't come here.

Obviously the money situation over there is changing things a bit.

 

[Ogopogo*]

Those two points sum up the pro NHL crowd here. You're right, some of the hard core hockey fans will enjoy whatever product they are served by the NHL. But, some are not enjoying and will soon be leaving. You say good, ok. But maybe enough of us hard core fans will leave and it will be the beginning of the collapsing of the sport.

I think lower TV ratings and dropping attendance will eventually cause change. There are a lot of us who miss entertaining hockey and are done with the tedium that the current game has become - and our dollars are leaving with us.

When shooting to generate a rebound is considered a good offensive strategy, the game is dying.

 

[Coastal Kev]

I think lower TV ratings and dropping attendance will eventually cause change. There are a lot of us who miss entertaining hockey and are done with the tedium that the current game has become - and our dollars are leaving with us.

When shooting to generate a rebound is considered a good offensive strategy, the game is dying.

It's good to know that there are many other hard core hockey fans that are growing tired of the way the sport is currently coached/played.

 

[haveandare]

Those two points sum up the pro NHL crowd here. You're right, some of the hard core hockey fans will enjoy whatever product they are served by the NHL. But, some are not enjoying and will soon be leaving. You say good, ok. But maybe enough of us hard core fans will leave and it will be the beginning of the collapsing of the sport.

Maybe. But, based on these threads that pop up a dozen times a year, there's the same handful of people on this site who complain constantly that the game isn't what it used to be while many, many, many newer fans, casual or hardcore, keep enjoying the game and analyzing and discussing what's actually happening now.

I'll be more inclined to believe that hard core fans are going to leave the sport when they stop constantly talking about the league they're supposedly so done with on message boards.

 

[Ogopogo*]

It's good to know that there are many other hard core hockey fans that are growing tired of the way the sport is currently coached/played.

Agreed. I grew up a passionate fan of the game and honestly, I have never met anyone as passionate about the NHL and the game of hockey as I used to be. 20 years ago, when big goaltending equipment and stifling defensive structures took over, the game started to die. I was passionate, I tried to hang on but I find that I just cannot get excited about turning a hockey game on TV anymore. Far too many games are virtually unwatchable.

I find that I watch a lot more NBA in the winter and I am far more entertained by basketball than hockey. When the NBA had an entertainment problem 60 years ago - they fixed it by adding a shot clock. I hope one day the NHL fixes their game - maybe it means playing 4 on 4 permanently so the ice opens up? But, by the time the league fixes things, it may be too late for me. The NHL has got me hooked on basketball - I can see 15-20 really nice/spectacular plays in one NBA game, in the NHL, I see maybe 2. The entertainment value is not longer there in hockey.

 

[cassius]

In terms of entertainment value, I would rank today's product as a 6.5 / 10. A lot of games are just flat out boring.. star players hardly produce anymore, and it's really turned into a defensive / goalie driven league.

Post lockout (say 06-07 season) is when the NHL hit it's high water mark - I'd say a 8.5 / 10.. since then the obstruction / interference has creeped back into the game.

At this rate, there might only be 2-3 players that top 80 points next season. Ask yourself - is that a good thing?

Just my $0.02.

To underscore how it's become a "goalie league"... there are 60 goalies in the league with a SV% above 90%.

In the 06-07 season, only 45 goalies had a SV% above 90%.

The NHL today disproportionally benefits goalies / defensive players, and the inverse is true with offensive / skilled players.

 

[PsYcNeT]

COME ON, the only people that say something like you did, is someone that's about 25 years old and thinks that since they were alive in the late 90's thinks they are somehow equipped to make a call like that.

The scoring is looking ever closer to what we seen from 97-04, it isn't the grabbing and interference that's causing the difference like it did in the DPE, but its still the lack of penalties being called.

"Scoring is looking closer to a 8-year sample size" Way to narrow things down.

Again, the DPE comparisons are hilariously dumb, the game was played completely different then.

 

[mikethelegacy]

Maybe. But, based on these threads that pop up a dozen times a year, there's the same handful of people on this site who complain constantly that the game isn't what it used to be while many, many, many newer fans, casual or hardcore, keep enjoying the game and analyzing and discussing what's actually happening now.

I'll be more inclined to believe that hard core fans are going to leave the sport when they stop constantly talking about the league they're supposedly so done with on message boards.

You can love hockey without loving the product on the ice at the current time. I've watched hockey long enough to see the amazing skill players can put on show when they don't have to get wrapped up or interfered with every time they have the puck. "Casual" fans are usually newer to the game and they haven't seen the style of hockey I'm speaking of.

If I was a brand new fan, I would love hockey right now, because it's all I'd ever have known. Right now, the product has gotten a little boring. A little robotic. I'm still going to watch, but I would understand why people might not want to, either.

 

[CartographerNo611]

On ice has been beyond boring. Close standings and the III er fictional wars won't hide that.

 

[SouthWest]

"Scoring is looking closer to a 8-year sample size" Way to narrow things down.

Again, the DPE comparisons are hilariously dumb, the game was played completely different then.

It's not about whether or not the game is played the same, it's that the entertainment value is similar.

2+2 and 3+1 still equals 4. The product is the same even though the variables are different.

 

[PsYcNeT]

It's not about whether or not the game is played the same, it's that the entertainment value is similar.

2+2 and 3+1 still equals 4. The product is the same even though the variables are different.

Condolences about your boring/terrible team.

 

[Kale Hulls]

Glad somebody came out and said this, It's been a really boring year.

 

[Big Phil]

People gave you a list of reasons why this season doesnt lack excitement and you still are stubborn and says its not exciting lol.

Compared to year's past........or even last year. No, they aren't as compelling.

Yea, because not scoring 100 points means the league isnt fun and existing. You do realize Naslund was a really damn good player right?

The problem was Naslund was possibly the best player in the NHL that year. Nothing against him, he was good then, but even at that time you watched Naslund thinking he might be the best player in the NHL and you knew that was far from what it should have been.

 

[DJJones]

Definitely think everyone should state their favorite teams in this discussion. Toronto and Edmonton fans opinions can be immediately disregarded haha.

Don't understand the arguments against parity. All teams having a chance is great. Is that an older person pov? That's why I stopped watching basketball. Seemed like the regular season was a waste of time.

The West playoff race is about exciting as I can every remember.

3rd and 4th lines are just better than they've ever been. I like the fact that it's a whole team effort as opposed to a superstar and the rest of his team. Goal scoring hasn't changed in years and obstruction is being vastly over blown.

It's amazing how your perception can be affected by a lousy local product though.

 

[Rebels57]

The amount of parity and quality teams should be applauded. The NHL is in a healthy place talent wise. Goal scoring is down because a larger percentage of the most talented youngsters are being groomed as defensemen and goalies.

I do think the more elaborate defensive systems has put a damper on the offensive excitement.