When the season starts...

[Hooah4 12]

Over the last year I've noticed my apathye toward the NHL situation grow. I just assumed it was from the lockout. I really want to enjoy watching the game again.

Anyone else share the same feelings. What has the lockout done to you?

[kosydar 0]

Not having a NHL season made me a lot less interested in my own season, and hockey in general. I remember at this time last year I'd be reading Spector's, Hockeynews.com, and TSN.ca, plus a Maple Leafs and Red Wings site as much as I would MSH. Now I don't even post on MSH nearly as much as I did. If one good thing has happened its that I haven't bought any new sticks.

[Jason Harris 31]

The lockout hasn't affected my feelings for the NHL. I believe this was a necessary evil to find a better economic system.

As soon the first puck drops, I'll be back to rooting for the laundry, as Jerry Seinfeld calls it. :)

[kosydar 0]

The lockout hasn't affected my feelings for the NHL. I believe this was a necessary evil to find a better economic system.

Agreed. It sucks that it had to happen, but it will (in theory) help improve the game as a whole. But how has it affected your attitude towards hockey in general? Maybe you have a different outlook because you're in the industry and deal with it in a completely different way than most, but for me and many like me, not having a season to watch has caused me to become not as motivated with my own hockey. I never really noticed before, but not having a season to watch took a lot of pleasure out of my own hockey. Maybe I'm just weird like that, but a big factor in my motivation to play hockey is to watch good quality hockey, and unfortunately do to my location, I wasn't able to do that this year.

[ktang 34]

I coached my son's hockey team, and I noticed that the players didn't object to instruction with the "But the Vancouver Canucks do it this way" or "Bertuzzi / Naslund / Jovanovski does this" replies when I asked for questions. But, to compensate, one of the assistant coaches went all 1950s on us and wanted the wingers to skate up and down their boards.

Lots of guys on my teams got OPSes instead of tickets for the Canucks this year, and now I have some broken OPSes to salvage.

I might be in the minority, but I didn't miss the NHL too much because their games did not have the styles I like to see (more flow). It was actually more interesting, in some ways, to watch the NHL battle the NHLPA.

[jjtt99 0]

I found a new appreciation for my local Junior scene as I went to quite a few 'A' and 'B' games. I also saved a bunch of money as I usually go to 5 or 6 NHL games per year.

On the other hand, I missed following the NHL in the news, the highlight reels and the push to and through the playoffs.

As much as I'm pissed at the league and NHLPA for the missed season, I know I'll be back as I can't wait to tell JR to kiss my ass!

JJ

[seanmccann 3]

In September I thought that I would miss the NHL but as time went on my hockey was in full swing and I was on the road all weekend.

My "liking" of hockey has changed. I used to like watching and playing but now it seems I can not watch a full game. It may be because of the lack of skill compared to the NHL. The only hockey I could watch a full game of was our junior A team, and I only went to 3 games all year.

[Chadd 916]

The lockout hasn't affected my feelings for the NHL. I believe this was a necessary evil to find a better economic system.

Without extensive revenue sharing, all the new system does is ensure huge profits to the large market teams while the smaller markets will continue to struggle.

[Jason Harris 31]

But how has it affected your attitude towards hockey in general?.....I never really noticed before, but not having a season to watch took a lot of pleasure out of my own hockey.  Maybe I'm just weird like that, but a big factor in my motivation to play hockey is to watch good quality hockey....

I don't think there was anything unusual about your reaction, since I have a lot a friends who have expressed the same thing.

For me, I found it didn't impact my love of the game itself. I still played as many league and pick-up games as normal. There's something about chasing that little black piece of rubber around the ice....

Regarding the NHL, maybe because I'm no longer in my hometown of Boston, I didn't quite feel as though I was missing as much. I'm out in Denver and I root for the Avs, but they're still not my team -- the B's are.

