The future of hockey?

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 4:17 pm

What do you think about it? Dark? Bright?
Will the game continue to grow?
What do you think would benefit the game the most? What could damage it?
Is there any future event you think that you could predict?
Who will be the dominant teams in a few years? Will there be a dynasty?
Who will win the 2010 Olympics and why?
Will there be any particular trends?

Discuss.

Post by **batdad** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 4:40 pm

1. AS long as Buttman is around--Dark.
2. Bettman has and will continue to damage it.
3. 2nd team in Southern Ontario for NHL, 1 other Canadian franchise.
4. Nashville, Florida fail. Phoenix becomes the new Winnipeg.
5. Will never be a dynasty like the Habs were once. Maybe an Oiler type..win a couple lose a couple...but never a Habs like one.
6. Canada-Cause well, duh.
7. Discussion of rules changes to get goal scoring up, and Bettman messing up negotiations with the NHLPA will always be common themes

Now, in real terms...non NHL...hockey will always be healthy. At least in Canada...it is too well loved. It will never go away. Grass roots are too strong and too awesome, in spite of stupid people who think their kids will be superstars.

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 7:43 pm

To keep the discussion going I'll answer my own questions:

Ï really don't know how the future for the NHL looks, could turn out either way tbh. I've already given up on Swedish hockey though, it has lost everything even closely resembeling a soul.

From what I've read on the IIHF website hockey is spreading out to more and more nations, there really is a big need for programmes (perhaps by the NHL?) that can help marginal nations with rinks, youth coaching etc. for those nations to progress anywhere though. Another thing that needs to be looked at is how to improve ice conditions in warm climates.

A superstar with an interesting personality* playing for a big market American team would benefit the NHL alot, it would be interesting to see if a black star player at the same level as Malkin, Crosby or Ovechkin would create any Tiger Woods effect.
As for what could damage the league there is alot of things, drug scandals, Bettman staying on for too long, Nashville and Atlanta not moving to cities where people actually care about hockey, the list is long.

Islanders will probably be s*** for another 20 years

I feel kind of confident that Malkin will leave Pittsburgh sooner or later aswell, him and Crosby are bound to cannibalise on each other while at the same team.

I think the Penguins and the Blackhawks seem like teams that can be very good in a few years. Kings could be aswell if they get their hands on a good goalie.
I can see Pittsburgh being strong enough to get two Cups in a row and I can see the Red Wings defending theirs this season, otherwise I think the salary cap has put the nail in the coffin of the era of NHL dynasties.

I actually think the US will win at the Olympics, they have what looks like their best ever generation of players coming through right now and they'll probably have a few veterans hungry for Olympic glory to provide experience and leadership. Add good goaltending by Miller and DiPietro and you have a potencially winning concept.

One trend that we are already seeing somewhat is that there are less average European players in the NHL, most of them will head for the better wages in Russia leaving only the very best in the NHL.

*I personally find Crosby to be quite boring, he's too polite and too humble, too average, too much like a normal person. Ovechkin fails because he is one ugly guy and because he's foreign in the wrong way, not the mystical exotic sort of foreign.
In my oppinion the NHL really needs an excentric player that makes crazy comments to the media, does crazy things and sees himself as a god but is good enough on the ice to make up for it, kind of like a hockey version of Eric Cantona.

And I appologise for any spelling mistakes or strange things I may have written and blame it on me not having slept for a "while".

And here's another question, what would you personally like to see in hockey?

Post by **batdad** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 7:55 pm

I actually think the US will win at the Olympics, they have what looks like their best ever generation of players coming through right now and they'll probably have a few veterans hungry for Olympic glory to provide experience and leadership. Add good goaltending by Miller and DiPietro and you have a potencially winning concept.

No hope. None whatsoever. They may have good players but they are young and inexperienced. Canada will have experience, youth, skill, 3 goalies better than both American ones, speed, physical players and the motivation of being on home soil. Sorry...USA finishes out of the medals. Honestly, if they win a medal the Americans could consider this a Miracle on Ice all over again. the kids who will be playing in this tournament have failed miserably at all international events they have played in already...World Juniors etc...and they will be the core of the US 2010 team. ..no chance.

Canada
Sweden
Russia
Czech Rep, USA

Canada Sweden and Russia can ice 5 lines better than USA's number 2 line.
But not to turn this into an Olympic Thread....we will have one later:

Yeah, Crosby is well trained to be media savvy..but still 2nd best hockey player in NHL right now.

Lazion · Post by **Lazion** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:55 pm

Franck wrote: In my oppinion the NHL really needs an excentric player that makes crazy comments to the media, does crazy things and sees himself as a god but is good enough on the ice to make up for it, kind of like a hockey version of Eric Cantona.

Hockey needs Matti Nykänen.

batdad wrote:Canada
Sweden
Russia
Czech Rep, USA

You forgetted Finland.. as they gonna win silver or bronze.. once again..

Post by **batdad** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:13 pm

I have to say I would prefer Niity Makanen...just for fun with Tasku....

Finland right I just forgot how to spell it....they work hard and are the closest in terms of heart to Canada. They lose to Russian in the bronze. Sorry Swedes..you out!!! BELARUS! BELARUS!!

