You Don't See Them Brawl

[Lead]

You guys are realtively lucky cause at least you have a chance to see LNAH or other league games. I live in Europe and all I can get from USA is this crappy NHL product. In late 80' I started to follow North-American hockey cause I hated those soft europeans and I really enjoyed rugged style of play. But what did I get now? Powerplays after powerplays.
Its damn hard to be european and to love tough, rugged play with good fights in it...

[OBA]

Originally Posted by jkidd

Really, its not new rules. They're actually calling the penalties now. Granted, they are over calling them, without question. I think the refs will eventually get back to calling the games they like.

It's all about the rules. 21 minors a game, none for roughing. Mostly invisible hooks, and interference. Awful.

Originally Posted by jkidd

The only new rule I really hate, is the goalie in the corners. The rule it self contradicts everything they want to do with opening up offense. But, thats too logical for the NHL to see.

Wow. So you like the Instigator rule being in place? Those last five minutes of the game where guys went on seek and destroy missions for things that took place earlier in the game was awesome. Worth paying admission price alone for.

Originally Posted by jkidd

I think its up to the refs, not Bettman. The refs ultimately have control over the game. Yes they are influenced by Bettman. Some refs, dont care about Bettman's influence. Some call the game they want to. I think going back to one ref might help, but thats no gurantee either. Refs like Mick Magoo, Kerry Fraser, Don Van Masenhoven, and other veteran refs need to step up and say that the game needs to be put back into their hands without the off ice influence they're under from Bettman and others.

No way. Remember last year where ref's were threatened by Bettman with their jobs if the whistle's go away in the play-offs. They want their paycheck like any other employee. Make no mistake about it, they listen to their brass. Don't kid yourself.

Originally Posted by jkidd

The attendance doesnt matter. They sell the tickets, and people just dont show up... that doesnt matter one bit to the NHL brass. TV ratings arent best because they're not on a marquee channel. Compare the number of households that get OLN/VS compared to ESPN... its not comparable. FSN is huge for carrying hockey games in most markets.

Attendenance will matter once you have 30 owners pissed off at it. It's a business like any other one. Tickets might be sold, but revenue will still suffer if the seats are empty.



The only way people can justify this new way of pussified hockey is if they saw no other kind before. Guess it's an age thing.

[davesakiller]

not bad last night.
8 games
3 fights
109 minor penalties called
26 special teams goals

sad when these stats are a good night for us fans. only an average of 13.6 minors called and 1 goal under 50% being on the power play. and this is a good night.

[jkidd]

Originally Posted by OBA

It's all about the rules. 21 minors a game, none for roughing. Mostly invisible hooks, and interference. Awful.

Wow. So you like the Instigator rule being in place? Those last five minutes of the game where guys went on seek and destroy missions for things that took place earlier in the game was awesome. Worth paying admission price alone for.

No way. Remember last year where ref's were threatened by Bettman with their jobs if the whistle's go away in the play-offs. They want their paycheck like any other employee. Make no mistake about it, they listen to their brass. Don't kid yourself.

Attendenance will matter once you have 30 owners pissed off at it. It's a business like any other one. Tickets might be sold, but revenue will still suffer if the seats are empty.



The only way people can justify this new way of pussified hockey is if they saw no other kind before. Guess it's an age thing.

You're right, it is all about the rules, very few of which are "new." I admitted that they're calling awful penalties, but none of these calls they're making are on penalties that were just invented.

This one I mispoke on. I forgot about that rule, havent seen it get called yet this year. The instigator in its entirety needs to get removed.

I remember, I also remember some refs last year putting the whistles away in the playoffs and letting the guys play, especially in OT. The refs did a good job in a lot of games, and terrible in some games. All depends on the ref, and how much they're going to be influenced by Bettman's comments.

No it wont. As long as tickets are sold, they make the profit from it. How many people show up to the game, doesnt matter. Paid attendance vs. actual attendance...

Yup, I never saw any other kind of hockey...

[spiderarms]

Originally Posted by jkidd

Really, its not new rules. They're actually calling the penalties now. Granted, they are over calling them, without question. I think the refs will eventually get back to calling the games they like. How long that is, could be sometime mid season, could be next year... I dont know.

The only new rule I really hate, is the goalie in the corners. The rule it self contradicts everything they want to do with opening up offense. But, thats too logical for the NHL to see.

I think its up to the refs, not Bettman. The refs ultimately have control over the game. Yes they are influenced by Bettman. Some refs, dont care about Bettman's influence. Some call the game they want to. I think going back to one ref might help, but thats no gurantee either. Refs like Mick Magoo, Kerry Fraser, Don Van Masenhoven, and other veteran refs need to step up and say that the game needs to be put back into their hands without the off ice influence they're under from Bettman and others. I think that is more key than anything else.

The attendance doesnt matter. They sell the tickets, and people just dont show up... that doesnt matter one bit to the NHL brass. TV ratings arent best because they're not on a marquee channel. Compare the number of households that get OLN/VS compared to ESPN... its not comparable. FSN is huge for carrying hockey games in most markets.

1) It is the rules. How about the instigator penalty in the last 5 minutes? HORRIBLE NEW NHL PENALTY.

