2008 Woodie Awards
How to Fix the National Hockey League
Tom Powers
Issue date: 11/10/04 Section: Sports
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ST. PAUL, Minn.- The good news is that, eventually, the NHL will solve its labor problems, and the players will return to the ice. The bad news is that, eventually, the NHL will solve its labor problems, and the players will return to the ice- and the same old boring, tired brand of hockey will take up right where it left off.
"We used to tell people, 'Go to a game, and you'll be hooked,' '' said Darren Pang, a hockey commentator for ESPN. "But we've taken some of the entertainment out of hockey."
What happened? How did such a powerful, graceful game become so dreary?
"It's not about scoring chances. It's about flow," said Bob Kurtz, the radio voice of the Wild. "They've got to make the flow of the game better."
"You don't see the end-to-end rushes anymore," said Kurtz's broadcast partner, Tom Reid. "I can still see Guy Lafleur and Bobby Hull, their hair blowing in the breeze . . . "
There's no flow. There's no scoring. There's precious little aggressiveness. The big hits have dwindled. And dropping the gloves, instead of being an unprompted release of emotion, has become as calculated and choreographed as a Broadway musical.
Where has all the spontaneity gone?
"You're right," said Mario Tremblay, an assistant coach with the Wild. "A couple of good, clean body checks, a couple of good fights, there you go!"
When hockey returns, let's bring it back properly. The game is not beyond repair. It can be fixed. Below, you will see how.
The league ought to listen. It is on the wrong path. It's turning into soccer- all tactical defense with no tempo, no physical play and precious few scoring chances. And everyone knows what an impossible sell professional soccer has been in this country.
Here's what needs to be done:
DUMP THE RED LINE
Don't confuse goal scoring with excitement. A 1-0 game can be very entertaining if both teams have opportunities to put the puck in the net. The key is getting those scoring chances.
"We used to tell people, 'Go to a game, and you'll be hooked,' '' said Darren Pang, a hockey commentator for ESPN. "But we've taken some of the entertainment out of hockey."
What happened? How did such a powerful, graceful game become so dreary?
"It's not about scoring chances. It's about flow," said Bob Kurtz, the radio voice of the Wild. "They've got to make the flow of the game better."
"You don't see the end-to-end rushes anymore," said Kurtz's broadcast partner, Tom Reid. "I can still see Guy Lafleur and Bobby Hull, their hair blowing in the breeze . . . "
There's no flow. There's no scoring. There's precious little aggressiveness. The big hits have dwindled. And dropping the gloves, instead of being an unprompted release of emotion, has become as calculated and choreographed as a Broadway musical.
Where has all the spontaneity gone?
"You're right," said Mario Tremblay, an assistant coach with the Wild. "A couple of good, clean body checks, a couple of good fights, there you go!"
When hockey returns, let's bring it back properly. The game is not beyond repair. It can be fixed. Below, you will see how.
The league ought to listen. It is on the wrong path. It's turning into soccer- all tactical defense with no tempo, no physical play and precious few scoring chances. And everyone knows what an impossible sell professional soccer has been in this country.
Here's what needs to be done:
DUMP THE RED LINE
Don't confuse goal scoring with excitement. A 1-0 game can be very entertaining if both teams have opportunities to put the puck in the net. The key is getting those scoring chances.