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Around the League 2019-2024 Edition

Hockey is a regional game unlike soccer that has a global reach

Easier to promote MSL to a hundred countries than the limited NHL

League has grown revenues and secured decent TV contracts

They've had 30 years and haven't even really tried.

Gary's only idea on growing the game has been the American sun belt. That's it. If the owners can't immediately and directly profit from something (expansion fees, etc), they're not interested. Meanwhile, the NBA has become so popular in China that washed up NBA players go to China to earn near NHL star level money (7 millie max salary for foreigners) to play in the ~10th ranked league in the world.
 
They've had 30 years and haven't even really tried.

Gary's only idea on growing the game has been the American sun belt. That's it. If the owners can't immediately and directly profit from something (expansion fees, etc), they're not interested. Meanwhile, the NBA has become so popular in China that washed up NBA players go to China to earn near NHL star level money (7 millie max salary for foreigners) to play in the ~10th ranked league in the world.
Turning hockey into a "Global" game has been a failure. Likely due to the need for hockey players to wear suits and have 0 personality.
 
They've had 30 years and haven't even really tried.

Gary's only idea on growing the game has been the American sun belt. That's it. If the owners can't immediately and directly profit from something (expansion fees, etc), they're not interested. Meanwhile, the NBA has become so popular in China that washed up NBA players go to China to earn near NHL star level money (7 millie max salary for foreigners) to play in the ~10th ranked league in the world.
Basketball is a global game , NHL will never have that outreach
 
Turning hockey into a "Global" game has been a failure. Likely due to the need for hockey players to wear suits and have 0 personality.

We're going to have an international best on best tournament and invite 2 actual countries. People will still cheer for their continent of birth and/or age group, right?
 
The Ottawa summer blow jobs are back. This will be spun into trouble for the Leafs, but Florida Panthers will not make the playoffs with Buffalo and Ottawa improved (Buffalo is better than Ottawa).
 
The Ottawa summer blow jobs are back. This will be spun into trouble for the Leafs, but Florida Panthers will not make the playoffs with Buffalo and Ottawa improved (Buffalo is better than Ottawa).
Both need average goaltending at minimum to make the playoffs

Cant have your 5-7 goalie carousel if one injury bites you
 
Having to lace up skates ensures niche level status for the NHL until global warming ushers in a new ice age

Yes.

But also this:

59746842_6.jpg


Is Beijing in the winter.

690c1d5e-f55a-4df4-81c0-cd4887932c9f.jpg


Seoul

ditto for Japan, New Zealand, and a few others.

So yeah it's niche, but it's niche is winter. It hasn't grown anywhere there is winter in 30 years while 100's of millions of dollars have been spent forcing it on American sun belters who rank it somewhere between bowling and NCAA volleyball in their local sporting hierarchy.
 
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