I fully realize that the situation of which I am writing depends on a continuation of positive movement between the league and PA over the next few days, and that this debate may prove moot should the dark clouds roll in yet again. So I ask you to suspend reality for a few moments and take a walk into the world of hypotheticals as I get your input on some scenarios that tweaked my interest...
Like any damaged relationship heading down the road of repair, there will be some wooing to be had on the part of the league towards the fans. Sure, most of us will be back. We and the league know this. Good PR would dictate, however, that the NHL make some form of offering to take away some of the bad taste left by the lockout.
One such act of goodwill being bandied about is free NHL Centre Ice for the truncated season. Whether this comes to fruition or not is yet to be determined of course, but lets assume it is. My question to you would be this:
Would you rather:
A) Recieve free coverage of all teams for a 48 game season;
Or
B) Only be able to watch your favourite team but for a full season.
From my perspective, I see a number of different factors that would come into play if this were posed to me. On the side of option "A", a 48 game season will be played solely within conference, with a heavy divisional component (likely comprising half the games). Being able to track divisional/conference rivals by seeing their games will be even more intriguing on a shortened season with the cross conference component out of the equation. It sounds cliche, but certainly rings true under this structure: each game is like a playoff game. Points carry more weight in regard to playoff standings when within conference play is the deal of the day. As such, watching a division rival play and lose can be doubly exciting and meaningful to a fan. Speaking of exciting, a shortened three month season lends itself to more of a sprint by teams, versus the marathon aspect of a longer six month regular schedule. I may have my favourite team, but watching another team battle it out for meaningful points/position at the two and a half month mark with a full gas tank is solid entertainment, no? I don't get that with my focus solely on my team of choice in the long haul. As for whetting my hockey viewing appetite, a more compact schedule, sans All Star game as well, and access to all teams pretty much shores me up with nightly games for three months until the playoffs kick into gear. Seems pretty solid to me...
Downside here lies in the breadth of competition you get to see your team face. I'm a Leafs guy, and as much as I love watching the in-conference rivalries, missing out on Original Six matchups against Detroit and Chicago is a definite downside, while missing out on rivalries against other Canadian teams like Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton (Winnipeg as well if the Columbus - Jets conference swap chatter is to be believed) is less than desirable as well. So while I can watch these other teams all I want, it'll never be against the team that's número uno on my cheering list...
Now for option "B". Let's revisit this again and note that in this case one has a full season but is limited to viewing their favourite teams games. Now the striking plus here is the fact that we get a full season. In turn, under this option said viewer would have 82 opportunities in the regular season to see their favourite team play, which is more than a team in a 48 game refular season would see even if combined with four seven game series played in the playoffs. Furthermore, you'd get to see them play each team in the league, not just those teams in their conference, allowing me and my fellow Leafs fans to still get those Original Six and western conference Canadian franchise matchups. There's also the stamina factor that comes into making a run at a Cup, whereby if the team you followed we're to go all the way and ultimately win, fans would have the extra satisfaction of knowing that the team roughed it out over a minimum of 98 games, a marathon 29 other teams couldn't hack. All golden to watch...
But here's the rub: What if your team is weak? There's always thy chance that you draw a team that struggles for the vast majority of the season, and, opposed to those losing teams that may still be entertaining because they're always playing their heart out and almost doing it, your team may be flat out depressing to watch. Might be nice to be able to flip over to a more entertaining game, no? Also takes the shine off those games you have from the other conference too. Perhaps another downside of this option, dare I say it, is that 82 games can sometimes feel too long, even when it is your favourite team. To be certain, all games are important to a teams playoff hopes. I think it's fair to say, however, that the impact of game 15 or 20, an early/mid November game in an 82 game schedule is not as emotionally relevant as the same game in a reduced schedule. This is the case as in the latter scenario there is less margin for error and subsequently the highs and low that come along with our favourite team winning or losing are that much more pronounced.
Look, there is no right or wrong way to choose in this hypothetical world I just threw you in, but I'll be damned if I'm still not interested in what you would choose and why. Especially the latter as I know my pros and cons on either side only begin to scratch the surface. So have your say and broaden this out. Would you rather see everyone for a shortened season or only your team for a full season?
In the meantime lets hold onto hope for a salvaged season where we can talk hockey again, not the business propping it up...
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Do you have a piece of treasured memorabilia that has a great story behind it? Let me know and you can be featured in an article. Doesn't matter how big or small the piece is, how valuable it may be, or whether it's a common item or more oddball. If you think it has a story, contact me via the information below and we'll chat. In the meantime, check out some previous "Display Case" articles via the links below to see what others have submitted in the past...
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Shawn Gates
[email protected]
Facebook: Shawn Gates
Facebook Group: Hockeybuzz Collectibles
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Previous “Would You Rather…?
