The NHL

Gaining popularity by the day. They're doing a solid job of generating revenue & views with the current product. It's the best it's ever been. Lots of speed and true talent. 

Sure, I miss 90's a little bit where hooking and beating each other up were a big part of game.

These guys today evolved, sure they'll throw down if they have to, but these guys are so much more skilled and faster now! Fun to watch.

Good for them! I would love to see them surpass the NBA but we know that's not realistically going to happen overnight.

I'd rather watch these NHL guys who play with heart & passion, rather than see these premodonna's in the NBA who don't give a flying Phuck until playoffs. 

Anyway, the NHL is climbing up the latter and is in good hands I believe. Make the NBA squirm a little bit. I like that. 

Well said. 

You must be an American addressing fellow Americans because hockey interest has been on a steep decline in Canada for some time now, lowest it’s ever been in our countries history. Roughly 35% less Canadian kids under 18 are playing hockey in just the last 15 years, a massive drop. Most parents cite economics as the reason and that’s only going to be getting worse as we continue to get taxed to death by our government and hockey registrations and equipment prices continue to be insane, so those declining numbers will continue to increase. People wonder why Canada isn’t producing goalies, the most expensive position, oh gee I wonder why lol.

Also less and less people here could give two shits about watching either. It still has its rabid, loyal fan base but it’s no longer an automatic household viewing feature as it was here a few decades ago and beyond, when it was like a religion here and a cultural identity. It’s growing in America and it’s dying in Canada. It’s basically your game now and that little lawyer from New York has done a great job of helping that along since his appointment to the crown of hockey in 1993. America has more kids registered in hockey than any country in the world and their players come from rich college kids mostly while Canadian players have generally come from hard nosed small town and farm families and those families are having the hardest time now affording hockey for their kids, so the shift will only continue. Congrats and enjoy. I personally find the new NHL void of emotion, passion and animosity compared to what we had decades ago and beyond, but to each their own. 

@ Polar Bear.

I think you hit it right on the head. Lot of pride here in the states, and I, myself, am kind of caught up in the moment too. A lot of Americans are. 

Sorry to hear your viewpoint on the Canadian outlook. I think youre pretty accurate on that take too. That's what politics will do unfortunately.

That's funny what you said about the expensive Canadian goalie situation. GL to you moving forward.

@Sacramoni

 Cheers to a great game tonight my friend 

Yeah, it's not due to a lack of interest in hockey in Canada but rather due to the high cost as you indicated. As far as the goaltenders go, there's a pretty good crop on the horizen.   

Great thread