Missing the NHL?

Are you missing the NHL during the lockout?

I am.  Hockey is a nearly non-stop sport, not quite as non-stop as soccer, but with a lot more scoring chances.  When hockey players miss a goal shot, play frequently continues.  Penalty shots add more offensive interest.  Now, the concussion problem is vexing, and there's really no need for the fights, but overall, I like it better than basketball, baseball, or football.

The nearby Capitals have been a frustrating but winning team, and entertaining (if you don't count last season, when they were boring).   And they have a new coach, so I was looking forward to seeing how that worked out.  I still am.  But I'm still waiting.

But as the column notes, because the NHL is the fourth major sport, a lot of other people aren't noticing and really don't care.   And this is a problem for the NHL because they actually were getting more fans, perhaps fair-weather fans, but fans nonetheless, who may drift off and not come back.

And they need the revenue.


NHL's Biggest Problem As Lockout Draws On: Most People Don't Care

"The NHL is trying to fight its way back to relevance, particularly in the United States. It had years of growth following the cancellation of the '04-'05 season, even after ESPN pulled the plug on it. It was a good start.

And then it decided to erase all of its progress with its fourth work stoppage in 20 years. Not a good idea.

When you're competing against the big three in American sports -- the NFL, MLB, and NBA -- you can't afford to take time off. Intense competition like that requires extra time, overtime if you will, not time off.

Time off just makes the sport fade into the oblivion. It becomes a punch line. A joke. That league, that sometimes plays, and sometimes doesn't."

And if the owner's and players can't realize the damage that they're causing to their own cause, then the joke's on them.