"Hopefully This Year Will Be Better Than The Last"

The Counting Crowes song Long December has a line it “… Maybe this year will better than the last” well I am sure most hockey fans will be saying that to themselves if they thought about the year that past in the confines of the sport.

Some people think I can be a too pessimistic and okay that’s true but even an optimistic person would have to agree that it wasn’t a very kind year to the world of hockey.

Roger Nelson lost his long battle to cancer.
Herb Brookes coach of the Miracle on Ice team fell asleep behind the wheel crashed and died.

Former Flyer Rob Ramage was impaired crashed his car and killed a fellow former NHL player in the process.

Danny Heatly on his way to superstardom was goofing around with his buddy Dan Snyder and driving recklessly and lost control of his car. Snyder eventually died as a result of the injuries sustained in the accident and Heatly not only has to carry around the burden of the guilt of ending a friend’s life, but his legs were severely messed up in the accident.


To make matters worse I have lost almost all confidence I had about avoiding the lockout next season. When I first started hearing about it I really wasn’t at all worried. However more and more I am wondering if the puck will drop at all let alone on time next fall. Both sides are being idiotic I guess its part of the negotiating BS, but if they are so far apart on reaching an agreement why not just sit down and talk now?

In addition by my count it could be the last season for 20-25 big name players this season. Most plays have already made public their plan B for next season either joining the WHA 2 or playing over seas. Most the older player will likely just retire instead of getting involved in the mess, and frankly it seems that many of them don’t care either way. It could get interesting because both Brett Hull and JR aren’t exactly union men and can see it getting ugly.

Meanwhile the product on the ice isn’t nearly as entertaining it was years ago. I will go as far to say the games entertainment value is at its lowest that I can recall. Of course I still love the game, but the fans seem like their love is fading given all the empty seats around.

Oh yeah their was the moronic move not to televise the outdoor game between Edmonton and Montreal which makes me wonder if there are any brains running the NHL. Oh yeah Peter Forseberg told ESPN magazine that he most likely wont be back after this season especially if there is a strike I would imagine. Pavel Bure flunked his physical and I guess is off running around with the Russian Mafia somewhere. Super Mario is so banged up I don’t know he passed his. He cant even climb into a car on his own, his hips are so messed up. The only reason he played at all was to try to keep the penguins a float. Shrewd trades have turned into almost down right depressing salary dumps, Straka, Konowalchuk, and Comrie were all dealt for well under their value.

Well hopefully we don’t have to have anymore touching tributes for fallen members of the hockey world, and we can t control the lock out so we might as well enjoy it while it lasts. Just try to watch some of the great players because it might be your last chance to catch most of them.