Some Random Holiday Thoughts On The NHL

I was sort of overtaken by the Holidays, so I didn't have much of a chance to address a couple of issues. Think of this post as a make-up assignment:

* I don't want to see the Penguins leave Pittsburgh. I think it would set a horrible precedent to have a franchise that's already won a Cup relocate. Then again, the Penguins have needed a new building for about a decade, and the folks in Pittsburgh decided to invest their tax dollars in new homes for the Steelers and the Pirates. In both of those cases, the projects were sold to the voters as spurs to new economic growth. And in both cases, that new economic growth hasn't materialized -- not that it ever was.

I'm sorry, but I think that unless a benefactor with significant local roots -- Mark Cuban, white courtesy phone -- this team is as good as gone.

* The league is floating the idea of increasing the size of the nets again, and the reactions are rather predictable. As for me, I like the idea, and hope it gets implemented sooner rather than later.

* The league is also talking about realigning again, this time going back to the old two conference, four division format we're all familiar with. As long as we get rid of having a weak third seed get home ice advantage thanks to weak division, this is a change that we can't see quick enough either.

* Congrats to Peter Bondra on goal #500, scored the other night in Chicago against the Toronto Maple Leafs. One day, Bondra will take his place in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

* Here's Jermaine O'Neal of the Indiana Pacers on fighting and the NHL:

"Listen, the NHL lets them fight," said O'Neal to AP.

"Fights happen in baseball. Fights happen in football. Why are we under scrutiny about our game? Do you guys look at the NHL? Every day they're boxing. They throw the gloves off and just wear each other out. It would be interesting if you take that same question to the NHL and ask them why they're not under scrutiny about fighting."

Not under scrutiny? What world is O'Neal living in? Violence in the NHL has been on a downward slope for decades, yet every year we get the same sort of complaints about how violence is holding the game back. Whatever problems the NHL has, violence isn't one of the reasons folks are staying away from the rink.

* It looks like Rory Fitzpatrick might have peaked too soon. I wonder if the Holidays have something to do with the sudden end of the surge in his vote totals. In any case, you still have a week to Vote for Rory.

* And finally, Allesandro Nicolo thinks he has a cure for what ails the NHL on the issue of violence:

Maybe David Stern can come to the NHL for a term and whip the league into shape on this front?

Thanks, but no thanks. One commissioner who knows little to nothing about hockey is enough for me.

Eric 06:38 PM

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