NHLFanSince2020
What'd He Say?
The difference between NHLPAers and the replacements is a moot point.
Within a season, if not less, all the NHLPAers will have crawled back.
Within a season, if not less, all the NHLPAers will have crawled back.
MykeAbner said:The numbers can say all they want, but AHL games are far from boring.
15,000-16,000 people showing up for a junior game leads me to believe that people can still enjoy hockey with replacement players just fine once they get by the myth that it is boring as hell.
Mat said:when you make the prospects the main product...you wont see as many die hards
hockeytown9321 said:I know alot of people here think there's not alot of difference between possible minor league replacements and NHL players. Granted this is the UHL, but the numbers are pretty telling. Ignore them, dismiss them, or pretend they don't exist, I don't care.
The Motor City Mechanics have 4 NHL players on their roster-a 42 year old defensemen(Chelios), a defensemen still recovering from a torn ACL(Hatcher), a marginal 4th liner(Avery) and a solid 2nd liner(Smolinski). Before Hatcher joined them on February 5, they had compiled a 9-37 record, including an 0-12 November. Since they joined, they have a 22-7 record, including an 11-2 March, with a few games left.
MykeAbner said:The numbers can say all they want, but AHL games are far from boring.
15,000-16,000 people showing up for a junior game leads me to believe that people can still enjoy hockey with replacement players just fine once they get by the myth that it is boring as hell.
i predict you would see the same amount of die-hards.. hence the reason we acll them die-hardsMat said:when you make the prospects the main product...you wont see as many die hards
I agreeandora said:i predict you would see the same amount of die-hards.. hence the reason we acll them die-hards
Smail said:Part NHL, Part AHL, Part Europe and maybe some ECHL players. If there are UHL players, it will be a handful.
bcrt2000 said:i'm guessing a lot of talented europeans will make the jump if it comes to impasse (non NHLers of course... and really I don't think theres as big as a talent gap as we thought after some NHLers got embarassed in Europe this year)
gc2005 said:How many Europeans do you know that are American? Because, as we all (should) know, you can't be a replacement worker for a US team if you're not American. That's why they'll be dredging the lower level minors like the UHL for replacement players.
The Iconoclast said:I thought this whole line of thinking had been debunked and that it had been shown that it will be up to INS as to whether they approve the work visa in question and has nothing to do with the workstoppage itself? The NHL seems to have no worries about where the players may be coming from so I suspect they are correct. I think their lawyers are probably a helluva lot more informed on the subject matter, and have been researching the issue for the last six years, than anyone here and there have been zero worries expressed from any of the teams in regards to getting qualified players to fill out rosters.
the college and whl has been very entertaining - but - it's not even close to the nhl - you're totally right on that oneMighty Duck said:If you think for one second that AHL hockey or for that matter, Junior hockey is better hockey to watch than the NHL, it is going to take a jack hammer to get the paper bag off your head. The only reason junior teams are getting 15,000 to 16,000 fans out to games is the fact in places like hockey crazy Vancouver and Calgary are starving for the game they love and it is the playoffs.