[Jason Harris 31]

Without extensive revenue sharing, all the new system does is ensure huge profits to the large market teams while the smaller markets will continue to struggle.

I don't agree with that Chadd, if we use the NFL as an example.

The salary cap in the NFL has allowed high revenue teams to make more profit, some of which has been put back into facilities to improve their appeal to prospective free agents, but I believe it has created a greater priority to a well run organization. The Patriots are the poster boys for that.

I know some might say the NFL's scheduling has a greater impact on the parity, but I think the salary cap has been more important. A couple of bad signings can handcuff a team for two to three years, whereas in the past the wealthy teams would have been able to eat the contracts. Today, it becomes essential that teams determine what each position is worth and then not exceed that.

The only way I think you'd be correct about the need for revenue sharing is if the salary cap is over the revenue levels of some of the smaller market teams. In that case, I'd agree with you. Otherwise, I'd say the Leafs and the Rangers and the like might become more profitable, but that doesn't mean they'd be more competitive.

[Chadd 916]

Without extensive revenue sharing, all the new system does is ensure huge profits to the large market teams while the smaller markets will continue to struggle.

I don't agree with that Chadd, if we use the NFL as an example.

The salary cap in the NFL has allowed high revenue teams to make more profit, some of which has been put back into facilities to improve their appeal to prospective free agents, but I believe it has created a greater priority to a well run organization. The Patriots are the poster boys for that.

I know some might say the NFL's scheduling has a greater impact on the parity, but I think the salary cap has been more important. A couple of bad signings can handcuff a team for two to three years, whereas in the past the wealthy teams would have been able to eat the contracts. Today, it becomes essential that teams determine what each position is worth and then not exceed that.

The only way I think you'd be correct about the need for revenue sharing is if the salary cap is over the revenue levels of some of the smaller market teams. In that case, I'd agree with you. Otherwise, I'd say the Leafs and the Rangers and the like might become more profitable, but that doesn't mean they'd be more competitive.

The NFL TV deal provides enough cash to each team to cover their cap costs. Then all revenues are shared within the league. Even home game revenues are split 60-40 with the opponents. Virtually no aspect of their situation is remotely comparable to the NHL. There's a reason only one man routinely loses money as an NFL owner, it's very hard to lose money under their current CBA.

The NHL cap level is set so low that it will prevent a large number of European players from ever coming to the NHL. Would you take $300k before taxes to come 3000+ miles to the US and be a third liner or $250k taxe free to play near you home and family on the first or second line? Factor in the shorter season and the less physical style of game and I believe it will have a major impact on the number of players coming over. The NHL is trying to make all of the owners happy. By handcuffing the large market teams, they make the small markets happy. Since the costs are kept low enough, the large markets don't have to share much in revenues. The only one that gets hurt over time is the fan, thanks to the more talented europeans staying home and guys that would be in the AHL are now in NHL uniforms.

Now if they reduce roster size, it may not hurt as much but that possibility seems remote at this point.

[Jason Harris 31]

I understand what you're saying but I don't think the salaries will be as low as you're suggesting. Just dividing $35M into 25 players, I think third liners will probably be closer to $500-600K, while the fourth liners will be at the minimum salary -- which is what they are today, anyway.

Whether $500-600K is enough to pull someone away from Europe may hinge on whether he thinks there is growth opportunity in the NHL. Could he grow to $1.5M to $2M in four years?

[kosydar 0]

I wouldn't be heartbroken if a lot of Europeans didn't return. If the NHL returned to a primarily North American league while the leagues in Europe expanded, it would give a lot more meaning to the World Cup and the Olympics. Even if its only from a fans point of view, it'd be much more exciting to watch the world's best, not just the NHL's best.

[OTHockey96 0]

I watched a lot of hockey on like vhs and the internet. Definitely got a different perspective as to how the game has changed in even just the last decade.

