NHL sponsors unhappy with playoffs

[wrangler 157]

Apparently the NHL is taking some heat from some of its TV playoffs sponsors, who are unhappy with all the violence and suspensions this year.

http://www.csnchicago.com/hockey-chicago-blackhawks/blackhawks-talk/NHL-partners-unhappy-on-ice-antics?blockID=692626&feedID=10334

This makes for an interesting conflict between what the sponsors prefer, and the increased TV ratings.

I, for one, am glad to see more pressure on the league to clean up its act.

[Chadd 916]

Well, they can't be upset about the violence and the suspensions. You need to have suspensions if you want to curtail the violence. The broadcasters have been uncharacteristically harsh with the NHL's actions and reactions though, and I think that is fantastic.

[wrangler 157]

Obviously they meant the need for suspensions, and phrased it poorly. I, as well, am glad to hear the broadcasters condemn the on-ice behavior, and the NHL's inconsistency, and lack of punishment for some of the violence. I'm also sick and tired of players trying to make any hit sound reasonable by using phrases such as "hockey play" and "finishing a check".

[chippa13 1844]

To be fair, I only think Maguire has been harsh on the "unacceptable" behavior because it is in vogue since this past weekend. If nobody else was talking about it then Pierre would be touting the "toughness" and "leadership" of "sending a message".

[Axxion89 32]

If advertisers threaten to pull out due to the violence, you can be rest assured the NHL will do something to fix the issue. For the league, its one thing if fans complain, but its a horse of a different color when there are millions of dollars on the line.

[Chadd 916]

To be fair, I only think Maguire has been harsh on the "unacceptable" behavior because it is in vogue since this past weekend. If nobody else was talking about it then Pierre would be touting the "toughness" and "leadership" of "sending a message".

Milbury, Keenan, Roenick and Jones have all been critical. Even some of the guys on the NHL network have been critical of the lack of consistency.

[chippa13 1844]

I know, I just think Maguire is parroting those guys, especially when he is being critical of his beloved Penguins.

[shotty 7]

I'm also sick and tired of players trying to make any hit sound reasonable by using phrases such as "hockey play" and "finishing a check".

they know that they have to maintain innocence until they're asked for a meeting with the league disciplinarian. they're not going to come out right after the game and tell the media: "yeah, i hit him late and i was going for his head", just like when you get pulled over by the police you're not going to say "i had a beer or two earlier this evening, i wasn't wearing my seatbelt and i was going 15-20 km/hr over the speed limit" when they ask if you know why you were pulled over.

i dont know about everyone here, but i've done things on the ice in tense situations that i would love to take back... going into it knowing full well that it was going to be a questionable play. once you commit, it's hard to change your path. i believe there is even a thread about it on this very message board. this is the exact same thing, but much more pressure, much more speed and much more strength. add those things together and people are going to get hurt.

to a lesser extent, this is also a byproduct of creating tense rivalry in the regular season...it boils over into the post season when the matchups align the way they have. if pittsburgh hadnt played philly in the last game of the season, where the whole BS broke out at the end of the game, this series would be completely different. i'm not condoning the rash of suspensions, but its a monster that the league created with inconsistent officiating and discipline and scheduling.

i'd be much happier with clean, fast, skilled hockey, but unfortunately in the marathon that is the playoffs, teams and players will take extraordinary means to attempt to swing the momentum in their favour.

[Monty22 833]

Based on the ratings and NBC's into for the Pens/Flyers game today, I think the unhappiness is minimal.