Thursday, January 04, 2007
NHL: The Right Direction?
Right Direction
- Enforcing rules so the game is dominated by the skill players not the clutch and grabbers.
- Regular season shootout, I hate to see a game won that way but the fact remains it's better than a tie!
- I like all the new rules except maybe the goalie handling the puck but even then I'm not that bothered by it.
Needs Work
- DO NOT take away physical play, enforce rules, specifically stick infractions but do not take away physicality!! I can't understate this enough, I want to see hits, hits and more hits. They are just as entertaining as a good goal and fans love it.
- I like the intention of the scheduling to build rivalries but 8 times a season is just too much. Scale it back to 5 so someone wins the series and use the extra 12 games to schedule non-conference opponents so fans can enjoy some variety and be able to see all the superstars.
- Marketing needs to get much better. I liked the "Just reminding you the seasons started" commercials but I only saw those commercials WHILE I was watching a game. I appreciate you preaching to the choir but that will not help the game grow. I add one caveat though, DO NOT tweak the on ice product just to attract casual fans, that's what marketing is supposed to handle!
- Be very mindful of diving and punish those who do it with a heavy hand. I'd really like to see tape reviewed (after game) and players found diving be given fines and suspensions. This must be stopped now or it could really damage the league!
Thanks for your time and as always, this isn't coming from a Canadian, a North-Easterner or even someone accustomed to snow. I'm a proud desert rat down here in Phoenix, AZ.