2) The REFS follow orders by their BOSS, Gary Bettman, or they are FIRED by them just like any other EMPLOYER / EMPLOYEE relationship.

3) ATTENDANCE does matter, to the sponsors! They're looking at all these empty seats and are wondering if there using the right vechicle to sell there products. Bettman should be giving tickets away to fill the seats seeing as they are already paid for. Besides who wants to go anymore anyway, 90% of the games will put you to SLEEP!

I do agree with you that Versus is NOT the right network to carry the games and that ESPN would be MUCH BETTER. One thing I've noticed over and over from posters, is that they seem to want to blame all the problems for todays game on the PLAYERS and the REFS. THEY ARE NOT THE PROBLEM IMO. This is were most of us disagree. THE OWNERS and GARY BETTMAN are responsible for this mess IMO. They want minor penalties for three reasons:

1) They can SELL more commercial time on these breaks. THE NAME OF THE GAME IS MONEY.
2) With 50% of the games being played with special teams, it makes it impossible for teams to carry ENFORCERS, thus eliminating fighting, their ultimate goal because they feel sponsors won't support the NHL with this as part of the game.
3) Bettman and company feel that being on the PP constantly will enhance the goal scoring.

What this has done has RUINED the game that us OLD TIME HOCKEY FANS have loved. Many of the posters on this site have only watched hockey since the 90's and haven't seen IN DETAIL WITH ATMOSPHERE AND ENVIROMENT (NOT VCR TAPES OF FIGHTS), what NHL HOCKEY was like in the 60's,
70's and 80's. This IMO is why there are so many differences of opinion in what is happening and how it needs to be handled.

[Phila26Flyers]

Originally Posted by jkidd

No it wont. As long as tickets are sold, they make the profit from it. How many people show up to the game, doesnt matter. Paid attendance vs. actual attendance...

Yes, it will. Concession and merchandise sales will decrease with fewer people present to buy them. Attendance affects EVERYTHING.

[jkidd]

Has a ref been fired for not following his "directions?"

[mr.black]

The thing that gets me mad is that I actually fall asleep during rivalry games like Rags-Isles or Rags-Flyers.I don't know what Gary Dykeman is trying to do.Bring in fans or turn them away because he's doing the latter real well.

[Smerri1029]

There are quite a few people in Boston who have been season ticket holders for 15+ years who are not renewing because it is to frustrating to go to the games. When Jeremey Jacobs (along with other owners) stop selling tickets, season tickets, concessions, then they will hopefully get together and say..HEY! 10-15 years ago, hell even 5 years ago, we were much better off money wise. We need to revert back to that style of hockey.

Until that happens, we will not see change (for the bette). Gauranteed.

[Humpzilla]

If anyone would like to follow the LNAH from now on (which would be a very smart choice), then here's some links that you should add to your favorites

www.lnahnews.com/forums

http://hockeyfights.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=51

www.lnah.ca

www.semipromagazine.com

http://www.prgoonsmedia.net/videos/l...2007/index.htm

http://www.slyescombatsdhockey.com/combats.htm

http://geocities.com/touffe58/crsfans

http://www.lhspfightsrock.com/

http://www.caronetguay.net/portail/i...D=1203&CPage=1

http://missionsoreltracy.bbgraf.com/...orel-Tracy.htm

http://www.forumduradiox.com/forum/v...bc36d41d96b86f

[spiderarms]

Originally Posted by Smerri1029

There are quite a few people in Boston who have been season ticket holders for 15+ years who are not renewing because it is to frustrating to go to the games. When Jeremey Jacobs (along with other owners) stop selling tickets, season tickets, concessions, then they will hopefully get together and say..HEY! 10-15 years ago, hell even 5 years ago, we were much better off money wise. We need to revert back to that style of hockey.

Until that happens, we will not see change (for the bette). Gauranteed.

You are 100% correct!!! Jacobs is in this for the concession money! That would hit him where he lives!

[OBA]

Found this earlier today when searching around.

First on the death list was, Bettman. Here's this guy's tanget on the topic we discuss here:

Ladies and Gentlemen, you have just witnessed the last time I will capitalize that man's name. gary bettman does not deserve the respect that a proper noun denotes. This NHL Commisioner made me miss an entire season of hockey, and then on its return made it his mission to force the officials to rape the game. Lets be honest folks, its good fun to watch a couple of 200lb grown athletes beating the hell out of each other. gary bettman disagrees. gary bettman would rather only the underdog win. He'd rather threaten to fire the refs who refused to call bogus tripping or diving calls. He'd rather be the National Soccer League, where a player is allowed to kick a puck into the net. Thank you gary bettman, you are now officially metaphorically dead.

[canuckfan]

^ Heh. That was funny. Very well put.

Good reading to pass away this final hour of work on a Friday. I should make my own death list..... That little Eurotrash Koivu scored another shootout winner last night. Geez I can't stand those shootouts!

[IntoLegend]

Who will be the last team to get a Fighting Major?


Candidates are...

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

[Humpzilla]

1. Tampa Bay: With the way Tarnasky is getting ice-time, I believe Tampa is the top prospect for the pro-***** champions of the NHL.
2. Vancouver
3. Montreal
4. NY Islanders

Don't count out Florida, though! They might be the sleeper team this season.