And the coaches just keep falling. Craig Hartsburg and Curtis Hunt lost their jobs yesterday because the players either couldn’t or wouldn’t buy what they were selling. I was asked yesterday if “Hartsburg lost the players”. I am not sure he ever had them. That is not an indictment of Hartsburg but rather the players. In the last year this team will now have had four coaches. John Paddock, Bryan Murray, Craig Hartsburg and now Corey Clousten. Are they all bad coaches? No in fact all are very good coaches. So what is the common denominator here? The core of this team is the same and maybe that is the problem. There are some very talented hockey players who, for what ever reason, do not seem to want to battle at a high enough level to make this team competitive every game. It also seems that no matter how many times true consequences are threatened, it just doesn’t happen and that causes everyone to wonder about all the accountability that has been promised.
To be sure this team is not as skilled as it was 2 years ago, but it still has more than enough talent to be better than the worst offensive team in the NHL. The microscope is centred squarely on Bryan Murray and the players. Murray will be watching very closely to see how this group of players reacts to yet another coaching change and that inspection will play a major part in who might be leaving or at least on the block at trade deadline time. Murray will be judged by ownership on how he evaluates and tries to fix this team
Bryan has all the experience needed and is also well aware his job might be the next one on the block. Knowing Bryan I know he will not make a move to save his job if it’s a bad move for the team long term. History may show us that Bryan’s biggest mistakes may have been made out of loyalty and trust. Loyalty to players who might not feel any sense of guilt in not trying to repay that loyalty. Trust in expecting some of those players to do the things they said they would at the level they said they could.
While I can not foresee what will happen next I do know this is the beginning and not the end of this. No matter what type of results Clousten has from here until the end of the season, this team’s make up will change before next season starts. The only question is how big will those changes be and will they all be wearing skates. In this game players always have an impact on those in the sport who don't play. Players play well and its extensions and raises. Players play poorly its firings and demotions.
Whether they know it or not, accept it or not, their play decides many futures.
See you at the rink.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
No-Show Punishment
Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk from the Detroit Red Wings will not play against Columbus on Tuesday when the NHL fires back up after the All-Star game. They won’t play because both will be suspended for 1 game. They have been suspended because they did not attend the NHL All-Star festivities in Montreal. Neither is supposedly injured but both are banged up. The NHL made this unprecedented move to try and stop players from taking a pass simply because they don’t feel like going or have something better to do.
For the NHL I understand the concern. The game is a showcase to the fans of all the best and most popular players in the game. Maybe the more important part is the schmoozing with corporate sponsors at a time when they are hugely important. Like the rest of the global economy, the NHL’s revenues will be dropping simply because some corporate sponsors won’t be able to justify the expense or indeed some corporations may no longer exist. So making sure the NHL’s relationship with sponsors is strong, is very, very important to both the league and the players.
The players association is in a difficult situation because while they are partners in the business and it is important, they are also required to represent the player’s wishes and will. Some players just don’t want to go to the All-Star game. They have bumps and bruises, injuries and in some cases just don’t want to go because some feel they have done enough, others just believe the event is lame and don’t want to be bothered.
In the case of Sydney Crosby I have nothing but applause. Could not play but came to play with the sponsors and fans. The very best have a higher level of responsibility and he seems to get that and always finds a way to step up and help out.
In the case of Datsyuk, he has taken a pass on NHL awards dinners, All-Star games and other NHL functions. It appears he wants to play his game and cash his cheques and that’s it. I have a problem with that. Those cheques are as big as they are because of the NHL and its relationship with sponsors, TV networks and most importantly fans. The “I don’t feel like it” excuse is shameful.
In the case of Nick Lidstrom, he has done it all for this league. Won every award, won cups, the Norris, been to 11 All-Star games, World Cup, the Olympics and this weekend just wanted to see his son play in a hockey tournament. I have no problem with that.
This is the problem. How do you develop a one-size-fits-all policy which punishes players like Datsyuk who live by the “take but don’t give” motto, while allowing players like Lidstrom a pass because he has years and years of doing more than his fair share to grow this game.
