Wild Pitch: NHL’s Future

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It’s 1:28 in the morning, so I will keep this brief (for all of our sakes.)  With a 4-3 overtime game-six the NHL season comes to a close just like that.  Kane’s OT goal clinched a Stanley Cup for the Chicago Blackhawks and meant the end of the playoffs.  Watching hockey this year reassured me that the NHL knows what it’s doing.  Even in a season raddled with drama, whether it being head-shots or suspensions or anything the NHL was able to put it to the side and keep playing, while making adjustments of course.  Sports fans, whether they are casual or diehards need to start paying attention to the sport of hockey.

The questions concerning the NHL will always be around as long as there is an old-fashioned spirit to the game.  It seems odd to fans of other sports to see fighting as a part of hockey but to a hockey fanatic it is just the way of the game.  Getting in a fight is a noble thing in professional hockey but in any other sport it is looked at as a disgrace or a “black eye” to the sport.  Fighting is a beautiful example of what makes hockey unique.  I would really hate to see the sport lose that aspect.

As for head-shots, there is no place for head-shots in the game but their needs to be a very fine line.  Some violence is to be expected.  It’s a contact sport.  The NHL has been very fickle about physical play.  That is something I would like to see fixed for the upcoming NHL season.

All that being said, watch hockey.  It is a sport on the rise.  Hell!  You can even watch it in between weeks of Football.