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[DarkJediKnight]

Man! I remember the days when every team had a 30 goal scorer, and some had a 50 goal scorer. You weren't considered elite unless you had 100 points.

Goalies with 2.50GAA was considered Vezina candidates.

Now, it's a boredom-inducing nausea called defense, block shots, and have goalies with gigantic equipment.

I believe last season was the lowest scoring season since the late 60s, and 2015 is starting to look even worse.

What's your thoughts on the state of the game?

 

[Alex_Mexico]

In Canada? Fuck yes. In the U.S.? I was just the other day wondering how MLS audiences stack up to NHL rating in America out of curiosity.

 

[ryan299]

I'm not a fan of the current state. They need to increase scoring a lot, but honestly the league is pretty clueless.

In Canada? Fuck yes. In the U.S.? I was just the other day wondering how MLS audiences stack up to NHL rating in America out of curiosity.

I believe the premier league on NBCSN was drawing more viewers then NHL games last season.

 

[Man God]

When is the next lockout?

 

[Yawnier]

I watch the leafs lose 3 times a week

So yes.

 

[malfcn]

and have goalies with gigantic equipment.

Their equipment is significantly smaller now.

 

[Alex_Mexico]

I believe the premier league on NBCSN was drawing more viewers then NHL games last season.

Holy shit! Had no idea the Premier League had such a relatively big following. And larger than the MLS what with its games at better hours of the week and whatnot.

 

[Smiley90]

Now, it's a boredom-inducing nausea called defense, block shots, and have goalies with gigantic equipment.

:lol DarkJediNight you cray

 

[Quick]

NHL-GAF member reporting in.

Not sure if you've kept up in recent years, but goalie equipment shrank a bit. The league's also imposed more restrictions with the goalie by having the no-play zones. The nets are more shallow to allow for a wider passing lane behind the net, as well. Not to mention the removal of two-line pass restrictions from 2005-06 onward (also when the no-play zone was established). The league also got away from the gritty defence-set games and more into offence-first games.

Players have adapted to the changes. Shot blocking is now ingrained into every player, goalies are skating out to get the puck on dump-ins and pass over the no-play zones (it really makes it pointless to have), and goalies just adapted to the smaller equipment.

People talk about penalizing shot blocking, but that's just looking for trouble, and would be such a mess to officiate. There's talk of making nets bigger, but the league seems set on shrinking goalie equipment first before going with a major increase in net size.

That being said, the league recently implemented a new overtime format of 3-on-3 (formerly 4-on-4) to at least have more open ice for players to take advantage of. And it's been great so far. Prime example being the Flyers/Lightnjng OT earlier this month.

It seems like you haven't watched a few games in years. The stats are only showing you one side of the story. You really need to watch more current games to see the changes in the game.

 

[udiie]

game has improved over the past few years, hasn't really been unwatchable despite being a Canucks fan
Quick kinda covered all this though

 

[Lach]

In the swiss league, we had the problem that the games had gotten boring. Two years ago we changed the blue lines so the neutral zone gets smaller (and attacking/defending zones get bigger) this led to a lot more goals. I don't now how the situation in America is. All I know that you have shorter/wider rinks than in europe....

 

[Buba Big Guns]

Hockey hasn't been more popular in Canada.

 

[Chris R]

Season looking good to me.

Avs, not so much ;_;

 

[Syckx]

Love it. The Kings vs. Aves tonight was great. I love defensive games. Makes each goal matter that much more.

 

[HariKari]

All they need to do is call interference and obstruction like they did coming out of the first major lockout.

More goals doesn't automatically mean more excitement, by the way.

 

[Rocketz]

I watch the Wings all the time and it's so much easier now that I live basically 20 minutes from the Joe.

 

[Wingfan19]

I watch every Wings game and almost every Hockey Night in Canada game (if I'm home on Saturday nights).

 

[Qasiel]

I'd love to watch some NHL here in the UK but I don't know how to go about it properly. I don't do team sports usually, but I have a strong love for the game.

