that's the issue. the NHL is no longer in the same realm as the other sports

growing up it was "the big 4"
now, realistically, it is "the big 3"
- Crimsoninja

And it was so close to being included legitimately. With the Winter Classic, NBC sports getting really good ratings, the league making record revenues.........

W.....T......F?

that's the issue. the NHL is no longer in the same realm as the other sports

growing up it was "the big 4"
now, realistically, it is "the big 3"
- Crimsoninja

Are you saying the Big 3 are too big to die? Seems to me the troubles started after the NHL started gaining legitamacy

And it was so close to being included legitimately. With the Winter Classic, NBC sports getting really good ratings, the league making record revenues.........

W.....T......F?
- MBFlyerfan

I think I consider it more of the "Big 3.5", NHL kind of flirts with big time status. Of course, right now it's more like the "Big 3.05"

GHOSTBEAR!

The NFL is the most successfull professional sports league in the world but even the juggernaut that is the NFL is not susceptible to aggregious oversight. The NFL s decision to use replacement refs was made on a financial basis but was also arrogant reeked of entitlement. Juxtapose the NHL and you see the clownshow in comparison. The heavy burden the top revenue producing teams have supporting the weak franchises. The NHL having to step in and TAKE OVER A FRANCHISE FOR SEVERAL YEARS!?!?!? Because of poor ownership and an over saturation of teams in nontraditionial markets. I could go on but....

The NHL leadership can't get on the same page and are destroying themselves. I think these fools are capable of inflicting a mortal self inflicted wound...and I'm actually rooting for it

double secret CBA meetings, meh

double secret CBA meetings, meh
- ob18

double meh

I almost wish the league would go under now. So sick of this - and we're going to have another lockout and another and another every 5-10 years. I've moved onto AHL, CHL, and collegiate hockey (not to mention my son's weekly games) and bought the cable package so I could dive in and fully follow Everton in the EPL.

The greed of owners past (allowing in more expansion teams in exchange for a big payday) has resulted in too many unviable teams or teams with owners so greedy that a team owned by an unconverted Scrooge would look thrifty by comparison.

This league and its players will reap what they're sowing. Good for them. I hope they all go broke.
- Flyskippy

im ready for the WHA redux...putting the NHL out of biz.

yea i know - dream on

Not a prediction, but any result that doesn't include firing Fehr and Bettman at the end of this will be less than satisfactory to me.
- BulliesPhan87

fehr screwed us out of a World Series, so i hate that MF'er

The NHL will be fine. The nba was in the same boat last year and now look at the sixers they have Bynum! God I love being a Philly fan