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

[Trottier]

Seems like you're getting older and more tedious each year.

And also, when you consider uneventful 2-way players better than eventful "one-dimensional", this is what you get.

Wow, a silly age insult and an endorsement of pond hockey...all in one post!

Check out the age demographics of this board before assigning old age to those complaining about "borrrrring" hockey. Hint: it's the kiddies who often get bored with today's NHL hockey. As is their prerogative, of course.

We do agree, however, that the best is yet to come.

 

[5 14 6 1]

I've watched less hockey then I ever have before. The only hockey I watched was the World Juniors, although I'd like to blame the Oilers lack of success, but even then I won't turn on any other games, I'd rather watch NFL at this point.

Not a fan of the low scoring style of hockey played lately, extremely boring to watch. The odd time there will be a good game I suppose but something is off with the NHL this year for me..

 

[BayStreetBully]

The NHL landscape is forever changed, and that's in ways both good and bad. The salary cap NHL doesn't allow for legends and dynasties. The powerhouses of the Habs, Isles, Oilers and Penguins goes without saying. It happened to coincide with some of the greatest memories the league has ever seen. But even when the scoring dried up in the late 90's, we still had the powerhouse teams like the Red Wings, Avalanche, Stars and Devils. That 2002 Wings team had 9 future hall of famers. Even a non-Wing fan could appreciate watching a team of Yzerman, Fedorov, Shanahan, Larionov, Hull, Robitaille, Lidstrom, Chelios and Hasek. Or the 2001 Avs with Sakic, Forsberg, Hejduk, Drury, Tanguay, Bourque, Blake, Foote and Roy. The trio of Hejduk, Drury and Tanguay might not seem like much today, but at the time they were all just breaking into the league and all had great seasons. Or the 2000 Devils with Elias, Sykora, Arnott, Gomez, Mogilny, Stevens, Niedermayer, Rafalski and Brodeur. And then if all those scorers weren't enough, those teams had excellent defensive forwards and grinders to fill out an unstoppable roster: Draper, Holmstrom, McCarty, Deadmarsh (though eventually traded for Blake), Madden and Holik.

None of the teams today, not the Kings, not the Hawks, not the Bruins or Penguins could beat any of those Avs, Wings and Devils. The 80's and 90's gave us hockey's greatest legends and dynasties, and the stacked teams continued up to 2004. It was an exciting era no matter who you cheered for. Now, we have no powerhouse dynasties and no foreseeable legends on the scale of the past, with the exception of Crosby, Malkin and Ovechkin, but they are not allowed to put their stamp on history because a salary cap won't let those teams take advantage of having a mega superstar. If a team ever becomes stacked, they will be punished by having to let their stars go to stay under the cap.

Not that it's all bad. The pre-cap Oilers had to constantly sell their stars when they could no longer afford them. The small-market teams had little incentive to watch the 2nd half of the season. Now, parity allows for every fan to hope that they too could be a contender, if not now, then at least in 5 years. But it's a trade-off. Every one has a chance, but we gave up on legends and dynasties. As a fan of the history of the game, I will miss the lore.

 

[blankall]

...depends on which team you are a fan of I guess.

For a Flames fan this is a very eventful season. For many others, probably less.

Either way, there are a lot of new young stars emerging all over the league, and the playoffs are going to be a battle.

 

[General Zodd]

Aside from the WJC, this season totally sucks ass! I wanna refund!!

 

[Nicko999]

I've watched less hockey then I ever have before. The only hockey I watched was the World Juniors, although I'd like to blame the Oilers lack of success, but even then I won't turn on any other games, I'd rather watch NFL at this point.

Not a fan of the low scoring style of hockey played lately, extremely boring to watch. The odd time there will be a good game I suppose but something is off with the NHL this year for me..

There is your answer.

Scoring is actually 0.02 G/game higher than last year (highest it's been since 10-11). Because Crosby is having a down season, people think the situation is bad but it's not. PP opportunities are at an all-time low and scoring hasn't decreased. That tells me the league is extremely healthy with more players likely to finish with 90+ pts this season than last. We also have 2 extremely great talents coming next season.