I don’t have the answer, but I do know the way the NHL dealt with this seemed knee jerk and not completely thought out. Maybe they can deal with it in some kind of financial way since that is what seems to impact players the most. Maybe if you want to take a pass and you are not injured you have to make a half million dollar donation to an All-Star charity based in the city where the game is being played. Its easy to suggest but difficult to implement since anything like that would have to be a part of the CBA.
If the players and owners are now partners in this thing, that has to mean you are partners when its time to give not just when its time to take. There are many more givers than takers in this game thankfully, but finding a system that punishes one without persecuting the other is difficult.
See you at the rink.
For the NHL I understand the concern. The game is a showcase to the fans of all the best and most popular players in the game. Maybe the more important part is the schmoozing with corporate sponsors at a time when they are hugely important. Like the rest of the global economy, the NHL’s revenues will be dropping simply because some corporate sponsors won’t be able to justify the expense or indeed some corporations may no longer exist. So making sure the NHL’s relationship with sponsors is strong, is very, very important to both the league and the players.
The players association is in a difficult situation because while they are partners in the business and it is important, they are also required to represent the player’s wishes and will. Some players just don’t want to go to the All-Star game. They have bumps and bruises, injuries and in some cases just don’t want to go because some feel they have done enough, others just believe the event is lame and don’t want to be bothered.
In the case of Sydney Crosby I have nothing but applause. Could not play but came to play with the sponsors and fans. The very best have a higher level of responsibility and he seems to get that and always finds a way to step up and help out.
In the case of Datsyuk, he has taken a pass on NHL awards dinners, All-Star games and other NHL functions. It appears he wants to play his game and cash his cheques and that’s it. I have a problem with that. Those cheques are as big as they are because of the NHL and its relationship with sponsors, TV networks and most importantly fans. The “I don’t feel like it” excuse is shameful.
In the case of Nick Lidstrom, he has done it all for this league. Won every award, won cups, the Norris, been to 11 All-Star games, World Cup, the Olympics and this weekend just wanted to see his son play in a hockey tournament. I have no problem with that.
This is the problem. How do you develop a one-size-fits-all policy which punishes players like Datsyuk who live by the “take but don’t give” motto, while allowing players like Lidstrom a pass because he has years and years of doing more than his fair share to grow this game.
I don’t have the answer, but I do know the way the NHL dealt with this seemed knee jerk and not completely thought out. Maybe they can deal with it in some kind of financial way since that is what seems to impact players the most. Maybe if you want to take a pass and you are not injured you have to make a half million dollar donation to an All-Star charity based in the city where the game is being played. Its easy to suggest but difficult to implement since anything like that would have to be a part of the CBA.
If the players and owners are now partners in this thing, that has to mean you are partners when its time to give not just when its time to take. There are many more givers than takers in this game thankfully, but finding a system that punishes one without persecuting the other is difficult.
See you at the rink.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Thumbs up for Jarkko
Jarkko Ruutu has been suspended for 2 games for allegedly biting the thumb of Buffalo’s Andrew Peters. If he really did bite him then I understand the leagues need to suspend him. You can’t have players biting each other. I get that. I personally think he did bite him and I would have done exactly the same.
I am not applauding Jarkko Ruutu and his actions but I thought about what I would do in the same situation. Ruutu did not go hunting on the ice looking for someone to chomp into. The two men were tied up and Peters jammed his thumb into Ruutu’s mouth. Watch the video closely. That thumb didn’t get into that mouth by accident. This is the logic I don’t understand. A player can intentionally jam his thumb into one players mouth and try to rip his cheek, but biting that thumb goes against the code of hockey?
What is the code of hockey now? I really don’t know. I know what it used to be and I know it’s not nearly the same anymore, but I really don’t know what the code is anymore.
In this same game Chris Kelly was put in a head lock and his head jammed into the boards by Drew Stafford. It is unclear whether he was injured by his head being stuffed into the boards or a cross check to the head from Craig Rivet. Either way Kelly’s eye is swollen shut today and the train track stitches in his head are no act. This play was not penalized and was certainly not reviewed by the league. It apparently falls into the code of acceptability. The tiny piece of broken skin on the end of Andrew Peters finger is obviously a far more egregious offence. Apparently because it offends the sense of “Code” that all players live by.