 

[Quick]

In the swiss league, we had the problem that the games had gotten boring. Two years ago we changed the blue lines so the neutral zone gets smaller (and attacking/defending zones get bigger) this led to a lot more goals. I don't now how the situation in America is. All I know that you have shorter/wider rinks than in europe....

NHL ice is smaller. Can't afford to shrink the neutral zone as much as the Euro leagues (international hockey is great for having a larger playing surface).

Best thing the NHL has done to increase opportunities is remove the two-line pass restriction (I believe certain leagues still have this). This opened up a lot more breakaway opportunities.

 

[Misha]

yeah and mostly i don't have a problem with the state of the game. i'd rather see high level play with sound strategy than a couple of good players scoring often against beer league scrubs

that said the league could call interference tighter

 

[Quick]

that said the league could call interference tighter

Might not be completely related to your point, but referrees are inclined to let some lighter infractions pass in the name of preserving a game's flow or momentum. Blatant things, like slashing or tripping, are still going to get called of course. It comes up during game commentary a few times, and you can really notice it when refs officiate playoff games.

 

[Sheroking]

Might not be completely related to your point, but referrees are inclined to let some lighter infractions pass in the name of preserving a game's flow or momentum. Blatant things, like slashing or tripping, are still going to get called of course. It comes up during game commentary a few times, and you can really notice it when refs officiate playoff games.

It's a silly way for them to look at it because penalty calls do not interfere with a games flow like icing or offside calls do. What follows a penalty call is 120 seconds of fluid hockey, generally with more scoring chances and intensity than 5v5.

Ultimately the NHL will recognize a severe crackdown in interference and obstruction has historically been the only successful means to increase scoring.

 

[T.M. MacReady]

NHL Gaf is best Gaf. No one denies this.

 

[Quick]

It's a silly way for them to look at it because penalty calls do not interfere with a games flow like icing or offside calls do. What follows a penalty call is 120 seconds of fluid hockey, generally with more scoring chances and intensity than 5v5.

Ultimately the NHL will recognize a severe crackdown in interference and obstruction has historically been the only successful means to increase scoring.

I don't agree or disagree with the idea exactly, nor should I generalize all refs to have the mindset.

But I definitely agree that a power play opens up more intense and offensive scenarios.

 

[Metalmarc]

I'd love to watch some NHL here in the UK but I don't know how to go about it properly. I don't do team sports usually, but I have a strong love for the game.

You could subscribe to premier sports if you have digital t.v, they claim to show 15 games a week as well as our own British eihl league and some international games, and if your box records, if a game is on too late, and the American ones usually are on between 12am-3am, or even 1-4am depending which team you follow, east coast is roughly 5hrs behind our time, whereas the west is more like 8hrs I think. £12.99 a month I think


Or you could subscribe to the NHL game centre, from america, works fine over here, but you have to watch via the internet, if you have a smart t.v device like Roku, Amazon fire stick, chrome or even a console like ps3/4 or xbox 360/one or p.c, you can watch via the NHL Ganecter app.
This costs I think $99 or was the last time I subbed , which was about £65 a season, but you get to watch hundreds of games, the downside of ganecentre though, is it has a lot of Blackouts (meaning that if a game is shown on a major t.v network, including British t.v, then the game won't be available to watch)

Some of the above info may be incorrect, as im relatively still new to watcging. So I suggest doing a bit more research, online first


Or if you just want to follow British hockey, you could pick a side and see if they stream, I think all Eihl teams do, through their own websites, usually they charge between 5.99-8.99 a match online

 

[LookAtMeGo]

Ever go back and watch old games and see how damn slow everyone moves? I find it looks much better now and is more exciting. All around the average player is just better, thats why less goals get scored IMO. It also makes the goals more exciting when they happen.

 

[Quick]

I'd love to watch some NHL here in the UK but I don't know how to go about it properly. I don't do team sports usually, but I have a strong love for the game.

EIHL (Elite Ice Hockey League - top tier league in the UK) is good stuff. Don't discount the teams right in your backyard. There are also a number of other European leagues to watch: SHL, SM-Liiga, KHL, Swiss National League A just to name a few. Shoutout to the Australian Ice Hockey League too.

