Could be that we are one of the few countries that charge and OBSCENE amount to go to college. You know over half of Europe is free or even pay a stipend for people to go to college.

Also the loan rates are a joke at how high they are and students are forced to take em.
- Guile

it is important to understand why we continue to see costs soar. the government being involved in student loans and distort the market allows colleges to just increase tuition as much as they want because they know students will borrow from the government. student loans can have such high rates because kids will take them out regardless because most cant make decisions like that and think down the road.

Europe can offer free tuition because of their cultural difference with us and also their limited population size. The US attempting to do that would be awful for us long term.

the key is just to have a plan. i graduated with a job and so did my girlfriend. we both had a manageable amount of debt so we both moved home for a year, used our incomes to help pay for things at home so we wouldnt be freeloaders, we used part of it to build savings, and finally used it to pay off our loans. within a year, we were both debt free and had a good amount of savings for kids in our early 20s.

it's all about managing debt. these kids that graduate with these useless degrees cant get jobs and just get weighed down by the interest.

it's a sad process. kids need to be smart and unfortunately we have an education system that doesnt stress the importance of money management. i am very lucky to have 2 parents that stressed the importance of money management and made sure i learned along the way.

Are you cool with 2/3 of a game being played on special teams?
- jmatchett383

Not with the Pens current powerplay

it is important to understand why we continue to see costs soar. the government being involved in student loans and distort the market allows colleges to just increase tuition as much as they want because they know students will borrow from the government. student loans can have such high rates because kids will take them out regardless because most cant make decisions like that and think down the road.

Europe can offer free tuition because of their cultural difference with us and also their limited population size. The US attempting to do that would be awful for us long term.

the key is just to have a plan. i graduated with a job and so did my girlfriend. we both had a manageable amount of debt so we both moved home for a year, used our incomes to help pay for things at home so we wouldnt be freeloaders, we used part of it to build savings, and finally used it to pay off our loans. within a year, we were both debt free and had a good amount of savings for kids in our early 20s.

it's all about managing debt. these kids that graduate with these useless degrees cant get jobs and just get weighed down by the interest.

it's a sad process. kids need to be smart and unfortunately we have an education system that doesnt stress the importance of money management. i am very lucky to have 2 parents that stressed the importance of money management and made sure i learned along the way.
- SuperHenderson13

I like how I am not reading that post, because it is putting way too much thought into stuff not about hockey or the internet.

I think the biggest issue with hockey growing is that it isn't a very good TV sport. Football especially translates well to TV. Another major impediment to growing the sport is that inconsistency in penalties. I'd also say that slightly increasing scoring would help the cause.
- jfkst1

I disagree slightly with this. Football is a great TV sport ruined by stoppages and commericials. Theres very few minutes of actual action. I can barely watch it anymore unless I DVR'ed it and can skip commercials.

Hockey on TV has gotten a lot better since HDTV where you can clearly see the puck. And with only a few commericial breaks, it's way more appealing to me. That said, hockey games are great in person as well.

I like how I am not reading that post, because it is putting way too much thought into stuff not about hockey or the internet.
- Guile

I'm bored at work, leave me alone.

I'm bored at work, leave me alone.
- SuperHenderson13

So totally would.

I'm bored at work, leave me alone.
- SuperHenderson13

i dont agree that it would become as hyperbolized as youre suggesting it has to become.

i do agree that at least initially, there will be a high number. i do think teams can adjust.

but realistically, i understand that each team may get 3 or 4 pps a game, even after adjustments are made.
- stayinthefnnet

I'm more of a parabola guy, but I digress.

Yes, I am taking it to a bit of an extreme case. But if you really want to call the game word-for-word as the rulebook states, you will see upwards of 10 combined minor/double minor penalties called per game (in addition to the high sticks/trips called today). I've never played at the NHL level, but I did play semi-pro. Even at that level, the speed of the game makes it impossible to play more than about 2 shifts without incidentally committing a penalty, albeit a severely minor one that does not affect the play. Players bump/jostle, elbows get raised in a corner when battling for a puck, sticks become lodged in players, sticks come into contact with shins, etc. It's impossible to eliminate these things, even with a crackdown on calling them, because they are inevitable. That is why (for the most part) only the severe or impactful ones get called.

- Guile

- SuperHenderson13

I disagree slightly with this. Football is a great TV sport ruined by stoppages and commericials. Theres very few minutes of actual action. I can barely watch it anymore unless I DVR'ed it and can skip commercials.

