is this a dumb question?

[OregonDucks]

Hear me out. This might be absurdly dumb, or maybe someone as already mentioned in and mentioned it in the NHL and it got shot down. But, has the NHL ever thought of moving their season into the Summer months? Maybe starting in January (surpassing NFL season) and ending in say early September? (ending right before NFL season)

Seems like in the US NHL is finally starting to become pretty popular, you had the success of the US hockey team in the Olympics and now a very entertaining NHL playoff. But I feel like the NHL will have a difficult time over coming the heart of the NFL season/college football season AND the NBA season. As NHL playoffs usually occur the same time as the NBA season, I could see it being beneficial and getting a lot more TV coverage if the bulk of hockey was played during the summer. And yes, I realize hockey/ice and summer don't mix well, but hell you play your season well into May and June.

I just think no matter how great NHL does it will forever be shadowed by the NFL and NBA (unless lockouts occur in which that could mean BIG time for NHL) in the United States. I understand in Canada it is a huge sport, but how great would a larger market in the US be for the NHL and hockey in general?

As of right now there really is no sports going on during the Summer months. It is completely open. Right now I am bored as hell without any sports going on right now. MLB is going, sure but who really pays close attention to the MLB until end of August? And even then a NHL playoff would trump MLB playoff race in late August.

Maybe a dumb stupid question, but I could see big things for the NHL if they just moved their season a few months. I would certainely watch hockey on a regular basis if it were on during the summer. I have just grown up with football and basketball to where if those three are on TV, or just one or the other I usually watch football or basketball because that is what I am accustomed to.

 

[Darkstone42]

Baseball happens in the summer. Also, hockey needs to be played in the winter because it's too difficult to keep the ice good in warmer months. I think the benefit of having less TV time competition would be outweighed by the decrease in the quality of play because of bad ice.

The NHL can produce its best product in the winter, and thus should keep its season right where it is.

 

[Ghost In The Machine]

I think it makes sense as a viewer, but hockey is traditionally a winter sport (for obvious reasons). I bet that tradition trumps money every time this discussion gets brought up.

 

[OregonDucks]

I did not know indoor ice was affected by the outdoor weather, but that makes complete sense, dumb on my part for not realising that.

I know baseball is played in the summer, but if the faster paced game of the NHL was going on during the summer i think you would get more viewers then baseball. As baseball is such a long season people don't really follow it or watch it till September.

 

[IPostedWhat]

They say there is no such thing as a dumb question.........

 

[Ghost In The Machine]

Baseball happens in the summer. Also, hockey needs to be played in the winter because it's too difficult to keep the ice good in warmer months. I think the benefit of having less TV time competition would be outweighed by the decrease in the quality of play because of bad ice.

The NHL can produce its best product in the winter, and thus should keep its season right where it is.

True. When I played, early fall and late spring always meant soft ice. Soft ice slows down the players and can actually cause injuries due to the ice giving way under the pressure of a skate.

 

[OregonDucks]

I think it makes sense as a viewer, but hockey is traditionally a winter sport (for obvious reasons). I bet that tradition trumps money every time this discussion gets brought up.

how i wish NCAA Football would think/feel the same way.

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

They say there is no such thing as a dumb question.........

As a kid, I once asked my dad why hockey players wore gloves. My father considered it for a moment and said, "Son - remember when I said there was no such thing as a stupid question?"

 

[OregonDucks]

I would think with technology these days they could somehow duplicate exactly with the use of technology how ice is during the winter months. But with that said does that mean the Stanley cup series is played on lesser Ice then in the winte months as it is played in June?

 

[Ghost In The Machine]

I would think with technology these days they could somehow duplicate exactly with the use of technology how ice is during the winter months. But with that said does that mean the Stanley cup series is played on lesser Ice then in the winte months as it is played in June?

Sometimes yes. It can get foggy as well.

 

[OregonDucks]

interesting. had no idea this was an issue.

 

[IPostedWhat]

Sometimes yes. It can get foggy as well.

With bats flying around.

 

[Darkstone42]

I would think with technology these days they could somehow duplicate exactly with the use of technology how ice is during the winter months. But with that said does that mean the Stanley cup series is played on lesser Ice then in the winte months as it is played in June?

The ice was soft in Game 7 this year.

 

[OregonDucks]

Good for hockey and NHL for sticking up for tradition and not thinking about the money that could be gained. Just unfortunate that a very entertaining sport such as hockey is overshadowed by NFL and NBA in the United States because that is our customed sports. Every time I go to a Winter Hawks game or watch a hockey game on TV I always come away saying to myself, "Dang this is fun I need to follow this more" but days pass and I get busy and I turn on ESPN and there is NFL and or NBA highlights and I just sort of forget to continue following hockey or forget how entertaining it is until the next time I witness it.

 

[OregonDucks]

the fans and passion hockey has is just awesome. Reminds me of college football only professional sport. great history and rivalries as well.

 

[Comeds]

Good for hockey and NHL for sticking up for tradition and not thinking about the money that could be gained. Just unfortunate that a very entertaining sport such as hockey is overshadowed by NFL and NBA in the United States because that is our customed sports. Every time I go to a Winter Hawks game or watch a hockey game on TV I always come away saying to myself, "Dang this is fun I need to follow this more" but days pass and I get busy and I turn on ESPN and there is NFL and or NBA highlights and I just sort of forget to continue following hockey or forget how entertaining it is until the next time I witness it.

I have no confidence that if they switched up their schedule that the NHL would be any more popular than it is now. And they certainly shouldnt mess with their established schedule and established fans for the possibility of wooing fans who dont watch now because they prefer to follow the NFL or NBA.

 

[Ties5o11]

1- Theres always other sports going on
2- Hockey is a winter sport
3- I dont think going head to head with the NBA is bad at all, the NBA does not command that large of a market share
4- March Madness takes a little away from hockey for a couple weeks, but so be it
5- NFL/NCAAF ends during hockeys half way mark, and NFL is only once a week, so its not like the NFL/CFB is taking that much away from the NHL.
'
If anything, I would like them to shorten the season a little bit (like to 72 games) and hold the Cup Finals a month earlier or so. That is not going to happen because of $$$.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Baseball happens in the summer. Also, hockey needs to be played in the winter because it's too difficult to keep the ice good in warmer months. I think the benefit of having less TV time competition would be outweighed by the decrease in the quality of play because of bad ice.

The NHL can produce its best product in the winter, and thus should keep its season right where it is.

This is why dragging the season and playoffs out so long and having the most important games in late May and eay June is such an AWESOME idea.

Hockeyshould cut it's season to 60 games and have the playoffs over by April 30. The players would last so much longer Ameche games would be exponentially better. I know this will get the traditionalists up in arms but a three month offseason and the finals in June is absurd.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Also, I would only shorten the regular season because the NHL has the best and most exciting playoffs in all of sports by a wide margin, IMO.

 

[beantownmaniac]

I have a better question. Why is basketball in the SUMMER Olympics but played during the winter? If any sport should change it's schedule, it's basketball.