Hockey Fans! Do you think hockey has improved during the last several years?

Question

Now that fighting isn't nearly as prevelant as it was say in the 70's, has hockey's image improved? And has the game improved overall since the new rule changes last year?

Answer 1

I think the idea of cleaning up the game is a good idea but, call all the penalties like they should be called. I don't care if a lesser talented team has to play shorthanded for the whole game. Call the freakin penalties!!! I don't know how many times I see these lesser talented teams impeading the progress of a player that does not have the puck. Thats "Interfearence"!!!! Call It!!! And stop calling the questionable ticky-tack stuff. And call the obvious. If you didn't see it then maybe you need a ref in the stands or the press box.

Answer 2

I think they game had been ruined since the lockout. You can't even touch a player in the league anymore. If you hit him it is roughing, if you touch him with your stick it is hooking. This has lead to way too two things 1) too many power plays 2) too many dangerous open ice hits.

Look at power play numbers for a second. The Philadelphia Flyers are the worst team in the league (that was painful say) they have a 15% power play percentage. Before the lockout that would have lead the league. The problem is you can't play defense anymore. If you get in someone's way you get the penalty, so you say out of their way and they score. I'll take a pretty passing play to get out of the Neutral Zone Trap and having a defense man plaster someone against the boards to this river hockey crap that they put on now a days.

As for the dangerous hits, need I give recent examples. And what is worse is no one can now go out of pummel someone and defend their teammate. Someone cheap shots your captain your to open the game. So you go after them you get a double minor and 1 minute later you are out of the box down 2-0.

I went to the Flyers vs the Leafs a few weeks ago. The game is pathetic (and so are the Flyers, but meh). Both sides of the rink were missing something that it had before the lockout. Heart, passion, drive. You can't get any momentum going b/c there is nothing to really behind. No fighting, no hitting. You might as well start the game with a shootout to decide who wins b/c that is what the NHL is now 60 minutes of uncontested shots. It does nothing for the fans and just shows the pathetic shooting since the score isn't 84-79 every night. If we really want triple digit scores lets give Stern the job. Bettman has ruined this game.

Answer 3

Fighting is STILL a big part of the game... Get's your team pumped in some cases....

Some of the rule changes are great.. Hate the shootout even thought the Stars are the most winning shootout team ever.. Still think it stinks.. Nothing like watching a battle go 0-0.... Eddie Belfour VS Tom Barrasso ... Man, what a game.... Hull, Modano, Joe N. Lemieux, Jagr... Great game....

Kill some of the dumb penalty stuff... Just because a stick goes parallel with the ice doesn't mean it's hooking.. I never see cross checking anymore being called.. The Bigger O Zone is great. The Goalie DEAD area is ok… Goalies just modified their play….

The faster play... Great..

Penalties stopped QUALITY players like Lemieux, Modano, Jagr, Sakic, etc.. from being hauled down and mugged by lesser quality players...


STILL… I say FIRE BETMAN… The guy stinks… Bob Gainey for President…

Answer 4

I am an old school player. Played semi pro on the east coast. I loved the old game but to be honest with you I was happy to see the game come back. I missed it a lot and didn't care in what form it did. I hated the shootout at first but I don't like ties in any sport. Ten minutes 4 on 4 than shootout my preference but maybe in the future. Overall I will always love the game. Even this latest one.

Answer 5

I think the game (since the rules changed) is alot safer but it also made the game a tad boring, I hate the fact that most penalties called are interference, I'm not saying I like guys going out and trying to kill one another but c'mon it's a contact sport, let them play the game

Answer 6

Yes and No. The goon squad part isn't needed. We don't need fights breaking out for no reason. If you want to watch fighting then turn on boxing or Pro wrestling. The rule changes since the lock out though have included such gems as the trapezoid. Who was on WHAT when that was started?

Answer 7

no! the new rules take away the roughness of the game. yeah sure there are more goals, but american hockey is becoming too much like european hockey. you don't see any inforcers in the league anymore now that scott stevens retired! there's a reason you wear all the padding.

Answer 8

Ya its safer but we watch contact sports to see bone jarring hits and punches to the face. I'm sorry i think the league has gotten soooooo much worse since the change in ownership. How can you say the NHL is better now, 2 years after a lockout, I'm sorry but you all are idiots if you think its better now.

Answer 9

Defiantly better since the rules changes. But fighting is still in the game. Did you see the recent Buffalo-Ottawa game?

Answer 10

a million: uncertain. particularly, in simple terms the means to take a seat down lower back, have a lager, and watch a sport. Or go out to a bar, have a lager, and watch the sport. 2: i'm a Flames fan, so i might like it to contain them, nevertheless i might say they seem to be a great long shot. all the matchups i might like to verify interior the finals are in simple terms way too not likely. 3: have not got a daughter, yet maybe a guy like Jonathan Toews? He feels like a very good new child. 4: Gonna watch it at homestead i think of, maybe visit a chum's homestead or a pub. not something too enormous. 5: i think of Stamkos seems noticeably sturdy, and the remodeled Lightning are gonna be a contender as long as their D holds up. 6: completely biased, yet i might like to verify Jarome Iginla get a bite, Trevor Linden, in simple terms so he ought to get one earlier packing it in, comparable with Mats Sundin. in terms of fellows who have been working for all of it 3 hundred and sixty 5 days long, Malkin and Ovechkin have been appearing like they actually needed it, and if there replace into some thank you to grant it to Luongo devoid of giving it to the hated Canucks, that could additionally be great. won't manage to somewhat think of of 9. 7: I dunno. Detroit's intensity is in simple terms loopy, yet i think of i like Filppula on that line. he's been sturdy for a collectively as now, and it variety of feels like he ought to do something particular with extra ice time and extra perfect companions like Franzen and Hank.