being a casual fan is the first step to being a hardcore fan.

Nobody just jumps in all the way.
- Feeling Glucky?

Which is understanable but if you are a casual fan because you like the shootouts and then you watch hockey, you're getting two different things. It's like saying you're a casual baseball fan but you only like the home run derby. If you really like home runs but that's all you like, you're not going to enjoy baseball.

I understand the need for casual fans but those casual fans should be casual fans of the sport, not a skills competition that doesn't really reflect the sport in the way it's played the other 95% of the time.

That's supposed to be John Brophy.

If you ever want to pee your pants laughing (like Brophy is doing in that scene), grab yourself the book The Best Game You Can Name by Dave Bidini. One of the funniest books I've ever read. He tells a few John Brophy stories, but there's one involving a fan in a wheelchair that had me laughing so hard I had to put down the book and leave the room.
- Atomic Wedgie

Off to Amazon I go. Thanks Wedgie.

I know you fellas like to piss and moan about Bettman, but he's actually grown the game tremendously. The NHL finally has a proper TV contract in the US, after years of being a complete effing embarrassment. California has become a hockey hotbed. Sure, the league still has fires to put out, but there's a stability that wasn't there 20 or even 10 years ago.

Look at how the salary cap has continued to skyrocket. That's the casual fan bringing money to the NHL.
- Atomic Wedgie

Agree about the growth but 5 of the 6 top revenue teams are original 6 teams

I think it was a tact of self preservation. He is a good hockey player, but he didn't want his kids to surpass his talent. So he taught us all, just poorly.

I'm kind of having a revelation about this now.. Conversations will be had with the man.
- BetterCallSaul

Off to Amazon I go. Thanks Wedgie.
- Woderwick

I swear to goodness, it's a money-back guarantee. If you don't like the book, I'll refund your money.

It's that damn funny.

Which is understanable but if you are a casual fan because you like the shootouts and then you watch hockey, you're getting two different things. It's like saying you're a casual baseball fan but you only like the home run derby. If you really like home runs but that's all you like, you're not going to enjoy baseball.

I understand the need for casual fans but those casual fans should be casual fans of the sport, not a skills competition that doesn't really reflect the sport in the way it's played the other 95% of the time.
- JohnFergusonJr

but they're not just fans of the shootout.

painting with a broad stroke, they like the sport, and like the exciting ending to some matches.

David Alter @DavidAlter590
#leafs announce they are bringing back Trevor Smith. Signed to a 1-year contract today.



Good lord...

David Alter @DavidAlter590
#leafs announce they are bringing back Trevor Smith. Signed to a 1-year contract today.



Good lord...
- Fruitcakenipple

is he good?

They signed the 3rd round pick defenseman already. That's a little odd, isn't it?

David Alter @DavidAlter590
#leafs announce they are bringing back Trevor Smith. Signed to a 1-year contract today.



Good lord...
- Fruitcakenipple

WOOOOOOO

without the shootout points, LA might not have even qualified for the playoffs in their first cup run
- Feeling Glucky?

Is that just the Kings or all the teams with corrected standings?

Either way, it's a good thing they won two Cups.

is he good?
- Flyfreaky

Captain of the Marlies. When he's not hurt or playing with the Leafs. He barely plays for the Marlies.

Off to Amazon I go. Thanks Wedgie.
- Woderwick

And a funny little side-story to the book:

I recommended the book to my goalie. He was interested, because he has played a few times against Dave Bidini.

A few months later, my goalie is in the bookstore and sees the book, so he buys it and reads it.

Turns out my goalie is mentioned in the book - he was playing in the tournament Bidini writes about, and got into a tussle with him. Bidini describes it.

Small, funny world.

Hope_Smoke @Hope_Smoke
. @schocker17 according to Shanahan, Carlyle and Nonis are picking the assistants



LOL...Ya thats who should do it....

Is that just the Kings or all the teams with corrected standings?

Either way, it's a good thing they won two Cups.
- JohnFergusonJr

I don't know, I didn't go through it

Hope_Smoke @Hope_Smoke
. @schocker17 according to Shanahan, Carlyle and Nonis are picking the assistants



LOL...Ya thats who should do it....
- Fruitcakenipple

Nobody phone me for the next 60 minutes - I need to keep the line open.

Thanks

Nobody phone me for the next 60 minutes - I need to keep the line open.

Thanks
- Atomic Wedgie

Good luck

Hope_Smoke @Hope_Smoke
. @schocker17 according to Shanahan, Carlyle and Nonis are picking the assistants



LOL...Ya thats who should do it....
- Fruitcakenipple

David Alter @DavidAlter590
#leafs announce they are bringing back Trevor Smith. Signed to a 1-year contract today.



Good lord...
- Fruitcakenipple

4C depth and leadership for a young marlies team. Nothing wrong with that.

but they're not just fans of the shootout.

painting with a broad stroke, they like the sport, and like the exciting ending to some matches.
- Feeling Glucky?

So now the question becomes, if they like the sport, does getting rid of the shootout make them leave? And if it does, did they really like the sport in the first place? If they like the sport, they like the sport but I can't imagine there being too many people out there who watch two hours of hockey just for the faint hope it might end in a shootout.

They signed the 3rd round pick defenseman already. That's a little odd, isn't it?
- BetterCallSaul

He's an overager... can he go straight to the AHL next season?

Frenchie?

He's an overager... can he go straight to the AHL next season?

Frenchie?
- Feeling Glucky?

If he's 20, yes.
Edit... Valiev right? Just turned 19 and only 1 yr WHL. Needs to wait til 20

If he's 20, yes
- Big_Lightnin

Wish I was 20 again

So now the question becomes, if they like the sport, does getting rid of the shootout make them leave? And if it does, did they really like the sport in the first place? If they like the sport, they like the sport but I can't imagine there being too many people out there who watch two hours of hockey just for the faint hope it might end in a shootout.
- JohnFergusonJr

Depends.

If they hate ties, then yea, they might lose interest.

If they won't sit through continous overtime, then the ratings drop as the game goes on, and the advertising $$s don't look as nice for the league(and the networks might just cut away, pissing off everyone).

It's not our place to say what people should like about the game, or how they should enjoy it. It's the NHL's place to make decisions that they think will make the most money for their franchises, and their shareholders.

Catering to non- and casual fans, to expand their revenue base is exactly what they need to be doing to meet their goals.

4C depth and leadership for a young marlies team. Nothing wrong with that.
- Big_Lightnin

Agreed