#1,
#2
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#2,
#3,
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#5,
#6,
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#8,
#9,
#10,
#11,
#12,
#13,
#14,
#15,
#16,
#17,
#18,
#19,
#20,
#21 ,
#22 ,
#23,
#24,
#25,
#26,
#27,
#28,
#29,
#30,
#31
Previous “Display Case” Articles
#1: The “Frankenstick!”
#2: Your desk has the right to remain collectable!
#3: Have Pads, Will Travel
#4: Pick a Pekka (Rinne) Autographed Mask
#5: Ted Lindsay Gets Kronwalled?
#6: The Only Thing We Have To Fehr Is Fehr Himself
#7: “Hungary” For Team Canada Swag
#8: The Soldiers Kid and “The Kid”
#9: Fan Appreciation & Player Humility Via The '72 Series,
#10: Bobby Orr and....Birth Control?!?!?!,
#11: Johnny Bower The “Portrait” Of Health At 88!!!
#12: Scotty Bowman – Stick Detective!!!
#13: Touch 'Em All Joe!!!
Previous “WHAT IF…?” Articles
#1 What If The NHL Contracted To 24 Teams?
#2 What If Quebec Traded Lindros To The Rangers Instead Of The Flyers?
#3 What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?
#3a What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?: A RESPONSE
#4 What If The WHA Never Existed?
#5 What If The Position Of Rover Had Not Been Eliminated?
#6 What If Pittsburgh Had Not Been Awarded A Team In 1967?
#7 What If Steve Smith Had Not Scored In His Own Net In Game 7?
#8 What If The NHL Had a Cross-Conference Playoff Structure?
#9 What If The NHL Asked For Fan Ideas For Improving The Game??
#10 What If Henderson Had Missed The Net In Game 8?
#11 What If You Could Sneak Into A Stanley Cup Celebration?
#12 What If The NHL Returned To Quebec City?
#13 What if Toronto and Edmonton Had Traded Teams in 1981?
#14 What if You Could Create Your Own Hockey Dream Team?
#15 What if An Active Player in the NHL “Came Out” as Gay?
#16 You Could Assemble Your Own Fantasy Pick-up Hockey Team?
#17 Hockey Had A Champions League Tournament?
#18 Team "X" Did NOT Make Trade "Y" At The Deadline?
#19 Gretzky Had Been Called For he High Stick?
#20 Star Players Hadn't Had Their Careers Cut Short?
#21 Mark Cuban Owned An NHL Team?
#22 Should Divisional Play Be Overhauled?
#23 You Won The Lottery Using Jersey Numbers?
#24 You Could Change Any Teams Name?
#25 You Could Own Any Odd Piece Of Hockey Memorabilia?
#26 You Could Pick One Silver Lining From The Lockout?
Previous “Points To Ponder” Articles
NHLs Latest Concession Does Not Pass The Stink Test
Cancelled Winter Classic Is About NHL Spite, Not Pragmatism
Fehr's Take On Offer Not Reflecting Optimism Of Fans?
Hybrid Icing: An AHL Experiment With An NHL Future?
Hockey Writers: Bottom Of The Barrel?!?!?
161 Players Overrate The Need To Offer Their Opinion
East vs West: Which Conference is Best?
Previous “Would You Rather…?
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NHL – NHLPA “Negotiations”
Olympic Gold Medal Game
Olympic Hockey
Kovalchuk Trade
Previous “Very Random Thoughts” Articles
August 9, 2012
August 1, 2012
July 24, 2012
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2012: Week 1
2012: Week 2
2012: Week 3
2012: Week 4
2012: Week 5
2012: Week 6
2012: Week 7
Pain for Pleasure
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Upcoming Signings
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#1: Gordie Howe
#2: The Zamboni
#3: Maurice “The Rocket” Richard
#4: Ron Hextall
#5: Stanley Cup Abuse, Neglect and Versatility
#6: The Puck
#7: Don Cherry
#8: Cam Neely
#9: The Early Years of Les Canadiens
#10: Hockey Superstitions!
#11: Olympic Hockey Pt1
#12: Jarome Iginla
#13: Mark Messier
#14: Johnny Bower
Previous Product Previews & Reviews
2010-11 Donruss Hockey
2010-11 Panini Score Hockey
2010-11 Panini Certified Hockey
2010-11 ITG Ultimate Memorabilia, 10th Edition
2010-11 ITG Heroes & Prospects
2010-11 Panini Pinnacle Hockey
2011 UD National Hockey Card Day
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INDEX
Previous "Devil's In The Details" Articles
#1: Beware the "Factory Sealed Box"!
#2: The Price Guide"
#3: What IS A Rookie Card?
#4: Beware the Money Order!
#5: The Counterfeit Gretzky RC
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State Dependent Learning
Arousal and Performance
Depression
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