[Chadd 916]

I understand what you're saying but I don't think the salaries will be as low as you're suggesting. Just dividing $35M into 25 players, I think third liners will probably be closer to $500-600K, while the fourth liners will be at the minimum salary -- which is what they are today, anyway.

Whether $500-600K is enough to pull someone away from Europe may hinge on whether he thinks there is growth opportunity in the NHL. Could he grow to $1.5M to $2M in four years?

I see no reason to assume top players won't make $5M-$6M each. The top players are currently at $9M-$10M, so that's a major reduction in salary.

Let's say you have a star forward at $5M

And a stud defenseman at $4M

Now comes your goalie at $4M

That would leave $21M of your $35M for the remaining 22 players.

A lot of the expensive players are still under contract for at least an additional year and would either have to be bought out or retained at 76% of their original salary.

Tkachuk at $9M

Guerin at $9M

Leclair at $9M

Amonte at $6M

etc....

A third line guy at the NHL level won't see that $1.5 in three-four years and if you're implying that he may improve his talents and be a better player you have to consider a league like Russia's where big money is available.

A player like Ovechkin or Malkin can probably make more in Russia tax free plus pick up some endorsement gigs that they would never see over here.

[deadboy 0]

i just want to watch some nhl hockey!

[jrhky36 1]

how would the nhl react if nobody went to the first game of the season? i mean the teams play in an empy barn. i won't be buying tickets anytime soon. they cost why too much, plus parking, up $10 for a beer the drive to and from the rink i would rather watch a game on tv. besides i don't have to pay for parking. i can go down the street to little ceaser's and pay $5 for a pizza. at joe louis it si $12.

$150 for 2 tickets

$10 for parking

$20 for 2 beers

$12 for a pizza

staying home and watching the game for free priceless

[Eazy_b97 1]

The NHL would still be recieving money from season ticket holders, so it would just be a slap in the face. When you are in the arena its a much better experience than on TV. Alot more expensive, but its like a different world.

[jrhky36 1]

yes i enjoy going to games live. my wife's first live game was game 3 of the finals in 97 (wings v phi), she loved it. but the truth of the matter is that i don't want to spend the money they charge for tickets, food, parking, and anything else i might want.

[whbd18 0]

I actually went to alot of ahl games this year, compared to the one time per year.

I actually wanted to just quit hockey for some reason when i heard about the lockout. My main reason why i was gonna quit though was becuase I factured my wrist extremely bad and was never supposed to be able to shoot a puck or even turn a door knob ever again. I was lucky and after 3 1/2 months my wrist got stronger and it didnt hurt alot while shooting of course my wrist was still wrapped up while playing untill 2 months ago.

[Jason Harris 31]

yes i enjoy going to games live. my wife's first live game was game 3 of the finals in 97 (wings v phi), she loved it.

The first time I took my wife to a game, we had been dating about four months and the B's were coming to Anaheim. I called TicketMaster and the woman says there are only individual seats left -- two sections apart . "Really?? Oh, no problem, we'll just find two seats together."

Well, my wife is petrified, because she's heard hockey fans are just hooligans. I told her not to worry, because there are always empty seats, and it's a constitutional right to upgrade your seats anyway. We get into the Pond and I immediately choose two seats in the lower section. About five minutes later, those people come and my wife is so embarassed she wants to go to our seats. Fine, we go upstairs to her seat. Well, pretty soon, that section started filling up. I couldn't understand it until I realized it was the second home game ever for the Ducks.

It was obvious I was going to have to go to my seat and I knew she'd be scared sitting by herself in this large crowd of hockey fans. I began to dread the drive home to San Diego. It turned we each were in the first row, two sections apart, so I'd occasionally lean over and wave to her. Finally, the game's over and I'm expecting to get an earful, when she tells me it was okay because she was explaining to the guys next to her what offsides and icing were.

The neat thing is ten years later we were watching a B's game on TV, when she said to me, "I'm really glad you turned me on to hockey. It's such a neat game."