Viewpoint

So in the past few years which team would have won the Stanley Cup? Really? The NHL endorsed the system of the top divisional teams finishing in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, no matter how hard another team has played and earned more points than the other. For instance, one year Carolina was given 3rd place with 91 points, with Toronto in 4th having 100 points. Fair or unfair? Carolina should have finished 7th overall in the conference that year, if they went with the top points system. The teams would likely have played different matchups affecting the outcome of who may have won the Cup. Last year, Ottawa(105) and Pittsburgh(105) would have finished ahead of Atlanta(97) by 8 points, but instead a 5th place team gained 3rd place with less effort. The NHL needs to change this, in my opinion, to give teams their fair chance in the playoffs.

The league is too long by half as it is. Remember how great it was after the strike when there were only about 40+ games? Delaying the end of the season and shortening the gap until the start of the next season is not a good idea. Yes, taking the night off would be the best thing for the ceremony, but the league is not going to voluntarily cut the schedule for any reason. It's fine having the ceremony during the off-season, but not just because "We need hockey stories in July, as well." Not a day goes by that there's not a NHL story in the papers.

In the US, the arenas are already dark on hockey nights.

I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE THE NHL AWARDS AND THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY DURING THE SAME WEEK IN JUNE BECAUSE ALL THE PLAYERS WILL BE THERE WITHOUT AN INTERUPTION AND CAN ATTEND BOTH CEREMONIES.

Why not have the induction ceremonies during the allstar festivities. Nobody is playing and most executives are there anyways. And anyone who wants to be there would have that option.

I don't know why they don't combine this ceremony with the awards ceremony. That saves so much time and trouble, plus it does not interfere with the game at all. Extend the television coverage of the awards show by half an hour, and as an added bonus Ron McLean gets to host them at the same time.

Although it might be a little sad that some people couldn't make it to the induction who would've liked to have been there, what disturbed me more was the overlap with Remembrance Day commemorations. On the one hand we've got our soldiers who've put their lives at risk or died to keep us safe and to help keep the peace around the world, and on the other some really talented atheletes who've done some amazing things within or for their sport. By juxtaposing the two like that it diminishes the accomplishments of both groups—I feel strange applauding the veterans as if their sacrifices are equivalent to some hockey player's and I feel like I can't appreciate the hockey player's achievements when placed beside the soldier's. Whatever they choose to do, they should pick a different week than the one November 11th falls upon.

Stateside, hockey is at best a regional sport. Except in a few markets, hockey is burried in the back of the sports pages just before collegiate or high school sports. No one would notice that the sport is shut down for a night - or a year - except for those who really care.

As an alternative, there is a break for the All-Star game. Why not hold the inductions then? That way, the schedule is not affected, and all potential guests would be available.

There is a simple solution to this.
Have the HOF ceremony the night before the Allstar game.

I saw Cassie Campbell on TV the other day and she was congadulated for being inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, and deservedly so. I was wondering if the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto is run by the NHL or not. If run by the NHL, the maybe the should change their name to reflect that and call it the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame or change it to the Men's Hockey Hall of fame

Why does the NHL have to schedule games around the HHOF schedule, cant it be the other way around? Theres many nights during the course of a season where there are only 1 game or no games playing that day, take your pick

agree with richard totally!

Would it be a possibility to incorporate the Hall of Fame ceremonies into the All-Star ceremonies? It would make sense thematically to honour new inductees to the Hall of Fame while recognizing the current top players in the league.

I agree with Brad in Edmonton. I saw no need for the NHL to take the night off for this event
Maybe they could move the induction ceremony to the afternoon or early evening before the games wouuld start.

You guys out there can let me know what you think about this subect.

Cheers,

Bob

Hey Scott,

the simplest solution for your concerns here? Don't have the ceremony during the regular season. They could do it during the off season or the exhibition season!

As for trade day I agree with you whole heartedly. Trade deadlin day should see no games... just don't let it fall on a Saturday!

You're assuming the induction has to be performed during hockey season. Why? Does it excite US fans to watch more hockey? I doubt it very much. We need hockey stories in July, as well.

I can appreciate the sentiment from which this proposition was borne (honouring the past and present HHOF class, reflecting on the history of the game etc), but blacking out the entire league is not the solution here, as it would only serve to alienate American fans further. The NHL should not strive to separate itself from baseball and football in this regard (two sports that have designated Hall of Fame games on their respective induction days), but rather follow their example and associate games with the induction ceremony itself. For starters, have the ceremony itself start earlier in the day, around noon, and set a firm cap for speeches. I think a three to four-hour limit for the entire ceremony would be feasible, and could afford inductees and attendees alike valuable travel time. Afterwards, have all the Original Six teams play each other (wearing their retro sweaters of course) and have alumni from those teams in attendance at each game. A five-year rotation could be established for this so the match-ups would vary every year, which will be made much easier once the current schedule format is abandoned. Any other match-up that day should feature a video tribute to the newest members of the HHOF as well as having HHOF alumni connected to those teams in attendance... and of course all teams will play in their retro sweaters if applicable. I would even go so far as to say every franchise in the league should have a game scheduled that night. This is an excellent way to pay homage to the history of the game and would effectively turn induction day into a celebration of hockey, endearing fans in the process (both Canadian and American alike) instead of repelling them.

Why not have less games? A few less headaches or the schedule maker and better quality hockey for the fans?

Hey, why not have a day off every time any team retires a number for their club? Or anytime there is a death within the hockey community? Or on my mom's birthday so I don't miss a game while at dinner?
Fact is with All Star break and Olympic breaks the season is already too long. Booking any more nights off will just make an agonizingly long season even longer. You think teams that play in the Stanley Cup finals have a hard time recovering to start training camps in September now, booking days off and extending the season by another week even will cause even more harm.