Post by **Tasku** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 12:07 am

batdad wrote:Niity Makanen

A regen?

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:02 am

batdad wrote:
I actually think the US will win at the Olympics, they have what looks like their best ever generation of players coming through right now and they'll probably have a few veterans hungry for Olympic glory to provide experience and leadership. Add good goaltending by Miller and DiPietro and you have a potencially winning concept.
No hope. None whatsoever. They may have good players but they are young and inexperienced. Canada will have experience, youth, skill, 3 goalies better than both American ones, speed, physical players and the motivation of being on home soil. Sorry...USA finishes out of the medals. Honestly, if they win a medal the Americans could consider this a Miracle on Ice all over again. the kids who will be playing in this tournament have failed miserably at all international events they have played in already...World Juniors etc...and they will be the core of the US 2010 team. ..no chance.

Sure Canada are the favorites, they always are, I think the pressure of playing at home and all the expectations that come with it will get to them though.

As for the US top two lines I could imagine them looking something like this:
E. Johnson - Rafalski - Drury - Gomez - Kane
J. Johnson - Liles - Malone - Stastny - O'Sullivan

Add all the other fairly good Americans in the NHL (Higgins, Gionta, Kessel, Parise and all the other 40-60 point guys) to that and the possibility of old guys like Modano, Chelios and Tkachuk coming in to provide experience they could do very well.
No one will expect anything from them either due to the strenght of the Canadian and Russian teams so they'll play without any real pressure on them.

They'll definetly do better than Sweden, I can tell you that already.

Post by **batdad** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:51 am

Sorry Franck...Canadian hockey players eat up pressure more than any other athlete out there. Every time they fail...they have come back with a big performance. So...guess what turn it is?

Meh...the American first line would be Canada's checking line. And Belarus can do better than Sweden...

But they do have one of the best goalies out there, so I would not be so sure. He gets hot like Hasek,....and boom all over.

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 4:12 am

batdad wrote:Sorry Franck...Canadian hockey players eat up pressure more than any other athlete out there. Every time they fail...they have come back with a big performance. So...guess what turn it is?

Meh...the American first line would be Canada's checking line. And Belarus can do better than Sweden... But they do have one of the best goalies out there, so I would not be so sure. He gets hot like Hasek,....and boom all over.

Care to explain what happened in 98 and 06 then?

Post by **batdad** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:18 pm

Like I said...every time they fail...they come back...98 followed by 02, 06 followed by 10.

Lakrisal · Post by **Lakrisal** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:07 pm

Lets hope it all goes well, I have no idea though... I think the Europe premiere could help quite a bit to sell the NHL overseas, because many doesnt realize the difference in quality... at least thats the way I find it.

The Winter Classic is also a great event that can raise interest and awareness of the sport

I think the Blackhawks really have something special going and it will be awesome to follow them in the next couple of seasons, that is until Kane and Toews both Earns 7$+ million per season and the salary cap makes its effect. I think Detroit is going to have it though for some seasons now that a couple of contracts are expiring, such as Zetterberg and Franzen and with Lidström closing in on retriement and the lack(?) of top prospects.

Sadly, Sweden will not win the 2010 olympics... I think Russia or Canada will... just imagine: Ovechkin - Malkin - Semin.

Sweden will come back though in 2014 with Hedman and Markström leading us to gold

gibson41 · Post by **gibson41** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 7:21 pm

Hockey should be really more spread out around the world. For me it's #1 sport, much better than boring soccer >.<, and other people should acknowledge it as well. Playing NHL openers in Europe is a good way to popularise it, also, more TV air time would help a lot. But, from a more realistic view, hockey will never achieve fame as a soccer. Reason in simple, hockey is a winter sport, thus this sport is popularised mostly in coldy countries and ex-Soviet Union countries. But my heart will always belong to ice hockey...and women.

Edit: And also, ice-hockey national teams are far less competitive than soccer ones. In hockey you got Canada, Sweden, Russia as a potential gold medal winner. In soccer? England, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Brazil, it's just a way bigger competition.

Post by **Tasku** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 7:45 pm

gibson41 wrote:In hockey you got Canada, Sweden, Russia as a potential gold medal winner.

Heh. It's funny how Finland is never considered a gold medal candidate, yet we always get "a surprise entry" into the finals or bronze the least. I suppose we never look good on paper compared to Russia, USA, Canada, but always play as a team.

2008 - Bronze
2007 - Silver
2006 - Bronze

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdlnUmVhkvc

As for hockey vs football, the answer is easy:
to play footie, all you need is shirts as goal posts and a ball, plus some grass if you wanna get fancy. Hockey requires way more.

Lakrisal · Post by **Lakrisal** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 7:56 pm

Tasku wrote:
gibson41 wrote:In hockey you got Canada, Sweden, Russia as a potential gold medal winner.
Heh. It's funny how Finland is never considered a gold medal candidate, yet we always get "a surprise entry" into the finals or bronze the least. I suppose we never look good on paper compared to Russia, USA, Canada, but always play as a team.