[MOD]

 

[Billy Mays Here*]

It's all in the eyes of the beholder. A season is usually mostly defined based on which team you root for, so if your team is losing, probably not a very eventful year. As a Wild fan this season has been pretty bleh up to this point aside from the first 10 or so games. But this winning streak is making it interesting and it's going to be a fight to the finish in the West as it always is to see who makes those final two or three playoff spots.

 

[BayStreetBully]

There is your answer.

Scoring is actually 0.02 G/game higher than last year (highest it's been since 10-11). Because Crosby is having a down season, people think the situation is bad but it's not. PP opportunities are at an all-time low and scoring hasn't decreased. That tells me the league is extremely healthy with more players likely to finish with 90+ pts this season than last. We also have 2 extremely great talents coming next season.

Most of the complaining is done by fans of teams that are already out anyways.

I'd rather have 0.02 less goals per game and have more superstars hit 120 points. 3 players at 120 points and 7 at 70 points would be more exciting than 10 players at 90 points.

The game today is so void of any future legendary players or teams. The players that will become legendary are also having sub-par seasons by their standards.

When fans of non-playoff teams aren't interested, there is a problem with the league as a whole. Look at the NFL. Fans watch the NFL regardless of how their own team is doing. That's how the NHL used to be.

 

[MayonnaiseOreo]

Aside from the WJC, this season totally sucks ass! I wanna refund!!

Who or what do you what to refund? Seems weird you'd pay a refund when you're the one that's dissatisfied.

 

[Zaddy91]

Well this thread is arbitrary as ****

definately a decent season, look at the playoff race in west, and in east it looks like 8 teams can make the finals.

what in gods name do you want

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Watching Colorado this season has been a struggle. Not much left from last season's young and hungry team. Just boring team to watch most of the nights. Losing Bordeleau to injuries and trading Downie might have been mistake after all. They really created some action and drama, great entertaiment value at least..

Of course there's been couple bright spots, Varly, Pickard, Johnson, Tanguay etc, but mostly just boring..

 

[BayStreetBully]

Watching Colorado this season has been a struggle. Not much left from last season's young and hungry team. Just boring team to watch most of the nights. Losing Bordeleau to injuries and trading Downie might have been mistake after all. They really created some action and drama, great entertaiment value at least..

Of course there's been couple bright spots, Varly, Pickard, Johnson, Tanguay etc, but mostly just boring..

As an aside, I think I'd be particularly disenchanted with today's NHL if I was an Avs fan from 1995-2004. Props to those who continue to follow them.

 

[Palffy3314]

The Cup winning team probably won't even make the playoffs.

I guess you don't remember that same team being in similar positions over the last 3 years. Bottom line is, if you are so upset about this season, don't watch.

 

[Vesa Awesaka]

I felt like the years immediately following the first lockout were the best

 

[janecky]

Uneventful? Not at all. There's been a lot of stuff going on this year if you keep an eye on more than just one team. Rick Nash is now synonymous with the sound of the Rangers' goal horn. There's been the mumps epidemic. Mike Richards getting waived. Laviolette's Predators. The Islanders. The Eakins experiment coming to an end. Minnesota and Yeo on their knees and on the ropes basically already on the verge of being carried out of the ring on a stretcher, and they get up and start fighting. Schwartz-Lehterä-Tarasenko. Aaron Ekblad. Voracek gunning for the Art Ross. Ovechkin under Trotz. Boston with a rough start but then ascending. Brodeur in St. Louis. Big Bowling Buff knocking over other players like pins. Playoff race in the West. I could go on and on.

I don't find this season less exciting than previous years. Generally I think people get down on a season when their own team is a disappointment.

I was disappointed, though, that Iginla was not allowed to beat Phaneuf. The phasing out of certain aspects of physicality is not good.

I can't believe there are people who want more penalties. There is nothing more boring than watching an endless string of powerplays turning games into a special teams competition. That's hockey at its worst. Yuck.

Some people are so pessimistic I don't know how they live with themselves.

QFT.

 

[Mickey Redmond*]

Worst since the 2010 season

 

[Lunatik]

From the perspective of a Flames fan, this season has been amazing.

