What will the nhl look like in 30 years?

[LamorielloAndSon]

How many teams will there be?
Will there be a European based expansion?
How will the game have changed?
How will the rules have been changed?

In 1988-89
there were 21 teams
it had the highest point total ever put up by a player not named Gretzky or lemieux (yzerman, and he still was third in scoring that season)
And we learned that no player in completely untouchable

I think in 30 years
no fighting
There will be 40-42 teams
No or very limited hitting, the more we learn about brain injuries and how in the long term they are caused even by what are currently seen as clean hits the bigger and more legitimate the argument to remove hitting becomes
There will be a push for a wider ice but older arenas will be holding it back from happening
No touch icing
No trapezoid

Click to read more...

 

[96]

No fans

 

[895]

No fighting
40 teams, 32 in NA, 8 in Europe
Sergei Alexandrovich Ovechkin winning rockets.

 

[tony d]

Teams in Houston and Quebec City through relocation
Still a 32 team league
A next generation talent who hasn't been born yet is tearing up the league
No touch icing
Season starts in mid September

 

[koyvoo]

Watch an all star game to get a clue. Filled with skill and speed like never before and devoid of emotion and entertainment too.

 

[LamorielloAndSon]

No fans

Way more fans

 

[LamorielloAndSon]

Watch an all star game to get a clue. Filled with skill and speed like never before and devoid of emotion and entertainment too.

There will always be emotion

 

[Kevs Security]

The league should go back to 28 teams, but that's not happening. So 32 teams, of which 16 will make the playoffs. Some minor changes to the rules will be made, it'll be interesting to see what they're going to do with the goalie equipment and the nets.

Just get rid of the Mark Messier Leadership Award and I'll be happy.

 

[koyvoo]

There will always be emotion

There will be professional emotion. Guys can still get it up for a game. But it’ll never be the same as when players actually hated each other. Nowadays the league is too much of a fraternity. Nowadays these guys have bbq at each other’s houses all summer long.

 

[Tuna Tatarrrrrr]

 

[LamorielloAndSon]

Everybody will need to be as agile as figure skaters? That sounds great

 

[koyvoo]

Everybody will need to be as agile as figure skaters? That sounds great

I think he saying that despite the undeniable skill figure skaters possess, their craft is generally mind numbingly boring to watch.

 

[LamorielloAndSon]

The league should go back to 28 teams

That would make the dead puck era look like the most exciting era in comparison

 

[the_fan]

Robots on ice

 

[LamorielloAndSon]

I think he saying that despite the undeniable skill figure skaters possess, their craft is generally mind numbingly boring to watch.

I know what he’s saying, I was just ignoring it

 

[koyvoo]

I know what he’s saying, I was just ignoring it

You shouldn’t ignore points that have strong merit. All star games prove that an abundance of skill alone doesn’t equate to great or even decent hockey entertainment.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

At this current trajectory it won't exist anymore. No hitting and no emotion = no fans, or rather, not enough fans.

 

[LamorielloAndSon]

You shouldn’t ignore points that have strong merit. All star games prove that an abundance of skill alone doesn’t equate to great or even decent hockey entertainment.

Players don’t care about the all star game, players will always care about the regular season and playoffs

 

[LamorielloAndSon]

At this current trajectory it won't exist anymore. No hitting and no emotion = no fans, or rather, not enough fans.

How would there not be emotion?

 

[Anaheim4ever]

Considering the game is becoming more about speed, in short term the knee hits will become more common as dirty players will use it to slow down certain players until knee hits are treated like head hits.

Goalie equipment will become smaller as technology also improves on that front where smaller gear can provide equal or great protection.

The following expansion teams eventually happen for:
Portland Lumberjacks
Milwauke Vikings
Houston Texans
Quebec Nordiques

Before European expansion is even considered they consider these expansion teams:
Hawaii Surfers
Regina Cowboys
Halifax Highlanders
New Foundland Celtics
New Brunswick Uhlans

 

[cliffclaven]

In 30 years I probably won’t be alive, lol. As far as the league? Contraction to 28 teams due to astronomical ticket prices and salaries. One or more teams filing for bankruptcy, or possibly, the NHL as a whole. If the league still exists? No physical contact except board battles. There will be women on one or more teams. Fighting is a 10 game suspension. First shot on goal the play is blown dead so no one gets hurt crashing the net. Nets are now 5’ x 7’ for more goals.

 

[Bonzo111]

 

[cowboy82nd]

Considering the game is becoming more about speed, in short term the knee hits will become more common as dirty players will use it to slow down certain players until knee hits are treated like head hits.

Goalie equipment will become smaller as technology also improves on that front where smaller gear can provide equal or great protection.

The following expansion teams eventually happen for:
Portland Lumberjacks
Milwauke Vikings
Houston Texans
Quebec Nordiques

Before European expansion is even considered they consider these expansion teams:
Hawaii Surfers
Regina Cowboys
Halifax Highlanders
New Foundland Celtics
New Brunswick Uhlans

Already an NFL team. I don't think the hockey team would want the same name as the NFL team. How about the Houston Roughriders?

 

[Gsus]

Teams in Houston and Quebec City through relocation
Still a 32 team league
A next generation talent who hasn't been born yet is tearing up the league
No touch icing
Season starts in mid September

Isn't this already in use though?

 

[ElGuapo]

VR controlled super robots that will become sentient and from there, well just go watch the 1999 smash film "The Matrix."