I disagree.

If one country on this planet needs hits and fights to be entertained, its this poophole I live in, the U.S.mutheffingA.

You want to get the ratings up in the US, especially the southern states where there are not many teams....bring back fighting and hip checks.

poop half of them still watch roller derby when the WWE and UFA aren't on.
- underhill14

And other than football, which has very controlled physical play, the next two more popular than hockey are baseball and basketball with zero amounts of physical play. Soccer is taking off more and more there as well.

The NHL wants those sports fans… not the wrestling/fighting types

Actually I think McDavid and Draisaitl both being banged up had more to do with it than anything the panthers did.
- shack67

Did they get banged up jerking each other off or from playing hockey against hard hitting teams?

And other than football, which has very controlled physical play, the next two more popular than hockey are baseball and basketball with zero amounts of physical play. Soccer is taking off more and more there as well.

The NHL wants those sports fans… not the wrestling/fighting types
- Dozzer

The NHL should and does want any US fan they can get. Period.

Gambling is paying the bills now.

I agree...but always find it funny when you watch games in the states - they get up for goals, but they get crazy for hits and fights. Physicality and speed (in combo as well) is what separates hockey from other sports.

Fans love the hits and fights. The tiny american (Gary) didn't like all the puffs criticizing the games injuries and rough stuff so like a businessman (which is what he should do) he shifted the product so the softy types in the media didn't continuously write articles of how bad fighting is in hockey and how violence on the ice is disgusting.
- Big23Questions

Top sports in the US are football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and soccer. And hockey is the only one with an uncontrolled violence.

There are plenty of US fans that love the violence but the league wants away from it for those who don’t.

The NHL should and does want any US fan they can get. Period.

Gambling is paying the bills now.
- underhill14

Exactly. So follow the lead of the most successful sports. Not everyone likes violence.

I’m not saying I like this… but it seems to be how the league is reshaping.

I disagree.

If one country on this planet needs hits and fights to be entertained, its this poophole I live in, the U.S.mutheffingA.

You want to get the ratings up in the US, especially the southern states where there are not many teams....bring back fighting and hip checks.

poop half of them still watch roller derby when the WWE and UFA aren't on.
- underhill14

Dozzer has it in for US teams.

It has nothing to do with TV audiences - kids today are taught to stick check instead of body check. The theory is with the body check you knock the guy off the puck, and then possession is a toss up. With a stick check you gain possession.

That article is from 2018. Ray Ferraro was saying after the SCF that "big wins" and that the last few Stanley Cups are skewing back to "size matters".
- fifty__missions

I believe for defense, for sure.
Forwards..meh.

The diving in the France-Spain game is franking embarrassing.

The diving in the France-Spain game is franking embarrassing.
- Atomic Wedgie

https://images.app.goo.gl/71QG2aKjqsLhEETM7

Exactly. So follow the lead of the most successful sports. Not everyone likes violence.

I’m not saying I like this… but it seems to be how the league is reshaping.
- Dozzer

I love a good conspiracy theory as much as the next sasquatch, but what exactly is/ can the NHL head office do to reduce body checks?

Is "everything still on the table"?

What a bunch of (frank)ing losers.
- fifty__missions

Everything may have been on the table.
Just didnt get the deal they wanted.
The time to tear this core apart was after choking embarrassingly against the habitards

Exactly. So follow the lead of the most successful sports. Not everyone likes violence.

I’m not saying I like this… but it seems to be how the league is reshaping.
- Dozzer

The violence is a big reason that parents don’t put their kids in hockey. I don’t blame them.

The diving in the soccer game is franking embarrassing.
- Atomic Wedgie

See the Panthers.

You can finish a (frank)ing check on time and not be out of position Shack.

Why is it always black and white with you guys or some other just complete bullpoop excuse for the Leafs sucking.

Florida killed Edmonton on exactly that. They had a two-man, hard-hitting forecheck that completely (frank)ed up the D and made the forwards come back deeper to help get the puck out. The 3 games Panthers lost they stopped doing that as well as they did in the first 3 games but still ultimately won. It works.
- underhill14

Well that and Drysaddle could barely move and McDavid was absent for two games.
But yes, thats how the panthers won.....they pounded them

Everything may have been on the table.
Just didnt get the deal they wanted.
The time to tear this core apart was after choking embarrassingly against the habitards
- Fakepartofme

FFS, the Leafs management said the exact same poop as every other sports management team of every team in every sport.

Everything is always on the table.

They will always explore everything to improve the team.

The goal is always to build a team that can win next year.

The year end pressers are always a colossal waste of time.

Physical play is dwindling. They’re trying to make the game something that gains more attention in the states. Gritty, dirty, physical play isn’t the way to do it.
- Dozzer

Meh, disagree.

The hits and fights still get the biggest cheers. Not saying goals dont....

The violence is a big reason that parents don’t put their kids in hockey. I don’t blame them.
- shack67

Actually, its cost.

France falls for the second time in 48 hrs. Thats rough

Exactly. So follow the lead of the most successful sports. Not everyone likes violence.

I’m not saying I like this… but it seems to be how the league is reshaping.
- Dozzer

Follow the lead of the corrupt NFL?
The NFL is pretty violent.
MMA is pretty violent.
Both are huge in the states.
The odd fight here or there in hockey isnt making people the leave the sport droves.

France falls for the second time in 48 hrs. Thats rough
- drexel

Just couldnt recover from the party after they ousted the nazi party of france.

Good on them

France falls for the second time in 48 hrs. Thats rough
- drexel

oy-vey

I believe for defense, for sure.
Forwards..meh.
- Fakepartofme

The cup winner’s D was pretty damn average size for 4 of the guys

FFS, the Leafs management said the exact same poop as every other sports management team of every team in every sport.

Everything is always on the table.

They will always explore everything to improve the team.

The goal is always to build a team that can win next year.

The year end pressers are always a colossal waste of time.
- Atomic Wedgie

Possibly.
But a lot of those other sports managements often act on it.
Leafs havent in half a decade.

The cup winner’s D was pretty damn average size for 4 of the guys


- Dozzer

Sure there are one offs.
But most cup winners have big D that can pound.



two guys at 6'4
one a 6'2. Although with OEL, not known as a hitter

FFS, the Leafs management said the exact same poop as every other sports management team of every team in every sport.

Everything is always on the table.

They will always explore everything to improve the team.

The goal is always to build a team that can win next year.

The year end pressers are always a colossal waste of time.
- Atomic Wedgie

Well, with what they've done - a big, greasy run-back - we sure as (frank) aren't winning.