You Don't See Them Brawl

[itsJ.Millertime]

Seems were on the same wavelength spider. I just posted this in the possible fights thread.

Coming off last Sat. so many "new" fans were quick to jump on us about how the league was turning the corner and we were to quick to bash it. They were right, we were wrong.
Since then after a full weeks sched. there's been what, maybe 7 fights? And 3 of those were hardly fights with 0 or only 1 punch thrown.
Add to that 1 fighter (Erskine) was sent down and another (Norton) was injured and replaced with a euro.
And Low, McGratton, Orr, Parker and several other toughguys were healthy scratches most nights leads me to believe that we were never wrong in the 1st place.

We'll see what tonight brings but outside of ALOT of empty seats I'm not predicting anything positive!

[Humpzilla]

Dryden: "70s" hockey bad for the game

http://hockeyfights.com/forums/showt...876#post815876

[TaskerVsSenn]

When can now include DJ King to the good guys beeing sent down...

[spiderarms]

Originally Posted by itsJ.Millertime

Seems were on the same wavelength spider. I just posted this in the possible fights thread.

Coming off last Sat. so many "new" fans were quick to jump on us about how the league was turning the corner and we were to quick to bash it. They were right, we were wrong.
Since then after a full weeks sched. there's been what, maybe 7 fights? And 3 of those were hardly fights with 0 or only 1 punch thrown.
Add to that 1 fighter (Erskine) was sent down and another (Norton) was injured and replaced with a euro.
And Low, McGratton, Orr, Parker and several other toughguys were healthy scratches most nights leads me to believe that we were never wrong in the 1st place.

We'll see what tonight brings but outside of ALOT of empty seats I'm not predicting anything positive!

What few fights there have been were miserable and to make matters worse as you stated, Erskine and now DJ KING have been sent down to say nothing of the Norton injury and though you didn't mention it, Aaron Downey. The problem is that these guys are NOT BEING REPLACED WITH OTHER TOUGH GUYS! Why do I think there will be a big night tonight? Because there has to be! Bettman is weening everyone off the Rough Stuff but he has to do it slowly so he doesn't lose any much needed revenue and support from the HOCKEY FIGHT FANS who are footing the bill right now while he is exploring his other international options. To be honest with you, I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF SOMETHING DOESN'T HAPPEN TONIGHT!

[spiderarms]

Originally Posted by TaskerVsSenn

When can now include DJ King to the good guys beeing sent down...

Just watching things unfold over the past weeks, this is the one I feared the most! With the Blues lineup being as tough as it is, at least for this NEW NHL, I thought this might happen. Another one I'm fearing is REED LOW.

[OBA]

Originally Posted by spiderarms

The problem is that these guys are NOT BEING REPLACED WITH OTHER TOUGH GUYS! Why do I think there will be a big night tonight? Because there has to be! Bettman is weening everyone off the Rough Stuff but he has to do it slowly so he doesn't lose any much needed revenue and support from the HOCKEY FIGHT FANS who are footing the bill right now while he is exploring his other international options.

I've said before that at it's current pace the NHL is on a fast track to simply being an extension of the European game/leagues. Look at the current rule calling, the allowance of more curve to the stick and so forth. It's suiting their needs. Would not be surprised to see mandatory visors grandfathered in soon. Change is needed real soon, regardless if tonight is fight filled. A complete regime change of the NHL hierarchy is in order!

[IntoLegend]

Who will be the last to get a fighting major!?
4 teams left.

Washington
Calgary
NY Islanders
NY Rangers
Tampa Bay
Columbus
Montreal
Vancouver
Atlanta
Minnesota

[TaskerVsSenn]

I'll stick to Brash-land

[canuckfan]

Originally Posted by IntoLegend

Who will be the last to get a fighting major!?
4 teams left.

Washington
Calgary
NY Islanders
NY Rangers
Tampa Bay
Columbus
Montreal
Vancouver
Atlanta
Minnesota

That major Calgary got shouldn't be counted. I've watched documentaries of slugs having sex that was more exciting then that "scrap". That was no fight.

[Humpzilla]

I can hardly even watch 1 period of the Lightning / Capitals game. By the end of 20 minutes I'm not sure if I want to punch a wall or break down and cry.

The game has become such a joke. Its just so infuriating to be this helpless as our sport, its traditions and its history disintegrates.

[spiderarms]

Originally Posted by OBA

I've said before that at it's current pace the NHL is on a fast track to simply being an extension of the European game/leagues. Look at the current rule calling, the allowance of more curve to the stick and so forth. It's suiting their needs. Would not be surprised to see mandatory visors grandfathered in soon. Change is needed real soon, regardless if tonight is fight filled. A complete regime change of the NHL hierarchy is in order!

The sooner the change the better! Unfortunately change doesn't take place without hardship. That's what each of us will have to endure to make it happen. Convincing others to sacrifice and acknowledge, not DENY, seems to be one of the many obsticles.

[itsJ.Millertime]

Originally Posted by Humpzilla

I can hardly even watch 1 period of the Lightning / Capitals game. By the end of 20 minutes I'm not sure if I want to punch a wall or break down and cry.

The game has become such a joke. Its just so infuriating to be this helpless as our sport, its traditions and its history disintegrates.

I'm with you Hump. I tuned in the Bruin game mainly to see Brookbank fight Peters. My girlfriend who's never seen a hockey game before she met me 6 years ago (now shes seen several) commented on the small crowd.
"Is this a Bruins game?" she asked.
"Yes" I replied.
"I thought they were the pros, so why are there so many empty seats?"
After I explained how whimpy the league is now and the lack of fighters she replied.
"You mean they dont fight? But thats why everyone watches, or at least it seems that way to me."
Amazing that someone who's never seen a single game till 6 years ago and now has seen maybe 10 knows better what fans want to see than people that run this sport.

Oh and by the way, Brokbank scored on his 1st shift. So surely he garnerd more ice time right? NO, it was his 1st and LAST shift in the period. Off went the game and on went a dvd movie.
This league SUCKS BLUE BALLS!!!!

[knucklesamwitch]

SSDD..the bj/pen game tonight had potential to get chippy but with steven walkom in attendence the refs did more blowin then paris hilton on a sat night. the last 5 mins was a transparent pp after pp to keep roy/shelley from ever getting back on the ice.

Pens are what 7 or 8 games in and i have no idea where they stand, cant see them 5 on 5 long enough to judge.

I HATED the prelockout NHL is was unwatchable hockey imo, but the NHL went way overboard in getting offense back in the game. And you have to be blind to not see that war on psychical hockey has been declared. The NHL better start letting the officials call the c&g at their own descretion because the point has been made. enough of calling a guy who puts a hand on someone but doesnt effect the play.

[Lead]

Was watching Pens and Jackets game last night and that was total crap. There were calls all the time and that made the game absolutely disgrace. Please, PLEASE let them play a little bit...

[FurnaceFace]

I loved it tonight on coaches corner Don Cherry was bitching about no fights !!1 he showed the peters / orr scrap and a clip of teemu selanne talking about how the iginla fight/ lose sparked him and his ducks to beat the flames . it was great . i think next week he is going to rant about this again.. props to cherry im glad there is a voice in the hockey world speaking for us.