Lockout ends after a marathon meeting (Renaud Lavoie)

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by nyrgoal

I agree that the "new" NHL is not as good as the old NHL. But you cant change what you cant control.

I agree. My complaining and ripping on the NHL is just me venting my displeasure on the direction the sport is heading. It isn't like I'm naive enough to think it's somehow going to change anything. The NHL doesn't give a flying **** about the fans. They've proven that over and over again.

What irritates me is people that act as though the NHL is the only hockey in the world. Or more specifically the only hockey in the world worth watching. My disinterest in the NHL doesn't bother me as much as it normally would because I still watch hockey that is much more entertaining than the NHL on a consistent basis. So that helps significantly lessen the blow. If it weren't for junior hockey I'd really be at a loss.

That said, if you and other fans can still enjoy the NHL as a whole, more power to you. I, along with many others cannot.

[Big Violence]

It's about time. I was starting to lose my mind. I don't know if I'd make it through a whole winter without being able to watch the Pens. I'm not much of a football fan but I watched a little more football this year since there was no hockey on. The Steelers sucked this year, and I don't really give a crap about any of the teams in the playoffs right now. Just knowing that hockey will be back soon is a refreshing thought.

[pmcginty]

Originally Posted by nyrgoal

I agree that the "new" NHL is not as good as the old NHL. But you cant change what you cant control. It sucks at times but its better than nothing. And I for one am glad that they settled and I will enjoy watching the Rangers and I will enjoy going to some games with the guys and enjoy bringing my little one to his first game!!

we will never be able to 'control' what style/rules/etc brand of hockey they put on the ice as long as there are people who will still flock to whatever they put out because it's "better than nothing". maybe if more fans stayed away the league would see they should maybe head on a different path then the one the are on now? you are part of the problem, my friend.

[straka91]

Trades should be more interesting and frequent.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/i...re-cba-details

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Humpzilla

ESPN started their 9 am Sportscenter with a quick 30 second blip about the Lockout being overwith. No emotion. They then switched to football talk.

No emotion.

That doesn't surprise me when it comes to ESPN.

[bustoff]

I might be wrong but the Blues owner Tom Stillman, was the only owner to apologize to the fan base for what went on with the lock out. He is a true Blues fan and that was the reason he stepped up and bought the team. Don't blame him as a owner at all. Now the idiot in Boston, thats another story and my second favorite team is the Bruins.....

[FightingIsGood]

Originally Posted by bustoff

I might be wrong but the Blues owner Tom Stillman, was the only owner to apologize to the fan base for what went on with the lock out. He is a true Blues fan and that was the reason he stepped up and bought the team. Don't blame him as a owner at all. Now the idiot in Boston, thats another story and my second favorite team is the Bruins.....

The Pens' owners also apologized.

[nyrgoal]

Originally Posted by pmcginty

we will never be able to 'control' what style/rules/etc brand of hockey they put on the ice as long as there are people who will still flock to whatever they put out because it's "better than nothing". maybe if more fans stayed away the league would see they should maybe head on a different path then the one the are on now? you are part of the problem, my friend.

Fans going to the games are not the reason why the NHL is going soft. Its injuries, govt, media, player safety, and owners protecting their investments. Players get paid incredible amounts of money and if I was an owner I wouldnt want to pay a guy to be on injured reserve.

Now coming from the fan stand point, I want to see as much hitting and hard playing emotional hockey as possible but there are too many other factors that are factored in all sports now, not just hockey. So as long as there is still hitting and fighting in the NHL I will continue to enjoy it. Maybe not as much as I did when I was a kid but I will still enjoy it.

[chilly666]

no more re-entry waivers and if players salary is over 900k, the extra will count towards the cap if player sent to ahl

[FlyersEnforcer]

Originally Posted by Jack Schitt

The league and "your" team quit on YOU.... and truth be told they couldn't give a **** about you as a "fan" anyway... they only care about your $. They love the "fans" like you who will continue to say how "real" they are and continue to support the NHL no matter what they do or how much they can ruin or water down the game/ league. You're an enabler.

If you don't think that the quality of physical hockey has gone downhill since the LAST lockout, then I don't know what to tell you FE.

If you define being a "real" hockey fan by crawling back to the NHL with open wallets and arms, then we have a differing view.

The logo on that jersey runs way deeper than the owners and nhl front office of today. You dont think the players wanted to play? When have i ever hinted that the physical play hasnt decreased ? That has little to do with the statement. What money do I money do I spend on the league? What do they make 52 cents for every game i watch on tv?

