1) Tweak the matchup schedule. OK, we get it, the divisional matchups are important. But enough is enough. We don't want to watch our boys play the same team eight times in one year.
It may be developing a sense of rivalry amongst the players—I don't really know. What I do know is that it develops a sense of ho-hum amongst the fans. Oh, look, Atlanta is playing Carolina again. I wonder what else is on?
The NHL has taken a step in this direction already, but it needs to go further. I'd like to see every team play every other team at least once a year. This would ensure every fan base gets the chance to watch Crosby at least once, Ovechkin at least once, Lidstrom at least once, and the increased exposure of the stars can only be a good thing. This leads us to our second point...
2) Shorten the season. I know this is heresy to the hardcore hockey fans, but the season is simply too long.
The Cup is hoisted in early June, and most teams have opened training camp by September. That's three months off, tops. Not enough time.
What I'd like to see is camp open in October, start games in early November, and see if hockey can't step up and fill the post-Super Bowl black hole in the sports calender.
Run a home-and-home series with every team for a 62 game season, and then start the playoffs. I like the idea of the long playoffs—being a test of stamina and grit as much as ability—but by the time we reach the playoffs now, the teams are worn out and the casual fan is sick of hockey.
3) Play the outdoor game every year. I know that people say the novelty would wear off if it were played every year. That's like saying the novelty would wear off the Super Bowl if they have it every year.
Hockey needs one really big game to draw attention to itself. The NFL gets the Super Bowl, MLB and NBA have their All-Star games, soccer has the Champions League final, etc.
Since the All-Star game seems to be on its last legs (which is a whole other article in itself) and it's hard to pick one game of the Stanley Cup to highlight (excepting game sevens, which happen only occasionally), the NHL should milk the outdoor game for all the media it's worth.
Get two large-market teams involved, give them a day off beforehand, hold a media blowout. Have Sidney Crosby conduct interviews outside with the snow swirling around, have NBC hype the game up for days beforehand, send Pavel Datsyuk onto PTI, whatever. The outdoor game can only help the NHL.
4) Get some new camera angles. While there's nothing wrong with the traditional side-view cam, it's been played out. It's difficult for the non-hockey fan to follow the puck on it, you can't tell who's who unless they turn sideways, some idiot always stands in front of the camera in the dramatic moments.
This has started to happen a little bit, but I'd love to see more of a bird's-eye style for hockey broadcasts: similar to the SkyCam for the ESPN NFL games on Monday Night Football.
5) Tweak the points system. In a lot of games the late-game drama is negated by two teams playing it conservatively, hoping to take it to overtime and earn their point and then steal a second in the shootout.
Give three points for a regulation win, two points for an OT win, one point for an OT loss, and nothing for a regulation loss. Encourage teams to take chances and go for the kill.
Also, imagine the late-season playoff scenarios such a system would create. In a race as tight as the Eastern Conference was this year, that extra point for the regulation win could be the difference between playing postseason hockey and playing golf. Such dramatics could only help the sport hit the mainstream.
comments (15) write a comment »
write a new comment
4 months ago
Get rid of points all together, there are no more ties so you win or lose. Two teams playing conservative in the third to guarantee a point is all to common. And the point system only confuses outsiders. There should be no reward for a tie.
4 months ago
There are no ties..also, I don't believe the NHL should play the Winter Classic every year because it might take away from its uniqueness.
4 months ago
The Winter Classic is crucial. I am a very casual hockey fan, and cannot remember any specific game from last season except that one. change the season around so that all games are played when the weather is cold outside. Hockey finals in June? I couldn't care less.
4 months ago
As a die hard hockey fan I pretty much agree with everything you've said here. They do use the overhead camera angle maybe once a game on NHL broadcasts and I've seen the same on NBA broadcasts. There isn't nearly enough of it and it really helps viewers to see plays develop. The only other "alternative" is having a widescreen TV which helps, but not quite enough. Good ideas though.
4 months ago
NO NEW CAMERA ANGLES. EVERY ANGLE BESIDE THE "NORMAL" ANGLE SUCKS!!!!!!
PLEASE!!! NO NEW CAMERA ANGLES!!!
We saw that crappy breakaway talent competition camera work. That was horrible, couldn't even tell if the player scored or not.
4 months ago
I don't give a crap if "casual" fans don't know who has the puck. The only problem I see is when the network producers mix it up... We miss action. "Oh look, let's do a close up of this guy going around the boards... Oh... he passes in front... Oh what a play..." Wait, I didn't see what happened because I'm watching the guy after his pass. Wonder if they scored or not. I can't tell you how often this happens. If you switch camera angles, you better be fast enough to switch back to follow the play.
