Where is the Fun?

[LouJersey]

I think the constant realignment has lead to an overall dulling down of the product too. 2 home games a year v Montreal? It's harder to build up hate/passion when you aren't seeing the same teams over and over again. Hockey is a passionate sport, and fanbases are passionate. Seeing the Panthers at home more than the Habs doesn't really get the blood pumping. With the rare home and home "series" there's usually the promise of some emotion and that's always fun.

The NHL has done a great job of having an amazing product and shooting itself in the foot with a lot of the decisions it's made.

Another great post. The massive four division setup is terrible. Florida and Tampa Bay will never be Bruins rivals. Buffalo used to be a great rival but they don't play enough anymore. Ottawa, meh. add another team and go four divisions like the NFL but have ten in division games. 5 home and 5 away. 2 each vs two divisions. 4 each vs One division ..1 each vs 16 .west teams. 82 games and you don't play one division in the west.

Bruins division is Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto. Would be wars.

Carolina, Florida. Tampa, Washington.

Rangers, Isles, Devils, Jackets

Philly, buffalo, Wings and Pittsburgh


Do a 1-8 playoffs with each division winner in top 4, 4 wild cards.

 

[bobbyorr04]

Great post. This should hold a lot of water since you're younger than the crocthety guys on here.

 

[LouJersey]

I'm one Haha

 

[bobbyorr04]

I'm one Haha

Me too!

 

[C77]

Some things are good about the game....the talent level of the players is outstanding.

But for me on the whole the developments of the last 15-20 years have not been positive.

I don't like the lack of odd man rushes due to coaching and backchecking. Everyone is such a good skater that it makes for less highlight reel plays and takes away time and space from the playmakers. I would much rather see a coaching detente.....an acknowledgment that everyone gives up scoring chances and the game is more entertaining.

The games don't develop a flow to them. I don't like the constant turnovers in the neutral zone. I want many more 3 on 2's and 2 on 1's and if there is no goal, then the other team comes back on the rush.

Lack of rivalries.

Then, the elephant in the room id the change in goaltending (both size, equipment, and talent) which has reduced the variety of goals. You can't have Ben Bishop guarding the same net as Darren Pang....And they have done next to nothing about it. So I don't buy anything from Bettman & Co.

 

[chizzler]

Some things are good about the game....the talent level of the players is outstanding.

But for me on the whole the developments of the last 15-20 years have not been positive.

I don't like the lack of odd man rushes due to coaching and backchecking. Everyone is such a good skater that it makes for less highlight reel plays and takes away time and space from the playmakers. I would much rather see a coaching detente.....an acknowledgment that everyone gives up scoring chances and the game is more entertaining.

The games don't develop a flow to them. I don't like the constant turnovers in the neutral zone. I want many more 3 on 2's and 2 on 1's and if there is no goal, then the other team comes back on the rush.

Lack of rivalries.

Then, the elephant in the room id the change in goaltending (both size, equipment, and talent) which has reduced the variety of goals. You can't have Ben Bishop guarding the same net as Darren Pang....And they have done next to nothing about it. So I don't buy anything from Bettman & Co.

All major leagues are over coached.

 

[whatsbruin]

I came here to post this, as well as nostalgia.

It happened to me from my mid to late 30's. I gathered all sorts of reminders of my youth - bought lots of CD's, even of artists I didn't like at the time, DVD's of all the shows I watched, etc. I constantly felt like those were the 'good old days.'

I'm sure there's psychological breakdowns of this. I refer to it jokingly as my 'first mid life crisis.'

Now nearing the end of my 40's, I look at those CD's and DVD's and wonder what the heck I was thinking when I bought them. I'll even try to watch some of them now, and instead of that warm bath of nostalgia, I think 'Gee this show was really stupid!'

It's normal, human development. Look at the old-timers games. Both retired players and nostalgic fans enjoy them even though they are just exhibitions.

You'll be looking at two seater convertible sports cars soon.

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

I quote David Feherty.

"I don't mind getting old. I just don't want to grow up."

 

[Ladyfan]

I'm one Haha

I am not a guy but add me to this list.

I agree with some posts here but IMO hockey is still the best game in town

 

[sarge88]

I am not a guy but add me to this list.

I agree with some posts here but IMO hockey is still the best game in town

Me too.

I just really miss the anger/intensity that I remember from the 80's/90's.

The sight of Jay Miller, being pinned to the ice by a linesman, viciously pointing at Nilan, telling him he's going to ******* kill him, after after he suckered Paul Boutilier will forever be etched in my mind.

