First off, I will be happy to know the NHL is back. ( If it is )

There was a time I believed it may not even be next season.

Personally though, I was really hoping all of those greedy idiots that took the fans for granted would lose out on a full year. They take the fans for granted, and at least it would have been somrthing.

I moved to this country in 1997. That is roughly when I became a fan. I understand many who were fans before this time will always come back. What the NHL doesnt realise is my younger generation doesnt have those "glory days" to think back to. Sure the rich suits in the big cities will always buy tickets. The money doesnt mean as much. I however do not believe the middle class, of my generation will be as willing to spend the money. Sure the older fans will come back, but this kind of BS is no way to build a fanbase, keep it, or to keep around the younger generation.

I dont look up to these idiots as I once did. I wont buy anything more than a hat for the rest of my life, even in a city where I would finally have a chance to go see the team.

I will watch on TV, but that is where it ends. I still consider myself a hardcore fan, I will catch as many games as I can.

I used to think this sport was about more than money. I learned otherwise. I wont spend my money on a league that is run based on greed.

Read on twitter that NHL will offer center ice free of charge TY as a peace offering to fans... Then again it was prob one of you nuts on here that posted it.

First off, I will be happy to know the NHL is back. ( If it is )

There was a time I believed it may not even be next season.

Personally though, I was really hoping all of those greedy idiots that took the fans for granted would lose out on a full year. They take the fans for granted, and at least it would have been somrthing.

I moved to this country in 1997. That is roughly when I became a fan. I understand many who were fans before this time will always come back. What the NHL doesnt realise is my younger generation doesnt have those "glory days" to think back to. Sure the rich suits in the big cities will always buy tickets. The money doesnt mean as much. I however do not believe the middle class, of my generation will be as willing to spend the money. Sure the older fans will come back, but this kind of BS is no way to build a fanbase, keep it, or to keep around the younger generation.

I dont look up to these idiots as I once did. I wont buy anything more than a hat for the rest of my life, even in a city where I would finally have a chance to go see the team.

I will watch on TV, but that is where it ends. I still consider myself a hardcore fan, I will catch as many games as I can.

I used to think this sport was about more than money. I learned otherwise. I wont spend my money on a league that is run based on greed.
- flyer_nutter

The world is all about greed. No need to single these morons out.

Gonna watch on TV? Take a long look at your cable bill and talk to me about greed. You know what I paid for cable when I moved into my first apartment? $18 and I got all 36 channels plus HBO and PRISM.

Still... don't lose the passion man.

Read on twitter that NHL will offer center ice free of charge TY as a peace offering to fans... Then again it was prob one of you nuts on here that posted it.
- flyguy12

They'll have to charge $200 for it next season to cover the gesture.

Read on twitter that NHL will offer center ice free of charge TY as a peace offering to fans... Then again it was prob one of you nuts on here that posted it.
- flyguy12

Doesnt it cost something like $200 for the year?

The world is all about greed. No need to single these morons out.

Gonna watch on TV? Take a long look at your cable bill and talk to me about greed. You know what I paid for cable when I moved into my first apartment? $18 and I got all 36 channels plus HBO and PRISM.

Still... don't lose the passion man.
- mayorofangrytown

The cable bill roughly is 50$ lets say (up here). Overpriced as it is, definately.

I will single them out because I have the power to do so. I have the choice to not support the league in ways that are available. The passion itself has and always will be there. It will have to be built back up because I will admit I lost some over these last two lockouts. Especially this one. That is what the league doesnt realise. The die hards that lived through 70's/80's and later hockey will be back.

For those who werent alive to do so... Personally I see a game that is filled with corporate nonsense, too much advertising, and overprices everything. Many would probably say the league was better in the past. For many, that past isn't something they lived through.

First off, I will be happy to know the NHL is back. ( If it is )

There was a time I believed it may not even be next season.

Personally though, I was really hoping all of those greedy idiots that took the fans for granted would lose out on a full year. They take the fans for granted, and at least it would have been somrthing.

I moved to this country in 1997. That is roughly when I became a fan. I understand many who were fans before this time will always come back. What the NHL doesnt realise is my younger generation doesnt have those "glory days" to think back to. Sure the rich suits in the big cities will always buy tickets. The money doesnt mean as much. I however do not believe the middle class, of my generation will be as willing to spend the money. Sure the older fans will come back, but this kind of BS is no way to build a fanbase, keep it, or to keep around the younger generation.

