Viewers are dropping hockey faster than water through a sieve, something drastic has to be done to bring in new fans. The NHL is trying, they really, really are. New streamlined jersey's come out next year. Sidney Crosby is almost 1/30th as overexposed as Peyton Manning (*note: That's still alot). Gary Bettman needs a new approach. It is getting drastic, as some sportswriters have predicted the potential folding of the NHL within the next 15 years. So, without further ado: I have a suggestion that I strongly urge the NHL to take into consideration. Add a 7th player to the ice for each team, and equip him with a eight-foot wooden lance. Stick a hockey glove at the end of the lance and off we go!
Now, before you stop reading, hear me out. A player gets a breakaway, he is skating down the ice without fear when...suddenly he is taken out from nowhere by an eight foot lance with a hockey glove stuck at the end ( for cushioning the blow). The playing field has officially been levelled. The days of the dominance of the Red Wings is over! Having a lancer would be great because it would allow hockey to keep the lovable goons who are quickly becoming antiquated in the kinder, gentler, post-lockout NHL. George Laraque could play for another ten years. Tie Domi could make a comeback (watch out Rona Ambrose!). Better yet, the game would become more unpredictable than Mike Tyson hanging out with Dennis Rodman. Announcers would have to get used to the change, but saying "Federov gets lanced from behind!" would probably make up for it. So please, NHL, do something. Do something drastic! We need the NHL because it is truly a joy to watch the hardest working athletes around (Try playing basketball with knives strapped to your feet). So consider my plan NHL owners, coaches and fans. The time for drastic is rapidly approaching. If the lancers catch on we can go to part II of my plan to save the NHL...blindfolded lancers.
Time and again, the expert prognosticators ignore the Canadian teams as a viable Stanley Cup option. Edmonton was going out in the first round, then the second, then the third. Calgary was the same. These are teams that won or survived the toughest division in the NHL (hands down). Now Vancouver is the latest getting little or no respect. Although, that may change after a gutsy, 4 overtime victory over the "favored" Dallas Stars. Don't get me wrong, Dallas is a great team, but the Canucks have been given no legitimate shot.
NHL experts are much more willing to give a chance to the New Jersey Devils who have, for the most part, a team of defensive minded forwards backed by the greatest goalie in the NHL. The Canucks, are a team of defensive minded forwards backed by one of the best goalies in the league. Forget the fact Bobbie Lou shut down a Dallas attack in the second game of the night (man, do we need shootouts in the playoffs!). Some argue the Canucks are "not balanced enough to win". Hmmm, I guess we inflate the stat of 50 goals their defencemen scored this year, or the 23 goals Taylor Pyatt scored (who?). Marcus Naslund (20+ goals) is not even on the first line, yet they lack balance? Fact is all they need is two goals to win with their defensive abilities (the Sedin's take care of that).
The Devils, keep in mind, are proven winners. The Canucks are simply the best team in the league since January. Kind of like Carolina last year...
The pick is probably going to blow up (given my Superbowl pick of the Chargers and Bears) but I stick with what I said in January: Vancouver Canucks and Atlanta Thrashers (who win in 7 games).