You just don't see that anymore, IMO.

At least not with that intensity.

 

[KrejciMVP]

Gary Bettman and fun don't mix

 

[Kalus]

Some things are good about the game....the talent level of the players is outstanding.

But for me on the whole the developments of the last 15-20 years have not been positive.

I don't like the lack of odd man rushes due to coaching and backchecking. Everyone is such a good skater that it makes for less highlight reel plays and takes away time and space from the playmakers. I would much rather see a coaching detente.....an acknowledgment that everyone gives up scoring chances and the game is more entertaining.

The games don't develop a flow to them. I don't like the constant turnovers in the neutral zone. I want many more 3 on 2's and 2 on 1's and if there is no goal, then the other team comes back on the rush.

Lack of rivalries.

Then, the elephant in the room id the change in goaltending (both size, equipment, and talent) which has reduced the variety of goals. You can't have Ben Bishop guarding the same net as Darren Pang....And they have done next to nothing about it. So I don't buy anything from Bettman & Co.

I think it was KPD who once suggested that the league ban coaches from the benches during games. Still interesting.

 

[LouJersey]

I quote David Feherty.

"I don't mind getting old. I just don't want to grow up."

I'll never grow up and I don't think that's a bad thing.

 

[ODAAT]

I quote David Feherty.

"I don't mind getting old. I just don't want to grow up."

I just finished "A Nasty Bit of Rough", terrific read

 

[C77]

I think it was KPD who once suggested that the league ban coaches from the benches during games. Still interesting.

Not bad....coaches only allowed to talk to team at intermission or something like that.

 

[RedeyeRocketeer]

You could make this thread about the NFL too now I find. It's across all areas, even stand-up comedy. Just hard to have fun when you're being politically correct.

 

[Gee Wally]

Please stick to hockey/sports.

Thanks.

 

[DaveFromNB]

Went to a circus last night, and a hockey game broke out.

Getting your ears blasted out every stoppage; non hockey junk filling every moment; fans doing nothing except trying to get their pictures on the jumbotron; gimmicks to keep the attention of non hockey fans like shootouts; attempts to have rules controlling every aspect of the play so that non hockey fans aren't offended should they mistakenly find themselves watching hockey. I just find my interest waning from this version of hockey.

 

[Number8]

Gary Bettman and fun don't mix

You just lack imagination this morning!

Think Gary in some sort of Hunger Games scenario with the PA......... and then tell me that wouldn't be fun!

On the topic, for me there's definitely nostalgia on some level. I think the speed and physical ability of players today is awesome. On another level I think the game suffers in some, probably unavoidable, areas. Too many systems most of all. Always been systems but technology has put them into hyper speed.

Of course, speaking of technology, that is an issue all over. When I was a kid in the summer I got on my bike, found my friends (even without texting -- simply amazing, eh?), and we were gone for day. Parents worked through word of mouth if needed -- which was rarely. Pond hockey or pickup baseball all day with no parents or phone calls was AWESOME!

Now......text, schedule, meet, schedule, text, check-in, snapchat, Google, text, check-in, watch a video, rinse repeat rinse repeat....

I'm sure the kids don't know difference and will look back with their own childhood nostalgia...... but cell phones suck the joy/life out of a kids freedom if you ask me. Not trying to make change or chase windmills, just stating what I think is fact.

 

[smithformeragent]

Went to a circus last night, and a hockey game broke out.

Getting your ears blasted out every stoppage; non hockey junk filling every moment; fans doing nothing except trying to get their pictures on the jumbotron; gimmicks to keep the attention of non hockey fans like shootouts; attempts to have rules controlling every aspect of the play so that non hockey fans aren't offended should they mistakenly find themselves watching hockey. I just find my interest waning from this version of hockey.

Same, and as much as I want to attribute it to the failures of the last couple of Bruins seasons, I think it's a much larger problem for me.

 

[Number8]

Went to a circus last night, and a hockey game broke out.

Getting your ears blasted out every stoppage; non hockey junk filling every moment; fans doing nothing except trying to get their pictures on the jumbotron; gimmicks to keep the attention of non hockey fans like shootouts; attempts to have rules controlling every aspect of the play so that non hockey fans aren't offended should they mistakenly find themselves watching hockey. I just find my interest waning from this version of hockey.

Who had those crappy little spinning logos all over the ice every time there was a faceoff a week or so ago? God that was irritating.

Worse, the fool who ran them did just like the crappy music guys...... tried to leave them on until very last second before faceoff dropped. Often missing by a second or two.

