Ten ways to fix our article - The Fans Speak Out

Hockey Digest, April, 2002 by Murphy M.

If you continue to let hacks like this Ryan character write crap about the greatest game on Earth, I will be canceling my subscription fast Granted the NHL is not perfect, but the trash Ryan is suggesting is just ludicrous.

1. Overtime is better than ever now that it is four-on-four. There is nothing worse than paying good money to go and watch a tie. I don't think there is a any hockey fan or player that would agree with the stupidity of dumping OT.

2. No trapping? True the trap can be boring at times. Still it wins games and championships. The NHL shouldn't be telling coaches how to coach. Plus there are ways around the trap like speed and great passing. Just because Barry Melrose couldn't find a way around it when he coached he thinks it's bad for hockey? Give me a break. That is why he is on ESPN and not behind the bench. If Ryan likes the NBA rules, let him write about that league.

3. Every arena spend tons of money widening there rinks by four feet? Whatever.

4. Making helmets optional is not only dangerous, it's an even dumber idea than eliminating OT. So what if we don't know what a player's hair looks like? And who cares about cute nicknames.

5. Reduce the number of playoff teams? My god, Ryan, you just keep gelling stupider. Eight playoff teams! Why would you want to have 22 cities full of disappointed hockey fans. Teams greatly depend on the revenue created during the first two rounds of the playoffs. This is plain insanity!

6. Best of five in the first round? Gee, why not just suck all the drama out of the playoffs why don't we? The NHL playoffs are perfect. They are the ultimate endurance test. There is nothing else like it on Earth.

7. Having pros in the Olympics makes the games a true test of who is the greatest. The 1998 Olympic hockey tournament was some of the best hockey I have ever seen. I am sure every NHL player in the 2002 Olympics would disagree with Ryan.

8. I must admit, building new stadiums for the Penguins and Islanders was Ryan's one valid point.

9. So what if teams make a little extra money with third jerseys? I like most of them. The Oilers third is hideous but I have no problem with the others. By the way, every hockey fan knows that the Avalanche have the lamest logo (besides Phoenix) in the NHL. I think their old school and traditional approach on the third jersey is a vast improvement.

10. I barely have time to go to the bathroom and get something to eat between periods--especially when I am at the arena--as it is! Shortening intermissions sounds like a filler idea just round out this numskull list to a nice even 10. NHL players bust their asses every period and need the time between periods to prepare for battle. If Ryan had ever played he might understand that. However judging from the ignorance found in his article, I doubt it.

To sum it all up, Ryan knows jack about hockey and the NHL and has zero business writing about it anywhere, much less in a great publication like HOCKEY DIGEST. Don't make me have to take the time to write something like this again. I hope you didn't pay him to much for that trash.

M. Murphy

Detroit