As a professional sports league with untold influence on society, the NHL has a responsibility to act in a way that is dignified and respectful. They have failed in the past by subjecting their fans to three annoying rounds of Billionaire vs Millionaire with absolutely no indication that they understand that the vast majority of hockey fans can't afford to sign their children up to the world's most expensive sport, let alone afford to actually attend a game.

The latest development in disgusting greed came yesterday when TSN reported that advertisements on NHL jerseys "were coming."

THIS IS A DISGUSTING DISPLAY OF GREED THAT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN.

Let's be clear about a few things:

The NHL is doing the best it's ever done. Revenues are at record highs, as are salaries and the price TV companies pay to broadcast the product.

Expansion is on the horizon with rumours of 1 billion dollar fees for new teams.

Everyone who owns an NHL team is already a billionaire.

Everyone who plays in the NHL is a millionaire.


So, with that in mind, selling ad space on jerseys is like a millionaire clipping coupons, taking back empties or charging you interest on the five bucks he spotted you for lunch.

Its an embarrassing display of greed that should not pass unnoticed.

To sell-out to such a level disgusts me. The NHL should be ashamed of itself for even considering it. What's next? The General Motors Hart Trophy? The winner will be recalled in August and the trophy re-awarded?

Look, I understand the need for advertising and corporate sponsorship, but its reached critical mass. There is just too many ads in too many places. I can't remember the last time something wasn't brought to me by some crappy product.

And no one even talks about integrity. I mean, some things should be sacred.

Players won't step on the team logo in the dressing room and you're going to sell space on the sleeves to some company or another? At what point does this end?

The greed is simply disgusting. While 99% of the games fans live at or below the poverty level, the league looks for ways to scam every last dollar out of its fans? It makes me sick to my stomach.

No one involved in the NHL needs anymore money. The players are loaded and if a team can't make any cash, it's a tax write-off anyways since no-one buys a hockey team as anything more than a hobby or a tax shelter. Exactly zero percent of NHL owners bought their team with a need to make money.

To me, I think the NHL owes its fans a little respect here. We don't watch hockey so we can be sold crap constantly. I accept the ads on the boards, and I accept that advertising is a necessary evil. I don't accept that every free space has to be covered in garbage.

I was disgusted when, while watching a Wild game a few weeks ago, I saw a projection across the back glass for a frigging taco restaurant. I think that went too far. Putting ads on jerseys is unacceptable to me.

There is no reason for it. It is pure greed, and greed disgusts me. I get enough of it in my day-to-day. If teams are so desperate for an extra couple million, how about this: suck it up like the rest of us. I promise you, I need an extra 4 grand worse than anyone involved or associated with the NHL needs an extra $4 million.

So, my message to the NHL is this: don't be the cheap-skate. Respect yourself, your fans and your players. Show that some things are beyond being bought. A jersey is a sacred thing and if you sell-out and prostitute yourself for a quick buck, it will be the all-time low point of the NHL.

I don't care if every other professional sport does it. Hockey is supposed to be about something. About sticking up for the little guy, about honour, respect and doing the right thing.

Selling ad space on jerseys will ruin all that. The NHL needs leadership on this topic. They need to kill this idea before it goes anywhere. The fans need to let the league know it's unacceptable.

Because it is.

Its an abomination.

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The Coyotes take on the Ducks tonight and will hope to get as lucky as the Islanders did on Wednesday when both Perry and Getzlaf missed the game with the flu, and early Vezina favorite Frederik Anderson was out with injury, as was backup John Gibson.

The Ducks at 10-3-1 have the NHL's best record and have beat the Coyotes five games in a row.

Should be a good game tonight, and I hope to see Brandon Gormley get more than 8 minutes of ice time. Then again, I also plan on drinking my wine from a glass, but things don't always go as planned (and hey, it comes in one).

Check this sweet quote Don Maloney gave to the Arizona Republic:

"I think if we erred in anything, it was maybe going into the season with a little bit more of a veteran lineup. That hasn't worked for us, so now we're changing gears a little bit and starting to bring more energy into our group."

Really Don? I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. I told you in June, I told you in July, I told you in August, September and about 31 times October.

Sending down Domi was a mistake. Sending down Gormley, Rieder and Samuelsson was a mistake. It's a mistake to dress Moss, Klinkhammer, Chiphura and Crombeen in the same game.
It's a mistake to make Antoine Vermette your number 1 centre and it's a mistake to play him over Gagner on the Powerplay.

Anyways, I can't wait for tonight's game. I don't care if it's harder to win, after a week of watching the Coyotes play Washington, Florida, Carolina and Florida again, the Ducks will be a joy to watch. I actually do hope Perry and Getzlaf play, cause if you don't like those guys, you probably wouldn't mind buying a jersey with a Pampers logo on it.

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