Any of you ever been to Japan and walked by (or actually step inside) one of the pachinko halls? Talk about sensory overload! Some NHL arenas seem like they want to compete!

 

[sarge88]

You just lack imagination this morning!

Think Gary in some sort of Hunger Games scenario with the PA......... and then tell me that wouldn't be fun!

On the topic, for me there's definitely nostalgia on some level. I think the speed and physical ability of players today is awesome. On another level I think the game suffers in some, probably unavoidable, areas. Too many systems most of all. Always been systems but technology has put them into hyper speed.

Of course, speaking of technology, that is an issue all over. When I was a kid in the summer I got on my bike, found my friends (even without texting -- simply amazing, eh?), and we were gone for day. Parents worked through word of mouth if needed -- which was rarely. Pond hockey or pickup baseball all day with no parents or phone calls was AWESOME!

Now......text, schedule, meet, schedule, text, check-in, snapchat, Google, text, check-in, watch a video, rinse repeat rinse repeat....

I'm sure the kids don't know difference and will look back with their own childhood nostalgia...... but cell phones suck the joy/life out of a kids freedom if you ask me. Not trying to make change or chase windmills, just stating what I think is fact.

I don't disagree with anything you posted, but it's funny how different experiences shape our opinions.

I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy my childhood overall, because I did. But I grew up in a very rough and dangerous place, so while I have some great memories, I also have some scary ones as well.

Not scary like; "that was close, our parents almost caught us with beer". It was more like; "that was close, we could have been shot".

Because of that I'm much more protective of my kids than I'd like to be, but I can't help it.

 

[JAD]

I think it was KPD who once suggested that the league ban coaches from the benches during games. Still interesting.

If that were the case in the 70s Esposito never would have come off the ice. Lol

 

[hoss75]

Went to a circus last night, and a hockey game broke out.

Getting your ears blasted out every stoppage; non hockey junk filling every moment; fans doing nothing except trying to get their pictures on the jumbotron; gimmicks to keep the attention of non hockey fans like shootouts; attempts to have rules controlling every aspect of the play so that non hockey fans aren't offended should they mistakenly find themselves watching hockey. I just find my interest waning from this version of hockey.

The fans I could go on and on about.. I thought the pink-hat invasion after 2011 was bad, this new crowd is the worst. There's maybe 1/10 of the diehards that were there pre-2011.
-I was at a couple of games this season where people were doing the wave. Some of the old regulars were trying to stop it but where outnumbered.
-Last Saturday everyone I bumped into acted like they owned the place. A couple of crotchety old ladies were trying to act as gate keepers for my aisle. At one point I had to say "I've been coming though this way for the last 8 years. If you suddenly have a problem with it we can talk to security."
Some other guy claimed I was cutting the men's room line. That ended with me making some ageist remarks... which was wrong but I had to have the last line.
Finally, as I was leaving some couple was texting on the stairs holding up hundreds of people. As I brushed by the guy took offense for some reason.
-This doesn't even include all the basic infractions of civilized Garden behavior. Yeah, maybe there were fights breaking out in the stands at the Habs games a decade ago, but at least that crowd knew not to get up unless there was a break in play.

 

[Ladyfan]

The fans I could go on and on about.. I thought the pink-hat invasion after 2011 was bad, this new crowd is the worst. There's maybe 1/10 of the diehards that were there pre-2011.
-I was at a couple of games this season where people were doing the wave. Some of the old regulars were trying to stop it but where outnumbered.
-Last Saturday everyone I bumped into acted like they owned the place. A couple of crotchety old ladies were trying to act as gate keepers for my aisle. At one point I had to say "I've been coming though this way for the last 8 years. If you suddenly have a problem with it we can talk to security."
Some other guy claimed I was cutting the men's room line. That ended with me making some ageist remarks... which was wrong but I had to have the last line.
Finally, as I was leaving some couple was texting on the stairs holding up hundreds of people. As I brushed by the guy took offense for some reason.
-This doesn't even include all the basic infractions of civilized Garden behavior. Yeah, maybe there were fights breaking out in the stands at the Habs games a decade ago, but at least that crowd knew not to get up unless there was a break in play.

I agree with much of what you posted. The "wave" really bothers me... It is hockey damn it. Too many drunks who know nothing about the sport and just come to the games to start something or get on the Jumbotron.

...and then there was the guy I had to punch because he was so bad. That was a first for me...and I hope the last.

I love going to the games but would love to toss out many of the "fans" for being jackasses.