2008 - Bronze
2007 - Silver
2006 - Bronze

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdlnUmVhkvc

As for hockey vs football, the answer is easy:
to play footie, all you need is shirts as goal posts and a ball, plus some grass if you wanna get fancy. Hockey requires way more.

Yeah you finnish always go crazy.. in a good way

+ You gotta love Teemu Selänne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jK21DKe0vk

nothing EVER beats that comeback though (;

Post by **Tasku** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 7:58 pm

Oh no no no... I'm not watching that video.

In fact, that never happened. It's all CGI and special effects created by the evil Svensk Filmindustri.

I should ban you for that.

gibson41 · Post by **gibson41** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 9:32 pm

Tasku wrote:
gibson41 wrote:In hockey you got Canada, Sweden, Russia as a potential gold medal winner.
Heh. It's funny how Finland is never considered a gold medal candidate, yet we always get "a surprise entry" into the finals or bronze the least. I suppose we never look good on paper compared to Russia, USA, Canada, but always play as a team.

2008 - Bronze
2007 - Silver
2006 - Bronze

Finland, in my view, is more of a medal contender, not a gold contender, deffinitly a top four team each year, but still they miss a little something to gain that shiny gold medal. At least the last few years.

Yay, Slovakia is leading 1-0 over Sweden atm.

Edit: Man, Finnish commentators sure do a good job.

Post by **Tasku** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 9:37 pm

gibson41 wrote:
Tasku wrote:
gibson41 wrote:In hockey you got Canada, Sweden, Russia as a potential gold medal winner.
Heh. It's funny how Finland is never considered a gold medal candidate, yet we always get "a surprise entry" into the finals or bronze the least. I suppose we never look good on paper compared to Russia, USA, Canada, but always play as a team.

2008 - Bronze
2007 - Silver
2006 - Bronze
Finland, in my view, is more of a medal contender, not a gold contender, deffinitly a top four team each year, but still they miss a little something to gain that shiny gold medal. At least the last few years.

True. We seem to crack under pressure - always. But it can't last forever. Every year is a new chance.

But my point remains, and it wasn't only directed at your comment, just that what you said reminded me of it. If you look at international hockey experts opinions prior to the competition, we're NEVER even on the top three by looking at names in the rosters. But still we keep finding our way up there, and every year it's a surprise everywhere else but here.

gibson41 · Post by **gibson41** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 9:59 pm

Tasku wrote:
gibson41 wrote:
Tasku wrote: Heh. It's funny how Finland is never considered a gold medal candidate, yet we always get "a surprise entry" into the finals or bronze the least. I suppose we never look good on paper compared to Russia, USA, Canada, but always play as a team.

2008 - Bronze
2007 - Silver
2006 - Bronze
Finland, in my view, is more of a medal contender, not a gold contender, deffinitly a top four team each year, but still they miss a little something to gain that shiny gold medal. At least the last few years.
True. We seem to crack under pressure - always. But it can't last forever. Every year is a new chance.

But my point remains, and it wasn't only directed at your comment, just that what you said reminded me of it. If you look at international hockey experts opinions prior to the competition, we're NEVER even on the top three by looking at names in the rosters. But still we keep finding our way up there, and every year it's a surprise everywhere else but here.

Czechs had their golden times (1999-01). They seems to be over now with Hasek retired and Jagr's behind his most productive seasons, they won just two medals past 7 years. If Slovakia has their hottest 20, they can crack any team on the Earth. Guys like Hossa, Gaborik, Demitra, Satan, Palffy, Stumpel, Nagy, Svatos, Visnovsky, Chara, Meszaros. Unfortunately, most of the guys rejected to participate over the last years. Thus, no medal since 2003. USA sucks big time each year, they don't seem to care at all. But Finland is playing consistent and fighting for medal each year. This puts Finland ahead of Slovakia, USA, maybe even Czechs.

Yay, Slovakia is leading 2-1

Post by **batdad** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:37 pm

Finns always get credit from me. They are the country that plays hockey the closest to Canadian style. They are the ones that worry me each and every time Canada plays them. Other teams I love to see, but Finland is a team that is always always at the top of my list for who can beat Canada.

And I am gonna be nice to Swedish guy poking Tasku.

ACtually....no I am cause this video does beat that comeback he talks of vs Finland that Tasku won't watch...and I love the song

Lakresal, Joe Helmer, Lidas...this is for you!!!

Post by **Tasku** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:54 pm

Den glider in!

That was actually a Swedish theme song for the 1995 Stockholm World Championships, where Finland won.

Post by **batdad** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 12:18 am

YOu liked that video, eh Tasku?

Post by **Tasku** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 12:39 am

It was okay. Liked mine better.

Post by **getzlaf15** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 1:09 am

Batdad, you love that video, is it your homepage.

Post by **batdad** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 1:27 am

NAh...just when Swedes poke at Finns, I defend the Finns. Not that they need it. I mean come on,,,they would smoke the Finns in a boxing match on ice, or while on jumping skiis.

And oh Tasku--Yers is fine, cept the guy speaks so fast I cannot understand a word he says. I think he just repeats Nitty...mackie....Nitty Mackiee..>OLI OLI OLI JOKINNEN