That code did nothing for Patrice Bergeron in Boston last year when Randy Jones from Philly nearly ended his life with a hit from behind. That hit just barely stirred the keepers of the code. That death defying hit warranted just a 3 game suspension. So let me get this straight. You can almost kill a man and that’s worth just 1 more game suspension than biting the thumb of a man who intentionally jammed his opposable digit into the mouth of the biter?
I don’t get the code anymore. I don’t get the logic of those who defend the code and the men who punish those who break this ever changing code.
Jarkko Ruutu deserves to be suspended. So does Andrew Peters if for no other reason than the stupidity of jamming your thumb in someone’s mouth, trying to rip their cheek open and then being appalled that you were bitten.
In the end does anyone really care? A pest bit a goon. Peters has injured that thumb worse tying his skates. No, this suspension is about the code. I just wish I knew where I could buy a copy of it so I could read up on this. I am heading to Chapters right now and I am going straight to the Comedy Section.
See you at the rink.
I am not applauding Jarkko Ruutu and his actions but I thought about what I would do in the same situation. Ruutu did not go hunting on the ice looking for someone to chomp into. The two men were tied up and Peters jammed his thumb into Ruutu’s mouth. Watch the video closely. That thumb didn’t get into that mouth by accident. This is the logic I don’t understand. A player can intentionally jam his thumb into one players mouth and try to rip his cheek, but biting that thumb goes against the code of hockey?
What is the code of hockey now? I really don’t know. I know what it used to be and I know it’s not nearly the same anymore, but I really don’t know what the code is anymore.
In this same game Chris Kelly was put in a head lock and his head jammed into the boards by Drew Stafford. It is unclear whether he was injured by his head being stuffed into the boards or a cross check to the head from Craig Rivet. Either way Kelly’s eye is swollen shut today and the train track stitches in his head are no act. This play was not penalized and was certainly not reviewed by the league. It apparently falls into the code of acceptability. The tiny piece of broken skin on the end of Andrew Peters finger is obviously a far more egregious offence. Apparently because it offends the sense of “Code” that all players live by.
That code did nothing for Patrice Bergeron in Boston last year when Randy Jones from Philly nearly ended his life with a hit from behind. That hit just barely stirred the keepers of the code. That death defying hit warranted just a 3 game suspension. So let me get this straight. You can almost kill a man and that’s worth just 1 more game suspension than biting the thumb of a man who intentionally jammed his opposable digit into the mouth of the biter?
I don’t get the code anymore. I don’t get the logic of those who defend the code and the men who punish those who break this ever changing code.
Jarkko Ruutu deserves to be suspended. So does Andrew Peters if for no other reason than the stupidity of jamming your thumb in someone’s mouth, trying to rip their cheek open and then being appalled that you were bitten.
In the end does anyone really care? A pest bit a goon. Peters has injured that thumb worse tying his skates. No, this suspension is about the code. I just wish I knew where I could buy a copy of it so I could read up on this. I am heading to Chapters right now and I am going straight to the Comedy Section.
See you at the rink.
Monday, January 5, 2009
I wish I had the answers.
I am like every fan right now in that I wish I had the answers. There isn’t a day that goes by when someone doesn’t stop me in the grocery store or at the gas pump and ask what is wrong with the Senators. I wish I had an answer. The one thing that makes me feel better about this personally is the fact that many many very smart hockey people don’t have an answer either. I am only a play by play guy and thus me not having an answer is not a surprise. The fact that actual hockey experts can’t figure it out either is a testament to how confounding this situation is.
I think everyone knew that this team would not be the high flying, high scoring Senators of old where they could seemingly score 6, 7 or 8 goals a night if they wanted to. I don’t believe anyone thought they would be the lowest scoring team in the NHL though. In Boston they appear to have about 5 or 6 players who are on pace to have their best seasons ever. It is indeed good fortune when those stars align at the same time and Boston’s record is all the better for it. Conversely what are the odds that 5 of Ottawa’s best offensive players would have their worst season’s ever at the same time. The odds are probably the same except a franchise and its fans feel the pain more when those hockey odds are working against you and your team.
The only thing I know is that you can only do one thing. Keep on playing. Keep trying to find some magic again. Keep on pushing the players to find their top level. There is no magic wand. There is no easy way out. Trades in this league are now nearly impossible to make and GM Bryan Murray will soon have an ear replacement with his current one nearly worn off from working the phones. Changes in the on-ice system are not the issue. Craig Hartsburg has tried every line combination and every fore-check system known to man. Nope, it appears this is a problem that must be solved from within using the oldest method in the books. Perseverance!