Hockey on TV has gotten a lot better since HDTV where you can clearly see the puck. And with only a few commericial breaks, it's way more appealing to me. That said, hockey games are great in person as well.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I enjoy hockey either way, but I've tried getting other people into hockey and they all unequivocally prefer to be at the games whereas comparatively, football some (including myself) would rather watch the games than go to them in certain circumstances.

it is important to understand why we continue to see costs soar. the government being involved in student loans and distort the market allows colleges to just increase tuition as much as they want because they know students will borrow from the government. student loans can have such high rates because kids will take them out regardless because most cant make decisions like that and think down the road.

Europe can offer free tuition because of their cultural difference with us and also their limited population size. The US attempting to do that would be awful for us long term.

the key is just to have a plan. i graduated with a job and so did my girlfriend. we both had a manageable amount of debt so we both moved home for a year, used our incomes to help pay for things at home so we wouldnt be freeloaders, we used part of it to build savings, and finally used it to pay off our loans. within a year, we were both debt free and had a good amount of savings for kids in our early 20s.

it's all about managing debt. these kids that graduate with these useless degrees cant get jobs and just get weighed down by the interest.

it's a sad process. kids need to be smart and unfortunately we have an education system that doesnt stress the importance of money management. i am very lucky to have 2 parents that stressed the importance of money management and made sure i learned along the way.
- SuperHenderson13

What's the last one have to do with scoring?

Also, you CANNOT play hockey without committing infractions. It's impossible to always hit shoulder-t-shoulder/chest, elbows always come up, players get slashed jockeying for position (which is also technically interference)...you'd have 20 power plays per team per game, and that's AFTER the teams adjust to the new rules. You just cannot play at a high level without committing several minor infractions that have to direct impact on the game.
- jmatchett383

Reducing body armor will make people think twice about acting as a second goalie.

As to the other assertion, I disagree. Yes, you WOULD have 20 power plays per game, but only for about 2 months until the players smartened up and stopped with the hooking and holding etc.

- Guile

Now that man is a disgrace to the human race
- holeinone

He's no different than any conscience fraud bent on furthering his own fundamentalist agenda.

- SuperHenderson13

Reducing body armor will make people think twice about acting as a second goalie.

As to the other assertion, I disagree. Yes, you WOULD have 20 power plays per game, but only for about 2 months until the players smartened up and stopped with the hooking and holding etc.
- Emperor Filonius

I don't agree about the reduction in body armor preventing shot blocks. Not a bit.

As to the other point, as I stated, if you call the rule book letter by letter, the 20 PP/game is what you'd get AFTER the period where you had 55 PP/game. There is not way to play the game at the speed it's played and not have incidental infractions that have n impact on the game.

I'd like some elaboration on why to the Body Armor change you want... at least you aren't getting rid of shin pads like someone else stupidly suggested.
- Guile

If you eliminate all the heavy duty Kevlar, people are less likely to want to pack the middle of the ice in the defensive zone like they do now. Part of the issue with the game today is every shot has to find its way through a forest of legs, sticks, and torsos to even get to the net. Still obviously wear enough to protect players, but not so much that it doesn't sting a good bit to block a shot.

- Guile

alright i have to actually do stuff now and that one made me laugh so i guess you win.

I don't agree about the reduction in body armor preventing shot blocks. Not a bit.

As to the other point, as I stated, if you call the rule book letter by letter, the 20 PP/game is what you'd get AFTER the period where you had 55 PP/game. There is not way to play the game at the speed it's played and not have incidental infractions that have n impact on the game.
- jmatchett383

So you are basically saying there is no way to call the game per the rules. If so, that means things are simply broken.

alright i have to actually do stuff now and that one made me laugh so i guess you win.
- SuperHenderson13

Its a pity that even in the Google offices... I can still do this all day while working

He's no different than any conscience fraud bent on furthering his own fundamentalist agenda.
- Johnny Wrath

You mean like anyone in politics right?

Its a pity that even in the Google offices... I can still do this all day while working
- Guile

i actually have to run across town to meet a client or else i'd happily do this all day.

cant you guys take naps at google?

- jmatchett383

the hell?

So you are basically saying there is no way to call the game per the rules. If so, that means things are simply broken.
- Emperor Filonius

1 Quick Exampless:

2 players are racing to the puck in a corner, and then both "brace" themselves for impact before reaching the puck. Technically, they both just committed interference.

2 players are battling in the corner, and a player takes his hand off his stick to forcefully shove his opponent away. Technically, this is roughing.

Basically, due to the nature of the game, there are numerous instances where the rulebook's definition of a penalty is committed and there is simply no way to avoid it when the game is played at NHL speed. It just cannot be avoided. It doesn't mean that something is wrong or broken, simply that the rulebook must be open for interpretation to a degree. Otherwise, we should do away with on-ice refs and replace them with overhead robots.