What will the nhl look like in 30 years?

[Curufinwe]

Global warming will likely affect the NHL even more than other sports.

 

[stampedingviking]

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

Even more will be known about brain injuries and all head shots will be outlawed. Some current fans will bitch and whine about it becoming figure skating and not the game they loved. These fans will quietly fade away. There will be fans, but they'll be new ones to the sport to replace the dinosaurs that can't stand not watching players trying to cause a permanent injury.

 

[cliffclaven]

Even more will be known about brain injuries and all head shots will be outlawed. Some current fans will ***** and whine about it becoming figure skating and not the game they loved. These fans will quietly fade away. There will be fans, but they'll be new ones to the sport to replace the dinosaurs that can't stand not watching players trying to cause a permanent injury.

Except the “new fans” don’t actually care about the game. What’s important is to let everyone know they’re “at the game.” The current under 25 generation, for the most part, doesn’t have the attention span for a 3+ hour hockey game.

 

[Puck Dogg]

League has expanded to 38 teams but there's no franchise in Europe. Quebec has its Nordiques back, there's team in Houston, Kansas City, Indianapolis and Hamilton.

Fighting is gone and dropping gloves seems as unlikely event as a brutal stick fight would today. There are limitations on hitting, especially alongside boards and open ice. The repercussions for "attempting to injure other player due unnecessary tough physical contact" are multi-game suspensions.

Women are part of the league as referees and officials. Also first transgender player has entered the league. There's multiple players with Asian heritage and also we've seen first Chinese 1st round draft pick.

Scoring is high and on average games see more than 6 goals. The leading scorers score around 130 points per season.

 

[Ryan Michaels]

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Even more will be known about brain injuries and all head shots will be outlawed. Some current fans will ***** and whine about it becoming figure skating and not the game they loved. These fans will quietly fade away. There will be fans, but they'll be new ones to the sport to replace the dinosaurs that can't stand not watching players trying to cause a permanent injury.

Yes, that's it.

 

[Bertuzzzi44]

Won’t be much gap between superstars and average talent. Line chemistry will dictate which players finish with more points (Landeskog - Mackinnon - Rantanen / Marchand - Bergeron - Pasta / Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm). No one player will be able to dominate and take over games anymore (McDavid, Crosby, OV). Maybe 8D due to speed and intensity of play. Will be rare for any player to play over 20 mins. No number 1 goalie, 2 starters splitting games. Fighting will be out of the game. Parity between lines and players.

 

[puckpilot]

A little more gray. A few more pounds. A few more wrinkles. But I stick around because she's still got the personality, especially when she insists on bringing 18 yr olds to the table every June. :p

 

[El Travo]

- The league merges with the AHL and has 64 total teams between them. They now run a promotion/relegation system.

- Face cages are mandatory.

- Holographic technology is now being used for reviews. People complain about goals being disallowed due to the play being a nanometre offside.

- Goalie gear is virtually non-existent. Fans still complain about them.

 

[vivalavili]

Except the “new fans” don’t actually care about the game. What’s important is to let everyone know they’re “at the game.” The current under 25 generation, for the most part, doesn’t have the attention span for a 3+ hour hockey game.

This is almost delusional. I'd like to know on which study do you base this claim on. On the exaggerated local news article about kids today? Or do you happen to know every single 30+ million 19-25yr olds in the northern America?

 

[Puck Dogg]

Except the “new fans” don’t actually care about the game. What’s important is to let everyone know they’re “at the game.” The current under 25 generation, for the most part, doesn’t have the attention span for a 3+ hour hockey game.

Yes, there's certainly "fan participation", "sharing the event" or "involvement" via apps or social media which becomes a norm. As you put it well, most fans are "at the game". Sitting on your seat and watching the game is hopelessly outdated thing to do, although there's social movement which is very low- and anti-tech. Those people just don't attend hockey games in masses.

 

[Negan4Coach]

Replaced by Soccer.And soccer will no longer allow you to bounce the ball with your head.

 

[Eddy Punch Clock]

Hover boots replace skates as global warming puts an end to rinks all over the world.

