From the Dallas Morning News:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...haw/stories/060607dnspocowlishaw.2cb3128.html
Summary of 10 points - full details in the article:
1: Put microphones on all coaches and captains for all games.
2: Start the season a month later.
3: Convince the selfish Eastern Conference general managers to act in the best interests of the game and change the schedule.
4: Kiss up to ESPN. Make amends.
5: Let the skaters in shootouts go without their helmets.
6: Eliminate the ability to ice the puck during penalty killing.
7: Adopt the 2-3-2 travel format for all series.
8: Adopt the shootout after 40 minutes of playoff overtime hockey.
9: Move the U.S. league office to Atlanta.
10: Contract to 26 teams.
Discuss.
1. It will only work on cable. Listening to the "Sounds of the Game" segments on network tv is the most mundane thing on the planet. "OK Go. Skate. Good job Larry. Uggh. Oooff. etc." Now hearing Lindy and Bryan during their tirade last year on HBO - that'd be juicy stuff.
2. I say the next CBA, make a deal that states the schedule is cut from 82 games to 70, but do it over an extended period of time - slice two games off every other year. Shift the schedule ahead by 2/3 days each time this happens. Once you get down to 70 games, the season will start on Oct. 24ish, and finish in late May. Starts later, ends earlier - we satisfy both sides.
If they ever found the proper tv channel to be on (CW? A&E? something that doesn't get stellar ratings, yet is available to everyone), they could go back to the back-to-back game scheduling they had during the 80s, and the playoffs would be over even sooner. Over by Memorial Day/Victoria Day would be perfect.
3. Yes. If I remember correctly, Rutherford and Maclean were on 590 earlier in the year and each stated their travel costs. The difference was about 50K. They can't honestly be doing all this for a measly 50K. If it's for the rivalry games = more gate revenues, then why did they add so many new teams the last 15 years?
4. Yep. As a gift, give em' back the Whalers.
5. Two words: transparent helmets
6. I'd try it, but I think it would just lead to excessive whistles.
7. I think they did this at one time. Wasn't it the 2nd Isles/Oilers series where they decided 2-3-2 was too much of an advantage for the away team?
If they're worried about reporters not showing up due to costs, how about a compromise - use video conferencing technology like Skype so they can at least participate in post game conferences/Bettman's league address. It may be a little sterile, but it's certainly less sterile than not being there at all and using AP wires. Just imagine Larry Brooks in his basement lobbing jabs at Bettman from 4000 miles away. And it wouldn't cost his newspaper peanuts.
8. Just go 4 on 4 at the start of OT. I can't see many games lasting more than two OTs.
9. If you're gonna move the HQ of a Mickey Mouse run league, it makes much more sense to move it to Florida or California. (Is EuroDisney still around?)
10. 24-26 teams is probably what most people would like to see, but there's no way in hell these owners will pony up 150-200m * 4 teams = 600-800m for contraction.