 

[Socreges]

Now, it's a boredom-inducing nausea called defense, block shots, and have goalies with gigantic equipment.

What an interesting sentence for so many reasons

 

[Quick]

NHL Gaf is best Gaf. No one denies this.

It is canon.

What an interesting sentence for so many reasons

I had to check the date to make sure I wasn't in the mid-90s.

 

[Wedge7]

Oh man, I still love watching hockey. I still watch at least 2 games a week, every week, though I was probably at my most hardcore about 8-10 years ago. I used to watch so many games, follow the league religiously, could easily name probably 95% of the players on every team, fringe 4th line guy whatever, I probably knew him. Though admittedly alot of that was due to being really into hockey pools at the time. Not really streams back then, so I actually used to listen to games on NHL radio and shit. Now, I'm way more casual, though still way more than most people though.

Back when I played hockey with my buddies when I was young, because everybody played hockey when you were a kid, you know how everyone would say who they were, like "I'm Forsberg or Sakic" or a smaller guy might say hes a little shit starter like Fleury or a speedster like Max Afinogenov or a sick dangler like Mogilny or Datsyuk before it was cool to like Datsyuk. We even had some loser kid who always would get angry and his face would get all red that we would call Brian McCabe and who would always take wild slapshots that inevitably hit people in the face. To my great shame I somehow acquired the nickname Jonas after leafs legend Hoglund. I wasnt even tall. My greatest accomplishment was finally years later getting better and earning everyones grudging respect and being called Jere Letinhen for being such a try hard and actually hussling coming back on defense.

Everytime someone would come down the wing and score with a nice wrister we would all mimic Bob Cole and scream "JoooooE Sakic"

 

[Shaanyboi]

Canadian here. I haven't actively watched hockey since 2005

 

[GSG Flash]

3 on 3 OT was the best decision that the NHL has made in the past few years, wish they would just get rid of the shootout and keep going with the OT until someone scores.

 

[Guru-Guru]

3 on 3 OT was the best decision that the NHL has made in the past few years, wish they would just get rid of the shootout and keep going with the OT until someone scores.

I saw that one crazy OT between Tampa and Philly (I think?)--shit was insane and so much fun to watch. Although the previous OT format could be exciting, I always would hate having to potentially watch a 20 minute OT plus shootout. When you add in the 3 previous periods it really is a timesink. I haven't watched much hockey this season (living abroad), but I assume that most of the 3v3's end fairly fast.

 

[CreeperBlocks]

Yes.


And There's a Thread in Community That anyone can poke their heads in. HABSGAF UNITE!!!!!!!!!

 

[Maximus.]

Hockey is amazing, no reason to stop watching it. More skill in the game and a lot of skilled teams out there. Very fast pace games right now and 3v3 OT has been pretty fun to watch.

 

[Qasiel]

You could subscribe to premier sports if you have digital t.v, they claim to show 15 games a week as well as our own British eihl league and some international games, and if your box records, if a game is on too late, and the American ones usually are on between 12am-3am, or even 1-4am depending which team you follow, east coast is roughly 5hrs behind our time, whereas the west is more like 8hrs I think. £12.99 a month I think


Or you could subscribe to the NHL game centre, from america, works fine over here, but you have to watch via the internet, if you have a smart t.v device like Roku, Amazon fire stick, chrome or even a console like ps3/4 or xbox 360/one or p.c, you can watch via the NHL Ganecter app.
This costs I think $99 or was the last time I subbed , which was about £65 a season, but you get to watch hundreds of games, the downside of ganecentre though, is it has a lot of Blackouts (meaning that if a game is shown on a major t.v network, including British t.v, then the game won't be available to watch)

Some of the above info may be incorrect, as im relatively still new to watcging. So I suggest doing a bit more research, online first


Or if you just want to follow British hockey, you could pick a side and see if they stream, I think all Eihl teams do, through their own websites, usually they charge between 5.99-8.99 a match online

EIHL (Elite Ice Hockey League - top tier league in the UK) is good stuff. Don't discount the teams right in your backyard. There are also a number of other European leagues to watch: SHL, SM-Liiga, KHL, Swiss National League A just to name a few. Shoutout to the Australian Ice Hockey League too.

