The only recent change that I dislike is the insertion of (mostly) left-wing politics into the game. If I wanted to hear about COVID or systemic racism or white privilege I'd flip to CNN. The whole reason I'm watching sports in the first place is to get away from that stuff. I think they alienate a lot of their viewers in doing this. I don't think Bob from Saskatoon tunes into the Habs/Leafs game to get lectured about his white privilege. Just leave it out of the game - there are plenty of other networks out there that are dedicated to covering those issues if people want to listen.
You won’t be alone on that.
Hockey is a largely a conservative sport and with conservative fans. The leftist agenda that they continually try to push is annoying.
Don’t get me wrong, some of those causes are noble and I don’t necessarily disagree with them. But, can we just let sports be about the sport itself not this constant agenda that’s forced down our throats?
I want to watch sports to watch the sport, not be forced to listen to leftist agendas.
You won’t be alone on that.
Hockey is a largely a conservative sport and with conservative fans.
The leftist agenda that they continually try to push is annoying. Don’t get me wrong, some of those causes are noble and I don’t necessarily disagree with them. But, can we just let sports be about the sport itself not this constant agenda that’s forced down our throats?
I want to watch sports to watch the sport, not be forced to listen to leftist agendas.
You won’t be alone on that.
Hockey is a largely a conservative sport and with conservative fans. The leftist agenda that they continually try to push is annoying.
Don’t get me wrong, some of those causes are noble and I don’t necessarily disagree with them. But, can we just let sports be about the sport itself not this constant agenda that’s forced down our throats?
I want to watch sports to watch the sport, not be forced to listen to leftist agendas.
Changing the game to make it less "brutal" is not growing the game....there is a reason UFC is exploding in popularity.
100%You won’t be alone on that.
Hockey is a largely a conservative sport and with conservative fans. The leftist agenda that they continually try to push is annoying.
Don’t get me wrong, some of those causes are noble and I don’t necessarily disagree with them. But, can we just let sports be about the sport itself not this constant agenda that’s forced down our throats?
I want to watch sports to watch the sport, not be forced to listen to leftist agendas.
I know some people are against it, but I'm a fan of the 3 v 3 overtime and shootout. It's wonderfully exciting to watch and I hope they don't change it back
Only the 1st part needs to be done for the game to become better for me.The only things I'd like to see is :
1-Refs not managing the game. Call it by the book, the players will adapt during pre-season
2-Make the ice slightly larger. Not olympic dimension. Kind of something in between 85 and 100.
Both changes would make the game flow better. And the actual play less chaotic. The guys are much bigger, much faster and much stronger. It leaves little room for space and time.
It often ends up with a goal being scored on deflections or battles in front of the net. Both these things make scoring a little more random, IMO.
No. Hockey is the best it has have been. And it is getting better.I can't imagine a sport that's constantly been changing as much as hockey has. Seems like every year people call for some form of change. Baseball isn't like this, and I don't think many sports are in general.
Let's take out predatory hits, let's take out fighting, let's take out headshots, let's bring in coach's challenges, let's start penalizing for bad coach's challenges, let's change how buyouts work, let's change how the cap is counted because Tampa is taking advantage, let's make the salary cap count on after tax income, let's make the ice bigger, let's change how powerplays work, let's change...
I grew up watching hockey in the 90s. Maybe it's nostalgia, but I found hockey much more enjoyable before we started trying to change every aspect about it. I remember all the concerned people complaining how hockey is too rough. Okay, so is the UFC, you don't have to watch it or partake in it. So we changed it and now gone are the series full of the small battles. Like Adam Foote chasing certain players whenever they were on the ice. Or when Detroit had the Maltby, McCarty, Draper line that would actually grind opponents down.
I don't know about others, I still like hockey but don't enjoy it nearly as much as I did before. It has gradually been becoming less interesting to me. Whereas I used to be a die-hard NHL fan before, now I am only a casual fan.
I think through the whole "grow the game" concept is BS and has done nothing but alienate the hardcore fans. Whereas something like UFC has grown by sticking to its roots.
"I just want to watch sports and don't want to worry about that other stuff"The only recent change that I dislike is the insertion of (mostly) left-wing politics into the game. If I wanted to hear about COVID or systemic racism or white privilege I'd flip to CNN. The whole reason I'm watching sports in the first place is to get away from that stuff. I think they alienate a lot of their viewers in doing this. I don't think Bob from Saskatoon tunes into the Habs/Leafs game to get lectured about his white privilege. Just leave it out of the game - there are plenty of other networks out there that are dedicated to covering those issues if people want to listen.
No one is too sensitive, you're projecting. Shit is just lame.*Boo hoo hoo!*
It was Don Cherry who brought politics to hockey broadcasting, and he spewed his own bile every week for almost four decades before Rogers came along.
If you're too sensitive to handle it, don't watch, you whiny crybaby.
HF Boards: Hockey is getting too soft!
Also HF Boards: Trying to make the game more inclusive is such an imposition on me! My life is so hard!
Sports hasn't been about only sports for about 4000 years. It's always been political and societal, changing that would actually be extremely perplexing.
And, well... what's the leftist agenda here? People got heavily into the issue of racism because players spoke out about truly horrifying experiences. Should they not talk about it? Should the league not act against that? It's absolutely in their best interest to change that and do better, as a very powerful entity with massive corporate interests... Which is pretty far from any kind of leftist agenda honestly.
Partly. It’s near to impossible for pláyers to play heavy playoff style hockey through the regular season. There will be certain games they do, but mostly it’s a softer and easier Game especially for the skilled guys. Some skilled guys fade away in the heavier play, and some even do better. It’s an internal toughness some guys have and some don’t, or need to develop. Lou Lam can identify these character players. That’s why his teams tend to do well in pláyoff heavy hard hockey.The issue with the NHL is the league wants a skilled game with plenty of open ice for their star players to make pretty goals with limited defense and physicality. This is how the regular season is played and officiated.
Come playoff time that all goes out the window and it becomes a slugfest. The NHL needs to decide what it actually wants to be and stay consistent within the rules.