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What happened to Bobby Hull's WHL league that was supposed to start up it would have been perfect timing?
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Dead in the water. As far as the NHL is concerned, I read a great article by Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe a few weeks back. He gave his suggestions for improving the game when it comes back. No rounded nets, no shootouts, and none of the other silly suggestions Mr. "It worked for basketball" Bettman seems to seek out.
Number one suggestion by Dupes - Kill the instigator rule and possibly the bench clearing brawl rule. This would bring back fighting to at least the late 70's style so the NHL can keep it's core audience that it lost due to the lockout. I agree and say screw the "new viewers" that it has been trying to woo by wussifying the game. They have been alienating the true hockey fan in order to get the casual fan interested and it ain't working. The casual fan can learn to love the game if they watch it and the ones who say they'd watch if it were not for the fighting will never watch anyway, never mind buy a ticket, fighting or not. Hockey needs fighting as a tactic and to police itself. It does not need designated goons who square-off in a sideshow bout once a night. Even more important, it would keep the clutch and grab, cheap shots and intentional injuries to the game's stars to a minimum and do more to open up the game than any wider blue line, 4 on 4, stationary goalie or new fangled icing rule ever could.
Oh, yeah - He also said to adopt the tag-up offsides (I agree!!) and reduce the size of goalie equipement, pads, gloves, shirts and all.