from Mark Madden at the TimesOnline,

The NHL is run by its general managers. They’re on salary. The profit/loss statement is a distant concern.

The GMs want hockey tight. Close games. Every team close to .500. Every team in the playoff race as long as possible. That way, GMs don’t get fired.

The GMs don’t care about selling tickets, increasing TV ratings or allowing stars to flourish. The GMs just want to keep their jobs....

Coaching is a problem. NHL coaches don’t allow their players to create. The first priority is stifling opposition creativity. Skilled teams should be willing to trade odd-man breaks. But every NHL bench boss coaches like ever allowing a 3-on-2 would result in him contracting malaria. Or mumps.

It’s a shame. Hockey should be the best game going. When hockey is well played, it’s a unique combination of agility, skill and speed. But the NHL has zero feel for what its audience wants, or how to expand it. Hockey fans want the puck to go into the net. That is the game’s foremost source of excitement.

But excitement is the last thing the NHL is concerned about. The NHL wants grit. Hey, everybody, let’s turn on the TV. Maybe we’ll see some grit.

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