I have no doubt that all of the changes in the last three decades are to improve viewership in the US. Selling the game to Canadians has not been an issue. Rather than take the hint that most Americans they don't care for hockey and never will the NHL keeps flogging the dead horse. For years it was "we'd watch it if the violence was taken out". OK we took it out, now will you watch? "Er..well..we don't like the slashing". OK it's gone. Now? "Well....we hate games in ending in a tie". OK, shootout in, ready to watch? "Ah...". The people who complain about the way it was still don't watch it. Ratings in the US have never been lower.
It doesn't matter if they don't want to watch, doesn't do anything to my life, doesn't do anything
to hockey in canada, rule changes have been for the betterment of the game, and I think the
game right now is better than it has ever been, and not poor at all. All the fans love the shoot-out,
don't know if they will continue with the existing point system in games, but I don't think they will
take out the shoot-out, it is too popular.
I've watched the game for 40 years. Skipped school to watch the 72 series. Quit a pt student job in 78 to watch Bruins/Habs series. Snuck in to Queens Park Arena nearly every game to watch the NW Bruins. Stood in line for 18 hours to get tickets to the 82 cup. The NHL takes someone like me for granted.
Why would you think they take someone like you for granted, I don't think that about myself, so
I would be interested. General Motors Place is full all the time, and my daughter is on a waiting
list for seasons tickets, and the list has more than 3000 people on it.
Now I find most games about as riveting as tennis.
I can't relate to that opinion at all, as I find it more exciting than I have for many years, so
maybe it's just "you", and not the game at all.
What would you like back in the game to bring back your interest, big slow slugs, more fighting,
holding,clutching,grabbing, or? , the game is faster now than it's ever been, the talented players
can show their skills, as they don't have to carry big cling-ons who drag them down and maul them,
the referying is slowly improving and the infractions are down now compared to last year.
Not that they need to do anything for me but they should be careful not to chase away too many long term fans while trying to appease people who will never watch.
No long term fans have gone anywhere.
Noone in Canada has been chased away at all, all attendence is good, so, no worry there.
The u.s. has two winter sports they give priority to, and
of course that is nfl, and basketball, so that's just the way it is, so be it, I really don't care.
But, I do think they need to address the schedule, they voted to leave it the way it is till the end of
next year, because that was the original agreement, and the eastern owners/management like the
way it is now, as they don't have the big travel problems that the western teams do, but they will
change it again, when this agreement runs out.