so i constantly read in the papers how hockey is not watched very much down in the states...infact dog shows have higher ratings then a hockey game. my question is, why are americans turned off by hockey? as a canadian i love the sport. and not to offend anyone, i find it more exciting then baseball (and dont get me wrong, i like watching baseball). so, my fellow board members...discuss.

Well, having the players throw a hissy fit wasn't exactly a positive thing for the sport... :p

I don't know. I am a hockey fanatic, as is my town. The Buffalo Sabres are the #2 franchise behind the Bills, no doubt, and at some times (especially when the Bills season looks dismal, as it could be this year) the Sabres are the talk of the town.

I think the rule changes are good for hockey, it will open up the game and bring back more scoring, and allow the more skilled players to showcase their abilities. And the new salary system will hopefully give some parity around the league so that every team has a shot. I know nobody is picking my Sabres to do anything this year, but they are 4-1 in the preseason and have defeated the current Stanley Cup champs, as well as some other good teams.

So, I mean, as someone who watches hockey (I actually announced many local games during high school) and tries to follow it closely, I can't really say why people don't watch hockey. I think though the following are good examples of what makes people switch to something else though:

1.) Low scoring: People want to see dazzling goals, cool setups, and swarming offenses. Before the new rule change, we had garbage goals (see the 1999 Stanley Cup finals with the illegal final goal by Brett Hull to defeat my Sabres), garbage goals, and the occassional slapshot trickle. Now, it looks like the games will feature more skill and stickhandling, and scores likely in the 4-5 range each night, which is more exciting.

2.) Hitting is an essential part of the game: It seems to me that though we religiously cover people like Domi, Bertuzzi, and other malcontents who play dirty on a consistent basis, the blue-collar players who go out and play hard are oftentimes penalized more for stupid penalities like boarding or roughing when they aren't warranted. Bring back big hits, and you will have a bigger fanbase.

3.) Referee inconsistency: Mmm. This is the most annoying factor in any hockey game. When a referee just seems to have it out for one team or another, and calls borderline penalties. It's not only annoying, it makes the sport itself look bad.

4.) Lack of competition in the league: It's been who? Dallas, Detroit, Vancouver, for the past few years in a constant rotation? At least the last season we had Tampa, Calgary, and San Jose bringing fresh blood to the playoff race, and I look for this to improve.

5.) Traditionally Canadian fanbase: Hockey is Canada's sport, no doubt. Many of the teams (Florida Panthers, for example) are given second or third billing in their towns, and are having a hard time generating revenue if the team isn't popular. Though the NHL has been desperately trying for Southwest expansion of the NHL, it hasn't really boosted attendance or television ratings. If they could appeal to the old fashioned hockey fan, I think it would be much better.

The main reason, I think, is that the game doesn't lend itself well to television.

Much to difficult to follow the puck.

The NHL never really had the TV exposure that baseball, football, and basketball had, so the game never became as popular.

I think a fan base in sports starts with participation as a kid. In most of the USA hockey is not a sport that kids play except the northern states. Then you have football, baseball and basketball grabbing the big TV contracts and the fan base. So hockey falls into that lower 2nd, even 3rd tier of TV sports. Now, it's probably behind poker :rolleyes: . Occasionally while channel surfing I will stop for two minutes to watch hockey, BuT never say, "honey, the Devils and Flyers are on tonight!"

it is too bad that americans don't take a shine to the game...it is a pretty good game.

and we need americans to help preserve the nhl economically.

In Chicago, the Blackhawks are currently competing with the pennant drive by the White Sox, college football, an unfolding story from da Bears in the NFL, da Bulls with a promising future, and competition from Notre Dame, DePaul and especially Illinois college basketball, all of which overlap the NHL season. Having a losing team hasn't helped.

Plaw, the lack of TV exposure for the NHL is only exacerbated by being dropped by ESPN and finding themseves televised on something called the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) in the States.

I also agree that it's difficult to follow on TV. Greatset revelation for me came in 1980 when I saw the Soviet Red Army Team play against the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team at the old Checkerdome in St. Louis. Constantly circling, passing, moving up the ice, always in control of the puck, always crashing the net looking for the pass or the rebound. Way different style of play than dumping, chasing, trying to set-up in the offensive zone. It's a great sport in person and television never did it justice.

A hockey game at the University of Wisconsin is supposed to border on a religious experience...perhaps this year I'll make the drive to Madison...we zip in, we zip out...and see a game there.

tony b.

bump. in honour of the start of the season.

I think they've fixed it.

Amen brother!

Go Leafs Go!

Go Sabres!

damn right they fixed it, i haven'tseen these many goals...ever. well at leat not while i've been a fan. though i am feeling bad for the goalies, and mats sundin who got smacked in the eye with the puck find minutes into the first game.

LET'S GO CATS!

LUONGO FOR VEZINA!

If this isn't a wake up call that they all should be wearing some kind of facial protection, be it a cage or visor, I don't know what is...

So far I'm liking these new rule changes.

