The Good Point

Hockey Archives

Hockey

One more for the road

This past weekend saw two remarkable milestones reached in hockey. First, Toronto Marlies forward Keith Aucoin scored his 800th-career point, becoming just the 11th player in AHL history to get there, while Ben Duffy of the QMJHL’s Prince Edward Island Rocket scored his 123rd goal, taking sole possession of first on the franchise’s all-time goal-scoring list.

Hockey

Where have all the fans gone?

When the last NHL lockout took place, fans found all kinds of activities to fill the voids of their weekends. This time around? It seems like everyone has gone into hiding, just waiting for the imminent return of the NHL, as nothing else will appease their tastes.

Hockey

The Bettman Effect

With the NHL in the midst of its third lockout during Gary Bettman’s tenure as Commissioner, his legion of detractors has only grown in size. Whether he’s viewed as a lackey for the owners, a quietly egotistical businessman or, as some may so eloquently put it, an idiot, it’s apparent that fans of the league […]

Hockey

Will Bettman ever deliver another Stanley Cup?

At the end of every NHL Playoff season, Gary Bettman awards the winning team’s captain with hockey’s ultimate prize, albeit to a chorus of boos. Does this ceremony cheapen the value of winning hockey’s holy grail, or does it even matter to the winning team? Should Bettman remove himself from the jeers in favor of a beloved veteran?

Hockey

Arguing for Amnesty in Lockout 2012

After the last NHL lockout, the league created an amnesty clause to help franchises get under the newly established salary cap by buying out player contracts. Now, with a proposal that includes reducing the existing salary cap by as much as $10 million, half the teams in the league may need to use the amnesty clause to get under the ceiling, but will amnesty even be an option once a new CBA is signed?

Hockey

The best in the world

As the NHL lockout drags on, fans in North America continue to bemoan the fact that they can’t watch the game they love. However, that’s not entirely true. Many NHL players have made the trip overseas and are thriving in the KHL and various European leagues, and many of the games are broadcast on television and the internet. Finally, the world is getting a taste of the world’s best hockey players.

Hockey

A case of revenue sharing gone wrong

As the baseball world continues to stare in shock and awe at the blockbuster 12-player trade between Miami and Toronto, many have voiced their opinions on just how this seemingly lopsided deal could take place. Are the last-place Marlins in need of a rebuild already? Did the Blue Jays pull off one of the greatest heists in history? Or is this simply a matter of an owner up to his old tricks and looking to pocket as much cash as he can?

Hockey

The Stanley Cup Stigma

It is an argument sure to raise voices, opposing viewpoints and enthusiastic debate amongst hockey fans. How great is a player’s hockey career if he never managed to win “The Big One;” if he never had the opportunity to hoist Lord Stanley; if he retires or sees his career cut short without a gaudy, jewel […]

Hockey

AHL to NHL success in a post-lockout world

With the ongoing NHL lockout, many of the game’s top young players have returned to the American Hockey League for another year of seasoning. Based on the lockout of 2004-05, many teams saw significant improvements in goal differentials when play resumed. Can we take anything from that year and predict how teams like the Oilers or the Hurricanes will do when the NHL finally resumes?

Hockey

The KHL threat is overrated

Let’s be clear. This opinion doesn’t arise from a pro-North American, staunchly-nationalistic point of view akin to the sentiments of many Canadians during the Cold War era. Instead, it is simply an unfiltered look at the realities of both the NHL and KHL. As things stands right now, the NHL is embroiled in both a […]