Player's Opinions...
So a poll of NHL players came out. This was done by CBC HNIC and the NHLPA. some interesting results came out of this poll...here are a few:
Q: What team would you least like to play on?
The answer to the question was Long Island and the New York Islanders. This is no surprise based on the ownership, management, arena, and lack of competitive teams they have iced in the last decade. Edmonton came in second last. I believe this due to the lack of competitiveness we've had the last 4 years, the weather here sucks in winter, the travel schedule, the fact that players live in a fish bowl here, and we are in desperate need of a new rink! (write your local city councilor!)
Q: Should the instigator rule be abolished?
The answer to this question was a resounding no! This blows my mind based on all the injuries to the head we are seeing with impunity. The fact that clean hockey hits are resulting in the hitter getting jumped by the hittie's team-mates, and douche bags like Sean Avery sucker punching people and being a royal jack-ass.
Conversely, the players wanted to keep fighting in the game. 98% of them polled, said this?!? So...they want fighting, just not the ability to start a fight? I don't get it.
Q: Which Canadian city deserves an NHL franchise - Quebec City, Hamilton, Toronto or Winnipeg?
53% of respondents said Quebec City. I'm not quite sure I know how I feel about this except to say, more Canadian Hockey is a good thing. What I will say is...if they get money for their rink, then we should get money for ours!
Q: What rink has the best ice?
I am surprised that Edmonton was named for this question! We all know that a few years ago this was true, but since then when you hear players talk, or media comments about the ice surface here, they all say that the quality has diminished from it's former glory. maybe Players loved it here so much in the last 10 years that they are going with habit more than reality. If this is in fact a true reflection of how player feel, then good for us!
Check It Out for Yourself...
There are a lot more questions here that you might find interesting, these were the ones i thought deserved an opinion.
If this is going to be another annual event at the All-Star games...I think they need to leave the destinations out, and ask guy who's destiny it is to win a cup in the next 10 years. Then we might get some love.
GO Oilers GO!
Hello again - I am responding to the classless "where would you least like to play" question. I believe we need to stop worrying about this - we can't make people like us, we can't do anything about the weather, the travel schedule, or the past performance of the team, on the ice, or in the boardroom - what we can (collectively) influence is the Team's public image, by continuing to purge as much of the old regime as possible, whilst building towards a positive product, both on and off the ice - the idea that high profile players don't want to be here has been overblown by the intense media scrutiny in our area - the Team needs to exercise more discretion in the "public" disclosure of their dealings - if Pronger wants out, trade him - "no comment, no circus" If Heatley won't come, move on, try someone else - the Oilers come off as desperate and pathetic, and Management has knee-jerk reacted in the past by overpaying marginal performers to stay here - this, above all else has damaged the Team's image, in my opinion. Hopefully, the current version is on the right track....
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Dale! they are appreciated. please continue to let me and the readers know how you feel about these articles. i tend to agree with everything you have said here.
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