Jsaquella

Bringing Hexy Back • 42 Years Old • Male

Random Christmas Thoughts around the NHL

Well, happy holidays. Just a few ideas, that hopefully will spur a bit of conversation.

-I am one of those that don't care for the shootout, and I won't belabor the point, but I really hope if there is any change for next year, I hope that shootout wins are devalued for 2009-10.

-Maybe it's me, but why is Atlanta unable to come up with a jersey design that isn't hideous?



This mess came first, then came this thing:



If this is the kind of crap they're going to come up with, they shouldn't be allowed to have a third jersey.

-The NHL's marketing department has come up with a lot of great commercials. The ones where guys step out of a still photo, Bryadon Coburn listing the injuries he's returned from, the excellent Christmas one, where a family of Rangers fans give their Flyer fan son a slew of cruddy gifts for Christmas and the excellent "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" one for the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field.

Here's my question: Why is it, we only see these smart and entertaining ads on NHL Network and during games? If I am watching NHL Network, there's probably a good chance I'm already a hockey fan and am going to shop at nhl.com and watch the Winter Classic.

Instead of preaching to the choir, why not buy time during football games? Or during action movies on Spike? Or during other "guy" type programming. It's like DeNiro, Pacino, Nicholson, Ed Norton and Kenneth Brannagh making a Super 8 version of "Death of a Salesman" and showing it to friends. Put these clever commercials on when there's not a hockey game on and maybe non fans will say, "Hey, that's funny...maybe I'll catch that game!"

-We all complain about NHL refs-I do-but watch a NFL or NBA game. NHL refs makes those guys look like pikers.

-Thank God that Tomas Kaberle refused to waive his NTC last February.

-http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3770049...If the NHL needs assclowns like Chad Johnson and TO to be popular in the US, I hope it never gets popular in the US.

-Best Wishes for a speedy recovery to Patrice Bergeron. As a fellow multi-concussion sufferer, my heart goes out to him. I'd love to see head shots removed, however, I don't see how they can be legislated out without removing physicality from the game. The simple physics dictate that a 5'10" guy getting hit by a 6'4" guy is probably going to get hit in the helmet by a shoulder.



-Scott Clemmensen is making a case to find a full time gig somewhere in the near future. This guy has worked hard and made himself a starting goalie. My hat's off to him.



-I'm not a fan of Gary Bettman, and I wonder why it is I never hear anyone call into NHL Hour, the Commish's weekly radio show, and really tear into him-even doing so respectfully.

-I don't think Mats Sundin is greedy. I think the Canucks have a good team that is a contender, especially when Luongo gets back into the line-up. They have a better shot at the Holy Grail than the Rangers do.

-If Joffrey Lupul stays hot when Danny Briere returns, is it time for Paul Holmgren to deal him before his extension kicks in?



I like Lupul. He's got the skill to be a 35 goal scorer-maybe even a 40 goal man. But he's a streaky scorer-and worse, when he's not scoring, his entire game seems to drift. He's less physical, not as aggressive with the puck, etc...If he could play close to this level for a full season, he's worth his cap hit.

-Now that the Lightning have fired a coach, made a panic trade, waived 4 players and still stunk, what's next? I see an ad campaign based around John Tavares next Summer.

Happy Holidays!!

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