the new nhl

Well, I promised myself that I would hold off until at least the end of October before I started commenting on the new NHL.

Well, it's now the 19th of November, and it's about time something was written in this blog abouth the new NHL.

I like it! I really like it, actually. I even like the shootout! I know, you purists out there who argue that it's not a proper way to determine a winner, or that it's like changing the game to determine a winner. Some of you even say, 'What's wrong with a tie?' Well, your arguements are all valid, and I can't say that you are wrong. But I think that you need to rethink how you feel about the NHL brand of hockey.

Alot of Canadians have raised hockey to some sort of mythical status, that is somehow more than sticks, pucks, players, ice, and rules. And that is cool, really, because it IS more than just a game here; it is part of what defines our national identity. Quiet and unassuming, we Canadians love the chance to kick-butt on an international stage where the stakes are mostly unimportant, and we do it very well with hockey. Our men's and women's teams are without compare. But the NHL is different. The NHL is a business, not a sport. And, it doesn't belong to Canada. It belongs to investors who are expecting return on their investments. That is not to say the investors don't share other's Canadian love of hockey. But they understand that hockey is, fundamentally, an entertainment product at the NHL level. It is, and always has been, about putting bums in seats, and the new NHL is doing that. The rule changes (or as some will rabidly point out, the proper enforcement of the old rules) have made the game faster, higher scoring, and more exciting. Period. The NHL and the NHLPA have hit a home run. Attendance is up, viewership is up, revenues are up, and the players seem pretty happy with what's happening, too.

Two very important things to remember: One, penalty shots have been in the rule book for a long, long time. The shoot-out is really just a modification of that rule. Two, Lacrosse is Canada's Official Sport, not hockey.