I've never found anything wrong with hockey, although some of my co-workers just can't seem to get into it, or understand my fascination with hockey.

Plus when I told one of my co-workers that I ordered NHL center ice I about floored him.


Although I've noticed something with the members here. I mean no offense to them but some of you are rooting for the wrong team(s) Ahem Double J.


The team you should all be rooting for are the Dallas Stars.

Nah. Sabres are doing great, they just beat the Stanley Cup Champs on thursday, with Briere and Vanek scoring in the shootout. Heck, Ryan Miller looks amazing as well.

Man, my Maple Leafs got crushed tonight by Ottawa Hopefully we can bounce back against Florida on Halloween.

Sabres beat the Islanders last nite 6-4. Damn, I'm really surprised with this team. Except for the last two games, the Sabres have been unloading on teams with their speed and shots (they lead the league as a team in shots). Friggin' sweet. And the powerplay is what is winning them games, we are one of the least penalized teams as well.

Oh, and our Vezina candidate?



Can you say 'Miller Time' ?

Miller: 6-4 with a 2.77 GAA and .910 SV%, a Vezina Candidate?
Hmmm.

Watch a Sabres game and see some of the saves he makes. He's got the agility of Hasek without the groin injuries. If he had a few better defensive players he'd be up there.

Miller's played well, but he's not in the top of the league in any of the goaltending stats. He stats aren't even close to
Henrik Lundqvist's. 5-1, 1.61 GAA, .943 SV%.

True. I still think though he has phenominal crease presence, and his play recognition is superb.

my maple leafs won yesterday 2-1. im happy, sure it was against a small team like the florida panthers, but meh....its still two points in the bag.

From what i heard, hockey attendance and interest, is actually up this year as apposed to last season. My devils aren't doing all that great this year, but have been doing a hell of alot better than the begining of the season. Of course our vezina candidate is an easy shoo-in. As far as what is wrong with the sport, I don't see anything wrong with it. I personally enjoy watching and playing it.

What's wrong with hockey, you ask?

Watch last night's game between the Sabres and the Penguins. The Penguins grew more and more frustrated as the game went on as they were purely outhustled and outskilled by Buffalo, and so they decided to board, charge, elbow, and in general dirty check without any recourse from the referees. Endicott and Recchi were particularly blatant offenders.

Forgive me for cheering when Crosby got hit in the ankle by Drury's stick, when Mair crushed a Penguin behind Fleury, and when Christiansen was wrenched by a Buffalo player.

The problem is that the referees turn blind eyes, especially in "important" games. To most people (and even the commentators) it was pretty obvious that the referees were trying to give Pittsburgh an advantage by calling questionable calls against the Sabres, while ignoring blatant infractions from the Penguins.

Our guys could've been seriously injured, for what? For Lemiuex and Therrien to win their first game with a new coach? The NHL needs to correct the problem with officials, and need to make it more objective between each teams. With a ref and linesman out there, as well as instant replay, this potentially career-ending play must not be allowed to continued. The NHL has done a good job of increasing scoring and excitement. Now they have to run people like Tie Domi and Mark Recchi out of the league; get rid of the goons.

Go Sabres!
[img]http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:Gl...005_pens_ap.jpg[/img]

Soccer ends most of the time with few goals (everything from 0-0 to 3-3 is normal, sometimes maybe 8-4 or so) and soccer is hugely popular in all continents except North-America and Australia so low scoring isn't (one of) the main reason I think.

Congratulations to Ed Belfour who passed Terry Sawchuk to become the 2nd most winningest goaltender in the history of the NHL (448)! Three Cheers For The Eagle!!!

Hey i don't mind a little dirt in the game, as long as it doesn't go as far as what bartuzzi does. That's the nature of the game, the little bit of hard work. Mind you, im not saying to go out and hurt someone, but let them know you are there. Make it tough for them to go to the net. that's good ol' canadian hockey. i find that hockey is way to soft, especially now that the defencemen can't do anything to the forwards, who now are running the goalies. i say the next time someone runs eddie make sure the toughest player on the ice(belak or domi) runs into that player. that's a disgrace..running the eagle.

Soccer ends most of the time with few goals (everything from 0-0 to 3-3 is normal, sometimes maybe 8-4 or so) and soccer is hugely popular in all continents except North-America and Australia so low scoring isn't (one of) the main reason I think. [/b][/quote]No, it is, because when you compare it with the other main sports in the U.S. (Football, Basketball, etc.) scoring = instant gratification, and the increased attendance and TV ratings are in direct link with the more skilled players being able to put the puck in the net and allowed to showcase their special abilities.

My maple leafs are on a five game win street, the took out the devils on new years eve 6-3. lets hope this roll keeps on going!

Yeah man! Five wins in a row baby! Bring on Pittsburgh!
Ed Belfour = Vezina Trophy Winner
Bryan McCabe = Norris Trophy Winner
Alexander Steen = Calder Trophy Winner
Mats Sundin = MVP
The Toronto Maple Leafs = Stanley Cup Champions!

Ahh...A fella can dream right?