I wish I had a better answer. I wish I could figure out a better way. If I was a smarter guy maybe I could see one.
Last January after the Detroit game the switch on this team somehow got mysteriously got turned off. Maybe it will somehow get mysteriously switched back on if there is enough perseverance.
Sorry….wish I had the answers.
See you at the Rink.
I think everyone knew that this team would not be the high flying, high scoring Senators of old where they could seemingly score 6, 7 or 8 goals a night if they wanted to. I don’t believe anyone thought they would be the lowest scoring team in the NHL though. In Boston they appear to have about 5 or 6 players who are on pace to have their best seasons ever. It is indeed good fortune when those stars align at the same time and Boston’s record is all the better for it. Conversely what are the odds that 5 of Ottawa’s best offensive players would have their worst season’s ever at the same time. The odds are probably the same except a franchise and its fans feel the pain more when those hockey odds are working against you and your team.
The only thing I know is that you can only do one thing. Keep on playing. Keep trying to find some magic again. Keep on pushing the players to find their top level. There is no magic wand. There is no easy way out. Trades in this league are now nearly impossible to make and GM Bryan Murray will soon have an ear replacement with his current one nearly worn off from working the phones. Changes in the on-ice system are not the issue. Craig Hartsburg has tried every line combination and every fore-check system known to man. Nope, it appears this is a problem that must be solved from within using the oldest method in the books. Perseverance!
I wish I had a better answer. I wish I could figure out a better way. If I was a smarter guy maybe I could see one.
Last January after the Detroit game the switch on this team somehow got mysteriously got turned off. Maybe it will somehow get mysteriously switched back on if there is enough perseverance.
Sorry….wish I had the answers.
See you at the Rink.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Who does the NHLPA protect?
Will there ever be a day when this association has 2 sides to it. The PA becoming 3D is simply too much to dream about.
This whole Sean Avery thing has me wondering again who the NHLPA represents. As a dues paying member Avery is entitled to the union’s support and legal representation. They can attack the NHL even if they look foolish defending someone whose actions are repeatedly indefensible. They are required to do it. But how hard to they have to fight? They didn’t fight that hard to help Alexi Yashin when he tried to get out of a signed contract. Again in that case they are required to represent him, but to what extent?
This case is not much different. Few if any players support their union’s use of time, funds and efforts to fight for the rights of a player who has no problem in denigrating the rights and reputation of other association members. Is the NHLPA going to file suit against Avery on behalf of Dion Phaneuf for the public remarks made by Avery? I don’t think so. Does Phaneuf not have rights to a defense even if he requires defending from another member of the union? Do you really think Glenn Healy and the NHLPA lawyers really want to try and find a way to make this sound different than what it is? I am sure they are embarrassed to even be there arguing the case.
The greatest risk to an NHL player’s career is not the actions of the big bad league or the owners. The greatest risk to a player’s career is the actions of another player. Accidents happen but clearly there are certain players who are extremely dangerous to the health of others on skates. The NHL has supplementary discipline to deal with those people but is that enough?
For the repeat offenders who have clearly not been convinced by supplementary discipline to change the way they play, why is there no player-based disciplinary board at the NHLPA to internally sanction players who other players believe put their careers at risk?
Why is it the NHLPA lawyers are at the ready to grieve a dispute over a cloudy waiver issue, but one player getting his 7th suspension for almost killing another is not even a conversation?
Players are now involved in equipment, the rules, off site games, promotions, outdoor games and a whole host of other things. But they still can’t seem to understand that self discipline of its own membership for their actions on the ice might be the greatest single service they can do to help prolong the career of every NHL player. Is that not the union’s primary job? To protect the career of each paying member with passionate advocacy?
I just can’t figure it out. That’s now #18,996,087,438,227,877 on my list of stuff I can’t figure out.
See you at the rink.