- 2nd place in the Pacific Division on Feb 10.
- 9 third period comebacks.
- Gaudreau in the race for the Calder and being on pace for 20+ goals and 60+ points.
- Giordano in the race for the Norris.
- Hartley being in the race for the Jack Adams.
- The fact almost every regular on the roster is on pace to match, set or destroy personal bests in goals or points.

I ****ing love this team.

 

[lawrence]

The only thing interesting about this season is these stupid teams gutting their roster in hopes of finishing last.

 

[icKx]

The season has too many regular season games. That's all.

They call February the dog days of the NHL for a reason. There's a lull at this point in time, every season (except when there's a work stoppage or the Olympics).

Even as a fan of a 'winning' team I can't help but feel a bit mentally checked out at this point.

We all know whether our team (realistically) has a shot at the Cup by now and there are still two months of regular season hockey ahead of us. Doesn't help that the trade deadline is a snore in the cap era.

So from here out its not entertainment, it's a grind. Cross your fingers no important players get injured.

Regular season is too damn long.

 

[Coastal Kev]

The NHL product is awful to watch most games. Of course their are some here who would cheer any product the NHL put on the ice. The Pens have been involved in so many games recently where one team has been shutout. I can't imagine anyone who thinks this is good for the sport.

And in the shutouts against Edmonton and Calgary, Fleury was barely challenged except for a couple of occasions. Even worse the Pens barely got a shot on net in the third periods. Just awful to watch.

 

[RedWingsForPresident]

No one is going to score 175 points while 4 teams dominate the league!!! Bring back the 80's nostalgia!!!

 

[RedWingsForPresident]

The NHL product is awful to watch most games. Of course their are some here who would cheer any product the NHL put on the ice. The Pens have been involved in so many games recently where one team has been shutout. I can't imagine anyone who thinks this is good for the sport.

And in the shutouts against Edmonton and Calgary, Fleury was barely challenged except for a couple of occasions. Even worse the Pens barely got a shot on net in the third periods. Just awful to watch.

Go watch the NBA and see how amazing it is to watch those bottom tier teams lose by 35 points every night

 

[Coastal Kev]

Go watch the NBA and see how amazing it is to watch those bottom tier teams lose by 35 points every night

Is this a serious response? Amazing how far some will go to defend the sport. Sorry I upset you but less scoring, less fighting, bigger goalies, less skilled goals and more twice deflected goals add up to a tough sport to watch.
Lastly the GPG stat is very skewed. It includes the winning goal from the shootouts which we all know aren't a real goal. Isn't it a bit ironic hockey turned to a soccer rule to increase their scoring stats. NHL is now referred to as Sockey.

 

[BlackGoldGreen]

Uneventful? Not at all. There's been a lot of stuff going on this year if you keep an eye on more than just one team. Rick Nash is now synonymous with the sound of the Rangers' goal horn. There's been the mumps epidemic. Mike Richards getting waived. Laviolette's Predators. The Islanders. The Eakins experiment coming to an end. Minnesota and Yeo on their knees and on the ropes basically already on the verge of being carried out of the ring on a stretcher, and they get up and start fighting. Schwartz-Lehterä-Tarasenko. Aaron Ekblad. Voracek gunning for the Art Ross. Ovechkin under Trotz. Boston with a rough start but then ascending. Brodeur in St. Louis. Big Bowling Buff knocking over other players like pins. Playoff race in the West. I could go on and on.

I don't find this season less exciting than previous years. Generally I think people get down on a season when their own team is a disappointment.

I was disappointed, though, that Iginla was not allowed to beat Phaneuf. The phasing out of certain aspects of physicality is not good.

I can't believe there are people who want more penalties. There is nothing more boring than watching an endless string of powerplays turning games into a special teams competition. That's hockey at its worst. Yuck.



QFT.

Really? I can't believe there are people who prefer watching players be obstructed and clearly interfered with, which leads to much more boring, low-scoring games

 

[zachws6]

There could be a changing of the guard in general. It has to happen at some point.
I hate the olympics and all star break. It gets in the way of what I really want to see. At least the all star break doesn't seem to last an eternity.
The Kings possibly not making the playoffs is it's own story line.
A couple rookies looking to be absolutely AWESOME players.

Some people look for stuff to complain about. There is always some guy to start the thread in the spring..."Is this the most non-exciting playoffs so far"...