Don Cherry's suits will have gotten more outrageous.

 

[LamorielloAndSon]

Except the “new fans” don’t actually care about the game. What’s important is to let everyone know they’re “at the game.” The current under 25 generation, for the most part, doesn’t have the attention span for a 3+ hour hockey game.

Omg old people are the absolute worst, who do you think is playing the sport?

 

[LamorielloAndSon]

Yes, there's certainly "fan participation", "sharing the event" or "involvement" via apps or social media which becomes a norm. As you put it well, most fans are "at the game". Sitting on your seat and watching the game is hopelessly outdated thing to do, although there's social movement which is very low- and anti-tech. Those people just don't attend hockey games in masses.

What?

 

[A4T1L6]

no they won't man

yes they will man

 

[authentic]

Global warming will likely affect the NHL even more than other sports.

I bet Gretzky loves global warming.

 

[A4T1L6]

If you want to see more hits and physical play, go watch NFL games .
_______________________________________________

30 years from now. NHL players average height/weight is around 5 foot 10/170 pounds,
more and more players of 5 foot 6 and 5 foot 7 emerge to the NHL, few players even under 5 foot 6 ad 5 foot 5.
- but goalies have gotten bigger

The game is even more faster what it is today, less physical, no fighting and no open ice hit rules exist,
no hitting near corners, nor in the neutral zone, you are only allowed to hit a player in your own d-zone.

No rookie gimmicks,codes, all players are equal, veterans and rookies.

this would make me watch soccer

 

[Mbraunm]

If you want to see more hits and physical play, go watch NFL games .
_______________________________________________

30 years from now. NHL players average height/weight is around 5 foot 10/170 pounds,
more and more players of 5 foot 6 and 5 foot 7 emerge to the NHL, few players even under 5 foot 6 ad 5 foot 5.
- but goalies have gotten bigger

The game is even more faster what it is today, less physical, no fighting and no open ice hit rules exist,
no hitting near corners, nor in the neutral zone, you are only allowed to hit a player in your own d-zone.

No rookie gimmicks,codes, all players are equal, veterans and rookies.

Agreed-that is a possibility.
As well, if equipment technology continues to evolve the game will get even faster than today. Young fans will claim that the Kucherov’s, Mackinnon’s and McDavid’s wouldn’t be capable of being elite in the league 30 years from now- “the game has evolved so much since then”.

 

[LamorielloAndSon]

Won’t be much gap between superstars and average talent. Line chemistry will dictate which players finish with more points (Landeskog - Mackinnon - Rantanen / Marchand - Bergeron - Pasta / Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm). No one player will be able to dominate and take over games anymore (McDavid, Crosby, OV). Maybe 8D due to speed and intensity of play. Will be rare for any player to play over 20 mins. No number 1 goalie, 2 starters splitting games. Fighting will be out of the game. Parity between lines and players.

And that’s why they’ll be a handful of expansion teams

 

[Puck Dogg]

What?

This is how its now, don't think it'll be less in the future...

 

[grentthealien]

I think we’re reaching a plateau as far as the game is concerned. Less hitting and more skill seem to be a forgone conclusion. I’m not a part of the camp that thinks hitting will ever leave the game though as the fans still want it and I imagine the players feel the same. Fighting on the other hand probably has its days numbered.

 

[LamorielloAndSon]

This is how its now, don't think it'll be less in the future...

What? phones?

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

Well Jeff Skinner is already a dominant goal scorer so...

 

[SotasicA]

It is the fights and recklessness that need to go in the worst way.

Why? Because they're among the most entertaining parts of the game? For whom are you speaking for? The spectator, the player, the lawyer? I don't think as a fan watching the game there is a single reason why I would ban fights. Fights and brawls get the crowd going. You see people yawning and going for food when there's a brawl? Goalie fight?

Nowadays when the game is 5-2 in the third, fans start leaving the arena. They didn't in the past because there was always the chance of something exciting happening. In fact, if the game got to 7-2 or something, then the action would REALLY start. How is that worse for a fan? Getting more bang for your buck is bad?