This is great stuff guys, cheers for this. I used to watch the London Knights in the Superleague days when I was younger. I'll check out these routes and go from there.

 

[Veritigo_X]

I was just watching two of my friends play NHL the other day. I can't really get into it so I just play around on my phone while they get a game in.

 

[Bsigg12]

Season looking good to me.

Avs, not so much ;_;

How long until Holden knocks someone's head off?

I would say this season is off to a strong start. There have been a lot of just fun to watch games and the transition to 3v3 OT has made that much more exciting.

 

[dankir]

NHL Gaf reporting in!

Hockey is the shit this season so far, been quite exciting the last few seasons as well.

 

[Stet]

Low scoring doesn't mean low excitement.

I love that one goal can decide a game.

 

[PillarEN]

People don't appreciate low scoring sports? NHL is great.

 

[CelticKnight]

UK here - haven't watched it since Channel 5 stopped showing it, but even then I was a casual viewer. What seemed to be the turning point for me was the 2004–05 strike and then ESPN subsequently stopping showing it. Channel 5 used to show local network instead and their poor quality broadcasting with biased commentary used to turn me off. Before that I loved the sport, probably started by the EA NHL games.

Should really try to catch a Cardiff Devils match, support my local team and all that...

 

[kassatsu]

Watch all the Pens games. Hockey is still the best sport to watch, so much action.

 

[Transistor]

Low scoring sports are the best. I hate basketball for the exact reason that it's a ridiculously high scoring game. When a team scores every minute or two, it gets damn boring. Make the goals worth something.

Dallas Stars are off to a great start this year. I think they're 4-1 right now

No one watches. We don't even have an OT for it in community.

Maybe because it's one of the few sports where people spend more time watching it than talking about it on the internet

 

[TheKaeptain]

No one watches. We don't even have an OT for it in community.

 

[Enduin]

My dad and uncles all still watch every Rangers game and many others here in NYC/Long Island. I watch on occasion but not with any regularity, but it's the only sport I ever watch on my own. No interest in Football, Soccer or Baseball and definitely not Basketball.

 

[MXRider]

<- Nope.

 

[Space Medafighter X]

Back in elementary and highschool, my friends and I loved playing it on the street and talking about the games in the mornings before class.

Now we kinda went out separate ways. I barley watch sports in general other than cricket.

 

[TheLostBigBoss]

People don't appreciate low scoring sports? NHL is great.

The NHL isn't as low scoring as it used to be, although some teams and systems might push for low scoring defensive battles (bruins cough cough). I've only been watching hockey for around 5 years now, started watching back in 2010 when the Bruins made that spectacular collapse in the post season.

Next to football I think hockey is the best sport, my view is it's a faster paced condensed version of soccer.

 

[Willectro]

NHL-GAF member reporting in.

Not sure if you've kept up in recent years, but goalie equipment shrank a bit. The league's also imposed more restrictions with the goalie by having the no-play zones. The nets are more shallow to allow for a wider passing lane behind the net, as well. Not to mention the removal of two-line pass restrictions from 2005-06 onward (also when the no-play zone was established). The league also got away from the gritty defence-set games and more into offence-first games.

Players have adapted to the changes. Shot blocking is now ingrained into every player, goalies are skating out to get the puck on dump-ins and pass over the no-play zones (it really makes it pointless to have), and goalies just adapted to the smaller equipment.

People talk about penalizing shot blocking, but that's just looking for trouble, and would be such a mess to officiate. There's talk of making nets bigger, but the league seems set on shrinking goalie equipment first before going with a major increase in net size.

That being said, the league recently implemented a new overtime format of 3-on-3 (formerly 4-on-4) to at least have more open ice for players to take advantage of. And it's been great so far. Prime example being the Flyers/Lightnjng OT earlier this month.

It seems like you haven't watched a few games in years. The stats are only showing you one side of the story. You really need to watch more current games to see the changes in the game.

Good post.

You're right about the 3v3 OT. I only wished it lasted longer.