With all this talk about Bettman...What would you do differently if you were in charge of the NHL??

Question

Specifically would you make any rule changes??? How would you promote the league better??? Add any new teams??

Answer 1

There are so many good answers to this question. I asked one similar a while back. I will try to be brief:
- Contraction: I like Puckdat's idea to drop 4 team, I would go as far to drop six. And move some back to canada
- Phoenix back to Winnipeg, Nashville to Hamilton, I would send Tampa to Quebec, and a fourth to be named later

- Remove the instigator penalty - this would not encourage fighting, it would allow players to police themselves as the league was meant to be, and fighting would go on as they deem necessary

- Market the game for what it is- a tough, physical sport. They put too much emphasis on making a pitch for speed and finess, and ooohhp oohp the Ducks won the cup.
*Side note: market the game to HOCKEY fans, not this new fan bullcrap
- They need comentators who loose lipped and hard nosed. Guys like Don Cherry, and Brett Hull (when he was discussing the league with Don Cherry during the stanley cup, probably the most intellegent commentary I have ever heard if you ask me)

- Cameras EVERYwhere. They need to document the play from all angles. Why are we stuck at center ice? Have cameras angles from in the zone so we can watch the play form. Then when it changes zones - change the camera. They do it in baseball and football.

- Microphones - mic the coaches. Mic the benches. And lets hear more of what the players are saying. If anyone has seen the Brian Bellows video you would agree.

- Get a new TV contract. I do not care for ESPN nor have I ever thought they had much respect for the league, but I think they are a necessary lifeline to keep up interest. By ESPN not having NHL (do they even show highlights? I don't watch sportscenter anymore) it is basically telling american that "nobody cares about hockey." ESPN can bring back the appeal to the common sports fan. And as I said above- reach hockey fans, but this extends to causal sports fans who enjoy nearly all sports. Going after new fans and new markets is rediculous

- Return to the old divisions and division names - hockey has a rich history and we must acknowlege it

- Can we get the Canadian teams cross-conferences to play each other?

You have the idea.

Answer 2

As my first act as commissioner, I am banning Gary Bettman from the NHL forever.

As my second act, I would go to ESPN HQ and negotiate (beg if necessary) a deal with the network to put games on ESPN or ESPN 2.

As my third act, I'd march down to NBC and re-work the contract with them so that we actually get a prime deal. Speaking of prime, I'd lay down the hammer and say, "No more afternoon playoff games." Who on the west coast really wants to see a hockey game at 9:00 AM?

As my fourth act, I would change the conference and division names back to the way they were before Bettman. I think that those names gave the NHL some class that was taken away. I would, however, keep the conferences regional.

As my fifth act, I'd work in a revised schedule, where you would play every team at least once at home.

As my sixth act, I would drop the shoot-out and OTL point and bring back ties.

As my seventh act, I would get rid of the instigator rule. This would allow the game to be more physical, much like it was in the glory days of the NHL.

Answer 3

Drop the shootout and the three point game.
Have teams model their own tv contracts with cable companies like the Leafs network and then hook them up in one huge package.
I still believe it would be best to add two Candian teams while removing 4 from the US. Hamilton and Winnipeg for Florida, Atlanta, Nashville and Phoenix.
28 teams 4 divisions of 7, top 8 in points each side go to the dance.

Answer 4

The answers above are great. Here is what I would add.

Too many teams. Too many regular season games. Too many teams in the playoffs. There is no good reason to start the season in October and still be in Stanley Cup playoffs in late June. I agree to market the sport to actual hockey fans.

Answer 5

Move the Detroit Red Wings and the Columbus Blue Jackets over to the eastern conference since they are on the east coast.

Bring back Winnepeg Jets and Quebec Nordiques by re-locating two american teams with a low fan attendance and money income.

Answer 6

I would give the NHLPA and the fans more of a say in the leagues decisions.

I'll have a better answer in the morning

Answer 7

i think lower division teams should be able to move up like in european soccer