Intriguing article by Duhatschek (one of the few unbiased reporters out there, and one of the best IMO).
He talks about the decline of hockey and what started it all...the '94 Lockout.
Other contributing factors include:
1. Coaching
2. Refereeing
3. Dilution of talen (though he admits this is a somewhat controversial point)
He goes on to say that the new CBA, whenever it gets signed, won't cure everything, which might disillusion teams/owners who think that their competitiveness will be automatically increased.
However in the end "The lockout of 1994-95 put the league on a slow, downward spiral to oblivion. Provided they really think this process through, the lockout of 2004-05 can do just the opposite - and have a cleansing, cathartic effect on a game and an industry gone sour."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050225.weric25/BNStory/Sports/?pageRequested=2
He talks about the decline of hockey and what started it all...the '94 Lockout.
Other contributing factors include:
1. Coaching
2. Refereeing
3. Dilution of talen (though he admits this is a somewhat controversial point)
He goes on to say that the new CBA, whenever it gets signed, won't cure everything, which might disillusion teams/owners who think that their competitiveness will be automatically increased.
However in the end "The lockout of 1994-95 put the league on a slow, downward spiral to oblivion. Provided they really think this process through, the lockout of 2004-05 can do just the opposite - and have a cleansing, cathartic effect on a game and an industry gone sour."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050225.weric25/BNStory/Sports/?pageRequested=2