They should just let the NHL die. Canadians should take their game back!

[Cascadian]

I honestly think the NHL is dead. Bettman and Goodenow killed the game. Especially Bettman. He totally wrecked the game by expanding too far and too fast. He allowed the game to be a mockery by letting Disney's Eisner have the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. It became too much of a business freak sideshow. Really? Who really watches hockey in....Tampa Bay???

No. I think my Canadian friends should just take their game back and start from scratch. I would not mind seeing an All-Canadian league. Many people would argue that a Canadian Hockey League would be the CFL of hockey. I don't think so. Hockey is the national pastime so I see no reason why it would not work. Let's get the Canadian NHL teams; Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, and pair them up with new teams from Halifax, Victoria, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Quebec City, Regina or Saskatoon and create a new league. The Americans can start their own all-American league if they want. Of course it does not mean that teams from the two league won't meet. There could be a North American Cup that the top clubs could compete for. As for the Stanley Cup, let the Canadians have that. The Yanks can start up their own. The concept of separate national leagues in Europe in addition to a continential championship have worked. I don't see why it would not work here.

Bring the game home where it belongs.

John

[arikara]

1. Speaking as a Canadian, I totally agree

When I was a kid, we used to look forward to Hockey Night in Canada. I totally lost interest as it became more commercialized until the point where for the last 10 years I stopped watching entirely, including the playoffs. If it comes back in the same form I could care less.

But if it comes back as a game instead of a commercial enterprise I may just start watching again.

[CanuckAmok]

4. If we start our own league, can we have the digital puck streak back?

That was cool! For onec all my friends were seeing trails at the same time.


Maybe we could hire this guy back... he's been working in a parking garage at Front and Spadina since he got laid-off:

[leftofthedial]

2. you just knew when they moved into Texas and Florida

that the end was near

fucking rednecks and their small-town sleazeball conman bullshit.

Look what they did to the country!

And you didn't realize they would screw up hockey?

[Left Is Write]

5. It broke my heart when the North Stars went to DALLAS.

The North Stars. From Minnesota, land of ice and snow. Where HIGH SCHOOL hockey tournaments draw huge audiences. And our team went to....Dallas?? Cognitive dissonance.

I've never been able to get into the Wild, but at least hockey is back in MN.

[shawmut]

6. You should have got the North Stars name back

like they did with the Browns in Cleveland.

[Left Is Write]

7. That would have been great.

[TheMightyFavog]

3. Keep the NHL...

Just kick out or move all teams south of the Mason-Dixon line.

Hell, Move one of those teams (Dallas, please) to Madison or Milwaukee.

Something to Give yet another Chicago team something from Wisconsin to shit their pants about.

[Telly Savalas]

9. But isn't Dallas the one southern team...

that is actually doing well financially?

In 2004, they ranked 8th in the league in home attendance and were in 6th the two years before ( http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2004 ).

[Kat45]

8. But we need it in the Northeast and Northern parts of the US.

Hockey was just fine until they expanded and over-expanded some more into the states who think ice is just something to put in their drinks.

[Discord]

11. that was a big part of it.

Lack of overall talent to spread out to teams diluted the talent pool but did nothing to curb the payrolls of players. I could never understand why some of these players we're making over a mil a year and didn't play worth a shit.

The high payrolls of course led to higher ticket prices. In Boston, you couldn't even get in the door for less that $50 and that was for the nosebleed section. Tickets we're around $150 a pop for prime seating. So for 2 people, to sit so far away you need binoculars, have a drink and a snack would cost almost $150. Over $400 to sit in the good seats. Sorry, but I don't like hockey THAT much.

[Discord]

10. Thats why they moved the NHL office to

Boston. At least it went to an original six team city. I'm actually glad the game crumbled. I was a lifetime hockey fan and I could barely stomache it the last few years. The clutch and grab that was allowed while curbing the fighting in the game really dragged hockey to its knees. I liked the game when it was fast paced and people we're.... chippy. I miss old time hockey, and hope that something good rises from the ashes worth watching.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. I'm really enjoying watching Hatcher and Chelios play for the Motor City

Mechanics. This is a group of guys who look like they're having fun. I hope this league bumps the NHL out! :hi:

[TheMightyFavog]

13. Why not sell ad space on jerseys like in Europe?

[autorank]

14. In 1976 I went into a bar on 49th and 8th and saw a hockey fight on the TV

Almost 50 minutes later, I looked up from my drink and conversation to note that the fight was ongoing. Any 'spectacle' that allows crap like that, I thought to myself, can't be serious. My next encounter (other than the Olympic miracle) was the Vancouver story. What a fraud this league is. Thugs on ice. All that counts is giving the crowd their blood. The Ruskies proved they were #1 in talent long ago.

I agree, let it go. Adios "Pro" Hockey.