How the NHL Lockout Could be a Blessing in Disguise

The impending NHL lockout, which will be the second in the last ten years and the third under Gary Bettman as commissioner, has angered many fans of the NHL, including myself.  However, if the powers that be in the NHL were smart, this lockout could be a blessing in disguise.  Let me explain.

In 2004, after the lockout, the NHL decided changed the rules slightly to try and allow the highly skilled players to better use their offensive talent.  They legalized the "two-line pass," allowing for more explosive transitions from defense to offense.  They instructed referees to enforce a zero-tolerance policy regarding hooking, tripping, holding, and other stick infractions, allowing offensive players to have more time and space with the puck, and creating more power plays.  They also added the shootout at the end of regular season tied games to add some excitement to the games and showcase the skills of the league's budding stars. 

Ever since the lockout in 2004, the NHL has been growing in popularity.  This is partially because of the new rules allowing for more high-scoring games, but it's partially because of the sheer talent present in the NHL currently.  Now, I don't want to open up a huge argument over whose better than who, but I think we can all agree that the influx of players such as Crosby, Malkin, Stamkos, Ovechkin, the Sedin twins, Kane, Datsyuk, Nash, Brown, Girouz, Alfredson, and many more have made the game incredibly fun to watch. 

However, if the league doesn't act quickly, it could lose some of the stars that have increased the sport's popularity.  For example, on Januray 5th, 2011, Sydney Crosby, arguably the most talented player in the league currently, suffered a season ending concussion due to a hit by Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning.  Another example came in the 1st round of the 2012 playoffs when Carl Hagelin of the New York Rangers through Senators captain Daniel Alfredson a vicious elbow, forcing him to leave the game early and sit the next three play-off games.  I've embedded the video of the hit:



After this year's lockout, the NHL must take steps to protect their stars.  That means cracking down hard on elbows to the head and hits with malicious intent.  Some argue that it is hard to tell whether there is a malicious intent in a hit or not, and so the league has been soft and inconsistent.  However, some hits are clearly malicious, such as the one I've embedded below of Boston's Zdeno Chara hitting Montreal's Max Pacioretty.  Chara was not suspended for the hit. 




If you watch it closely, you'll notcice how long the puck was gone before the hit was thrown, and what a vunerable position Pacioretty was in.

In conclusion, if the NHL wants to keep gaining popularity after this year's lockout, they'd better take some steps to protect the men who provide the popularity.