I dont look up to these idiots as I once did. I wont buy anything more than a hat for the rest of my life, even in a city where I would finally have a chance to go see the team.

I will watch on TV, but that is where it ends. I still consider myself a hardcore fan, I will catch as many games as I can.

I used to think this sport was about more than money. I learned otherwise. I wont spend my money on a league that is run based on greed.
- flyer_nutter

will you take the same stance against other companies that are fueled by profit?

personally i will continue to go to games because its one of my favorite things to do. tailgate, meetup with peeps, and see the best players in the sport play in person. love being a part of the building when it is nuts

will you take the same stance against other companies that are fueled by profit?
- Crimsoninja

It depends. Life is life. The cable company overcharges for example. However they will not "lock me out of watching".

I can choose to download a movie instead of paying in the theatre. There is not a choice for everything, and I wont ever lie and say I will stop buying gas because it is overpriced.

With the NHL, the choice to throw money out on tickets or merchandise is easy.

It depends. Life is life. The cable company overcharges for example. However they will not "lock me out of watching".

I can choose to download a movie instead of paying in the theatre. There is not a choice for everything, and I wont ever lie and say I will stop buying gas because it is overpriced.

With the NHL, the choice to throw money out on tickets or merchandise is easy.
- flyer_nutter

i dunno. i havent had cable for years and dont miss it one bit. i'd rather pay to see NHL hockey than have cable tv.

i'd rather see the league succeed and thrive and gain more fans than to see it crumble. Obviously lockouts and disputes hurt the league in terms of gaining/keeping fans.... but empty buildings would kill it. i guess i just dont take labor disputes personally.

personally i will continue to go to games because its one of my favorite things to do. tailgate, meetup with peeps, and see the best players in the sport play in person. love being a part of the building when it is nuts
- Crimsoninja

Hell I love getting together with some friends and watching the game.

I just personally do not want to support an attitude of "we have the best fans in the world, and they will come back no matter what".

Hell I love getting together with some friends and watching the game.

I just personally do not want to support an attitude of "we have the best fans in the world, and they will come back no matter what".
- flyer_nutter

why would i punish myself by depriving myself of one of my favorite things to do for the sake of trying to teach a corporation some sort of "lesson"?

im not trying to be a jerk. i just dont get it.

i dunno. i havent had cable for years and dont miss it one bit. i'd rather pay to see NHL hockey than on cable tv.

i'd rather see the league succeed and thrive and gain more fans than to see it crumble. Obviously lockouts and disputes hurt the league in terms of gaining/keeping fans.... but empty buildings would kill it. i guess i just dont take labor disputes personally.
- Crimsoninja

Would I like to see the league thrive? Sure. They would do a hell of a better job at thriving by moving some worthless franchises instead of charging as much as they do for tickets.

This one annoys me more than the last because it was somewhat clear a cap needed to be put in place during the last one. To hold a lockout again, for this extended time, because some rich people have big egos?

why would i punish myself by depriving myself of one of my favorite things to do for the sake of trying to teach a corporation some sort of "lesson"?

im not trying to be a jerk. i just dont get it.
- Crimsoninja

I am not trying to teach them a lesson.

You have the right to not deprive yourself by going to a game. I went to my first NHL game last year. Was it better than on TV? Yes. However watching on tv instead of the real thing isn't the end of the world to me.

Is me saving some money, watching the game on tv, and not supporting their greed and disrespect for the fans the way I am going to go? Hell yes.

If that makes me "less of a fan" so be it.

I am not trying to teach them a lesson.

You have the right to not deprive yourself by going to a game. I went to my first NHL game last year. Was it better than on TV? Yes. However watching on tv instead of the real thing isn't the end of the world to me.

Is me saving some money, watching the game on tv, and not supporting their greed and disrespect for the fans the way I am going to go? Hell yes.

If that makes me "less of a fan" so be it.
- flyer_nutter

i agree. screw that "more of a fan, less of a fan" BS.

this isnt about being patriotic or loyal or anything like that to me. It's sports. It's entertainment. I'd rather spend money on NHL games really more than anything else probably. While I obviously respect the history and traditions of the league, I also am able to view it as basically my favorite TV show - and one that I can actually go see performed live in person.