4 months ago
Also ties were a part of the game. Why do we have to change the rules to get casual fans. Us real fans like our game the way it is. Why ruin it to try to get more people, soon it will be nothing more than the NBA and NFL. That is a bad thing.
4 months ago
How about how to NOT make the casual fan laugh himself AWAY from the NHL. Start by hiding all evidence that one of the teams was stupid enough to sign Rick DiPietro to a 15-year deal, only to have him undergo two season-ending hip surgeries and a knee procedure. (At least he led the Islanders to the Stanley Cup championship...oh, wait. Well, at least he led the Islanders to the playoffs...Uh, never mind. Any casual fan with a brain will instantly think the sport is full of the insane once they hear how DiPietro fleeced the GM and owner on Long Island.
4 months ago
Please return to grammar school, or anywhere that they teach you how to proofread. An article about causal fans makes hardly any sense. Perhaps you meant casual?
In case you've been living under a rock, they have already decided to have every team play every other at least once. So there's #1. Shorten the season? Yeah, that does sound like heresy. But if you're gonna move it one way, don't start it later - end it earlier. Living down in Texas it is slightly absurd to be gearing up to watch a game when it's 95 out. (#2) #3, there's one I agree with. And as far as I can tell, that's the plan, just not in the same city each year (obviously). #4, Remember the blue streak? How awful that was? Just make tickets cheaper because hockey on TV just isn't close to a game in the stands. And as for #5, adding more points to the system is just ridiculous. It's complicated enough, no need to change it *again* please!
4 months ago
I would like a win and loss only like the NBA and MLB.
Also bring back the white uniforms for home teams so we could see the other teams colors.
and get rid of one referee , there were to many phantom calls this year.
4 months ago
I def agree that having a Winter Classic game each year is a great idea. Also, I think the NHL needs to get ride of the whole points system and instead go entirely on wins and losses. Baseball, football, and basketball all don't award "points" for going into overtime, so why should hockey?
4 months ago
A lot of those idea have been discussed to death in Canada. Point #1 is already happening and I've yet to meet a single "diehard" fan that doesn't want the season to be shorter.
4 months ago
Each team should play each other at least twice a season (at least one home and home series) so you can see every team in your arena. The season should be shortened but you should also shorten teh exhibition season as well. Eliminate tie games if you must, but adding more points would just make it more confusing. Bettman talks about tradition of the game, but he is the one who has destroyed the game, barring the owners waking up and firing him, then they need to rename the conferences and divisions back to their original names, Prince of Wales, Campbell, Adams, Norris, etc. Also, they need to realign the league, move Detroit and Chicago to the East and place all of the original six teams in the same division. This would involve relocating some of the southern teams that do not draw well, such as Atlanta and Florida, but nothing wrong with that. Move then to Winnipeg, Kansas City (preferably another Canadian city) but not Las Vegas. With the season as long as it is now, who wants be playing hockey in May in Vegas with the temps in the 100's?
3 months ago
I agree with the comment about each team playing each other twice per season with one at home and one away. The Winter Classic is a great opportunity to attract more fans and create a Super Bowl type hoopla with pre-game parties, etc. As for the length of the season, it can be shorter to allow the players less wear and tear for the playoffs, but not necessary. The biggest improvements in the schedule is to move the end of the season and playoff to finish the hockey season before the NBA playoffs. Currently there are more people interested in NBA games then NHL, so many potential game watchers will be tuned to the NBA games instead of the NHL games. (Personally, I think NBA games are incredibly boring and slow.) The biggest difference between NHL and all other professional sports is the advertising and promotion the league puts out. I live in the southeast and you wouldn't know there are any NHL games, let alone when and where. The NHL did a good job marketing the Winter Classic game and need to put a similar effort for all preseason, regular and playoff games. Another think the NHL needs to realize, they need to market the game to the young fans (8 to 15 year olds) so they increase the interest in hockey at the amateur level. As for Bettman, he needs to be fired and replaced by a true hockey fan, preferably someone who grew up with the sport. My vote is Wayne Gretzky.
3 months ago
I agree with 1, 3 and maybe 5 but that's it.
Shortening the season will never happen because of the insane amount of revenue that would be lost for every game taken away.
As for camera angles, I prefer the traditional ones. Unique angles are good for instant replays, but not for the regular flow of the game.
write a new comment