No Repsect

The NHL seems incapable of doing anything right these daze. Especially when it comes to the treatment of it's most loyal and traditional constituency.

...the Stanley Cup final should begin Saturday night at 7 p.m., because that's when Canadians most like to watch NHL hockey on television. It's a little show called Hockey Night In Canada, and it's been around for more than a few years.

Starting the final then would also show Canadian hockey fans some respect, respect that's been sorely lacking during these playoffs. The most recent example was playing the last Ottawa-Buffalo game on a Saturday afternoon during the long, Victoria Day weekend.

It was a warm, sunny spring day, and the NHL forced Canadian fans indoors for their playoff hockey fix just to appease NBC, an American TV station that attracts a handful of fans whenever it shows hockey.

Yes, NBC and the NHL have a deal to split any profits from hockey telecasts, assuming there is any money actually made. But the CBC, which produces Hockey Night In Canada, pays the NHL more than $60 million a season to televise games. Why CBC isn't simply telling the NHL when the games will be played remains a mystery.

The point is, the NHL shouldn't have to be told this. Its big thinkers should already know, should understand what big-league hockey means to Canadians.

Yeah, I agree, they shouldn't have to be told this, BUT unfortunately this is as clueless a crew as one will ever see running (ruining) a major sport.