This whole Sean Avery thing has me wondering again who the NHLPA represents. As a dues paying member Avery is entitled to the union’s support and legal representation. They can attack the NHL even if they look foolish defending someone whose actions are repeatedly indefensible. They are required to do it. But how hard to they have to fight? They didn’t fight that hard to help Alexi Yashin when he tried to get out of a signed contract. Again in that case they are required to represent him, but to what extent?
This case is not much different. Few if any players support their union’s use of time, funds and efforts to fight for the rights of a player who has no problem in denigrating the rights and reputation of other association members. Is the NHLPA going to file suit against Avery on behalf of Dion Phaneuf for the public remarks made by Avery? I don’t think so. Does Phaneuf not have rights to a defense even if he requires defending from another member of the union? Do you really think Glenn Healy and the NHLPA lawyers really want to try and find a way to make this sound different than what it is? I am sure they are embarrassed to even be there arguing the case.
The greatest risk to an NHL player’s career is not the actions of the big bad league or the owners. The greatest risk to a player’s career is the actions of another player. Accidents happen but clearly there are certain players who are extremely dangerous to the health of others on skates. The NHL has supplementary discipline to deal with those people but is that enough?
For the repeat offenders who have clearly not been convinced by supplementary discipline to change the way they play, why is there no player-based disciplinary board at the NHLPA to internally sanction players who other players believe put their careers at risk?
Why is it the NHLPA lawyers are at the ready to grieve a dispute over a cloudy waiver issue, but one player getting his 7th suspension for almost killing another is not even a conversation?
Players are now involved in equipment, the rules, off site games, promotions, outdoor games and a whole host of other things. But they still can’t seem to understand that self discipline of its own membership for their actions on the ice might be the greatest single service they can do to help prolong the career of every NHL player. Is that not the union’s primary job? To protect the career of each paying member with passionate advocacy?
I just can’t figure it out. That’s now #18,996,087,438,227,877 on my list of stuff I can’t figure out.
See you at the rink.
Avery Who?
First my apologies. It has been some time since my last post. I have had some personal things going on and just have not had the time or the desire to do it. Again my apologies.
This is something that simply can’t be passed up though. The Sean Avery affair. Just too delicious, too “Entertainment Tonight”.
First the good. People who never talk about hockey or care about hockey are talking about this. Broadcast outlets which rarely have a hockey story like CNN have covered this. Even more amazing the BBC ran a story about it. Great! Or is it?
Now the bad. Well just about everything. This guy is simply a train wreck. A few teams will always want him because he is a very good player but the list is going to start dwindling because he comes with so much baggage and has found a way to embarrass everyone who believes in him and pays him or plays with him.
The commissioners 6 game suspension is neither too much or too little as far as I am concerned. The number of games will be debated by everyone. He gets 6 games for bad language and poor taste while Randy Jones from Philly got 3 games for almost killing Patrice Bergeron from Boston last year? You can’t compare apples and oranges and this is a completely different fruit so I am not going to even bother considering if Avery’s suspension is too much or too little. I am anxiously waiting to see what the Dallas Stars do and what the NHLPA does after that.
Here is the statement from the NHLPA following the announcement of the suspension.
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYERS’ ASSOCIATION STATEMENT REGARDING SUSPENSION OF SEAN AVERY
TORONTO (December 5, 2008):
NHLPA Executive Director Paul Kelly’s statement regarding the suspension of Sean Avery for six regular season games: “While the NHLPA does not condone Sean’s comments, which were clearly inappropriate, the discipline imposed by the Commissioner is unprecedented both in its severity, as well as the process by which it was handed down. We have also seen signals from the Dallas Stars that Sean’s contractual rights might be challenged. We are monitoring the situation as it develops, and we will evaluate all legal options as the circumstances warrant. In the meantime, our first priority is supporting Sean’s efforts to learn from his mistake and move forward in a positive manner."
The juicy part is the contractual rights being challenged. In every NHL contract there is (what amounts to) a morality clause and there is talk the Stars may attempt to get rid of his contract by claiming he has violated it. There is also talk the Stars (who do not own their own AHL team) might send him to their East Coast League team and hope he won’t show up so they can suspend him. If he does show up, they will either pay him until the date rolls around when they can buy him out, or hope that someone else is willing to take a flyer on this wild card player. If they do, the Stars can recall him and that team can take him on re-entry waivers and Dallas would only have to pay for half of his remaining salary.