[FlyersEnforcer]

Originally Posted by HordiBrusk29

That would be me. And I said it because it's the damn truth, like it or not.



We aren't nearly as annoying as the many new NHL fan boys that act as though hockey is "better than ever" which is complete bull****. Most of those people have no idea what good hockey is because they've never seen it. Go ahead and enjoy your NHL. If you don't like hearing others speak the truth about the league I'd suggest refraining from reading anything that isn't pro-NHL. On a site like this there will be a lot of it. And for good reason.

When did i say its better than ever? The arguement has little to do with the type of play. Its what we have and thats it. You whining on hf.com isnt going to change anything. Youre precious jrs is going the same direction as the nhl. How do you suggest i dont read negative post about the NHL? The only way for me to tell they are negative is by reading them.

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by FlyersEnforcer

When did i say its better than ever?

Plenty of NHL fan boys and media types spew that nonsense all the damn time. I'm not claiming you do, or that you feel that way but defending the product or complaining about others bitching about it seems to put you in that category. Would you prefer everybody pretend as though the NHL is great and everything is fine and dandy?

Originally Posted by FlyersEnforcer

Its what we have and thats it. You whining on hf.com isnt going to change anything. Youre precious jrs is going the same direction as the nhl.

I already said that previously. And yes it is, unfortunately. Again even more reason to be pissed off at the NHL and the direction of hockey in general.

Originally Posted by FlyersEnforcer

How do you suggest i dont read negative post about the NHL? The only way for me to tell they are negative is by reading them.

You don't have to read an entire post to get the gist what's being said. Believe it or not there are many pro-NHL posts or comments I don't bother reading or responding to because I don't always want to rain on everybody's parade. People are going to express their pleasure or displeasure on the NHL freely on a message board.

[Jack Schitt]

Originally Posted by FlyersEnforcer

Look at all these fake ass fans, Quitting on your team, your city. We don't need you fake ****s in hockey anyway. You people always whining about "how good it used to be" are worst than those ****ing idiot conspiracy theory nuts.

Originally Posted by FlyersEnforcer

The logo on that jersey runs way deeper than the owners and nhl front office of today. You dont think the players wanted to play? When have i ever hinted that the physical play hasnt decreased ? That has little to do with the statement. What money do I money do I spend on the league? What do they make 52 cents for every game i watch on tv?

Yeah, the "logo runs deeper" back to when the NHL was actually entertaining. Unfortunately those deeper days are gone. That is the problem. Continuing to support the NHL in its current state gives the illusion that you are ok with what it has become. Are you?

Yeah, maybe the players "wanted to play"... But professional hockey is first and foremost a business. That was demonstrated all too much over the 113 days. The most important color to players of today aren't the orange and black, black and gold etc... It's green, period.


If you don't spend any money on tickets, merchandise etc... Good for you. You may think that watching televised games and proclaiming your loyalty to a team makes you more of a "fan", but I would think the NHL may have a different definition.

[Jack Schitt]

Originally Posted by nyrgoal

Fans going to the games are not the reason why the NHL is going soft. Its injuries, govt, media, player safety, and owners protecting their investments. Players get paid incredible amounts of money and if I was an owner I wouldnt want to pay a guy to be on injured reserve.

Now coming from the fan stand point, I want to see as much hitting and hard playing emotional hockey as possible but there are too many other factors that are factored in all sports now, not just hockey. So as long as there is still hitting and fighting in the NHL I will continue to enjoy it. Maybe not as much as I did when I was a kid but I will still enjoy it.

You miss the point. I understand there are many reasons why the NHL has softened up. That's not the debate. The issue is that by going back with open arms and plunking down your hard earned cash, you give the impression that you are happy with the current state of the NHL. If I owned a business, and I put out a service, product etc... And that product changed over the years- if people kept buying it I would think everything was ok. There would be no motivation to change it back or to what the people wanted. Now, I realize that I may be in the minority as far as physical hockey and the "mainstream" that the league is apparently looking to appeal to. That being said, I'd rather watch and/ or support a league that is closer to what I like to watch. If you don't share that opinion that's fine... But don't come off like you are some sort of superfan and others aren't . One may say that supporting a product that you don't really enjoy simply because its "all we have" (although that's not true as many have already said) isn't really a true fan at all. To each his own I guess. Cheers.

[gdameo]

Originally Posted by FightingIsGood

The Pens' owners also apologized.

Add Sabres to the list

http://wgr550.com/Sabres-Black-apologizes/15220617