[Carlo Colaiacovo] I hope this is a wake up call for change in the NHL. Fans are losing interest. No rivalries; lacking storylines; more buzz around t

[varsaku]

[Carlo Colaiacovo] I hope this is a wake up call for change in the NHL. Fans are losing interest. No rivalries; lacking storylines; more buzz around talk of trades then actual trades; poor marketing of stars; too many math equations; horrible playoff format. Just to name a few things

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[FlameChampion]

Dont forget terrible reffing and terrible game management.

 

[TheBluePenguin]

Out of nowhere he comes up spitting facts

 

[Hobocop]

Too many math equations?

 

[FlameChampion]

If only they could market the actual product as well as they market gambling. They might gain some fans.

 

[Peasy]

Couldnt agree more.

Bettman has put money above all else in regards to the game of hockey.

 

[Anthrax442]

Get rid of the cap.

 

[Jozay]

Bettmans fan survey says we need more digital ads and sports betting segments

 

[Profet]

People no longer have cable. It is impossible to watch in market teams without cable.

Viewership is down.

I wonder why?

 

[DickSmehlik]

He's not wrong but it's much easier to complain about things than it is to offer solutions.

Yes, we need better rivalries but what do you propose to do to make them better?
Yes, the NHL needs more trades but how?
etc.

And too many math equations?!? Ahh...

 

[TheTotalPackage]

He's not wrong.

 

[983 others]

definitely need to push the original six more

casual fans and non fans are super interested in that

 

[FlameChampion]

Maybe more outdoor games and a fourth jersey will help.

 

[BLNY]

As good as the cap is for keeping the have teams from out spending the have nots, it's the biggest hurdle for trades. As nice as it would be to close the LTIRetirement loophole, it's about the only thing helping teams. If I were to propose a change to the existing system it might be to institute a 'franchise tag' without the limitations it puts on a player in the NFL. One contract that doesn't count against the cap. You can change which contract it is before the start of the season. After that, you're locked in.

That said, it is a problem that trade chatter and rumors constitute perhaps the largest piece of the pie when it comes to league promotion.

The best way to go about getting rivalries back is to overhaul the divisions and go back to inter-divisional rounds, then conference, then final. It's harder with 32 teams than it was back in the day, but it's the way to go imo.

 

[banks]

There's issues and faults, sure. But you could make a list like this in the '80s, another in the '90s, then another in the 2000s, and again in the '10s.

And the same could be said for other sports. I'm not really a baseball fan. But I could just as easily spout out "fans are losing interest, there's a mental health crisis for players, there's blatant tanking, they should expand the postseason, just to name a few."

Pointing out NHL problems isn't new or interesting. A legit suggestion to fix even one would be.

 

[These Are The Days]

Let teams fight and enough with the shitty playoff format already. I have been able to tell you for a month Tampa's playoff path is Toronto then Boston. There's no suspense. Just formality

 

[MXD]

Too many math equations?

I guess it has something to do with the cap.

 

[ThatGuy22]

The Athletic dug into the numbers. The drop in ratings is almost solely due to ESPN deciding to counter Sunday Night Football with NHL games, which they didn't do last year and they are getting slaughtered (which basically every show on Television does).

On the games not going up against football, ESPN is averaging 491,000 which is slightly higher than last year.

Ratings decline is due to ESPN programming decisions.

 

[ThankGord]

People stream, join us in 2023 and stop focusing on television numbers.

 

[1specter]

Too many math equations?

Tongue in cheek comment about how so much of the focus and time is spent discussing salary cap and how to maneuver it rather than discussing the actual game or its stars.

I don't love Carlo's takes generally but he is 100% right about everything here.

 

[SenzZen]

Out of nowhere he comes up spitting facts

 

[varsaku]

The Athletic dug into the numbers. The drop in ratings is almost solely due to ESPN deciding to counter Sunday Night Football with NHL games, which they didn't do last year and they are getting slaughtered (which basically every show on Television does).

On the games not going up against football, ESPN is averaging 491,000 which is slightly higher than last year.

Ratings decline is due to ESPN programming decisions.

But that means hockey is used as filler programs

 

[1specter]

People stream, join us in 2023 and stop focusing on television numbers.

These factor in streaming services too.... unless you are referring to pirated streaming which is a completely different discussion.

 

[Jumptheshark]

lets not compare the numbers for the last 2 season--go back 3 seasons.. Why? A lot of us were stuck in our houses and needed something to watch


like Prime, Netflix and other streamers--their numbers are hugely down--but back to where they were 3 years ago

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

Too many math equations?

I think when he hit the boards with his face in that Detroit game he was thinking to himself, "should I take the straight line path or the parabola path to stop this streaking defender hmm gotta make a quick decision here **takes the straight line path**hits boards with face** urgghhhhh i should've taken the parabola path"