Avery has clearly had the spin doctors doing surgery on him. His apology was obviously not written by him and I doubt his offer to get psychological help was his idea. I would love to see that psychological report. I am no Dr.Phil but I don’t believe he has any clinical problems. His issues are ego and morality based with a huge dose of self entitlement mixed in with a healthy portion of showmanship and self love. I believe the clinical name for this is jerkitis.
I believe the cure is the end of his multi-million dollar paychecks combined with some anonymity and a little bit of in-your-face scorn for any working man who would be fired him his 30 thousand dollar a year job if he behaved this way. In other words a severe reality check.
I am all for 2nd chances. Avery is now on chance #17 and at this rate could soon be a team mate of Ray Emery’s.
See you at the rink.
This is something that simply can’t be passed up though. The Sean Avery affair. Just too delicious, too “Entertainment Tonight”.
First the good. People who never talk about hockey or care about hockey are talking about this. Broadcast outlets which rarely have a hockey story like CNN have covered this. Even more amazing the BBC ran a story about it. Great! Or is it?
Now the bad. Well just about everything. This guy is simply a train wreck. A few teams will always want him because he is a very good player but the list is going to start dwindling because he comes with so much baggage and has found a way to embarrass everyone who believes in him and pays him or plays with him.
The commissioners 6 game suspension is neither too much or too little as far as I am concerned. The number of games will be debated by everyone. He gets 6 games for bad language and poor taste while Randy Jones from Philly got 3 games for almost killing Patrice Bergeron from Boston last year? You can’t compare apples and oranges and this is a completely different fruit so I am not going to even bother considering if Avery’s suspension is too much or too little. I am anxiously waiting to see what the Dallas Stars do and what the NHLPA does after that.
Here is the statement from the NHLPA following the announcement of the suspension.
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYERS’ ASSOCIATION STATEMENT REGARDING SUSPENSION OF SEAN AVERY
TORONTO (December 5, 2008):
NHLPA Executive Director Paul Kelly’s statement regarding the suspension of Sean Avery for six regular season games: “While the NHLPA does not condone Sean’s comments, which were clearly inappropriate, the discipline imposed by the Commissioner is unprecedented both in its severity, as well as the process by which it was handed down. We have also seen signals from the Dallas Stars that Sean’s contractual rights might be challenged. We are monitoring the situation as it develops, and we will evaluate all legal options as the circumstances warrant. In the meantime, our first priority is supporting Sean’s efforts to learn from his mistake and move forward in a positive manner."
The juicy part is the contractual rights being challenged. In every NHL contract there is (what amounts to) a morality clause and there is talk the Stars may attempt to get rid of his contract by claiming he has violated it. There is also talk the Stars (who do not own their own AHL team) might send him to their East Coast League team and hope he won’t show up so they can suspend him. If he does show up, they will either pay him until the date rolls around when they can buy him out, or hope that someone else is willing to take a flyer on this wild card player. If they do, the Stars can recall him and that team can take him on re-entry waivers and Dallas would only have to pay for half of his remaining salary.
Avery has clearly had the spin doctors doing surgery on him. His apology was obviously not written by him and I doubt his offer to get psychological help was his idea. I would love to see that psychological report. I am no Dr.Phil but I don’t believe he has any clinical problems. His issues are ego and morality based with a huge dose of self entitlement mixed in with a healthy portion of showmanship and self love. I believe the clinical name for this is jerkitis.
I believe the cure is the end of his multi-million dollar paychecks combined with some anonymity and a little bit of in-your-face scorn for any working man who would be fired him his 30 thousand dollar a year job if he behaved this way. In other words a severe reality check.
I am all for 2nd chances. Avery is now on chance #17 and at this rate could soon be a team mate of Ray Emery’s.
See you at the rink.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Less won't happen.
Today in the Globe and Mail columnist William Houston polled a group of hockey people whose job it is to have an opinion. The question was the number of games that should make up an NHL season. The list of pundits included CBC’s Mike Milbury, Nick Kypreos of Rogers Sportsnet and TSN’s Ray Ferraro. All rightly suggested a reduction in the NHL schedule from 82 games to 72, 74 or 76 would increase practice time and rest thus improving the quality of hockey we watch and listen to. I can’t find anything in that logic which is wrong. I also have no faith it will happen.
