I'm not a big fan of Bettman either. He has turned the game I love into a friggin atrocity. Almost everything in that article is dead on to the current situation in hockey. He tried to make it more marketable to the masses but just alienated it. Ticket prices are insanely overpriced, even though I still pay em
. It's a hell of a lot more fun and affordable to go see a minor league game these days.
The trap...I've been a Devils fan most my life but goddamn does it make for some boring hockey. As much as I don't like the sharks(get rid of the teal please!) you have to admit they play exciting fast paced hockey, and they've done it with no superstars and a pretty slim payroll in comparison.
I also agree with the goalie statements, and I play net 3 nights a week. Nothing big, just your local beer leagues. The size of gear is crazy these days and the construction of it has made it lighter so it is a hell of a lot easier to move in it. Im not sure of the size kickers Giguere wore last season but I know they were over 40 inches long with thighboards and probably 12 inches across! That right there takes up what...around 60% of the net just standing there. Alter the goalie interference rule so that if you are out of the crease it will not apply to you, A lot of goalies will think twice about going behind the net to play the puck with someone like Hossa coming down the boards.