Was this lockout frustrating and annoying and pathetic... yes, totally. but again, i just have a hard time being personally offended and outraged to the point where i would deprive myself of a fun time at a game based on principle or disgust.

anyway, im not trying to change the way you think about all this nutter. so my bad if it comes across that way.

It depends. Life is life. The cable company overcharges for example. However they will not "lock me out of watching".

I can choose to download a movie instead of paying in the theatre. There is not a choice for everything, and I wont ever lie and say I will stop buying gas because it is overpriced.

With the NHL, the choice to throw money out on tickets or merchandise is easy.
- flyer_nutter

Sure the Cable Company will lock you out of watching. Try and get on the Premium Channels such as the NHL Center Ice or HBO without paying a premium for it.

personally i will continue to go to games because its one of my favorite things to do. tailgate, meetup with peeps, and see the best players in the sport play in person. love being a part of the building when it is nuts
- Crimsoninja

Agree to all of the above. I'm not happy about the lockout, but I'd belying to say I won't be ecstatic to see them back (although I'd be a lot more psyched if we had Weber). A lot of people are beaking off up here in Kanida saying that they won't ever watch another game blah blah but it's BS. They'll be back.

why would i punish myself by depriving myself of one of my favorite things to do for the sake of trying to teach a corporation some sort of "lesson"?

im not trying to be a jerk. i just don't get it.
- Crimsoninja

My choice not to go back this season isn't to punish anyone, it's because I've just lost that level of emotional involvement. I still love the game but can't live and die with every shift like I used to.

I live and die on every one of my son's shifts twice a weekend. I follow him and his team the way I followed the Flyers as a teenager when there was very little access to watching games around the rest of the league. I've had to miss so many NHL games for his practices and games that it stopped being a priority.

So in a way I've found hockey that's more important to me. Maybe once he stops playing the level of interest will return. I still follow every word and hard scrabble for each item of information but the need to go to games or schedule my life around telecasts is gone.

Agree to all of the above. I'm not happy about the lockout, but I'd belying to say I won't be ecstatic to see them back (although I'd be a lot more psyched if we had Weber). A lot of people are beaking off up here in Kanida saying that they won't ever watch another game blah blah but it's BS. They'll be back.
- Hextall271

I'm not sure when I will go back to a game but it won't stop me from following the team/game/sport.

i agree. screw that "more of a fan, less of a fan" BS.

this isnt about being patriotic or loyal or anything like that to me. It's sports. It's entertainment. I'd rather spend money on NHL games really more than anything else probably. While I obviously respect the history and traditions of the league, I also am able to view it as basically my favorite TV show - and one that I can actually go see performed live in person.

Was this lockout frustrating and annoying and pathetic... yes, totally. but again, i just have a hard time being personally offended and outraged to the point where i would deprive myself of a fun time at a game based on principle or disgust.
- Crimsoninja

Exactly my thoughts. I've been deprived enough. Why deprive myself further by choice? However that is my choice. Others may choose differently. Doesn't make anyone better or worse for it. It's a personal decision.

Exactly my thoughts. I've been deprived enough. Why deprive myself further by choice? However that is my choice. Others may choose differently. Doesn't make anyone better or worse for it. It's a personal decision.
- MJL

Anyone know if the reports that Bryz is returning to the US for medical treatment for an upper body injury are correct?

Anyone know if the reports that Bryz is returning to the US for medical treatment for an upper body injury are correct?
- Hextall271

I saw that on twitter but it wasn't from anyone I'd consider a source and they were saying they read it on a Russian site. I've seen nothing but questions about it since. I'd think something would have surfaced by now.

Anyone know if the reports that Bryz is returning to the US for medical treatment for an upper body injury are correct?
- Hextall271

The only info I've seen was an article that PLind linked fro USA Today. And the source wasn't exactly reliable. I haven't seen it reported anywhere else. And Bill Meltzer hasn't said anything about it. And he knows the European scene. So I'm not putting too much stock in that now.

They'll have to charge $200 for it next season to cover the gesture.
- mayorofangrytown