The quality of hockey is on the list of concerns of the NHL and the NHLPA but it is not close to the top of the list. I mentioned both the league and the union because both have to agree to a reduction in the number of games. Both sides discussed this during the lock-out and both sides dismissed it after looking at the numbers. Those numbers had dollar signs. Reducing the number of games reduces revenues for the teams and salaries for the players. Neither party was interested enough in quality to reduce the quantity of the revenues they share.
For the NHL and its owners, they sell to the public rivalries and star players. The players rely on the fact that the hockey paying public and the media does not expect the very highest level of hockey each night simply because almost everyone understands that in an 82 game schedule it is impossible to practice enough and get enough rest and recuperation to play at the highest level each night. Attendance across the league has not declined thus its fair to assume the fans have accepted this reality and are still willing to pay for the quality of hockey they have become used to.
So can both masters be served? How do you reduce the number of games without decreasing the bottom line? Maybe the happy medium is not changing the current system, just modifying it or maybe even increasing the number of regular season games. That’s right I said increasing it. It could be accomplished without increasing the actual number of games a player must play.
Right now teams are allowed to play as many as 9 pre-season games. Teams don’t have to play that many but several do because they need the revenues. What if you made the maximum number of exhibition games 5. You could add 2 regular season games and make it an 84 game season, have the mathematical ease of being able to have a true conference cross-over schedule and have players still play 2 fewer games or more depending on how many exhibition games your owner or president wants.
Players all come to camp in shape now so conditioning is not a reason for a long pre-season. Some players have told me that if their team is basically set and there are no real jobs to compete for 3 pre-season games is plenty to get game ready for the season.
General managers would not favor this type of system though because pre-season games are often a chance for them to see prospects and juniors in NHL like competition and it’s a great help in evaluating their progress or their ability to make the jump to the NHL. But the fact is any system will have a certain group or groups against it. There is no perfect system including the one we have now
The one thing I do know is, if the system is ever changed it will be revenue sensitive first and a quality of play issue second because the league and players are driven to make more not less on the balance sheet despite how it might affect play on the sheet of ice.
See you at the rink.
The quality of hockey is on the list of concerns of the NHL and the NHLPA but it is not close to the top of the list. I mentioned both the league and the union because both have to agree to a reduction in the number of games. Both sides discussed this during the lock-out and both sides dismissed it after looking at the numbers. Those numbers had dollar signs. Reducing the number of games reduces revenues for the teams and salaries for the players. Neither party was interested enough in quality to reduce the quantity of the revenues they share.
For the NHL and its owners, they sell to the public rivalries and star players. The players rely on the fact that the hockey paying public and the media does not expect the very highest level of hockey each night simply because almost everyone understands that in an 82 game schedule it is impossible to practice enough and get enough rest and recuperation to play at the highest level each night. Attendance across the league has not declined thus its fair to assume the fans have accepted this reality and are still willing to pay for the quality of hockey they have become used to.
So can both masters be served? How do you reduce the number of games without decreasing the bottom line? Maybe the happy medium is not changing the current system, just modifying it or maybe even increasing the number of regular season games. That’s right I said increasing it. It could be accomplished without increasing the actual number of games a player must play.
Right now teams are allowed to play as many as 9 pre-season games. Teams don’t have to play that many but several do because they need the revenues. What if you made the maximum number of exhibition games 5. You could add 2 regular season games and make it an 84 game season, have the mathematical ease of being able to have a true conference cross-over schedule and have players still play 2 fewer games or more depending on how many exhibition games your owner or president wants.
Players all come to camp in shape now so conditioning is not a reason for a long pre-season. Some players have told me that if their team is basically set and there are no real jobs to compete for 3 pre-season games is plenty to get game ready for the season.
General managers would not favor this type of system though because pre-season games are often a chance for them to see prospects and juniors in NHL like competition and it’s a great help in evaluating their progress or their ability to make the jump to the NHL. But the fact is any system will have a certain group or groups against it. There is no perfect system including the one we have now
The one thing I do know is, if the system is ever changed it will be revenue sensitive first and a quality of play issue second because the league and players are driven to make more not less on the balance sheet despite how it might affect play on the sheet of ice.
See you at the rink.
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